“When has the experience of fundraising been really life-giving to the church?”
For the past two springs, United Churches of Langley hosts and guests have enjoyed coming together to share a meal. They embraced an opportunity to make new and rekindle old relationships in a way that is only possible in a surprise set-up.
Fundraisers centering around the idea of food and companionship have been an enduring United Church tradition. We will remember that meals have been a backdrop in many of the Bible stories. Often in these stories, people who usually would not have sat down for a meal together meet unexpectedly: Jesus eating with tax collectors and undesirables, the sharing of loaves and fish amongst unrelated peoples, wedding feasts and feasts for a returned son, and, of course, the Lord’s Supper.
Fundraising and coming up with fundraising ideas are not always met with eagerness or zeal. I believe, however, that Guess Who Is Coming to Dinner fundraiser supports UCoL’s mission of being a thriving, engaged and community-building church. I hope that it also brought a breath of new liveliness and spirit to our congregation.
UPDATE: this year’s round of Guess Who Is Coming to Dinner raised $1,335, that will go to the church’s general account. Thank you to all hosts and guests!