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Martha's Helpers

Purpose

Martha’s Helpers is the newest expression of Second Church’s hospitality ministries. The idea for such a group was an outgrowth of brainstorming and “heart-storming” of the Kitchen Crew, often around a table covered with vegetables to peel. We slowly came to realize that, like Martha who saw her gifts best used in feeding those who sat at the feet of Jesus, many of us are called to feed our Lord’s sheep, including both those from within and from without the congregation.

We work to further incorporate both food-based ministries and food-based financing of those ministries into the life of Second Church.

History

Second Church has a long history of ministries focused on hospitality and fellowship around the table. The Dining Room capable of serving up to 200 persons (in a pinch) and the Kitchen with its collection of now old, but still sturdy, commercial restaurant equipment are enviable legacies from the 2PC pre-depression era. For many years, we had paid staff creating daily lunches for staff and dinners on Session and Trustees meeting nights. Over the years, this ministry also met the needs of those outside our immediate congregation. Many who are now congregation members started theirinvolvement with 2PC as post-WWII students and young professionals at the weekly dinners hosted in our Dining Room. Some actually met their future spouses at these events! In the 1970’s and early 1980’s, 2PC hosted a monthly luncheon forneighborhood senior citizens known as “Elderberries” and the annual Mustard Seed fundraising dinner-auction of the Joint Community Ministries.

Present

In more recent years, a group of “foodies” who are most comfortable in the kitchen have begun to catalyze an expansion of the impact of 2PC’s hospitality and food service into the church and into the wider community. The Lenten Soup and Salad dinners and Maundy Thursday dinner have become an essential part of our journey to Easter. Presbyterian Penne Pasta was invented as a Youth Group Fundraiser. BBQ picnics and “Crêpe Expectations” dinners under the porte-cochère have attracted people who would otherwise never have crossed our door steps. Our booth at the corner of Euclid and McPherson has become an integral part of the annual “Taste of the CWE” with our unique honey vanilla lemonade and pulled pork nachos.