Feb 17, 2007 (3rd Sat) Betty's Team

Melan's Miraculous Meal Makers
The names of these hands and feet of Christ are listed at the bottom of this post. Talk to some of these people to learn more about how God is moving at The New Orleans Mission. If you believe that God may be calling you to be a part of this ministry, please let Dallas, Betty, or another team member know how you can help out. Betty's team prepares and serves the meal on the 3rd Saturday of each month. Scroll down to see what's on the menu for next month and what is still needed in donations. Readers may post comments/email or call Sue to update - as we build this site and this ministry together. Thanks and God bless!

Betty Melan bmelan@bellsouth.net (504) 835-5160

(Betty's son-in-law is having stents placed due to heart problems. Please remember him in your prayers.)
Shirley Broussard

Clora Hogan

(I'm missing a name, please comment to let me know who this other precious server is)

Also Helping Out This Weekend:
Bridget

Mary
Maria Guidry

Monica Guidry

Other Team Members Unable to Attend This Week

Tony & Ann Marchese

Peggy Whelp

Steven Marks
Patrick

Anyone else who wants to come out this next month or to join Betty's team on a regular basis, every 3rd Saturday, please post a comment here and we'll be happy to add you to our team list.
In the meantime, if you have information to add, feel free to scroll down to the comments section at the bottom of this post, and add whatever additional information you have concerning the current outreach. Thanks and God bless!


Menu (to serve 100):
---to be announced---

The following items are needed every time we go out, regardless of the menu:
Coffee
Creamer
Sugar for the drinks and coffee
Paper Plates
Plastic Cups
Plastic cutlery
Napkins
***Check menu to see if we need bowls

We'll meet Saturday morning at Celebration Church, 2701 Transcontinental in Metairie. Please arrive in time to leave for 9am. Otherwise, volunteers can just meet us at the New Orleans Mission, Caliope and Oretha Castle Haley Blvd by or after 9:30am.

Devotional: Community Blessings Outreach - HIS (and Homeless Update)

A devotional word from Dallas McGinnis, our Celebrate Blessings coordinator(and Homeless Update)

Hi Everyone, this is a short devotional and update because things are so hectic, but things are also going very well and I feel truly blessed.

Recently I was reading my bible and I came across the phrase "his spirit." I realized again that we are all so blessed because we carry His spirit inside of us. 1 Corinthians 6:19 (NLT) says: "Don’t you realize that your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit, who lives in you and was given to you by God? You do not belong to yourself." We all know that this is an awesome responsibility - if we carry His Spirit within us then what others see matters a lot. We represent the Spirit of God to others - we reveal Him through our actions.

But after last week's opening day at our new location for our homeless outreach, I saw "His Spirit" from another perspective. When Jesus said that if we have served "the least of them," then we have served Him, He is reminding us that His spirit is inside of the people we serve as well. When we recognize the fact that His Spirit is in all people, it makes it easier to love and to appreciate everyone who we serve and everyone who we serve with.

I got to see God's spirit in our guys in a lot of ways this weekend: when I saw Ronald, who has a withered arm and a bad limp and more faith inside of him than we can imagine, riding one of our children around on his motorized scooter chair; when I saw one of the guys pick up a guitar and sing a Third Day song with such beauty and talent and feeling - then I got to see His Spirit in action. And that is such a gift!

And coincidentally (if there is such a thing), one of our leaders, Susan Yancich, has decided to name her first Saturday team "His Focus." It is really a gift to know that we are all "His" and that He is also inside of so many others, and that we have the blessing to be able to give even more people the opportunity to receive His Spirit and to experience the same joy that His Spirit brings to us.

Romans 8:16 (NLT) says "" For his Spirit joins with our spirit to affirm that we are God’s children." When we serve others we get to practice this verse over and over again, and nothing can be better than experiencing this within ourselves and witnessing it in others.

