At a time when it seems organized religion is struggling to keep its audience and many rural churches are closing, Calvary Lutheran Church in Antigo is looking to expand its facility and create a space that will allow them to increase their service to the communities they serve.
Three years ago, the congregation decided to create a community meal event they call Food With Friends as a way to reach out and provide a home-cooked meal open to anyone who wanted to enjoy some great food and company. In the past three years, they have served more than 5,000 people. The event takes place one Wednesday night a month from September to May.
Food With Friends was outgrowing the fellowship hall, and at the annual meeting a few years ago, the church began looking at expanding the kitchen.
“Peace Lutheran Church putting the property next door up for sale a year ago was an indicator God was doing something wonderful,” said Pastor Jen Sosinski. “Through a series of miracles, we were able to acquire it.”
The first phase of the project required the removal of a home on the property that was completed June 4. The intent of Calvary is to create more space to serve the community.
Included in the construction wish list is an overhang to allow those with mobility challenges to enter without being exposed to the weather, and to build an area for families of children with autism to gather for support groups specialized for their needs.
Calvary’s building committee will begin meeting soon, and plans will be formulated to complete this endeavor throughout the next several years. The cost is unknown, but Sosinski is confident God will touch the hearts of those who might want to be part of this undertaking and will donate toward the completion of it.
Sosinski applied for an ELCA Hunger Grant, and Calvary was one of only 75 outreaches across the country to receive this grant. She acknowledges it is a very small dent in what is going to be needed to complete this project, but is encouraged by it.
“Food With Friends community meal began with God’s whisper to my heart,” Sosinski said. “I was uncertain exactly how to accomplish something like this, but deep down, I knew God was leading this venture.”
In the beginning, a member of Calvary, Melissa Ferg, stepped forward offering to cook. The first few meals were staffed by Ferg, Sosinski and a handful of confirmation students.
Through Dan Young, another Calvary member, Sosinski was introduced to Antigo Head Start director Karen Kieper. She began volunteering, reading to the children and getting to know the families. As relationships were built, and with Kieper’s encouragement, families began to attend the monthly meals, increasing attendance substantially. Head Start families, elderly, widowers and widows, church members and people from all walks of life have come together during Food With Friends.
Now, Food With Friends is made possible by faithful volunteers from Calvary who prepare the fellowship hall with welcoming decor, help Ferg prep meals or cook them so she can have a break, chop veggies, serve the salad bar and desserts, wash dishes and perform the huge task of cleaning up afterwards. Members of other churches and community members also help.
“We could not accomplish our Food With Friends effort without the collective group effort of so many kind and generous people,” Sosinski said.
Food With Friends does not ask anyone to contribute a set amount; donations are accepted but not expected. Anyone who needs a meal can get one without financial constraints.
“Our expansion is all about serving our community and meeting the needs of those around us. That’s what Jesus did, loved people, fed them, supported them,” Sosinski said. “That’s the heartbeat of the Kindred Lutheran Parish, being there when we are needed, not just on Sundays, but always.”
Sosinski has been the pastor for the past five years of the two-point parish of Calvary Lutheran in Antigo and St. John’s Lutheran in Birnamwood, known collectively as Kindred Lutheran Parish.
Although it would seem logical that providing meals might be an avenue for increasing church membership, Sosinski said the steady growth in both congregations has come from those who visit the churches and have experienced the positive, joyous and energetic atmosphere first hand.
In addition to helping with the Food With Friends ministry, St. John’s Lutheran provides a monthly church service offered at Autumn Lanes and Cloverleaf care centers in Birnamwood as well as communion for the residents.
Church expansion to meet the needs of the people
