When a Cake is More Than a Cake
Pullen's website states that our prophetic touchstone is grounded in Micah 6:8: "What does the Lord require of you but to do justice and to love kindness and to walk humbly with your God?"
Pullen Kids have been busy putting into practice the love and kindness part of the verse that we Pullenites hold as a guide to our work in the world. A few Sunday’s ago, they assembled 36 Birthday Cake Kits to distribute to children participating in the Backpack Buddies program at Wiley Elementary School. The kits, packaged in brightly colored nylon knapsacks, contained a foil baking pan and all the ingredients necessary to bake and decorate a cake. And what helps a cake exclaim, “Happy Birthday!" more than a birthday balloon, a party blower, decorated napkins, and a handmade birthday card? Yes, these were part of the kits, too!
The children worked in various ways to accomplish their goal of spreading kindness to others. At times, they worked independently, counting out napkins in bundles of ten, packaging small items like candles and balloons, and designing a birthday card. Other times, they operated as an efficient assembly line, filling the pans carefully to ensure each kit had all the components. All the time, there was evidence of cooperation and encouragement among them.
This mission/service project came about for several reasons. Last fall the Missions and Outreach Council offered grants to fund Pullenites' ideas for ways to engage small groups within the congregation in missions and outreach activities. The Children's Ministry team took advantage of this opportunity and submitted a proposal for the Birthday Cake Kits. We were delighted when our submission was approved.
We chose Wiley as the recipient because of our long history of providing tutoring services and the ever-increasing number of Pullenites who give their time each week to assist Wiley students. Because Wiley has a well-functioning Backpack Buddy program in place, the delivery system was ready-made for us.
In January, the Children's Choir began rehearsing for the musical, "Image God!" One of the songs, "Loving Friend of Everyone," based on Matthew 11:19 and John 15:12-15, led to a wondering with the children of ways we can also be loving friends, even to people we don't know. The birthday cake project fit perfectly as an extension of what the children were learning in Children's Choir and Sunday Group.
After the project was completed, we asked the children what the project had meant to them. Here are some thoughts they expressed:
"I felt good because some kids needed a birthday cake."
" It was a good thing to do because we helped other people.'
"It made me feel happy that other kids would get to celebrate their birthdays with a real cake."
"It feels good to know that other kids will have a happier birthday."
"I had fun doing this."
"It was fun because I got to organize things. I learned that you can substitute Sprite for eggs and other ingredients. It will make people happy who didn't have another way to celebrate their birthday."
Several moms and a grandmother of Pullen Kids assisted on the morning of the Birthday Cake Kit assembly. Upon reflection, they had thoughts, too:
"Mostly, it made me reflect on my own childhood birthdays and my most memorable cakes - a strawberry shortcake themed one, C-3PO for my 10th birthday at the Skate Ranch in Garner, and then even one for my 21st birthday. I'm so very grateful that I had the support system I had and feel extremely happy that we are empowering these families to provide special memories for their kiddos, too."
" I really enjoyed seeing the children engage in this project. They were taking it seriously and were happy to make a difference."
When we delivered the kits to the school office, I stood back and looked at the rainbow of colorful packages stacked against the office wall. I saw not only grocery items in knapsacks but also a sign of promise from Pullen to provide for those in need, a sign of hope for Wiley families that other people really do care, anda sign of care for others growing in the hearts of our Pullen Kids.
It was a beautiful sight.
-Lynn Jarrard
