Watertown Moravian Church
From the Pastor
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The end of the Gospel according to John records the experience of the Risen Lord appearing
to seven of his Disciples on the shore of Lake Tiberias. At Jesus’ direction the men – who
had caught nothing all night – lowered their nets and brought in a huge haul of fish. Then
Jesus invited them ashore to have breakfast. It was during that breakfast that Jesus said to
Simon Peter, “Simon, do you love me more than these others do?”
Peter answered, “Yes, Lord, you know that I love you.”
Jesus said to him, “Take care of my lambs.”
Jesus asked Peter a second time if he loved Jesus; to which Peter answered, “Yes, Lord, you
know that I love you.”
Jesus said to him, “Take care of my sheep.”
A third time Jesus asked Peter, “Simon … do you love me?”
Peter became sad because Jesus asked him the same question a third time, and so he said
to Jesus, “Lord, you know everything; you know that I love you!”
Jesus said to him, “Take care of my sheep….”
You’ll notice that the wording may be different from what you’ve heard before. Some
translations read, “Feed my lambs, …” “Feed my sheep.”
The Ebenezer Moravian Church and the Watertown Moravian Church are taking the
leadership role in planning for a second weekly community meal to be served on Mondays.
Our commitment is June through August. The dinners will begin at 5 p.m. and serving will end
at 6:30 p.m.
Who is this meal going to serve? It will serve those whose income is very low, who depend on
the Watertown Food Pantry on a regular basis, and perhaps other sources of help. It will
serve those who are looking for others with whom to share a meal, who normally eat alone,
and enjoy the opportunity to fellowship over a meal. It is for those who may not have the
intellectual, emotional, or rational capacity to provide well for themselves. This meal will be for
those who just want to see what it’s all about.
As the committee (including Shirley Crouse, Terry Letts and Cindy Heiden from our
congregation) has met and started planning for these meals there is a great deal of
excitement. They are answering the call of Jesus to “Feed my sheep,… Take care of my
sheep.”
Many of you have signed up by placing your name on the sign-up sheet that went around the
worshipping congregation for two Sundays in a row. Fifty people volunteered by signing up.
Perhaps more of you would like to be included. If so, call the church office and we will pass
your name along.
There are many ways to “Take care” of the Lord’s sheep. You could sign up for cooking
(food preparation under a head cook), set-up, serving, clean-up, financial support,
decorating, to name a few – or most – ways.
One of the planning committee members, at the last meeting, said she has heard the
comment from a few people: “Why do we have to do this? Those people can fend for
themselves.”
We do this not for “them” (the down-trodden, the poor, the lonely, those unable to help
themselves), but for us. It is an opportunity for us to serve our Lord by living out his words
from Matthew 25, the separating of the sheep and the goats. The sheep are the ones who
are welcomed by Jesus after they have served Him by serving/helping others in His Name.
Don’t do it “for them” … do it for your Lord and for yourself.
For your Information:
Pastor Barb’s Office Hours: Monday – Not in office
Tuesday – Friday: 9:30am – 1:00pm.
(Most often)
Also available by appointment.