Vivian writes:
Dear Wallyhood Blog Editors,
My name is Vivian Little. I have been reading your blog for the last three months. I lived in the Fremont neighborhood for 14 years. I have worked and worshiped in Fremont/Wallingford for over 12 years.
After reading in Wallyhood Blog, the variety of responses from neighbors regarding Nickelsville locating at Keystone Congregational Church [Nickelsville Coming to Wallingford, Nickelsville Moves On], I wanted to let you know of a wonderful community building effort happening at Gift of Grace Lutheran Church at the corner of 40th and Meridian called GraceFeast. GraceFeast is a free delicious meal that intends to bring Wallingford neighbors together, regardless of station in life, those who live comfortably in homes and those who perhaps have no home. The food is fresh and homemade and it is served with genuine personal welcome and care.
The fear and anger that I heard in the responses from some of the neighbors made me hope that if they could have the opportunity to meet face to face with their homeless neighbors, there may be better understanding, less fear, more compassion, and more ? God only knows.
I wanted to invite the homeless group at Keystone Congregational to our meals. My plan was to drop off our GraceFeast invitation and leave. When I entered the church I was greeted by one of the church leaders and though I really had not intended or wanted to see anyone, I felt encouraged to talk with him about the homeless group and how generous I thought their congregation was to receive them in spite of the negative responses I read in the Wallyhood Blog. The conversation led to my invitation of the homeless to the GraceFeast. The leader invited me to meet the group of people living in the sanctuary and personally invite them. Here I am thinking that I never imagined I would be personally connecting with anyone, just dropping off my invitation! My talk with the homeless persons was the most uplifting part of my week. I was not afraid. On the contrary, I felt welcomed by them and hopeful that our paths would cross again!
That’s the point to GraceFeast, to allow a variety of persons to gather and spend time together over a meal with no other agenda. The food for these home cooked meals is donated and prepared by the Gift of Grace congregation. Fresh bread is donated by Essential Baking Company and fresh greens are donated by Irwin’s Neighborhood Bakery and Coffee House. We are very grateful that other Wallingford businesses are supporting this community building endeavor and hope that many neighbors will be moved to investigate what is happening at this meal. Everyone is welcome. GraceFeast is served every Sunday at 11:30AM. Anyone interested in participating in any way may contact me, Vivian Little ([email protected]) at 206-795-1220 or Pastor Jami Fecher at 206 226-5299.
Thank you,
Vivian Little
Sometimes I love Wallingford so much, it makes me want to cry.
Thanks for posting this! In the midst of so many threads about hunting down sex offenders and monitoring cars ‘not known to the neighborhood,’ it’s nice to be reminded that there are inclusive and generous people in our neck of the woods!
Thank you, Vivian. This is awesome!
Vivian, thank you for this. I was also feeling sad after reading some of the the responses here. What you are doing reminds me that Wallingford is still the accepting community that I want to believe that it is.
We are serving meatloaf, baked potatoes and the fixins, green beans and fresh bread from essential Baking Company and Salad from Irwin’s Bakery and Coffee House this Sunday 11/22. You are welcome. If you come, please introduce yourselves to me!
To Lauren, Raffaella and Chris,
Though Gift of Grace is located in Wallingford, the congregation consists mostly of people who live outside of the Wallingford neighborhood. My post about GraceFeast was and is an invitation to the neighborhood to come and check out what is happening at Gift of Grace. Sunday Service at 10AM and GraceFeast at 11:30AM. It is awesome!