We Need Your Help!

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THE TABLE is a community kitchen with a heart to serve the South Side. No ID or check-in are required. Just come as you are.  THE TABLE serves a free, hot meal from 5:30 to 6:30pm every Tuesday and Thursday. Everyone is welcome.

At THE TABLE, meals are provided by various volunteer groups and churches from the Pittsburgh area and are served at the Hot Metal Bridge Faith Community (HMBFC).

For those living on the margins, and those who struggle with poverty, it isn't the lack of money that is the most difficult. It's the lack of community. 

In the last three years, Hot Metal Bridge Faith Community (HMBFC) has been able to support a "Table Minister;" someone who not only takes care of the logistics of feeding over 200 people each week, but also creates relationships, develops trust, and is considered the pastor at the "church" that is called The Table.  Jenn Frayer-Griggs has taken on this challenge because she loves these folks, and she loves feeding people. And sometimes following the call of Jesus is as simple as that.

Unfortunately, due to financial struggles, HMBFC will no longer be able to fund the position, and the future of our feeding ministry is uncertain. So of course, now it the time to think about expanding! 

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Can you help us keep THE TABLE going? Can you help expand the ministry?

• The Table needs approximately $5000 to cover supplies and the occasional meal when we are unable to get outside groups to bring food in. 
• In addition, $6,000 would fund one year of a Specialized Intern. 
• $39,000 would fund the minimum salary and benefits of an ordained pastor of the PC(USA). 

Yes. I know this is crazy. But so was feeding 5,000 people with five loaves and two fish. 

I think Jesus might have a hand in this feeding too...

Can you help get us half way there? All the way there? Further?  There's always more work that can be done! 

What would happen if there were Tables going all over the city, offering folks a warm meal, some community, a place to call their own? 

It'd be crazy. The Jesusy kind of crazy.

• About a year and a half ago  a new Table Ministry in the Brookline Neighborhood was created, and it's still going strong.
• In June, we helped start a meal ministry to the folks in Bellevue. We serve approximately 75 folks there every Monday night.
• We have plans to expand to at least one more location in 2015!

DONATE HERE! 

www.tinyurl.com/thetableministry

you can even sign up to support our program through a sustainer plan - you'll be doing good and you won't even know it!
Hot Metal Bridge Faith Community is a 501c3 nonprofit, so you'll even be able to claim this on your taxes! yay!

Can't offer money?  No problem!  Your help is still needed!
Consider praying for THE TABLE!
Think about volunteering some night!
Spread the word! Share the link! Talk it up! Come share a meal!

We'll be posting updates after every $500 we raise, so stay tuned and join in on the fun.

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Crowd Funding is LIVE!

Help Spread the Word and Join in on the Fun!

We have sixty days to get this done. I know we can do this!

https://www.indiegogo.com/projects/the-table-ministry-and-outreach-coordinator/x/3228913

OR.

Click on the link below:


I WANT TO SUPPORT THIS MINISTRY!

True Riches

This is a guest post from our friend, LuAnn.  She writes about her experience serving at The Table:

Last Thursday night, Sam and I had scheduled ourselves to take care of the meal at The Table. We went to GFS and shopped for the food. We became more stressed by the minute. What should we fix? Will it taste good? Will we have enough for 100 people? We decided on chicken mixed with vegetables, tater tots and a cookie for dessert. We weren’t sure about doing rice for that many.

So after stewing about the meal all day we thought – why do we do this? We always get stressed out and we just aren’t good at it. Maybe it’s time to STOP doing these meals.

We showed up at the church and were immediately met by several men who helped carry everything in. No effort on our part, except to pop the trunk door. We got inside and Larry got the oven on and Al & Larry started to plan what to do. Al decided that cooking the vegetables in big trays on the stove top was best. They added the spices and butter. Al decided to warm up the chicken pieces on the big griddle. “I love to cook on the griddle”, Al said. “I’ll do it.” The tater tots were placed on big trays in the oven.

Was God telling me something? Can you trust me enough to provide the help you need? Can you just shut up and cook? Maybe you’re just supposed to provide the meal.

During that meal, we had help from Al, Larry, Charlie, Tom and others. A dear sweet woman came into the kitchen and faithfully rolled up the silverware in napkins. It’s “her job”.  Others bagged up chocolate that someone donated. Others clean up the tables.

