I live in Lindsborg, Kan., affectionately known to many as “Little Sweden, USA.” Though Lindsborg has a rich Swedish legacy, myriad and diverse people call the city home. These diverse cultures are among us, yet their stories and traditions are often overlooked in our communal celebrations.
In my community, I dream about celebrating Hispanic History Month as part of our October festival. I imagine Swedish folk dancers coming alongside Mexican baile folklorico. My mouth waters at the idea of learning how to roll tamales and Swedish pancakes at back-to-back food demonstrations. In these ways, we would be together, creating recipes for renewal and honoring what each of us has to contribute.
As Christian communities, gathering around food is part of who we are. Our food and faith are connected at the communion table and around dinner tables. We share the bread and cup and are ourselves renewed by this sign of God’s grace. In this meal, we can discover a recipe for renewal. As we share and receive, as we forgive and are forgiven, as we are nourished, and as we celebrate, God’s wide and radical welcome is made known.
This message is excerpted from “Recipes for renewal” by Melissa Woeppel in the November 2023 Café online magazine. Today is the 17th Sunday after Pentecost. Today is the first day of National Hispanic Heritage Month (September 15-October 15) in the United States.
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