I am a bell-ringer at Palmer, and in the past I have sung in the choir and biked with the Holy Spokes. Last November, I received news that I needed major surgery, and recovery was expected to be three months. I knew I wanted to feel the support of my Palmer community, even as I had not seen them in several months due to the pandemic.

I reached out to a few friends, including Posey Saenz, who used to run the meal train ministry at Palmer. She connected me to Laura Van Ness, who is coordinating a new, more encompassing ministry called Loaves and Fishes.

Loaves and Fishes is Palmer’s organized effort to respond to parishioners in need due to circumstances such as a birth in the family, illness or post-surgery recovery, divorce, death of a loved one, or other life events. To date, Palmers have delivered meals, shopped and delivered groceries, run errands, sent cards, taken in a dog last-minute for a few days, and even hung Christmas decorations in a parishioner’s front yard.

Laura was gracious and patient with me while organizing a complete slate of meals, helping coordinate messages, and offering and providing a variety of forms of help. I was infinitely grateful to her as well as to the many Palmers who stepped up to help. I felt encircled by love and support as I recovered from surgery thanks to everyone.

Loaves and Fishes is coordinated by Laura Van Ness and The Rev'd Liz Parker, and it includes many parishioners who volunteer to help. (There are no committee meetings.) Anyone interested in being put on a long list of people to be contacted when a need arises, please let Laura know at   or call 713-829-2631.