See you Sunday! 

We celebrate the Eucharist at 10. This week we begin a six-week walk through the sixth chapter of the Gospel of John, which includes the profound teachings of Jesus on himself as the Bread of Life. 

This week we hear the beginning of the chapter, in which Jesus feeds the multitude with a child's five barley loaves and two fish. And there are 12 baskets left over! What kind of economy is this, in which there is more than enough for all, even when you start with so little?

At last Sunday's vestry meeting, Joshua Chisholm from Congregations United for Neighborhood Action described his organization's goals and methods. The vestry decided that Grace's participation in CUNA's efforts could be an important part of our work in the city. 

A key CUNA project at the moment is to organize local faith communities and other entities to explore the creation of a Community Benefits Agreement (CBA) in relation to the planned hockey arena and other developments in downtown Allentown. Such an agreement, between a community coalition and developers, could be helpful to our neighborhood: it could commit developers, for example, to hiring local workers first. Or, if we know what kinds of skills will be needed by future occupants of planned new office space, a CBA could include provisions for local community colleges to provide appropriate training, so those jobs go to local people who need employment.

Interested parties will help shape the coalition and decide how it wants to proceed. There will likely be biweekly meetings, and Grace can send one or more representatives. I (Beth Reed) plan to attend when I can, and some other vestry members also volunteered. I imagine there could be a group of us who could participate, so not everyone has to go to every meeting, but so that we are represented and can add our voices. 

Are you feeling the need or call to do something more specific in response to the poverty and unemployment of our neighbors? This could be an avenue of loving response. Let me know if you would like to participate. 

For more information on CUNA, visit cunapico.org. To learn about Community Benefits Agreements, click here.

Ellen Roberts answered the call to tend some garden boxes in Allentown, and the produce that results will be given to our pantry clients. Patty McNamara and her son Michael also helped with the preparation of the garden beds. At right is a photo from last week: tomatoes, peppers, and beans will be the result! The children at Grace Montessori's Summer Camp are also tending veggie plants; again, the produce will go to pantry clients. 

Here are the June pantry numbers; they add up to 1,091 people served. In one month. In our neighborhood. 

• Families -- 323
• Adults -- 575
• Children --480 
• Seniors -- 36

Allentown is celebrating its 250th anniversary all year, and a parade and community festival on September 29 will be a highlight. The parade begins at the Fairgrounds and ends here in downtown, at Ninth and Hamilton. The festival will take place around the PPL Plaza.

Grace has been holding down this corner and participating in the life of the city for nearly 150 years. This could be a fun event to participate in!

For more information, click here.