Reflection :: June 13
Director of Children, Youth & Family Ministry, Laurie Pierce shares the following reflection:
The kingdom of God is…. “like a mustard seed, which, when sown upon the ground, is the smallest of all the seeds on earth; yet when it is sown it grows up and becomes the greatest of all shrubs, and puts forth large branches, so that the birds of the air can make nests in its shade.” Mark 4:30-32 (NRSVA)
Last summer, after spending a year getting to know the staff at the MLK Center, together we hatched a plan to have a summer cooking club at St. Paul’s. At first, the top leadership at the MLK Center didn’t think our plan would work. They warned against trying this new idea. But MLK staff members pressed forward anyway, willing to give something (Cooking Club) and someone new (St. Paul’s) a try.
I put announcements out and invited parishioners to join me in facilitating a small group of children following a recipe. Twenty-five parishioners answered the call. Forty MLK children came. For seven weeks. Every week we made a new recipe — familiar or unfamiliar — from a different country, because their theme each week was a different continent. From Egypt, we made yogurt cucumber dip (Salatet Zabadee) with homemade pita bread. From Canada, we made maple shortbread cookies. From Brazil, we made acai bowls. We rotated between three classes of kids. When they weren’t cooking, they were having a blast on the playground or in the Youth Lounge & Nursery.
One Friday, we needed to use the Lilly Room instead of the Parish Hall. As I was walking the children back, they were curious about the sanctuary. I walked them through and their eyes widened. They got quiet taking in the magnitude of the space. Then, they quickly found the water and everyone stuck their hand in. To see our baptismal font, surrounded by young Black children took my breath away. The history of intentionality segregating congregations, including our own congregation, hit me in the face. This space has not always been welcoming of Black and Brown bodies.* And there is still much work to be done. But this moment, to me, felt like a small piece of what the Kingdom of God looks like.
When summer wrapped up, we collected all the pictures and recipes. I made a cookbook to give to each child to share with their family.
All school year long, as I’ve sat at the MLK Center on Wednesday mornings, I’ve heard from staff members how much they loved that cooking club. Every time there’s a new MLK Staff person, they say “Oh we've got to take you on a tour of St. Paul’s. You have to see it.” And they do. A few weeks ago, a whole crew of MLK staff showed up unannounced to show someone around. You know why? Because they feel comfortable here, like this is their home too.
St. Paul’s has hosted MLK Staff training days and last night hosted a community parent support group, where parents could get emotional support from each other, while children were being supervised on the playground.
Twelve St. Paul’s people showed up to the MLK Block Party on Friday, May 17 to build relationships, bring joy to kids through face painting and play games with the community. A young girl ran up to me and gave me a big hug. I hadn’t seen her since last summer’s cooking club, but she remembered.
Due to the success of last summer, we’re hosting Cooking Club again this year. It will be on Wednesday afternoons for elementary age kids. And we’re expanding to one high school group on Thursday mornings as well. Please join us. With all of us laughing, cooking and spilling flour together, we bring the Kingdom of God closer to earth.
*Watch “The Episcopal Awakening” to hear St. Paul's parishioner, Irma Boyett’s story and learn more about the history of racism at St. Paul’s.
Cooking Club is open to all ages (0-100) and everyone is encouraged to participate, no matter your cooking skill level. Click here to sign up.
Laurie Pierce, Director of Children, Youth & Family Ministry
