March 27, 2003

JACKSON, Miss. - One of Mississippi's most widely recognized artists and businesswomen is helping a United Methodist mission and celebration.

Gail Pittman, known for her hand-painted dinnerware and accessories, has created a piece of pottery to benefit St. Andrew's Mission in McComb, Miss. The piece is not part of her regular line - it's not a plate, platter or bowl. Instead, it's a two-handled "loving cup."

John Wesley, the founder of Methodism, designed the first loving cup in the 18th century for use at "love feasts." Christians gathered for the feasts at house churches or small groups, praying, reading Scriptures, encouraging one another and testifying to God's love in their lives. They ate a simple meal of bread and water. Not to be confused with Holy Communion, the love feast, or agape meal, recalled the meals other than the Last Supper that Jesus shared with the disciples and others.

Wesley developed the cup with two handles for passing water from one participant to the next. He also developed the practice of collecting an offering for the poor during the feast.

On one side, the Pittman cup reads "John Wesley," and on the other, it reads "Birth 1703" and "Rebirth 2003." This year, Methodists around the world are celebrating the 300th anniversary of Wesley's birth, which occurs June 17.

The mission, in southwest Mississippi, is a community outreach program of St. Andrew's United Methodist Church and is supported by the Mississippi Annual (regional) Conference. Its services include health care provided by a parish nurse, transition assistance for people moving from public to private housing, money management training and help in applying for jobs.

The Rev. Jim Glass, mission director, says the mission's relationship with Pittman and her Ridgeland, Miss.,-based company began through staff member Eddie Spencer. Pittman and Spencer met in a Bible study group. Pittman participated in a benefit for the mission last spring.

"We talked to her about doing a piece of pottery that would be of religious significance and a fund-raiser for the mission," Glass says. "We also talked with (Brookhaven District Superintendent) Ron Barham and about it being the 300th anniversary of Wesley's birth." Glass says the goal of the loving cup goes beyond raising money for the mission.

"We hope we can recover the love feast in the church. It is a real rich part of our tradition and has been somewhat lost over the years," he says.

"It's an honor and privilege to be asked to do this for St. Andrew's Mission and the United Methodist Church," Pittman says. "God gives us gifts and talents so we can turn them back to his service in order to bring him honor and glory. John Wesley contributed so much to the development of Christ's church, and we are so pleased to be able to help St. Andrew's mission with this Wesley commemorative cup."

Glass says that having an artist with the name recognition Pittman enjoys, plus the fact she's a person of faith and a Mississippian, "has been a godsend." Response to the cup has been good, with calls starting to come in from outside the conference, he says. He's received calls from the Memphis Conference, the Louisiana Conference and the Chicago area, where former mission director Rich Hendricks is promoting the cup.

United Methodist News Service
This story was provided by the Mississippi United Methodist Advocate, the newspaper of the United Methodist Church's Mississippi Annual Conference.