Lenten Soup Dinner

The annual Lenten Soup Dinner began at St. James Parish in 1992 when several parishioners saw the need for an activity within the parish where parishioners could come together to share a simple meal as a community, grow in their awareness of the needs of the poor, and make a donation to a soup kitchen in Newark where several St. James women had been volunteering for many years.

In order to achieve the goal of identifying with the poor, the meal is served in the same manner as the meals are served at the Newark soup kitchen. For example, you are given a number when you enter, and are called to eat in that order. This can be an important lesson - one youngster told his mother after attending this dinner that he didn't ever want to have to go to a soup kitchen because he got a high number and was the last one in line!

Also, just as at the soup kitchen, everything is donated. We rely wholly on the Lord to send people to help and donate of their time, treasure, and talent. Since we have no way of knowing how many people will come, we trust the Lord will supply what we need.

This annual event is unique in that everyone is invited - the young, the elderly, families, singles - no one is excluded. The donations are free will, according to how the Spirit moves people. Throughout the years, the number of people attending has varied from as few as 40 to as many as 200.

The date for the soup dinner this year is Thurs. Feb. 17th at 6:00 p.m. in the church auditorium. Contact Sandy Furst at 221-1144 for further information.