Hi CH.  IMO food is very symbolic and central to the Christian faith.  The Eucharist or Communion is a highly ritualistic, abstract form of simply breaking bread as a community in peace and the awareness of the legacy of  Christ.  Bread and wine are too biblically literal IMO.  Any shared food is communion.

Personally, I wouldn't like to see all those opportunities for sharing food gone, (of course not!  ),  but I'd like it if somehow in sharing food, we could be brought to awareness of nourishing each other in community.

Food is something we all need, regardless of our station in life.  I unites our differences.  It shows we can sit down or gather together in our common need.

I have also heard  that you have to feed volunteers or they won't come.

God is good, Food is good?

I think it's funny because i'm eating a bagle right now xD

As-salaamu alaikum

-Omni

Can't type.  Eating.

Ho Ho

Eating physical food is eating-spiritual-food-symbolic.

Jesus did call himself the Life-Bread.

Eating food is good,but, it can be healthy food.  Bring fruit.

Just like there are positive and negative spiritual consequences of our actions, there are also negative and positive consequences of our eating habits.

As-salaamu alaikum

-Omni

I recall reading that some mennonite churches have the same concerns about too much food at church functions, so it's not just a UCC phenomenon by any means.

I'll bet they have more pie though,

Very true. The number of presbyters who are over weight is (pardon the pun) huge. That's why I rarely eat at church meetings and bring my own. It also helps me deal with food allergies.

Greetings!

As one who is struggling with a few extra pounds these days, I don't think food is the issue.  We have a need to be spiritually fed, and can be or are at church and when we gather with others.  We also need food physically.  So whether it is pie, casseroles, or fruit and veggies, I do not think it is so much the "what" but rather the amounts in which we choose to indulge and our lack of physical activity to use what we eat.

I am in the process of trying to make real in my life moderation in food, and it's not something I'm learning easily.  I'm needing to learn that it is okay to have a piece of pie at a church meeting (or anywhere else) or a dainty or two after lunch with my little sandwiches, or a cookie now and again, as long as I make the compensation elsewhere and don't go home and a whole pie along with a punch bowl full of chips and dip.  I am attempting to eat healthy 80-90% of the time and not worry about the rest.  Attempting, but unfortunately, not there yet!

So, eat on, all you church meeting and going people - and then walk around the block a few times before you sit down to the meeting!

Hope, peace, joy, love ...

dks? I don't know what presbytery you go to, but in ours, I would say if anything the people are in equal or better shape than the average population.  I know when I reflect on the population of the executive the only one that strikes me as overweight is me.

(note: I am comparing it to my population at work and church, and what I see in the gneral public)

I would agree with Beloved, that the issue is more the amount people tend to eat.  At church events it seems to be an all you can eat event and most people feel the need to eat until they are full, and then some.  I know it is hard for me to not at least try everything at a pot luck.  Of course this sometimes means the necessity of at least 2 plates of food, more than I would eat at home.  Then there is a plate of desserts.

There is something to eating together that encourages togetherness and fellowship.  I think of the verse where Jesus says he will come in and dine with us, by the way a plural "you" is used meaning the church.  I also remember when I did some work with Arabic Muslims and the cultural relevance to them inviting you into their home to eat, even if it was just coffee and a snack.  Think about what it means to invite someone into your house to dine with you.  I wonder if maybe many churches have lost something that is supposed to be inherent in eating together though.  Many church events seem to only encourage togetherness amongst a few, and others get lost to a table off to the side.  Maybe its a numbers thing.  It would seem much more meaningful if somehow everyone sat at the same table together, like the symbolism in sharing one cup at communion compared to handing out a bunch of little shot glasses. 

I would say that is not true of Toronto Conference ministry personnel in general. Some are extremely fit, while others (the majority) are less so.

I think the shared meal goes right back to the early church.    Not only did it provide an opportunity to share fellowship, but it also ensured that everybody got something to eat.  Many of us don't have that concern, but in our downtown church we do have people coming in for the coffee, muffins, sweets after church.  They mingle with the rest of the congregation and share the warmth and good humor and become part of the community even for just awhile. 

I also think that serving tea, coffee or even water at a meeting helps people to relax as they get down to work.  It might also prevent lateness - if people didn't know that we have the coffee pot on and home made sweets, they would be stopping at Tims on their way.

In following the law of complete disclosure, our church has an Annual General Meeting every spring for members to see the financial state of being.  Balance sheet, etc.  There is a pot luck first so people are more receptive with a full tummy.  However, to keep folks from eating and leaving, the don't put out desert until after. 

When there are important issues at hand, they are always better managed on a full stomach. But not TOO full. Nor too much  wine. 

-------

Taken from "Fellowship of the Ring"

After the feast (more or less) came the Speech.  Most of the company were, however, now in a tolerant mood, at that delightful stage which they called "filling up the corners".  They were sipping their favorite drinks,  and nibbling at their favorite dainties, and their fears were forgotten. They were prepared to listen to anything, and to cheer at every full stop.

dks --- "some are extremely fit, while others (the majority) are less so.

That sure sounds like the normal population.

I am curious what your expectations, or what you are comparing to?