'Faith, food stamps, and the fight against hunger'

While checking out a new lectionary resource (ON Scripture—also recommended!) From the Lutheran Theological Seminary at Gettysburg and Odyssey Networks, an interfaith media organization, I discovered the video below. You might remember the “Food Stamp Challenge” from other years—where people are urged to spend no more for a week than those who receive food stamps (now the SNAP program).

The challenge continues. And good news to hear that some of our federal legislators have accepted the challenge for a second time! Representative Keith Ellison talks about his experience and how it has helped him to see the problem of hunger in new ways. I appreciated his comments about budgets being moral documents.

Perhaps this will inspire YOU to consider taking the challenge. Any time is a good time to put yourself in the shoes of those who hunger so you not only know their story firsthand but also as inspiration for you to continue with your hunger ministry.

Hunger is scary

Light of the World Lutheran Church in Farmington is planning two fun (and scary!) events to help combat local hunger. We think they are onto something great, and surprisingly simple, "have fun and fight hunger!"
 
The haunted maze
Light of the World's Matt Philpot is organizing his annual haunted maze to benefit the Farmington food shelf. Admission to the maze is one canned good. Last year's maze raised 350 pounds; the goal this year is to double it.

If you want to check it out, the haunted maze will be open at 7:00 p.m. on October 22, 29, 30, and 31. It is located at 19337 Ellington Trail in Farmington. Contact Matt Philpot at mgphilpot@charter.net if you have questions.

"All check in...Most check out!"
Light of the World's Dean Wedul is refurbishing the scary "Redrum Hotel." It will be open for check-in October 29, 30, and 31 from 5:30 to 8:00 p.m. Located at 17371 Faraday Court, Farmington.

Donations of canned goods will be accepted for the Farmington food shelf. Last year's results: 437 pounds of food + $10. A water balloon target range will be open. Three balloons for $1.

Check out these events, or simply use this as inspiration for a "have fun and fight hunger" event in your own congregation.

October hunger connections

October is here! This year there is an enormous convergence of special events, celebrations, and weeks that relate to hunger. Celebrate and share hunger information with your family, friends, and congregation.

OCTOBER is Fair Trade Month. Many of our congregations work with Equal Exchange or another organization to provide fairly traded coffee, tea, and chocolate for sale to members.  Some go farther and sell nuts, dried fruit, olive oil, and other products. (Zion Lutheran, Chisago City, clearly states on their web site that they serve Fair Trade coffee exclusively.) Make an extra effort to shop fairly this month.

OCTOBER brings Church World Service’s CROP Walks. CROP Hunger Walks raise money to assist hungry people in many countries around the world. They provide for people in need in our local communities as 25 percent of the funds raised stay locally. CROP Walks serve to remind us that no matter how we may set out tables, we are all members of one human family created in God’s image. Be a walker or support one financially.

Photo from www.churchworldservice.org/CROP

OCTOBER brings World Food Day on October 16. This day, celebrated in many countries is sponsored/promoted by the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) of the United Nations, on the day on which the organization was founded in 1945. The theme for 2011 is “Food Prices—From Crisis to Stability.”

OCTOBER also brings Food Day on October 24—in 2011 and in years to come. Food Day seeks to bring together Americans from all walks of life to push for healthy, affordable food produced in a sustainable, humane way. The day is sponsored by the Center for Science in the Public Interest, the nonprofit watchdog group, and is backed by an impressive advisory board that includes anti‑hunger advocates, physicians, authors, politicians, and leaders of groups focused on everything from farmers markets to animal welfare to public health.

OCTOBER ends on Halloween (All Hallow’s Eve), preceding All Saint’s Day. Don’t forget that you can do “reverse trick or treating” by sharing and explaining Fair Trade treats. The UNICEF boxes are still a good way to help hungry children—and online trick and treating for UNICEF is now possible.

What's fair in your world today?

