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On the Second Sunday of Advent St. Paul's in downtown Sacramento started something new.

At the Diocesan Convention last fall, St. Paul's delegates were inspired by a challenge made by keynote speaker the Rev. Dr. Michael Moynagh to create opportunities for diverse worshipping communities in our outreach ministries. 

Diocesan Bishop Megan Traquair noted in her address to the convention that St. Paul's has provided a Sack Lunch Program for its unhoused and hungry neighbors for many years. The program was reimagined in recent years from a mostly passive ministry – where sack lunches were offered if someone asked – to an active ministry Saturdays from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. on the sidewalk in front of its 15th street doors (weather permitting) or inside the modular building parish hall. More than 50 sack lunches are given out each week and the need is growing.

St. Paul's also works with the Downtown Partnership to provide outreach services when available. Food, conversation, and services are provided weekly, but how might St. Paul's feed its neighbors spiritually?

In December 2024, Rev. Rik developed a simple service based on the resources Dr. Moynagh highlighted at the convention. A candle is lit and the leader shares a short Gospel reading based on the coming Sunday's liturgical readings. There is a brief time for silent prayer, then a closing prayer and a blessing. Anointing and healing prayers are offered for those who wish to receive them.

This simple worship service is now offered toward the end of the Sack Lunch distribution time at about 12:45 p.m. each Saturday. The first service had only one attendee; now, more than ten of St. Paul's unhoused neighbors may be in attendance on any given Saturday – many make a point to come around that certain time in order to be sure to participate!

St. Paul's is looking forward to seeing where the Holy Spirit leads as they work not only to physically feed their hungry neighbors but, as former Surgeon General Vivek Murthy said in an NPR interview, to address all four dimensions of health: physical health, mental health, social health, and spiritual health.