Cosham Community Larder

Now, we are currently in the period called Holy Week, but what is it? Holy Week is the week, running from Palm Sunday to Easter Sunday.

But what does this all have to do with food?

Well… when everyone thinks of Easter, you start thinking about Easter Eggs. Traditionally across Lent, people were told NOT to eat Eggs until Easter, as part of their Lenten fast (which is why you make pancakes to use up the eggs and flour etc.) The eggs were then given out as a present for Easter day. Usually stained or decorated, or filled with gifts, the first chocolate Easter eggs appeared across the world in the 19^th Century, and then in 1873 were introduced to UK by the company Frys.

Now the next food item that might come to mind is… Hot cross buns. This is a tradition that goes further back. Hot cross buns were first recorded in 1773, and by the 18^th Century were tied to Good Friday, through the cross on top. Also, the bread is a nod to the bread, broken and shared at the Last Supper and the spices were to represent the spices Christ was wrapped in, in his tomb.

Nb. I know recently there has been some discussion on changing the cross to a tick, or something else, but we won’t be discussing that here.

Finally, a lesser thought of food is the Simnel cake. If you haven’t come across one, it is a simple fruit cake containing lots of marzipan, with eleven marzipan balls representing the disciples (minus 1 for Judas). It started off as medieval bread, before the 18^th Century turned it into a boiled pudding. You can find smaller versions of these in shops from Mothering Sunday, right up until Easter. For those of you who love Marzipan, it is a must have!

With all this food, I’m feeling full already!

There is plenty to join in with across the 2 Churches... Maundy Thursday experience, Good Friday witnessing then "at the foot of the Cross", Easter Sunday Dawn service and then Easter Sunday 10am joint service.

Please feel free to join in when you can. You will all be very welcome!

Happy Easter!

Over the last few months, we have seen so many people returning to the Larder. People who have been ill or in hospital, those who have changed their work hours and even those who have no real reason, but just wanted to pop back in to say hello!

It is always refreshing to see familiar faces, and especially those who we may have wondered or felt concerned about. There are many instances in the Bible where returning “home” is a key theme.

In Luke’s gospel, you have the very famous story of the prodigal son. One faithful son stays and works faithfully, whilst the other leaves to spend all his money and lead what is said to be a sinful life. The “prodigal” child returns home, and the father welcomes him with open arms (much to the resentment and jealousy of the faithful child).

The other story, that comes to mind, is the parable of the Lost sheep in the Gospel of Matthew. The shepherd has 100 sheep, but when counting only counts 99. He leaves the 99 and goes in search of the lost 1, who does return to the herd.

In both scenarios, we are reminded that even if we stray far from Church, a Christian life (or even the Larder), Jesus will welcome us all back with open arms. We will still be welcome to meet him at the Altar, just as we are.

This is the same across the 2 Parishes: we will welcome all of you, who return to us in one way or another. No judgement.

An important side note to remember, is that there is still love, for the Faithful Son and the 99-remaining sheep, and we are still just as valued as the people who return. In both stories, though, there is a huge sense of relief that these people are safe and home.

How many community activities, can you think of, where food is involved? Is it a craft club serving tea/ coffee and cake? Is it an Alpha course sharing a meal before they start? In all walks of life food is bringing people together.

The Larder was started to help the local community access good, healthy food for less, whilst preventing food waste. However, it has evolved into more than that. There are a group of people who meet up, sometimes an hour or two before the larder is open, to socialise because they have formed friendships from accessing a food hub.

Throughout his ministry, Jesus sat and ate with his disciples, Pharisees, Tax collectors and even those who were seen as outcasts and sinners. The very famous “breaking of bread” (which is copied each week at Churches all over the world) was the Last Supper, held on what we now call Maundy Thursday.

Don’t worry, we will cover Easter in more detail another day! 

Eating communally is a way to get to know each other better. A tasty ice breaker before or even during a group. It is also a great way to share a bit of yourself. Is it something that your family cooks, possibly from a different culture? The “proper way” to serve a scone with cream and jam? (Manager Emma sides with cream then jam). Or is it your chance to offer something in a small way? You might not be able to serve a 3-course dinner for everyone, but bringing a dish means you are involved and supporting others in a way that’s more manageable.

All these things are just important and just as valid!

There are many chances to join in over food, across the two parishes here in Cosham and Wymering. On a Monday, Wendy is cooking up a hot meal for those attending Monday Meet. On Wednesday, the Wellbeing Café is serving teas and coffees, alongside some crafts and quiet time. Even at Church, teas and coffees are served after the 09.15 service at St Peter & St Paul’s Church, Wymering or during the service at St Philip’s Church, Cosham (when it is Café Church, every 3^rd Sunday of the Month).

Jesus made a point of sitting down and sharing bread with his disciples. We should also seize any opportunity to sit around a meal with family, friends, or even new people. I am sure we will feel better, not just from the eating and drinking, but from pausing for a moment and discussing what is going on in our busy lives. We might also make a new friend or two along the way!

Have you ever found that you have needed to stretch a dinner, and the meal has gone further than you think it possibly could?

Do you have friends or family staying for dinner and your Bolognese must serve 6 instead of 4? Or someone turns up and the cake you have made needs to be cut into more pieces?

In the Gospel of Matthew, Jesus feeds 5000 people with 5 loaves of bread and 2 fish… and there was still 12 basketfuls of leftovers. Our first thoughts are HOW? How can such little food be spread across so many? I have been a part of the exercise, where a slice of bread is passed around a group, and each person must take a pinch of the bread. If everyone takes their share, there is usually something left. Maybe this happens with the 5,000? Everyone is taking a little amount… their pinchful!

This is something we notice regularly at the Larder. With everyone taking just what they need, sometimes less than their 10 or 20, we still have bits and bobs left over. (And, that is after serving 80-100 people across 2 sites!)

We also hear stories, from different households, about how an item of food can be used within 2 or 3 recipes per week. Pumpkins being made into pies, stews and pasta sauces. Tinned peaches used in crumbles, cakes and even jams! Each item of food can produce more recipes than you might initially think.

With the cost-of-living crisis, we need to look at the food we eat slightly differently. What else can we do with it? Is there really “just enough” or do we have more to share? When the need to share arises, God ensures we always have enough. All of our food can go that little bit further…