Peace Meal

Tzimmes

Since the program’s founding in 2006, St. Mark has been part of this free fellowship meal prepared and served every Saturday from 4 – 5:30 PM in the Parish Hall at St. John’s Episcopal Church which is located on Arsenal across from Tower Grove Park.

This program is called the Peace Meal Project because a meal is only a small piece of the puzzle when it comes to addressing poverty, inequality, and loneliness. Sharing a fellowship meal together brings us closer to the Reign of God that we hope for – a community of justice, peace, and dignity for all people.

From just one congregation involved, the program has grown to eleven congregations; most Episcopal, but also Roman Catholic, Mennonite, and Presbyterian, that serve on a rotating basis. St. Mark’s “peace mealers” are coordinated by Bruce and Candy Cranston and serve 4-6 times each year.

On the Saturday before Easter, St. Mark volunteers prepared and served a menu consisting of fresh greens, mixed vegetables, ham with pineapple, Tzimmes*, bread and butter, along with ice cream, cake, and cookies for dessert. All ingredients and equipment were ready upon our arrival. Tables, chairs, and food preparation activities were supervised and directed by an experienced St. John’s member.

The food was nourishing and enjoyed by the diners. The volunteers were blessed to serve our neighbors. Neighbors that ranged in age from toddler to silver senior, different shapes, sizes, colors, backgrounds. Conversation topics were as varied as the participants and ranged from weather, food, politics, health, diet, prayer requests for family members, as well as personal joys and concerns. After the meal, attendees are able to receive information about support services and are invited to participate in a brief evening prayer service.

 The St. Mark Mission Committee thanks the congregation for your ongoing support. A portion of the funds raised through the Board of Deacons led ABC sale benefit the Peace Meal Project. If you are interested in volunteering, please contact Bruce or Candy Cranston. For more information, please visit: https://www.towergrovechurch.org/serving/peacemeal-project *Tzimmes is a traditional Jewish roasted vegetable dish with a honey-apple sauce. This was a hit for the diners including the St. Mark volunteers. Many came back for seconds and there were no leftovers. The source of the recipe may be found at: https://chosenpeople.com/ site/tzimmes/