This weekend at the Mission was a success and went off without a hitch. There is a lot more space and the guys really seemed to enjoy the new location. We had 75 people, which isn't bad for a first day before the word has really spread. We have a feeling that this number will double very soon, and will continue to grow. Pray that we can keep up with the demand and that we can continue to minister to all of the guys who cross the doorway, continuing to show them that they are loved by God and by us.

Susan is starting a blog, which is really exciting. (note from Susan: This is the first devo entered into the blog) It will keep everyone current on her menu and what others can contribute if they want to bring something with them when they come to serve. She has offered to do this for the other three teams as well, and this is really gong to be awesome. We are so blessed with so many people who love Jesus and all of His children.

I'm asking for prayers as well about the growth of this ministry - we have been presented with the possibility of being able to open a shelter thru a new nonprofit and some grants that wlll provide permanent housing and other programs. If it is God's will, it will happen, I bow to His will.

God bless all of you! He is truly good!

Peace and Blessings,

Dallas McGlinn
Celebrate Blessings 504-463-3296 or 504-453-6034
Eph. 4:1: As a prisoner for the Lord, then, I urge you to live a life worthy of the calling you have received.

Celebrate Blessings Team Leaders

It is such a blessing to lead a team in helping to spread the love of Jesus by meeting the physical needs of people in our community. Jesus said, "Then the righteous will answer him, `Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you something to drink? When did we see you a stranger and invite you in, or needing clothes and clothe you? When did we see you sick or in prison and go to visit you?' "The King will reply, `I tell you the truth, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers of mine, you did for me.' Matthew 25:37-40

As we serve, let's remember that this scripture places Jesus as the recipient of our offerings. We are the ones being honored with the privilege of providing food, clothing and most importantly, love to those whom we serve. God bless you as you experience the joy of Christ overflowing into the lives of others.


Dallas McGlinn celebrateblessings@hotmail.com 504-463-3296 or 504-453-6034
The following teams support Dallas' tireless service in this ministry, some members by showing up at designated times to cook, serve, and minister, while others support by sending donations, making phone calls, and in various other areas of service outside of the Saturday morning events. Whatever you sense that God is putting on your heart to offer as your service in this ministry, contact us and we'll help you to fulfill that call.

1st Saturdays - His Focus
Susan Yancich - syancich@cox.net (504) 734-5708home
Debbie Hidalgo - grits1019@aol.com
Bill & Angela Schoonmaker, Schaan (4) & Jack (2)
Beth Gabb
Rosa Yancich
Ian Yancich
Clora Hogan
Marion Pridgen & Susan Pridgen (12)
Peggy Welp (Peggy, Marion and Susan P. are gifted in organizing and distributing goods as needed - Their service in the donations closet has been immeasurable! Especially noteworthy is Susan P's passion to meet the clothing needs of her new friends out in New Orleans.)
Teddy Faucheaux & Family
Jack & Fran Hayes
Sadie Tapia, Dominic (12) and Megan (11)

The following members do not always attend the day of the event, but support through donations and prayer:
Lou & Mary Rollins
Donald Jones
Jimmy McGehee
Jules Frederic
Robert Bennett
Danita McDaniels

2nd Saturdays - The Breakfast Club
Mary Gordon
Bridget Frederick

3rd Saturday - Creative Meals Stirred Up With Love
Betty Melan bmelan@bellsouth.net (504) 835-5160
Peggy Welp wheavenbound@cox.net
Tony & Ann Marchese

4th Saturday - Beth Gabb (Queen of Kitchen)
*********Will update when info becomes available to author*************

5th Saturday - Open for Volunteers/Leadership - Only occurs 4 times in 2007:

• March 31
• June 30 (Susan Y,
• September 29
• December 29
  

The Breakfast Bunch - (2nd Saturday) - Mar 10, 2007 - Menu & Planning

Bridget and Mary's Team serve up awesome breakfast each 2nd Saturday.