Any dish we make in the kitchen has a list of ingredients, so does a holy life. 

Grace/Lettuce

Grace is foundational to a holy life and acts as the basis of our relationship with God, just as lettuce forms the basis of a salad. Everything rests on grace, which is God’s love. God loves us before we even know who God is. Thus His grace comes first and enables and supports everything that follows.

Faith/Peppers

Faith is like a pepper in the salad. You have to trust that a pepper is sweet and not hot, because pepper a can burn your tongue if you’re not used to them. Similarly, we have to trust that God’s love sustains us in times that are good or bad. Faith prepares us and allows us to face even the hottest pepper.

Works/Carrots

Works are like the carrots in the salad. You have to work a little bit to eat a carrot, but it is worth it. A holy life lived in Christ requires effort, too. We are expected to do good and when we do, blessings for ourselves, or church, and our community follow.

Prayer/Celery

Of all of the vegetables in our salad, celery is the tallest. It reaches up as it grows, even though it is rooted in the ground.  Similarly, we are here on earth, but are called to be in relationship with God in heaven. Our prayers reach up to Him.

Worship/Tomato

We gather in a church to worship, many different voices uniting to praise God. That’s like a tomato, which looks uniform from the outside but inside is filled with many seeds. And just like a tomato seed, worship planted anywhere across the land will sprout more worship and stronger faith in God.

Community/Cucumbers

Cucumbers are interesting plants because they don’t grow alone. They grow on the vine, amongst others. When they are in a crowd, they do best. Their vines reach out and hold on to anything within their reach. Similarly, we are challenged to reach out and touch the world with works and faith and prayer.

Sacraments/Croutons

For a lot of people, croutons are the best thing in a salad. They are savory and crunchy and worth celebrating, because there is nothing in the salad like a crouton. They are not a vegetable, but bread! In church on Sunday, we often celebrate sacraments: things Jesus gave us to remind us of God the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. Sacraments like baptism or communion are powerful means of receiving God’s grace and they nourish us for the Christian journey. There’s nothing else like them!