By SAMANTHA HALL / Staff writer

One Sunday a month, alarm clocks of some members of the Church of Holy Apostles

in Hoover sound a little earlier than normal.

The Holy Apostles Lunch Outreach Team must be spiritually fed before answering the call to physically feed others.

“We actually miss our big service those days, so our priest encourages us to participate in Holy Communion, so we are fed and can better serve others,” said Jenny Blair, who organizes the ministry. “That is really special to me.”

Once the HALO group has taken communion and is prepared for the day ahead, they make their trek to Grace Episcopal Church in downtown Birmingham. Two hours later, they feed more than 100 people.

The group emphasizes they want to provide more than just a soup kitchen. Meals prepared include items most people typically enjoy on a Sunday afternoon – salad, veggies, meats, fruits and deserts. To feed such a large group of people, the ministry needs at least eight adults each visit. Those adults then create an assembly line to make sure everyone gets fed quickly. If food is left over, seconds are always offered along with a bit of kind conversation.

“We spend time. We chit-chat,” Blair said.

Blair wants others to see how getting involved with such a ministry feeds your soul.

“The first time I went I knew this was my calling,” Blair said. “I’ve watched some of these young kids grow up and it has created kind of a special relationship with our own group.”

This is not the only way Holy Apostles gets beyond its doors.

“For the size church we are, we really put a lot into outreach,” Blair said.

The church also participates in BRDIGE ministries, CAIROS and Pathways, along with providing health insurance for underprivileged children through the Alabama Child Caring Foundation.

Worship Schedule

Saturday – Eucharist 5 p.m.

Sunday – Eucharist 10:30 a.m.

Wednesday – Morning Prayer 6:30 a.m