This poem has been included twice – with a slight difference in the introduction. I’ll leave it as is (to minimise confusion)

 

Casserole Caring, Robin Ford, June 1998

At a church ‘Weekend Away’ at the town of Mulgoa someone said “We need to do more than casserole caring.” I thought casserole caring sounded wonderful, so I wrote this celebration of it.

Casserole Caring
Message from Mulgoa

The rhythm matches “Beauty school drop-out” from “Grease”

We’re back in Hunter’s Hill,
And thinking of it still,
We wonder if we do enough to care.

We do what we are able,
By putting on the table,
Casseroles that are beyond compare.

 

 

 

Casserole caring;
Something that each of us can do.
Pastoral sharing;
Building us up when we are blue.

When I came home from the hospital,
I thought I might eat later.
It was then I found your casserole,
In my refrigerator.

Casserole caring;
More than a gift from one to one,
Pastoral sharing;
Eating in groups is so much fun.

With some coq au vin, or ossobuco, ladled in your bowl,
You know for sure you’re cared for, with a casserole.

Casserole caring;
Eatable sign of what we pray.
Pastoral sharing;
Catered, or cooked, or take away.

It is what we do, it’s how we live,
It makes a joyful meeting.
There is pleasure in the caring thought,
There’s pleasure in the eating.

Casserole caring;
Whether it’s one-to-one or groups.
Pastoral sharing;
Whether its pasta, stew or soups.

We’ve got steak and kidney, Greek mousaka, and there’s Irish stew.
And you know each one comes with love, from us to you.

Casserole caring;
Whether it’s one-to-one or groups.
Pastoral sharing;
Whether its pasta, stew or soups.

And there’s macaroni, chicken curry, beef in black bean sauce.
You know that each one comes with love from us of course.

Interlude, then drift away with…

Casserole caring.

Pastoral sharing.

Casserole care……..ing.