Free Community Dinner (Cena Gratis)
It was Saturday night and our church was a buzz. It wasn’t because we were having a church service, but instead we were feeding the community—a free dinner for anyone who wanted to attend with no strings attached. The planning and preparation had been taking place for days. Flyers had been posted throughout the area. Volunteers had been lined up to assist with parking, greet the attendees, serve the food/beverages and even wash the dishes. The brisket had been cooking for 24 hours, the 80 pounds of potatoes had been peeled, sliced and pared for mashed potatoes, the brownies were baked, and the tables decorated. People began arriving—some came directly from work and some from the bar; some brought their families or friends while others came alone; some came not knowing that they were entering a church and some came because it was a church; some were new to town and others had lived in the Valley their whole life; some spoke English, some didn’t. Isn’t that what a church sho...