St. George's in West Asheville Hosts First Annual "Bountiful Bowls" Fundraising Dinner
- Diocese of WNC
- 6 days ago
- 3 min read
On Sunday, November 23rd St. George's Episcopal Church in West Asheville hosted "Bountiful Bowls", a fundraising dinner centered around belonging and abundance. The evening featured three community partners of Saint George's: Food Connection, Blue Ridge Service Corps, and Firefly Valley Pottery.
The three-course dinner took place in the sanctuary of Saint George's. The menu featured freshly baked bread from The Golden Acorn Bakery in Black Mountain and homemade dishes based around seasonal and local ingredients. Roughly 70 people attended this community event.
Ona Armstrong, owner of Firefly Valley Pottery, led an Ayurvedic Fall Wellness Workshop before the dinner and contributed more than 70 artisan bowls made in her studio. The main course, a harvest stew, was served in these bowls, and every guest went home with one.
Blue Ridge Service Corps, an intentional community of young adults discerning vocation and ministry, served the courses and handled cleanup. The Rev. Kevin Todd, Director of Blue Ridge Service Corps, shared that one of the tenets of building community within the Corps is to “be you together,” noting that authenticity in relationships can be transformative.
Marisha MacMorran, Executive Director of Food Connection - a critical Asheville nonprofit working to provide meals and dignity to all - spoke about Food Connection’s longstanding partnership with St. George’s. The organization rents space and prepares meals in the church’s kitchen and parish hall daily. Marisha shared that Food Connection recently reached a major milestone: serving its one-millionth meal in Asheville. She also noted that 250,000 of those meals were prepared at St. George’s within the last year alone.
The Rev. Kelsey Davis, who coordinated the event, said, “In a world of so much scarcity, we are committed to cultivating abundance. We believe in the power of community and collaboration. When we share, there is enough to go around.”
St. George’s is in a unique season. Although it does not currently have a regular worshipping congregation of its own, the church is hosting the Cathedral of All Souls while their building undergoes restoration from Tropical Storm Helene. In February 2025, The Rev. Kelsey Davis, Vicar of St. George’s, began a small monthly contemplative Eucharist service called The Table. This gathering has since grown into a consistent community of 20–30 worshippers and has honed its mission to “feeding body & soul.” Out of this mission, the idea for Bountiful Bowls was born and brought to life by The Rev. Kelsey Davis and a dedicated team of volunteers from The Table community.
In total, the event raised more than $3,000, which will benefit St. George’s outreach fund, Food Connection, and Blue Ridge Service Corps. Bountiful Bowls is already scheduled to return on November 15, 2026. To learn more, visit the "Bountiful Bowls" dedicated page on the Saint George's website.
A Blessing for Bountiful Bowls
(written by The Rev. Kelsey Davis)
As your hands reach for the bowl so mindfully made by our neighbor potter,
May you remember that you are never alone.
The One who made the clay by which this bowl is knit,
Made you with the same loving hands,
and sees you as beautiful and good.
May you remember that your life is connected to every life-
our sacred call is to be part of the cycle of giving and receiving,
receiving and giving.
May you remember that community is the oldest form of healing,
and it is into community that you are called,
just as you are.
May we remember that when the world knows only scarcity,
we shall dig deep to share what we can,
and when we do,
we trust that there will be enough.
May this bowl be a blessing to you,
as you bless so many.
May it be a reminder of the warmth & generosity of
the Holy presence that seeks only to nourish you in body and soul.
Comments