St. Paul's Prepares for Festival of Bread

A year ago, committed to a sweeping goal: help feed 100 families for five years.

At three meals a day, that's 438,000 meals in total for a family of four, Rev. Adam Snell said, and by partnering with local groups like Manna Food Center, Bethesda Help and Crossway Community, it's an attainable goal, he said.

In that spirit, St. Paul's is hosting a Festival of Bread on Saturday, hoping to inspire members of the community to give to the needy. The festival starts at 4 p.m. at the church.

The hour-long event will feature singers and musicians performing hymns old and new, and readings from poems and scriptures that promote feeding the hungry, Snell said. Marilyn Moore, who has performed in opera houses around the world, will lead the voices.

After that, the church will provide homemade bread and a chance for attendees to donate food, connect with others and learn about how they can help the hungry.

"It's a chance to plug in, to get involved, start somewhere," Snell said. "Bring a can of green beans — something. Once anyone gets hooked with the power of feeding a hungry person, then the sky's the limit."

The church's vision of feeding 400 families extends beyond Kensington, and even beyond the United States, Snell said. Some members of the church have contributed to feeding ministries in Africa, he said, in addition to donating time and food to local efforts.

"One day, we're going to stand before the throne, and we want to feed people," he said. "Whether they're in Kensington or D.C. or Africa, to feed people is a common goal around the world."