and damp on January 11th but

the atmosphere inside Christ

Lutheran Church in Perry was warm

and inviting. Approximately 30

guests enjoyed food and fellowship

at a free Friday lunch served at

noon. The church, located at 733

Carroll Street, recently partnered

with Perry Volunteer Outreach to

sponsor Thee Lord’s Table. Since

September 14, 2007, the two groups

have come together each Friday to

provide healthy, hot meals to those

in need, but it takes many people

working together to keep this ministry

running.

Kim Schave, who is a Deaconess

at Christ Lutheran Church, spearheaded

the project. While she and

her husband, Pastor Steve Schave,

were doing volunteer work at Grace

Village in Perry, they spoke with the

director, Frank Shelton about ministries

needed in this area. At Mr.

Shelton’s suggestion of a soup

kitchen, Steve and Kim volunteered

to host the new ministry, knowing

they would get other churches

involved in the community effort.

Currently more than eight local

churches are working with Thee

Lord’s Table to provide Free Friday

lunches to anyone in the community

who is in need. Pastor Schave says

of the joint effort, "It’s amazing to

see God working through churches

in Perry. We truly are Christ when

we are feeding the poor and helping

the needy and telling the word of

God. This is our faith lived out every

day."

One of the churches involved in

Thee Lord’s Table ministry is

Calvary Way Community Church.

Sharon Watts, a member of Calvary

Way, originally planned to help once

a month when other members of her

congregation serve. She has become

so attached to the guests that she

helps serve every week. "It’s just

gratifying. It blesses my heart," Mrs.

Watts said. "You learn so much

about people. One visitor, a

WWI veteran, knows more history

than any history book I’ve ever

read. It was interesting to meet him

and have an opportunity

to hear his stories." She has come to

know the guests so well that she

even knows what they prefer to

drink, pouring the drink when she

sees them come inside.

Pearline Washington is a guest

who can be found at Thee Lord’s

Table almost every week. She found

out about the Free Friday lunches by

participating in Bingo on

Wednesdays, which is an activity for

Senior Citizens sponsored by Perry

Volunteer Outreach. She enjoys the

meal and entertainment as well as

the devotion that is given by Pastor

Schave before the meal is served.

She likes having members of the

community provide music, especially

when she can sing along. Ms.

Washington enjoys the Free Friday

lunches the most when school children

sing when they are out of

school.

Another senior citizen who

found out about Thee Lord’s Table

from participating in Bingo is Annie

Mims. Ms. Mims comes to Christ

Lutheran Church each week for the

company of others. "When you eat

alone it’s not fun," she says, "but

when you come to Thee Lord’s

Table there’s fellowshipping and

good food. Food is always better

when you eat with someone else."

Most of the food is provided by

Longhorn’s Butcher Shop, the

employees of Perdue Farms, and

Kroger in Centerville. These businesses

make food donations on a

monthly basis. Sunday school classes

from various area churches provide

many of the side dishes, while

the remainder is provided by individuals.

Thee Lord’s Table relies on

donations to support its work and is

always in need of nonperishable

items such as large cans of fruit and

vegetables, dried pasta, rice, spices,

condiments, coffee and tea. Fresh

foods can be donated the week of

the meal. Paper plates, plastic cutlery

and other disposable products

are also needed.

There are plenty of volunteer

opportunities available as well.

Members of the community are

needed for meal planning, setting up

for the meal and cleaning up afterwards,

greeting guests and presenting

activities at the conclusion of the

meals.

If you are interested in making

donations or serving, please contact

Kim Schave at 987-6016 for more

information. You may also contact

Perry Volunteer Outreach at 218-