Every Monday night from February through April, the Joseph United Methodist Church feeds, by its own count, more than a third of the town. The free community dinners at The Place, its hall on South Lake Street, are cooked by local chefs with volunteers and more than 25 partner organizations; the congregation counts more than 2,500 meals in three months. The church itself worships Sundays at 10 a.m. under Pastor Beth Estock and describes itself as “a community rooted in love, grounded in justice, and committed to showing up for our neighbors.”
The congregation built The Place in 2014 “to do all the good we can,” and lends its hall and commercial kitchen to fitness groups, families and new food businesses for a fee or a donation. Its Magic Garden, begun with Joseph Charter School in 2010 as what it calls the county’s first school and community garden, grows three to four tons of food a year for the schools, the food bank and the volunteers. Each December children through fifth grade buy family gifts for fifty cents each at its Christmas store, and babies born at the county hospital go home with infant clothes. A Blessing Box of free food and a free library stand at Main and 3rd Street.
The church bell, its pages say, has called people to this spot for more than a century, though neither the church nor the conference directory gives a founding year; the 2016 state registration is a filing date. Its land acknowledgement states that the ground it worships on “was once the homeland of the Nez Perce.” It says plainly that “God’s love embraces all people, regardless of race, economic circumstances, gender identity, or sexual orientation.” Meal and attendance figures are the congregation’s own.
Through time
The Magic Garden partnership with Joseph Charter School began, by the church’s account.
The congregation built The Place, its community building, by its own account.
