it's loaves and fishes time again

SUMMERTIME – we can almost smell the BBQ as we look forward to picnics with family, feeling the cool breeze at the beach and simply having fun.  But for many of our neighbors in Mercer County, summer days are no different from most others during the year - every day is a struggle to find a way to put food on the table and feed their hungry children.  Many of those folks look forward to the last two Saturday’s of every month where, through Loaves and Fishes at St. Mary’s in Trenton, they are served a delicious hot meal and sent home with bagged lunches to help them get through the week.

Many groups from around Mercer County pitch in to make this happen 24 times a year.  FOR THE LAST 20 YEARS, Nassau Church has provided a meatloaf dinner on the third Saturday in August.  How about adding Loaves and Fishes to the things your family looks forward to this summer?

We serve meals to over 600 folks - Nassau cooks make 200 meatloaves and bake over 2,400 home made cookies.  That day, we hand make over 800 PB&J sandwiches and include them in the 800 bagged lunches we prepare for our guests to take with them after they have enjoyed dinner.   In addition to our meatloaf with all the trimmings, we make and serve gallons of iced tea, lemonade and hot coffee along with a great brownie desert.  We also serve breakfast with donated pastries and bagels.  We do all this at St. Mary’s in Trenton, who graciously open the doors of their kitchen and multi-purpose room for Loaves and Fishes twice a month.   

Sounds like a lot of work, doesn’t it – but its great fun too?    Those of us who serve leave St. Mary’s hot, sweaty and tired.  But we also leave with a smile on our faces and a wonderfully warm feeling in our hearts - knowing that we have given a little piece of ourselves to make a small difference in the lives of others.  As a bonus, we also get to personally know church members who before that day we only smiled at as we arrived at church.  This day also gives us an idea of what the Crisis Ministry and TASK does each weekday of the entire year – it reminds of how blessed we are to be God’s people. 

Now, as you read this we bet you are wondering how can I get in on all this fun!  

FIRST, THIS YEAR’s DATE IS AUGUST 18.   To help us that day we need:

To signup on My Nassau, please click here. Please choose what you are interested in signing up for, Click the “I’m Interested” button, and then sign in to My Nassau. We will send you an email confirming your registration.

To sign-up at fellowship time after worship starting July 8.  Recipes and more details will be available there

In addition, please feel free to call Dave or Sharyn Kerschner (609 301 8335) to sign up or ask questions.  Email us at dave@kerschner.us or skersch@comcast.net.  Let’s all have some fun together as we continue Nassau's tradition of sharing and caring by serving our friends in need.

Meatloaf Recipe
1 envelope Lipton Recipe Secrets Onion-Mushroom Soup Mix
2 pounds ground beef
1 1/2 cups fresh bread crumbs
2 eggs
3/4 cup water
1/3 cup ketchup

Preheat oven to 350°.  Combine all ingredients in a large bowl.  Bake in a disposal loaf pan or form into a meatloaf and bake in any pan one hour or until done.  If you don’t use a disposal pan, please remove it from the pan and wrap it in foil before you bring it to the church.

If you can, please drop off your meatloaves at the Nassau Church kitchen on Friday, August1 17, by 2:00 p.m.   If that drop off time does not work for you, you can drop your meatloaves off anytime between now and August 19.  They can be placed in the freezer in the church kitchen – just look for the marked shelves.

Driving Directions
St. Mary’s Cathedral
151 North Warren Street, Trenton, NJ

1. Take Route 1 South.  (Where Route 1 and Business Route 1 divide, remain on Route 1 (that is, stay left).)

2 Get off at the Perry Street exit.  Make a left at the top of the exit ramp onto Perry Street.

3.  Proceed straight down Perry Street, through the intersections with North Stockton, North Montgomery and North Broad.  You will soon see the Cathedral ahead of you, at the corner of Perry Street / Bank Street and North Warren Street.

4. There is plenty of free secure parking behind the Cathedral.