• From the Director
• December Schedule & January Sabbath
• Volunteering

Dear Friends, 

This holiday season began with so much joy at Shobi’s Table!  On Thanksgiving Day, we had our first ever Gratitude Feast, co-sponsored with Daily Work, a non-profit that supports people in finding employment, and who is also housed at Christ on Capitol Hill. I’m so grateful to Julie Hoff, their Director, whose idea it was in the first place.   At Daily Work, many of their job-seekers are immigrants and have landed jobs in retail.  This often means they definitely have to work on Black Friday, but have Thanksgiving Day off.  She was wondering about hosting a meal for them to introduce them to an American tradition and also provide a place for more community building, and she thought Shobi’s Table would be a good partner. Hearing this idea, I was immediately excited! Shobi’s Table people would love this! Thankfully, staff were available and our families were in support.  

When we originally sat down to plan, we thought maybe we’d have 100, with folks from Daily Work and Shobi’s Table, and our own family members.  Well, the Spirit had other plans.  We keep our regular lunch days on the Ramsey County resource list, and so when they asked if we had any Thanksgiving day plans, we added the Gratitude Feast.  When I got the final list, we were the only ones on it with an in-person meal on the actual holiday.  Then, two days before the feast, I got an email that WCCO  wanted to interview us on camera for a spot on neighbors taking care of each other.  In the 48 hours leading up to the event, we got at least 40 RSPVs from people I’d never met!  

We decided to prepare for 200 just in case.  We cooked the traditional fare, include 7 turkeys and 100# of potatoes.  We also prepared rice, chicken and salad, for more culturally inclusive fare.  Since we ran out of almost everything, we’re pretty sure we served at least 150 that day, and another 50 went out as extra meals for folks to take home.  The fellowship hall at Christ on Capitol Hill was full: with regulars from Shobi’s Table – like Milfred who brought his whole group home and Paul, a new regular at Rice and Larpenteur. Like Seedara , a Daily Work job-seeker, who brought her four kids.  Along with many new faces, who I hope to see at Shobi’s Table.  

As the holiday season continues, I am so grateful for this whole community – for partners like Daily Work and Christ on Capitol Hill, without whom the Gratitude Feast would have not come to fruition.  I am so grateful for those of you who support the work of Shobi’s Table with your presence, your prayers and your gifts – none of this growing ministry would be possible without you!   I see Jesus every day at Shobi’s Table, and I especially saw him clearly at the Gratitude Feast, in the faces of everyone who came.  As the holidays continue to unfold, my hope is that you too get to see Jesus in new ways – both in the special feasts and in the regular moments of life.  May you know Immanuel – God with us!  

Blessed Advent and Christmas to you all!

Deacon Kari

Schedule Reminder!

Shobi’s Table will take a brief sabbath in January.

Regular lunch service will resume in February. 

Spend a shift in the Shobi’s Table Kitchen! Enjoy good company, good music, and know you will be helping to prepare a meal for a neighbor in need.

Shobi’s Table is a pay-as-you-can mobile café in St Paul, MN.  We rely on your support financially, in volunteer hours, in sharing about us with a friend and neighbor, sharing lunch with us, and especially in prayer.