Be loving in everything you do." - I Corinthians 16:13-14
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"Be on your guard. Stand firm in the faith. Be brave. Be strong. Be loving in everything you do." - I Corinthians 16:13-14 |
Approximately 225 people were on hand to enjoy Thanksgiving dinner inside Trinity Episcopal Church in Pass Christian, Mississippi Thursday. Along with a few dozen local residents and Trinity parishioners, about 125 college students - volunteers for Campus Crusade for Christ chapters in Colorado, Ohio, West Virginia, and Michigan, plus a group from Gallaudet University, all there to do the filthy and backbreaking work of cleaning up the massive amounts of debris still littering the Pass Christian area - chowed down on turkey, dressing, cranberry sauce, rolls, iced tea, applie pie, pecan pie and pumpkin pie.
Following a late-morning worship service, Father Chris gave thanks on the front lawn of the church.
Dinner and all it involved was funded by the American Anglican Council. Ricky and Pam Hopton, their daughters Carrie and Chelsea, Bill and Margaret Buhner, my wife Stacey and me, all from St. Philip's in Jackson; plus Susan Stone and her daughter Alexia from Savannah, Georgia prepared the meal. Carol Rogers Smith, also from Savannah, helped in advance during her the previous weekend. We had purchased enough food for 500 servings. The balance of our food, plus most of our supplies, was donated to God's Katrina Kitchen.
Photos and more follow
Thanksgiving Day dawned clear and cold. Sunrise over the Gulf of Mexico:
We couldn't have done it without the help of Chef Greg Porter, who runs God's Katrina Kitchen on the beach a couple of miles east of Trinity. Chef Porter lent us a trailer filled with large event grills and propane tanks, donated tea and pumpkin pies, and helped us "do the math" on portions and cooking times. Here, he drives the tractor around to position the trailer so we don't have to pull it through the sand:
In front of the kitchen is a makeshift cross. Across highway 90, lanes of which are still closed due to the destruction, some of the Campus Crusade for Christ kids head to the water with their guitars and drums:
Father Chris Colby looks on as Alexia Stone rings the bells for dinner:
The serving line:
The tea station.
Note the little steeple in the picture above. It used to sit on the left side of the top of the church:
Some of the hardworking volunteers give the meal a thumbs-up:
Outstanding, Greg. Simply outstanding. We were in Chicago stuffing our faces at the family table, as we have for 43 years, but we prayed for all on the Coast hoping they had enough to be grateful for. We are thankful that we enjoyed what we had, but were inspired by your story to commit to volunteer to stand in on Christmas Day if there is a place for us to help. Maybe Katrina Kitchen or whatever else is ginned up?
# Posted by: Gulfstream at November 28, 2005 10:07 PMThanks for the report. I was in Pass Christian just before Thanksgiving, and helped Father Chris and his team with the Fall Fest on the Saturday. 225 people showed up that day to hear the kids of the Pass Christian Choir sing on the porch of the church, eat hot dogs and burgers, and generally have a good time.
If anyone is interested in committing themselves to helping in Pass Christian, I could make no better recommendation than serving at God's Katrina kitchen. I spent three days there, doing everything from bussing tables to grilling chicken for 500. I have never felt so useful in my life -- serving the people of Pass Christian, those who have come to volunteer, and those who are being paid to help clean up.
I met college kids from all over the country who had come in the name of Christ to show their support, policemen from all over, including my home state of Virginia who had come to serve and protect the people of the Gulf Coast, and residents of Pass Christian and Long Beach, who were grateful most of all that we had come -- that we had not forgotten.
There is no better place in the world to see, feel, and meet the Living Christ than in Pass Christian, MS. Spend a day or two or ten volunteering at God's Kitchen, or with the people from Campus Crusade or Samaritan's Purse -- or even just at the distribution center at Coast Episcopal High School. It will change your life forever.
Godspeed to all of you.
Frances Metcalf
# Posted by: frances metcalf at December 1, 2005 01:05 AMHad an awesome 10 days serving at God's Katrina Kitchen. It was great to see the body of Christ in America come together and serve the people of the Gulf Coast. I was blessed greatly by the people I met from all over. I look forward to returning with my wife on January 2 for at least 4 months to help with relief.
For His Glory,
Chris
I had the chance to be in Pass Christian in October and was truly blessed by my experience. When tragedy like this strikes, so many people ask "where is God?" Well my answer to that is go down to places like Pass Christian and surrounding areas and see what people are doing for their fellow man. Look at these pictures on this site and notice the people enjoying a Thanksgiving meal, even though they are without so much. After you do that come back and try to convince me God is not right in the middle of it. If you get the chance to go and help these people get their lives back to normal, please go. You will never forget it.
Donny
I hope that my family is working hard and spreading the word of God to those who dont have Jesus in their hearts. Lots of love goes out to my brother Chett Graves and cousins John & Erin Guthrie and their two children John Tylor & Tanara and to Rebekah Guthrie & Moriah Guthrie. through their experience those of us here in NY are understanding the devistation that is going on there. God Bless
# Posted by: Angel Graves at January 5, 2006 04:24 PMDuring my second trip to Mississippi, I spent two weeks serving at God's Katrina Kitchen with three other life-friends from Los Angeles. We will be back in the Pass at the end of January. Please visit www.radiorax.com/katrina to view a video shot in Pass Christian and at GCC during Thanksgiving. May God bless everyone who has given of themselves to serve in the Gulf. THE CHURCH HAS LEFT THE BUILDING!
-Mark Landes
# Posted by: Mark Landes at January 13, 2006 10:27 AMPlease feel free to download the above-mentioned video and make your own DVD. There is a version available (www.radiorax.com/katrina) that is a DVD .iso - an image ready to be burnt to DVD.
The goal of this video is to spread the word, and serve as a "recruiting" tool for churches, etc.
If you need help with making DVD's, or would like to contact me, my email is mark@radiorax.com
-Mark Landes
# Posted by: Mark Landes at January 13, 2006 10:36 AM