Holy Spirit, Vashon Island

The Wednesday Night Dinner program began in June, 1990.  It was the dream child of Sally Carlson, in response to Jesus’ words, “feed my sheep.” Since the first dinner, no Wednesday has been missed. These and the Saturday lunches are now part of an Island-wide program of daily meals coordinated by the Inter-Faith Council on Homelessness. The Wednesday night dinner begins at 5:30 in the church basement, known as Bennett Hall.

There is a policy of no preaching; the meal is offered to all, whatever the need. Many Islanders are homeless, unemployed, or in transition. Many who live alone come for good fellowship around a shared table. The meals are prepared and served by teams of Islanders, some from faith and service communities and some unaffiliated. Financial support comes partly from a generous 1% rebate program offered by both Island grocery stores. The groceries, and also local bakeries and the flower shop, donate food and table decoration to make this a special, sit-down meal with quality offerings.

2016 IFCH Coordinator Arnon Burns has this to say about our dinners: “The Wednesday night meal is the longest running meal on Vashon Island. The dinner gives members of the community from all walks of life the opportunity to meet in fellowship and break bread together, offering sustenance of body and spirit. The meals at the Church of the Holy Spirit are varied and inspired, by loving cooks and volunteers who ask nothing in return but the warmth that is felt by giving in love to one another. I feel these programs represent the evolution of human spirituality, evolving to a time when humanity will live for one another and hold brotherly/sisterly love in highest esteem.”

Because there is a natural gas stove and a backup generator for emergency electricity, the fellowship hall can be counted on for a warm meal, even with the occasional power outages we expect on Vashon. 

Church of the Holy Spirit has joined a community effort to make certain a free meal is offered somewhere on the island every day of the week. These meals are for anyone showing up, no questions asked. Our day is Saturday and because of the difficulty of consistently preparing and serving a sit-down meal, we have created a “brown bag” meal.

Saturday afternoons at 4:00 a small group of volunteers prepare and wrap hearty sandwiches in our church kitchen. Added to this are home-baked cookies, and fresh fruit. Our filled brown bags are distributed at a centrally located spot in town along with coffee, hot chocolate, milk and fruit juice between 5 and 6:00. These meals are well received by recipients who appreciate being able to take them home. With two sandwiches in each bag this meal can be eaten whenever one chooses.

This is a quiet ministry often blessed by anonymous contributions… a bag of fresh fruit, freshly baked brownies…  Our parish cares deeply about this outreach and a great many parishioners contribute in whatever way they are able.