Another Week
of
Soup and Prayer
Lenten Soup Supper/Prayer Service
March 19th, 2003

Rolling in to St. Joan of Arc Wednesday evening March 19 at 5:05 pm, I am an hour early. I hope to document the kind of organized chaos I’m sure I’ll find in the bowels of Hospitality Hall before the dinner guests arrive for the annual Lenten soup suppers.

I don’t know exactly what time the earliest volunteers arrive, but when I walked in, the joint was fairly buzzing with activity. People were working the stoves, banging pots, slicing bread, making out a slightly embellished whiteboard menu and carrying plates full of an exciting variety of sliced bread and butter to the tables.

“Who’s in charge around here?” I ask. And without so much as a ‘howdy doody’, I was put to work opening a bottle of Chardonnay and one of Cabernet. That’s what I call order! By the time I managed to wrestle the corks out and fill a couple of elegant plastic cups, I was getting warm.

What the heck. I took my coat off and asked what I could do to help.

To my surprise the chaos was much more organized and pleasant than I imagined. Of course, working with fellow SJA parishioners, what could one expect? Before getting too intoxicated with the soups, I helped the volunteers set tables with napkins and spoons. Whew! I needed a break.

I sucked up big time to the lovely chefs with their huge pots full of enchanting fragrances and gorgeous colors. I told them I was a WebReporter hoping that would get me preferential treatment. Instead, I was told to “stir” and to please “keep stirring” a particular soup so the cream wouldn’t burn. Not that I minded. I had cracked the inner circle. The soup I happened to be tending was a Creamy Tomato with fresh Basil. Are you kidding me! Tomato soup is one of my favorites and this was truly the Mother of all Tomato Soups.

Other savory soups included:

Of course more soups arrived throughout the evening and I finally lost track of them. The fact that it was the Best Chicken Noodle soup ever was confirmed by one sweet woman at our table who claimed she was told about it last year, tried it, and it was true. She was eating it and raving about it again. It must be true. Sadly, I was already full by the time she gave me the lowdown.

Along with the Tomato, I tested the Zesty Taco Soup(right) (out of this world and the next!) the Cabbage Potato and Beef (I cant get enough of that!) and the Bean with Lots-a Ham (they weren’t kidding!).

I saw many friends and made several new ones. One new friend at our table said I was a “gentleman and a scholar.” I asked her if I could quote her on that as nobody would believe me. She looked rather skeptical so I guess it will remain hearsay.

As people filled-up on soup, bread and fellowship, they then made their way to the Church where the SJA Confirmation Candidates had planned and directed a wonderful prayer service. The theme was, Love Your Enemies. Musical talent was provided for by our dear friend, Steve Kremer.

One student gave an introduction and another gave us a greeting of peace. We then sang together, Let There be Peace on Earth. This was followed by a reading from Radical Grace by Richard Rohr and a moment of silence.

We were then asked to think of a person we found hard to love and to write that person’s name on a sheet of paper. We then placed them on the altar. I don’t know what ever happened to those sheets of paper! I’ll have to ask.

We said a Christian Prayer for Peace - Blessed are the Peacemakers for they shall be known as the children of God… and then closed with, Shower the People you Love with Love.

After this moving ceremony we were invited to watch the talk by Joan Chittister at the Women’s Ordination Conference on “Discipleship for a Priestly People in a Priestless Period.” When it was over the disciples then gathered in small groups and engaged in lively and interesting discussion. What a way to spend a Wednesday evening. We can’t thank you enough.
Rik Murray has been attending the 11:00am service at SJA off and on for about 15 years. He loves to share this time with his mom, step-dad, sister and nephew. Rik is a regular member of the SJA Bible Study and also enjoys the Meditation Group. Rik can be reached at riko8@iaxs.net.

Be sure to see what magic transpires at the next Wednesday Night Soup Supper and Prayer Service at the old country church!
Todd Dalebroux his wife Karen and their children have been active in several ministries at SJA including Sister Parish, Soup Suppers, and Religious Ed.

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