The Ham and Bean Supper will be held from 5 pm to 7 pm at a cost of $8 for adults, $5 for children 12 and older, with children under 12 eating free.
The proceeds of this dinner will go toward the funding of the DORCAS Society's community projects as well as helping to fund the Society's $500 scholarships given to two graduating Lebanon High School students each year.
We've seen DORCAS Society ladies lately in Lebanon taking applications for their yearly scholarship program, selling baked goods at the Lebanon Election Polls and now hosting a Ham and Bean Supper. But just what IS the DORCAS Society?? Do you know??
We've fielded a few questions in the past few days asking what the letters D.O.R.C.A.S stand for. The truth is, nothing. The name Dorcas is not known because the letters are initials, but because the ladies of the Dorcas society are strong in their faith and in their desires to do good works in the community in their effort to emulate the Society's namesake, a Biblical woman from the ancient town of Joppa.
The modern day DORCAS Society does not require the needy to belong to a particular denomination or church in order to be helped. Rather they give what they can, to the best of their abilities, to all of the area's needy.
The DORCAS Society is a group of women, usually, but not always associated with a particular church. The DORCAS society was created with a special interest of helping to clothe the poor and needy.
The name, DORCAS, is a historical name coming from the Country of Greece, located on the Agean Sea in Asia Minor.
The Bible speaks, in the book of Acts, Chapter 9, about a woman named Tabitha (who in Greek was called "Dorcas").
It seems that Tabitha was a good seamstress and had, in fact, made many coats and garments for the poor and needy widows of her town (thus the mission of the DORCAS Society to clothe the needy) with her own loving and talented hands. Dorcas was beloved by all the women, but especially by those who were too frail or sickly to perform the tasks of sewing on their own.
When Tabitha (or Dorcas) grew sick and died, it was the poor widows of the town of Joppa who summonsed the Apostle Peter, after hearing of his miraculous ways. It was there, in the company of the poorest of Joppa that Dorcas was brought back to life from the dead by the Apostle, Peter.
Tabitha could have become the leader of a Christian movement for women at the time, but was, instead, content and happy to resume her life of servitude to the poorest and neediest of Joppa. It is because of this longing to simply exist for the sole purpose of doing good, that DORCAS Societies have been started all over the world by women who ask no fanfare, but who long to aid in humanitarian acts and do good for the people in their church, in their community and in their world.
For your reading, should you choose, the passage from the Bible from the book of Acts, Chapter 9, Verses 36-42.
The story of Dorcas.
Acts 9:36-42King James Version (KJV)
36 Now there was at Joppa a certain disciple named Tabitha, which by interpretation is called Dorcas: this woman was full of good works and almsdeeds which she did.
37 And it came to pass in those days, that she was sick, and died: whom when they had washed, they laid her in an upper chamber.
38 And forasmuch as Lydda was nigh to Joppa, and the disciples had heard that Peter was there, they sent unto him two men, desiring him that he would not delay to come to them.
39 Then Peter arose and went with them. When he was come, they brought him into the upper chamber: and all the widows stood by him weeping, and shewing the coats and garments which Dorcas made, while she was with them.
40 But Peter put them all forth, and kneeled down, and prayed; and turning him to the body said, Tabitha, arise. And she opened her eyes: and when she saw Peter, she sat up.
41 And he gave her his hand, and lifted her up, and when he had called the saints and widows, presented her alive.
42 And it was known throughout all Joppa; and many believed in the Lord.
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