The quote from Oliver Twist seems appropriate when thinking about a community food service like Loaves & Fishes. Surely as a provider of such a service we would want more. More people coming along, a bigger presence, maybe a nice new shiny building heralding the importance of the work we do?
One of the dangers within Christian community is to buy into the western mindset that bigger is better and more successful. Economies of scale, centralise, upsize and reap the benefits. More people in our church, bigger buildings, more programmes…
It is an attractively easy trap to fall into even with the best of intentions.
When I started at Loaves & Fishes a few years ago there was that first burst of energy that this service is so great, it could be bigger, should be bigger!
Yes, the motivation was in part to see more people served, but, to be honest, there was also the desire to be seen as successful in this new role.
Aside from the obvious issues of accessibility (people needing a service like Loaves & Fishes do not have the resource to get from Richmond or Stoke to central Nelson easily) there is also the importance of being embedded in a community.
Growing up as I did in the 1970s, one of the staples of children’s television was Sesame Street. It was a simpler time! One of the repeated songs on the show that has recently returned like an ear worm went:
Who are the people in your neighbourhood? They’re the people that you meet when you’re walking down the street, they’re the people that you meet each day.
As Loaves & Fishes nears its 40th anniversary of providing meals to people in need of a meal and community, I am struck by the importance of the placement within its neighbourhood. The people that we meet at Loaves & Fishes are those who walk down the street and who we see in places outside of the Loaves & Fishes hall. Most of the volunteers live nearby and therefore interactions between attendees and volunteers take place beyond the walls of the dining hall.
Recently we were pleased to provide some inspiration and input to the Tāhunanui Community hub around the structure and provision of a community food service. They had been providing takeaway food but were wondering about a sit-in meal. Following a couple of visits to Loaves & Fishes they have now started a meal service of their own on a Wednesday evening. As with Loaves & Fishes, their service is grounded in the community for the people in their neighbourhood, and, by all accounts, it is meeting a real need within their local community.
All of this has me wondering, what would a meal service look like in Stoke? What about Richmond and Atawhai? The provision of a place for people to come and share life over a meal is an important visible expression of God's kingdom.
Loaves & Fishes does not need to be the only expression of the church providing a community meal within Nelson. The need exists, and it exists particularly in those areas away from central Nelson. In the neighbourhoods among the people that you meet when you’re walking down the street…
I would welcome conversations with others who might have an interest or passion in seeing a community meal service in the area they are situated. The ability to take ideas from Loaves & Fishes, and understand how it can be replicated within other areas, is something that I am more than willing to help with. At a time where financial needs, social isolation and disconnection from any form of community are on the rise, the challenge is there for the church to provide an alternative.
Check out other articles in the
series below.
More articles in the
series are to come.
We have invited these writers to share their experiences, ideas and opinions in the hope that these will provoke thought, challenge you to go deeper and inspire you to put your faith into action. These articles should not be taken as the official view of the Nelson Diocese on any particular matter.
The quote from Oliver Twist seems appropriate when thinking about a community food service like Loaves & Fishes. Surely as a provider of such a service we would want more. More people coming along, a bigger presence, maybe a nice new shiny building heralding the importance of the work we do?
One of the dangers within Christian community is to buy into the western mindset that bigger is better and more successful. Economies of scale, centralise, upsize and reap the benefits. More people in our church, bigger buildings, more programmes…
It is an attractively easy trap to fall into even with the best of intentions.
When I started at Loaves & Fishes a few years ago there was that first burst of energy that this service is so great, it could be bigger, should be bigger!
Yes, the motivation was in part to see more people served, but, to be honest, there was also the desire to be seen as successful in this new role.
Aside from the obvious issues of accessibility (people needing a service like Loaves & Fishes do not have the resource to get from Richmond or Stoke to central Nelson easily) there is also the importance of being embedded in a community.
Growing up as I did in the 1970s, one of the staples of children’s television was Sesame Street. It was a simpler time! One of the repeated songs on the show that has recently returned like an ear worm went:
Who are the people in your neighbourhood? They’re the people that you meet when you’re walking down the street, they’re the people that you meet each day.
As Loaves & Fishes nears its 40th anniversary of providing meals to people in need of a meal and community, I am struck by the importance of the placement within its neighbourhood. The people that we meet at Loaves & Fishes are those who walk down the street and who we see in places outside of the Loaves & Fishes hall. Most of the volunteers live nearby and therefore interactions between attendees and volunteers take place beyond the walls of the dining hall.
Recently we were pleased to provide some inspiration and input to the Tāhunanui Community hub around the structure and provision of a community food service. They had been providing takeaway food but were wondering about a sit-in meal. Following a couple of visits to Loaves & Fishes they have now started a meal service of their own on a Wednesday evening. As with Loaves & Fishes, their service is grounded in the community for the people in their neighbourhood, and, by all accounts, it is meeting a real need within their local community.
All of this has me wondering, what would a meal service look like in Stoke? What about Richmond and Atawhai? The provision of a place for people to come and share life over a meal is an important visible expression of God's kingdom.
Loaves & Fishes does not need to be the only expression of the church providing a community meal within Nelson. The need exists, and it exists particularly in those areas away from central Nelson. In the neighbourhoods among the people that you meet when you’re walking down the street…
I would welcome conversations with others who might have an interest or passion in seeing a community meal service in the area they are situated. The ability to take ideas from Loaves & Fishes, and understand how it can be replicated within other areas, is something that I am more than willing to help with. At a time where financial needs, social isolation and disconnection from any form of community are on the rise, the challenge is there for the church to provide an alternative.
Check out other articles in the
series below.
More articles in the
series are to come.
