by Father Mike Birdsong
Vicar of St. Michael and All Angels Church
Thomaston, GA
Then the King will say to those on his right, “Come, you who are blessed by my Father; take your inheritance, the kingdom prepared for you since the creation of the world. For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in, I needed clothes and you clothed me, I was sick and you looked after me, I was in prison and you came to visit me.” “Then the righteous will answer him, “Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you something to drink? When did we see you a stranger and invite you in, or needing clothes and clothe you? When did we see you sick or in prison and go to visit you?” The King will reply, “I tell you the truth, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers of mine, you did for me.” —Matt 25:34-40
This past Monday my heart was overwhelmed as several from Ten Cate Finishing Plant and Quad Graphics teamed together and purchased $4000.00 of food items to give to the House of Care, a ministry of 1st Baptist Church in Thomaston, GA, and the Society of St. Nicholas, the food Ministry of St. Michael in Thomaston, GA. The $4000.00 was split between four teams, and each team went to four different stores as to help the local business with a $1000 purchase each. Afterwards we all met at the two different locations and unloaded, stacked and arranged the items for the upcoming week to give to those in need.
Mike Anderson, the Plant Manager of Ten Cate, when asked why we did this said that, “We are trying to help others in our community. The people in this city and county are suffering and hungry.” This statement is so true and with a 13.3% unemployment rate in Thomaston/Upson County, approximately 3,000 persons needing a job, the need is there.
But what mostly amazed me throughout the whole event was that the scripture above, the ministry of Christ was coming to past. So thank you, Ten Cate and Quad Graphics and all the men and women that helped, thank you dear members of St. Michael for coming out to help unload and stack all the groceries that we received and thank you for your faithfulness each week to serve others in the community.
Blessings to you all,
Mike+
