Lessons From the Church Cookbook

by Janel Johnson

[ See also How the Cookbook Fund-Raiser Came to Be ]

Leaving services, I anxiously awaited opening my beautiful new Church cookbook, the labor of love for the Good Works Program. I didn't realize it would also be immeasurably full of food for thought.

Within only a few page turns, contributions appeared from a sister in Canada, then El Salvador, Zambia, South Africa and Australia. Having met some of these contributors by living in and traveling to these far away places, I was reminded of the apostle Paul's statement: "The body is not one member but many" (1 Corinthians 12:14).

Attempting these new recipes will help me to remember my international family since we have been baptized into one body and we all drink one Spirit (verse 13). Mixing these contributions with a heaping measure of reflective effort will insure learning the lesson to remember all those who make up our household of faith.

Revealed within several pages are the creative traditions that families have developed for preserving God's precious Sabbath and Holy Days. How invigorating to be part of such an enthusiastic group committed to taking God's directives of Deuteronomy 6 seriously. This conviction encourages everyone to learn the lesson that we must work hard to continue to build a strong legacy for our Church family's heritage.

On a much lighter note, the cookbook reveals that we love chocolate but we don't care much for fish!

Even with editing, mistakes happen. While they can be annoying, who among us hasn't made them? It only takes a moment of self-evaluation to put this into perspective. Printing mistakes can also give us an opportunity to laugh at ourselves. Enjoy them! Then reflect upon how life's intense daily pressures nullify our sense of humor. It's healthy to laugh—not at others and their misfortunes—but at ourselves and our frequent human failings. Laughter's benefit can't be measured in tablespoons, ounces or any metric equivalent, but it is vital to the recipe of life.

Another lesson from the cookbook is to reflect upon those who have died in the faith. The kindness, generosity and thoughtfulness of those who submitted recipes in someone's memory are among the signs of love within the Body (John 13:35).

Regrettably, I neglected to submit Flornia's "Beef and Green Bean Casserole" and "Peanut Butter Pie" that 15 years ago charmed my [then] teenaged son. With each preparation of her recipes, I celebrate the memory of her loving commitment to our local congregation.

Preparing these recipes gives us opportunity to reflect upon those who have touched our lives. Our cookbook reminds us that, "It is not how many years we live, but what we do with them." What a wonderful way to toast the gallery of the faithful who have gone before us.

Suggestions

Hoping to apply these lessons, I've resolved to do something more than cooking. Will you join me?

• When choosing a recipe from the cookbook, take a minute to offer a prayer to God for the person who submitted the recipe. Thank Him for that brother or sister in the faith and ask Him to surround him or her with His loving kindness.
• Pray for the success of the Good Works Program, that God will bless its effectiveness. Be thankful that you had a part in helping someone less fortunate.
• With the preparation of each recipe, be thankful that we live with abundant blessings and that we have the options of good food and clean water for our meals.
• Be thankful for God's faithfulness to us. Remember that the Kingdom we seek is not one of food and drink, but of righteousness, peace and joy (Romans 14:17). It is our Father's good pleasure to give this to us (Luke 12:32) and to satisfy us with His goodness (Jeremiah 31:14).

All cookbook contributors—whether men or women, whether local or international—are heirs together in this wonderful calling. We are bound together, stirring one another to good works. Seasoned by God's grace, we learn to serve Him with reverence and fear (Hebrews 12:28).

Needing His sustenance, we share spiritual meals with Him and with one another in attitudes of sincerity and service. "Cooking" together, convinced of the ultimate meal—the marriage supper with the Lamb—and committed to its preparation, we become the result of a well-constructed recipe within the pages of the cookbook. Flavors blending, with aromas like bowls of incense, we are sweetness to God. What can be more satisfying to the people of God than knowing we have pleased Him?

It's amazing what you can learn from a cookbook, isn't it? Bon appétit! UN

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How the Cookbook Fund-Raiser Came to Be

by Reba Walker

Just how does a fund-raiser for the Good Works Program get started? The driving force for a successful project is a fierce desire to help others who are in need. Much energy, work and time are involved—after the idea has been researched, discussed and finally selected and approved.

There are many noteworthy examples of successful fund-raisers held over the years in the United Church of God. This article focuses on the recent outstanding cookbook fund-raiser project.

After the Good Works Program was created by the Council of Elders as an arm of the Church to channel the efforts of members to help other members, there was great interest in the program. One of the interested people was Belinda McCloud. Belinda and her husband, Greg, are graduates of the first class of ABC. Greg is in charge of facilities maintenance and other functions at the home office, and they attend the Cincinnati (Ohio) East congregation.

Belinda had been instrumental in the very successful drive a few years ago to collect white shirts for school children south of the U.S. border, as well as a number of other humanitarian projects.

Belinda began to discuss ideas of how to raise money and to get many people involved. Through many discussions with friends, the cookbook idea was brought up, information sought, discussed with other friends and finally taken to Tom Kirkpatrick, Good Works Program coordinator, for his approval. He, of course, needed concrete information, numbers, cost, etc. This was when the real work began.

Research as to a publisher, size of book, number of recipes to be included and a myriad of details too long to list all had to be checked. After presenting the pertinent information and discussing it further with Dr. Kirkpatrick, the green light to go ahead was given.

The work of soliciting recipes from around the world began. The response was overwhelming. Belinda said that in her wildest imagination she never thought so many men and women from around the world would desire to share a recipe and participate in the project.

Sorting, categorizing and typing the hundreds of recipes was a monumental task and help came from many volunteers from the Cincinnati East congregation. Then it was time to move on to the decisions regarding the type of binding, the cover and the number of books to be ordered. After much discussion, counsel and talk with the publisher, the final decisions were made and the order given to the printer.

I think that after seeing the final outcome, we all agree that the hours of labor contributed by so many with Belinda's oversight produced a beautiful cookbook and was a very successful fund-raiser! To quote Dr. Kirkpatrick, "It certainly surpassed my expectations!"

Do you have the next winning combination for another successful moneymaker for the Good Works Program? UN