The folks at Good Shepherd United Methodist Church hosted their monthly community meal last Thursday, April 27, with their Pastor Harvey Hinshaw there to discuss looking back on his first full year with the church.

Hinshaw’s first anniversary at Good Shepherd was officially April 12, marking one year since he took over for former Pastor Linda Mattila. Hinshaw said he was only supposed to be “filling in” at Good Shepherd for four months, but when Mattila made the decision not to return, he and his wife chose to pray about their own decision.

Hinshaw said his wife came to the conclusion that they had better enter through the door God had just opened in their lives, so he accepted the calling, and has been commuting to Park Layne from his Greenville home each week.

“I’m amazed at what this church’s congregation does with the number of people here,” said Hinshaw of his congregation’s community involvement through the monthly dinners and other events.

“A lot of what we’re able to do is because we work with so many other churches,” he added, noting that at least four churches are involved in the execution of Good Shepherd’s free community meals each month.

Last Thursday, the meal’s entrée was ham and beans, cooked to perfection by church member Mary Spitler. She, along with Mike Smith and other volunteers, manned the kitchen that evening to ensure that everyone was served before they sat down to dinner themselves.

Next month, Good Shepherd’s free community meal will feature heaping plates of spaghetti and garlic bread, with desserts and drinks. This event is set for Thursday, May 26 at 6 p.m. at the Good Shepherd United Methodist Church located at 1520 Styer Drive.