Coffee, Quiche and Life Changing Words
The summer after I graduated from Seattle Pacific University with my undergraduate degree in Educational Ministries I got a phone call one day from the director of children’s ministries at the church I’d been attending for a couple years. Dianne mentioned she got to choose an intern each year to work with her and after praying about it for awhile she really felt certain I was the one for the job. I actually turned her down at first. Children’s ministry just didn’t interest me that much, I liked baby sitting but it wasn’t something I wanted to do long term and at that point I think I kind of viewed children’s ministry as glorified baby sitting. Obviously I was wrong but as a 21 year old I didn’t really have any up close experience with it to know differently. About a week later Dianne called me back and asked if I was really sure I wasn’t interested, she really felt strongly that I would be an excellent fit for the job and would learn a lot. I agreed, realizing it wasn’t a huge time commitment and I didn’t know what else to do with my undergrad degree so I figured I should see what it was like working in a church.
Working with Dianne and helping with children’s ministry at Bethany Presbyterian changed my life in so many ways. She was so intentional about connecting me with specific families in the church she knew I would love and be mentored by. She was so careful to make sure to expose me to various aspects of church ministry outside of the children’s program, sending me to staff meetings, youth group, elders meetings, big church events and having me participate in worship services on Sunday by giving the children’s sermons and scripture readings. I helped oversee one of the 4-6 year old Sunday morning classrooms and train the other volunteers which was a fantastic leadership experience. But the biggest gift Dianne gave me was regular time with her. We met every other week for a walk (she loves taking walks and has logged more miles up and down the hills around Seattle than anyone I know!) or a cup of coffee if it was too cold and rainy and she would ask wonderful questions. She mentored me in aspects of my job of course, but also so many other areas—my relationships with God, my friendships, a broken heart, and discernment about my future. She taught me that children’s ministry is almost more about caring for the parents and empowering them than it is about running a Sunday morning program—something I believe wholeheartedly to this day. She taught me how to find folks in the church to come alongside families who were struggling. At that time she was in the beginning stages of creating a buddy program for kids with special needs so they could attend Sunday school with a safe and trained adult while their parents got a bit of a reprieve from caring for them. She’s still the children’s minister at this particular church and I know many many families in that congregation have seen her as their primary pastor during their child-raising years. She’s truly a gift.
Toward the end of our year together as her intern she took me out to breakfast one day at one of her favorite spots. It’s a plant nursery north of Seattle that happens to have an adorable little cafe/coffee shop attached. I remember we both ordered a quiche and I’m sure we both had lattes but I honestly couldn’t tell you anything else about the food that day. As we sat and kind of debriefed my year as her intern—what I liked, what I didn’t love about the role, what I learned etc she asked if she could tell me something about me. What she said changed the course of my life forever. As we sipped our coffee and ate our quiche she said “Sarah, I’ve been talking about you behind your back with the rest of the church staff and some elders. We see something in you that we know you don’t see yet. I’ve had a lot of interns over the years but there’s something different about the way you interacted with the families and the way you connected with people of all ages. Usually my interns are good with kids but don’t love the moms the way you do. You have a gift for pastoral ministry and we think you need to go to seminary.” Talk about speaking over someone’s life in boldness! That single conversation over quiche and coffee changed the course of my life. I wasn’t sure what I wanted to do but after she said that something clicked and I knew she was right. I did need to go to seminary. A year later I moved to Pasadena and began my journey at Fuller and while I loved college, I thrived at Fuller. I knew I was in the right place and soaked up the life lessons, internships and my classes like a sponge.
I’ve had many many life-altering conversations with others around the table, but maybe none quite so bold as this little breakfast date at Swansons Nursery. Something happens when we share a meal with someone we love. We come to the table and pause, the busyness and rushing around of our days come to a halt and we rest our bodies and minds a bit. As we sit across from someone and look them in the eye space is made for deeper and more vulnerable conversation. But often I think we can get stuck in the shallow end of conversation, I know I’m guilty of this all the time. We get stuck in the small talk and the chit chat and that can be fun but doesn’t lead to a lot of growth or vulnerability or change. That was a gift Dianne gave me every time we met. She asked good questions, probed deeper with follow up questions and was bold enough to proclaim words of truth over those across the table from her. That’s what I want to be for others. I want to use my table as a gathering place for people who leave not only having been fed with plates of food but who find themselves loved, challenged, and encouraged. In our age of instant communication the gift of sitting across from someone, looking them in the eye and saying “this is what I see in you that you don’t even see in yourself yet” is the greatest gift we might be able to give another person.
My family are terrible egg eaters—none of them love egg dishes. They probably aren’t my favorite either but I know they are so good for us that I try. I really try! However all of us love a quiche that is more of a hash brown or potato base—involving eggs but not making the eggs the star of the dish. This breakfast recipe is a hit every time I make it and is super customizable. I usually add more eggs than the 2 it calls for and I will dice up a variety of veggies for it as well. It keeps in the fridge for a few days so you can heat another piece each morning.
Hash brown Quiche
3 c. frozen loose-packed shredded hash browns-thawed
1/3 c melted margarine
1 c. cooked, diced ham, bacon or sausage crumbles
1 c. shredded cheddar cheese
1/4 c diced peppers
2 eggs
1/2 c. milk
1/4 t. pepper
Press hash browns between paper towels to remove excess moisture. Press into the bottom and sides of an ungreased 9in pie plate or baking dish. Drizzle with butter. Bake at 425 for 25min. Combine meat, cheese, and peppers; spoon over crust. Beat eggs, milk and pepper together, pour over all. Reduce heat to 350 and bake 25min. Allow to stand 10min before cutting.
