Pinckneyville church offers free Thanksgiving meal

First Baptist Church in Pinckneyville will provide its first-ever free Thanksgiving meal for the community. Members of the church will serve anyone who desires a free, hot Thanksgiving meal from 12 to 2 p.m. on Thanksgiving Day, Nov. 28.

On Thanksgiving, the doors will open at 11 a.m. for advanced seating around the tables. The meal, catered by Ruth Ann Opp of Classic Catering in Pinckneyville, will be served by volunteers from 12 to 2 p.m. Though not required, it is requested that families or individuals planing to attend RSVP to the church office in order to ensure that there is enough food prepared. RSVP to (618)357-2255 or secretary@pvillefbc.com.

This is not the first time the church has shown love for the community during the holiday season. Last year, the First Baptist gave away 170 turkeys to families in need.

This year some members of the church approached the pastor with a new idea. After their Sunday school lesson on Jesus feeding the 5,000 (Matthew 13:13-21), they decided to offer a free meal to those who otherwise might eat alone and to those struggling financially.

The pastor, Dr. Jay Lowder, was delighted with the idea. "Nothing excites a pastor more than when his members, in the context of reading and seeking to apply the Bible to their lives, conclude that God is calling them to serve other through a ministry." he said. "Often pastors plan new ministries and then have to recruit volunteers. I this case, the idea and the already-committed volunteers were presented to me at the same time."

Dr. Lowder noted that First Baptist is committed to year-round care for the community through events such as the recent Christ's Love in Action Week. During the last week in September, events included a discounted gas give-away at Moto Mart, free car washing at the Ambulance Service, free ice cream certificates, free coffee at McDonalds and Dixie's and yard work around town.