Souper Bowl or Super Bowl? Why not both?

On Sunday, February 5, there are sure to be parties with abundant food as friends and family gather for the most-watched event of the year, the Super Bowl.

At the same time, there will be people worrying about staying warm, finding shelter, and a warm meal.

Congregations locally and around the country will demonstrate God’s love on February 5 by loving their neighbors through the Souper Bowl of Caring. It’s a simple yet significant act of caring for others. Drop $1 (or more) in the soup pot as you leave worship on February 5. Your youth determine the recipient(s)—local food shelves, ELCA World Hunger, specific ministries of your congregation, etc.

The Souper Bowl of Caring is an example of God blessing our efforts to help others. Please encourage and join young people in this effort. If your congregation doesn’t already participate, get it started. Taking action together makes big things happen. The Souper Bowl of Caring began in 1990 with one youth group getting others involved (one!). Since then, it has raised over $71 million (2010 figures).

Participation in the Souper Bowl of Caring is a tangible expression of our faith in Jesus. Don’t believe it? Here are some examples from scriptural for Souper Bowl:

• The Souper Bowl collections go to many charities and so help many organizations. (Matthew 25:35-36)
• It follows God's commands to care of the poor by leaving some of what we have and opening       our hearts to them. (Lev. 19:9-10, Deut. 15:7-8)
• Only asking for a dollar means everyone can participate. (2 Corinth. 8:1-4)
• By doing this in our church, we are setting an example of caring for those in need. (1 Tim 4:12)
• It is a way we can remember the poor on a day when we are thinking about other things (Gal. 2:10)
• Since the Souper Bowl does not tell people where to send their collection, it does not exclude anyone. (James 2:1-4)
• It also gives us a chance to trust God when we serve and to see how He blesses us as we do. (Phil. 4:19, Deut. 15:10)

Is your congregation participating in the Souper Bowl of Caring? We would love to see pictures! Send them to kate.penz@spas-elca.org.

Waste food? Me?

I recently read an article in the Faith and Money Network Newsletter by Leah McCullough, a United Church of Christ minister from North Carolina that has made me think a bit harder about food and how I might be wasting it. She says that reducing food waste can help feed hungry people, reduce greenhouse gas emissions, and save money. "We all eat, so we all can make a difference."

Here are just some of her suggestions to reduce food waste (italics are my additions):

1. Purchase less food.
2. Use up leftovers.
3. Eat down what is in our refrigerator and cabinets before purchasing more.
4. Beware of bulk and buy-one-get-one free purchases that may go bad before we can use it up.
5. Compost. (Even in winter.)
6. Encourage our grocery stores to donate edible food to food recovery groups.
7. Ask every coffee shop, café, and restaurant we frequent what they may do with unused food and encourage them to donate it.
8. Tell our produce managers that we are willing to purchase fruits and vegetables that may not be cosmetically perfect or uniform in size and shape, as we know they are still nutritious and tasty--and then do it.
9. Take leftovers home (and then use them).
10. Volunteer with food recovery organizations; glean with an organization.

Food for thought--and hopefully for action in this New Year.

                                                                                       Vernita Kennen