Photo by Salina J Photography

By Vernita Kennen, co-chair, Hunger Work Group

I got to thinking about the word "fair" today. I suppose it was because I was at the Minnesota State Fair yesterday. The Great Minnesota Get-Together is always nostalgic and fun for me, no matter the weather or the size of the crowds. My family went when I was a child; I continued to come several times while a participant in 4-H events, even bringing my yearling dairy heifer one year; and I have continued to attend as often as possible.

Meaning of "fair"
I checked the dictionary for the meaning of the word "fair." Much to my surprise, the first definition that appeared describes "fair" as an adjective meaning "good to look at or light in complexion." The next definition included the legality of fairness, followed by "fair" as it is used as a baseball term. It wasn't until the fifth definition that the version of "fair" meaning "just or unbiased" was described.

The first time "fair" was defined as a noun it was referred to as the competitive exhibition that I attended yesterday at the Minnesota State Fairgrounds.

What's fair about the fair?
Nowhere did I see anything about food–and yet that seemed to be what the fair yesterday was all about. There were plenty of fruits, vegetables, and meats on display, some of it still on the hoof. And there were the endless varieties of deep-fried objects and things "on a stick." Perhaps you join me in wondering what’s truly fair about the fair when more people seem to come to eat as much as possible these days.

Questions for pondering
What do you suppose people in places like Central America, Somalia, Sudan, and Kenya would think about our state fair? What would they see first? What would they find missing? How, or more importantly, what would they find us truly exhibiting?

Did you get to the fair this year? Did it bring you to thoughts of what’s really fair in your world? I hope so and I hope you will use this as an inspiration to work toward ending hunger everywhere in our world. None of us should have more than enough to eat while any others go hungry. God would consider that fair and hopes we will, too.

Budgets—and sheep and goats?

By Vernita Kennen, co-chair of the synod's Hunger Work Group

How are scripture, hunger issues, and budgets related? I recently received a copy of the Northeastern Minnesota Women of the ELCA newsletter that speaks to how we read scripture, hunger issues, and budgets. The writer, Judy, made a good connection for me. With her permission, I’d like to share some ideas from the article.

Re-read, carefully, Matthew 25: 31-40 (see below).

Pay attention to these aspects of the passage:

1. It is the nations that are gathered, and then the peoples are separated by some criteria;
2. The criteria are not based on biblical knowledge or theology;
3. The only criteria listed have to do with relating to people in need; and
4. Those deemed “righteous” have acted in accordance with the criteria, but don’t seem to realize that.

She wonders (as do I and perhaps you, too) if people would be more generous donors to the ELCA World Hunger program if we truly believed that feeding the hungry or housing the stranger or clothing those in need is giving to Jesus?

Our Saint Paul Area Synod giving to the ELCA World Hunger program was only $1.47 per baptized member during 2010. Who of us could manage on that amount for one day much less for an entire year? How generous are we really being today?

Judy reminds us that we, in a democracy, include programs in the budgets of our state and nation that focus help to those who are homeless, hungry, thirsty, sick, and in prison. If those programs are deeply cut, for whatever reasons, will we find ourselves not meeting the criteria for helping “the least of these brothers and sisters of mine?” In today’s world and economy, what does being a follower of Jesus demand of us who profess to be Christian and bear his name?

31“When the Son of Man comes in his glory, and all the angels with him, then he will sit on the throne of his glory. 32All the nations will be gathered before him, and he will separate people one from another as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats, 33and he will put the sheep at his right hand and the goats at the left. 34Then the king will say to those at his right hand, ‘Come, you that are blessed by my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world; 35for I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you welcomed me, 36I was naked and you gave me clothing, I was sick and you took care of me, I was in prison and you visited me.’ 37Then the righteous will answer him, ‘Lord, when was it that we saw you hungry and gave you food, or thirsty and gave you something to drink? 38And when was it that we saw you a stranger and welcomed you, or naked and gave you clothing? 39And when was it that we saw you sick or in prison and visited you?’ 40And the king will answer them, ‘Truly I tell you, just as you did it to one of the least of these who are members of my family, you did it to me.’