Eileen Smith was pleased Monday afternoon that the Rev. Jennifer Loeb, pastor of First Presbyterian Church, took her Sunday sermon to heart.
“I was feeling a little over the edge,” said Smith when she noticed Loeb perched in a lawn chair and offering “free ice cold water” outside the church, near the intersection of Buckeye and Madison. “She also let me go indoor to eat my (sack) lunch and cool off.”
Smith, Yates Center, was in town to interview for a bank job and then was stranded for a bit afterward because of car trouble. She decided to walk to the public library to seek refuge from the heat when she saw the lawn sign advertising ice water.
“I took advantage,” Smith said, and Loeb was delighted to accommodate her.
Loeb’s message Sunday was from the 10th chapter of Matthew, where Jesus talks about giving a cup of water to someone thirsty is the same as giving a cup of water to Him.
“I challenged the congregation” to follow through on the message, Loeb said. A couple of younger members showed up Monday morning and when they had to leave, she took over.
“I think we’ve given out about 15 bottles,” Loeb said early in the afternoon, and allowed she intended to stay another hour or two until she had to leave for another obligation. “I hope we do this several times” during the heat of the summer.
Loeb said she often sees people walking past the church en route to the library, just west across Buckeye, and figures they would appreciate a cold drink of water.
A handful of motorist stopped for a drink, but Loeb admitted most tended to look away when the red traffic light caused them to stop right in front of her station.
She supposed they interpreted the “free” sign as a come-on for something to sell.
“It’s free for anyone who wants a cold drink,” Loeb stressed.
Presbyterians faithful to the word
