Eat or heat? 

Dearly Beloved,

Eat or heat? 

This week I was listening to the radio on my way to work. A reporter talked about economic hardship in our country. As the temperatures turn cooler, many people are having to choose between eating or heating. You may be struggling with the ability to put food on your table. Or you may be blessed with plenty, and you wonder how to help those in need, to ensure people will not have to choose between eat or heat. 

I want to tell you about an exciting new partnership we are starting with Bread of Life Food Share. Chad and Tanya Hooker, members of our church, are the Executive Directors of Bread of Life. Through this ministry, we have the bread tables in the lobbies every other Sunday. 

Bread of Life has a Food Share distribution centre in Merville/Black Creek. They have expanded with a Food Share evening in Campbell River, and now, in partnership with CPC, there will be a Food Share evening through our church. 

On October 16, we will launch Bread of Life Food Share CPC, which will operate out of the Fellowship Hall. From 6:00 – 8:00 pm each Thursday, people are welcome to come and shop for free groceries. There will be fresh and non-perishable food. 

You may wonder how you may be involved. Some of you checked the Food Bank/Food Share help line on the Serve Team interest form a couple of Sundays ago. Thank you so much. You should have been contacted to participate in the training to help with this ministry. If you didn’t check the Serve team form, there is still an opportunity to join this team. If you would like to be involved, contact the church office, and we will direct you to those in charge. Another way to contribute is to donate food to Bread of Life Food Share CPC. You may drop off non-perishables in the basket in the front lobby. We will continue collecting groceries. 

This summer we did a sermon series through the book of Acts. One of the things that struck me is how the early church helped one another. In chapter 4, some people brought money and gave it to the apostles who distributed to those who had need. The Food Share partnership with Bread of Life will be a way for those who have extra to give so those who have need will not have to choose between eat or heat. 

Recently, I was talking with a person in our church who shared that even though they had jobs, they went through a tough stretch where they didn’t have enough. They could not afford groceries. They met Chad and Tanya, who invited them to come shop for free groceries at their food bank. There was no judgment or shame. Rather, there was encouragement to come and have sufficient good food. That’s what we want: for people to feel free to receive what will meet their needs. We want all people to have good food so they may live well. 

The term “Bread of Life” refers also to Jesus. Jesus said, “I am the Bread of Life.” He said this in John 6 after feeding the 5000. Jesus saw the importance of food to meet people’s physical needs, and then He went beyond food to satisfy people’s spiritual hunger. Jesus is the bread that not only satisfies physical hunger but meets our innermost need of spiritual life. It is our prayer that the provision of groceries will also lead to conversations, relationships, and opportunities to introduce people to Jesus, the Bread of Life. Please pray for and participate in this ministry partnership, whether as a receiver or giver.