Nativity, Burnsville's Community Cafe

The Episcopal Church of the Nativity in Burnsville has offered a community meal since 1993. We moved to our new building in 1996 and in 1999 the program was expanded in two significant ways: First, we shifted from one meal per month to a meal every Wednesday night. Second, we invited both our church members and the community to participate and get to know each other over a shared table. Wednesday was chosen to allow families participating in church activities to grab a quick dinner before youth group or choir practice.

The story about “stone soup” was the original concept for the dinner, a shared meal that was the product of a shared effort, each contributing according to their means.  The concept gave way to a meal offered out of service to others. Over the years a sense of community developed between guests and servers. There is little doubt about the pandemic being a disrupter, but our reputation for serving home cooking, rather than a “packaged meal” has been enjoyed by all. Volunteer Barb Golant noted, “I see God’s Holy Spirit at work every Wednesday with all the joyful conversation and socializing between our guests and volunteers.”