SOWAC - from Pastor Benjamin

1 view

Skip to first unread message

Church Office

unread,

Jul 1, 2025, 10:24:52 AMJul 1

to pic-...@googlegroups.com

Brothers and Sisters in Christ:

God commands us to care for orphans and widows. When He gave the Law to Moses and the Israelites, He gave instructions for how to treat the orphans and widows among them—with harsh consequences promised if they failed in their responsibility (see Exodus 22:22–23). In the New Testament, James says that taking care of the needs of orphans and widows is part of religion “pure and faultless” (James 1:27). Caring for those in distress is not optional for followers of Christ.

Our church is on the edge of a community constantly in distress and need. Not all parents have enough to feed their children and rely on the school system to feed their children at least a decent lunch while school is in session. During the summer, the children’s’ nutrition is in jeopardy. Frederick County helps meet those needs through a Summer Lunch Program, relying on volunteers from local churches to distribute a good lunch during the week. SOWAC (Summer Outreach of Walkersville Area Churches) is the local program, feeding children at the Discovery Recreational Center in a clean, safe and positive environment.

Our congregation has participated in helping out this program for many years. This year, I have asked that we help this program the week of July 21. I need two or three people each day, Monday through Friday, to serve these children in need. You don’t have to do every day – one day is good, two days is great! The time you need to commit to is 11 AM to 1:30 PM (at the latest – usually we are done by 1). It is outside and it is July, but it is under the pavilion, so you are not in the sun. All you have to do is help to set up, make sure each child gets a complete lunch (one of everything the county provides) that they eat there at the pavilion and then you help clean up. See this document for details. It is easy work, not physically taxing, and yet it is satisfying to see their happy faces.

So, please consider giving a few hours to make a child happy and fed. It is not 5,000 souls, only a couple of dozen, but it is a great service to the Lord. There is a sign-up sheet on the bulletin board waiting for you to join in the service to our Lord and the people around us.