08/05/2026
In a recent sermon, discussing Jesus’s parables comparing the kingdom of heaven to a mustard seed, yeast, and treasure, hidden or easily overlooked, Rev. Kelsey wondered if the new Caring Cabinet on Christ Church’s campus might also give us eyes for the kingdom. Here is an excerpt from her sermon:
“And I wonder... What if a treasure has quietly appeared here on our Christ Church campus?
Not treasure the world would necessarily recognize. Not gold. Not diamonds. But in the form of a little cabinet.
If you haven't noticed it yet, it's tucked under the overhang of the Rectory Office, facing South Street, and it was just announced in our eNews a couple of weeks ago.
It was the vision of this year's Confirmation class, who spent time in class asking, "What does our community need, and how can we respond?" Each confirmation class is charged with addressing a need of the world together. To look at suffering and decide how they can respond as agents of God’s love.
This year’s class recognized the realities of food insecurity and the need for basic hygiene items right here in our own community, and they dreamed up what we're calling the “Caring Cabinet”. It's so beautifully simple and brilliant.
A cabinet stocked with shelf-stable food and personal care items. Take what you need. Leave what you can.
What I love most is that it isn't just the Confirmation class's project anymore. Parishioners have already stepped in to help stock it, within the first week of it being on campus! Tiffany Powell has graciously agreed to oversee the ministry because of her passion for creating shelf-stable grab-and-go meals and supporting blessing boxes throughout our community. She knows that the students have busy lives and school responsibilities and wanted to ensure that the ministry would still be here long after they go off to college.
Little by little... what began as the idea of a handful of our young people is becoming the ministry of an entire congregation and community!
If you measure success the way the world does... it doesn't look like much. It won't solve food insecurity on the Eastern Shore. It won't end poverty. It won't erase homelessness. It's just... a cabinet.
At least... that's all it looks like... to someone who doesn't yet recognize the Kingdom.
And maybe the point isn't that one cabinet changes the whole world. Maybe the greater miracle, the lesson from today’s Gospel is that God is teaching us to see differently, that God is changing US.
Teaching us to recognize His Kingdom... in the places we used to overlook.
To the world... it's a cabinet. To the Kingdom... it's treasure.
It's yeast being worked into the dough of Easton. It's a mustard seed taking root on our campus. It's quiet evidence that God's reign has already begun.
Right where the world says, "There's not enough..." the Kingdom quietly insists, "Take what you need. Leave what you can."
---
For anyone interested in helping, one way you can support the Caring Cabinet is by dropping off bag meals, such as:
* Grab and Go Spaghetti: 1 bag of spaghetti, 1 jar of sauce, 1 small container of parmesan cheese, 1 package of breadsticks, 1 can of green beans
* Grab and Go Taco Night: 1 large can of chicken, 1 packet of taco seasoning, 1 box of mixed hard and soft taco shells, 1 can of Rotel, 1 box of shelf-stable cheese, 1 can of corn
* Grab and Go Peanut Butter & Jelly: 1 box of ritz style crackers, 1 small container of peanut butter, 1 small container of jelly
* Grab and Go Mac n' Cheese + Protein: 1 container of instant macaroni and cheese, 1 can of tuna fish
* Ramen Noodles and Graola Bars have been VERY popular also