People enjoyed the meal because it wasn’t something they normally get. We need to adjust it for the next time but many people were fed. Our job basically didn’t exist. We didn’t have to do much at all but help serve it. We had all the helpers we could possibly want.

Dishes were washed as we ate and dirty dishes were put in the dishwasher. What was the big deal, LuAnn? Why were you so worried? Can’t you just do things without complaining?

At the end of the night, Erich came in straight from working. He stopped to get food but didn’t like vegetables mixed with the chicken. He didn’t complain. He just went straight to the sink. You see he washes dishes for The Table. He said, “This is my home”. I’m still suffering guilt over his lack of a meal.

When we climbed in the car, barely doing anything for the night, Sam chuckled. I said, “Don’t say it. I got the message from God. I know you did.” We WON’T stop doing the meals. We have to remember this night. God taught us a huge lesson. Giving is what it’s all about.

“Whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows generously will also reap generously. Each man should give what he has decided in his heart to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver. And God is able to make all grace abound to you, so that in all things at all times, having all that you need, you will abound in every good work. As it is written, ‘He has scattered abroad his gifts to the poor; his righteousness endures forever.’ Now he who supplies seed to the sower and bread for food will also supply and increase your store of seed and will enlarge the harvest of your righteousness. You will be made rich in every way so that you can be generous on every occasion, and through us your generosity will result in thanksgiving to God.” II Corinthians 9:6-11

The blessings have been given to Al, Erich, Tom, Mooney and Charlie. They don’t have much. They’ve lived under bridges and along train tracks. God, however, has given them the gift of giving – cheerfully and without thinking about it. They aren’t shooting for an award. They give because they want to. It’s who they are.

Did I learn anything from this meal? Yes, many things. I’m to give cheerfully, not under compulsion. I will have all I need if I trust God, even when we think we don’t have enough or don’t have the energy. I should learn to give with my whole heart because it’s the right thing to do. My harvest will be richer and bountiful if I give. I will be made rich in EVERY way and through my giving, thanks will be given to God.

I learned from those men that night. I came away feeling like I mean something and I know they mean something to me. How blessed I am to know them!

Dear God – Often I’m taught a lesson by people who aren’t trained preachers. I know those men love The Table and they would do anything to keep it going. I know that they are thankful for much more than I’m thankful for. I know it’s an honor to call them my friends. I know I am richer because I know them. Thank you for the privilege to give and increase my harvest. Amen.

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From an Eighth Grader's Perspective

This is a video made by Katie, who is an eighth grader at Avonworth Middle School. It is just fantastic, and I'll let the video speak for itself!

Go Here to view the video: http://www.takeashotcontest.org/entityform/67
 
She has entered her video in a contest. Go here and vote for her!: http://www.takeashotcontest.org/voting

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The Table Is a Congregation. The Table Needs a Pastor.

A snapshot of our Congregation:


  

Sara and Kate are both homeless and pregnant.

George has been living without electricity or heat for over ten years.

Mike has a pacemaker and a drinking problem. But he's doing ok right now.

Freddie has health problems and schizophrenia.

Carol loves him. But they can't get married because it will cost one of them their benefits.

John is addicted to crack and is homeless. But wants to start a non-profit to help people.

Dorothy has cancer. She's in her seventies and makes sure to bring three meals to her home-bound neighbors.

Dave is a drunk who has lived on the streets for years. He's finally cleaned up and inside, but struggling to adjust to the change.

Warren is a hoarder living with HIV who loves birds and nature and learning about holistic healing.


Susan lives with persistent pain. She is starting to get addicted to her pain medication. She says the only thing that keeps her from killing herself is her cat, Charlie, who needs her.

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*names have been changed to protect privacy

What the heck is going on in there?

This is Tara. She recently graduated from law school and has no idea what's next in her life.  She lives up the hill from Hot Metal Bridge Faith Community. She's walked past this place during The Table often and wondered, "what the heck is going on in there?" So just yesterday she came to find out. She said, "I just woke up and decided that I wanted to feed people today, so I thought I'd stop by and see if you need any help." She plans on joining us again this Thursday.

Y'all, if that ain't a slice of the Kingdom of God, I don't know what is.

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Just a warm meal, a blanket, some toothpaste. That's all we've really done.

"I love The Table and the people who have helped me so much! It's good to know that there are places like The Table who truly care. Love, Bonz"

 

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