Lenten lunch, Christ’s words provide Food for Thought

ALBANY — As the Rev. Deacon Ri Lamb spoke of the pending crucifixion of Jesus Wednesday during her Food for Thought message at St. Paul’s Episcopal Church, she offered a personal take on the situation facing Mary, Jesus’ mother.

“In the eyes of Mary’s community, her son had committed such egregious deeds worthy of death on the cross,” Lamb said. “And while I’ve never personally suffered the loss of a child, I don’t imagine it gets much worse than this.”

Lamb spoke to a gathering of 70 or so in the third week of the five-week Food for Thought series, held at St. Paul’s and sponsored by Albany’s three Episcopal churches: St. Paul’s, St. Patrick’s, and St. John’s and St. Mark’s. Lamb is deacon at St. John’s and St. Mark’s.

The brief noon services each Wednesday during the five weeks before Holy Week follow a meal prepared by different organizations to benefit specific programs in the community. Volunteers from St. Clare’s Kitchen worked Wednesday to prepare and serve the food. Donations made will benefit St. Clare’s Kitchen.

“The season of Lent is a time to give beyond yourself,” the Rev. Lee Lowery, Rector of St. Paul’s, said before Wednesday’s service. “(The Food for Thought) services are a perfect time to get together, do some good for the community and build fellowship. This is, I believe, a perfect way to lead up to Holy Week.”

The five messages at the weekly services are based on the last words of Christ. Lamb spoke Wednesday on Jesus’ words, taken from the gospel of John 19:26, spoken first to Mary — “Woman, behold your son. — and then to his disciples — “Behold your mother.”

Retired Deacon Jim Bullion, who has served all three Albany Episcopal churches, will deliver the message next Wednesday. The Cursillo Reunion Group will serve the meal, and donations will benefit St. John’s & St. Mark’s Cyber Cafe. Lowery will be the speaker for the final week of the series March 25. St. Patrick’s volunteers will serve the meal, and donations will benefit St. Paul’s Clothing Room.

The services are open to the public, and while donations are accepted during the lenten meal, none is required to partake of the food served during the service.

The Food for Thought series raised more than $3,000 for area nonprofits in its first year last year.