The easiest way to handle this is to actually start preparing some food the day before with either a crockpot recipe, a pre-cut salad, or store-bought desserts.

Side note: store-bought desserts are not a faux pas for Agape.

Another option is to prepare the food the morning of. There are lots of frozen food options at your grocery store. I know it sounds pretty obvious, but next time you're there, just walk up and down the frozen food aisle and find something that looks tasty to you and will probably hold up well in the kitchen warmer here for a couple of hours before being served.

In the past, some folks have been under the impression that things like corn dogs, red Jello, or frozen lasagnas are not acceptable for Agape food. This is an insidious lie from the pit of hell! But in all seriousness, think about all the kids who love corn dogs, red Jello, or maybe hot dogs.

A good way to think about what food to bring to Agape is to follow the golden rule: do unto others as you would have them do unto you. Since our goal is to have an abundance of good food at Agape, we expect there will be leftovers. This brings up a good point: if you're excited about eating the leftovers you brought for dinner that same night or maybe lunch the next day, you're probably making a good food choice.

Each household should bring 2 of any of the following:

1. Main dish

2. Side dish

3. Salad

4. Dessert

5. Bread

Each dish should be 12-16 servings.

Singles only need to bring one item from the list above.

Transportation can be a severe logistical annoyance if you have more than two kids that you can't trust to walk down the sidewalk by themselves to help carry your two dishes into the church. I'd recommend getting either a large basket or a warm food delivery bag like this.

When Agape is over, remember to come back to the kitchen counter to pick up your dish. No one is going to grab it for you.

Another aspect of Agape is that anything you spend on it is Tithe-deductible as part of keeping the Sabbath feast. This helps maximize participation and prevents it from being a financial burden on folks.

1. Food must be fully cooked before arriving at church. Hot food must be brought hot and placed directly into the warmer. The food warmer in the kitchen closet only keeps food warm, it does not cook it!

2. Cold food needs to be put in the refrigerator and not left out on the counter during the church service.

3. When bringing meat, please double check it has been sufficiently cooked all the way through (food thermometers are a great tool to help with this).

4. Be careful when bringing leftover food to Agape. It can be easy to spread food poisoning if leftovers are reheated incorrectly or too many times.

5. If using a crockpot, please bring it already hot and cooked so it can be turned on low so we don't blow the kitchen fuses.

6. Desserts or bread must be cut up in advance.

7. Don't forget to pick up your empty dishes after the meal is over.

Agape cleanup is assigned to all applicable church members on a conscription basis, i.e. it is not voluntary.

Every Sunday, after the church service

In our Fellowship Hall downstairs, and also in our education wing in the room titled “Ararat”.