Power of 11: A Morning of Abundance in Action
Updated: 5 days ago
Eleven years of Galilee, gathered in one room
On Wednesday morning, October 21, the Nave at Galilee filled with neighbors, partners, and friends for the Power of 11: Abundance in Action Breakfast. Eleven years after Galilee first opened its doors on Central Avenue, it felt as if every one of those years had gathered in one room. But the morning really began weeks earlier.
Many hands before the morning
Long before the first cup of coffee was poured, volunteers were already at work. Outdoor Spruce-Up Days readied the grounds. Food Preparation Mornings filled the kitchen with the smell of baking. Flower arrangers brought color to every table.
In the kitchen, Flo, Connie, and Derek turned out trays of sweet potato ham biscuits, while Sandy and Barbara assembled fruit kabobs. Jon and Diane packed cookie boxes, all 150 of them, so every guest could carry a little abundance home.
And at the flower tables, Scott, Ginny, and Mary Davis built the centerpieces that greeted everyone as they walked in.
To every volunteer who spent a morning digging, baking, packing, or arranging: thank you. You made Galilee ready to welcome everyone.
Together in the Nave
On the morning itself, musicians from the Charlotte Folk Society set the tone as guests found their seats. Our guest speaker, Bishop Sam Rodman, joined us to celebrate what this community has built together. Terry Ertel set out a beautiful buffet, and members of congregations across Charlotte shared breakfast together.”
...but at the end of the day, the power of this place is rooted in the stories of the people whose hearts are touched and whose lives are changed. That intimate community connection is one expression, one incarnation of that pearl of great price that Jesus talks about in the parables (Matthew 13:45-46). Galilee is a pearl of great price. Galilee is a place that shows all of us what it means to love like Jesus.
~ Bishop Sam Rodman
The morning, drawn by hand
As the breakfast unfolded, Bambi Reid captured it on paper, sketching the stories, faces, and hopes shared in the room. The drawing is a picture of what abundance looks like when a community gathers.
Watch the video
Filmmaker Rick Fitts captured the spirit of Galilee in a short video. Watch it, share it, and celebrate eleven years with us.
Thank you for showing up
To everyone who filled the Nave on October 21: thank you. Your presence, your stories, and your generosity made the morning what it was.
Thanks to your generosity, we’re getting close to our $100,000 Power of 11 goal. Stay tuned for more! Every gift, whatever its size, helps Galilee keep its doors open, its pantry stocked, and its tables full. To those who wanted to be there but couldn't: you were with us too, and there's still a place for you in this story.
Eleven years in, Galilee's abundance still grows from the same root: people who show up. We can't wait to see what the next eleven bring.
In gratitude and abundance,
The Reverend Deacon Emily Parker, Executive Director
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