Meal Time!
July 30, 2010
As you are reading, I am enjoying the mountain climes and climbs of Philmont Scout Ranch in New Mexico. Yes, it’s my sixth sojourn, but taking the easier path of chaplaincy.
As I move into the home stretch of my six year tenure on Stop Hunger Now’s board of directors, it seems good to share with you what’s been happening, and what’s about to happen. The earthquake in Haiti revealed how Stop Hunger Now is wonderfully positioned to respond to such a tragedy and to coordinate many life-saving efforts. The meal packaging venues have boomed as people have shared the vision for ending hunger. Friends, we are part of a movement!
Through June, 10 million meals have been prepared, with millions donated to the people of Haiti and nine other nations: Honduras, Uganda, Nicaragua, Kenya, Zambia, Zimbabwe, Vietnam, and El Salvador. That’s “cookin’!”
Steve
Volunteers will package a million meals for Stop Hunger Now
More than 4,000 volunteers from area universities and colleges will join forces in late August to break the record they set last year by packaging 1 million meals for Stop Hunger Now, a Raleigh-based international hunger relief organization that coordinates the distribution of food and other life-saving aid around the world.
Last year, volunteers from North Carolina State University, the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, East Carolina University, Duke University, North Carolina Central University, Peace College, and University of North Carolina at Wilmington packaged a record-breaking 1,031,776 meals during the University Million Meal Week.
This year, four North Carolina universities will host University Million Meal Event. Each site will have its own packaging event where students and community volunteers work side by side in assembly lines to package meals. The week-long event begins at NCSU on August 21 and concludes at UNC-CH, ECU on August 28 and UNCW on November 13th.
More than half of the meals packaged will be distributed to earthquake victims in Haiti. “Stop Hunger Now is committed to providing aid to those in Haiti after the current crisis stops making headlines,” said Ray Buchanan, president and founder of Stop Hunger Now. “The resounding success of UMMW in the past two years assures us we can do it again. The scale of this event draws much needed attention to the war against hunger and provides life-saving meals to the world’s most destitute,” said Ray Buchanan.
Stop Hunger Now’s highly nutritious meals include rice, soy, dehydrated vegetables and a vitamin-fortified flavoring mix with 21 essential vitamins and minerals. Each meal costs 25 cents to make. Stop Hunger Now provides the ingredients with funds from sponsors, contributors and student donations.
“Our goal is to raise $250,000 to cover the cost of food and packaging materials for this huge event,” said Rod Brooks, CEO of Stop Hunger Now. “We are actively seeking support.”
Churches, civic organizations, schools, businesses or individuals interested in helping to package meals or donating to the University Million Meals event should contact Stop Hunger Now at 839-8968 or info@stophungernow.org.
Meals Needed
July 22, 2010
Meals for the Mending is often in need of meals. In preparing meals, please place in disposable bake or microwave ware, cover adequately to prevent freezer burn, and label with your name, the name of the dish, date the dish was prepared, and warming/baking instructions. These meals are placed in the freezer across the hall from the kitchen for distribution when needed.
Meals for the Mending is coordinated by Marilyn Dixon. Contact her through the church office.
A Day in the Life…July, 100
July 16, 2010
July 18, 2010
It has been nearly fifteen years since this weekly column took on the name, “A Day in the Life.” The articles range from editorials to inadvertent diatribes–you see, I don’t always know where they’re going! The life of our church, the church at large, the community, nation and world have all gotten attention.
On this particular day it seems good to revisit a particular day, as I have done before. The day was last Sunday, July 11, 2010. I’m always gladdened and occasionally amazed when a summer day bursts with such vitality.
First of all, Jess was in place for her second Sunday. The first, being “the fourth,” many (!) of you had not yet met her. Many more (!) of you will do so soon, I’m sure. I am so pleased to have her aboard, and to lay the ground work for her to work with our children and youth.
Stirrings from the youth room meant that the elementary classes were hard at work. Katherine reported early in worship that they had bagged 100–meaning that one hundred hungry passers-by would have a simple meal in the days to come. 100.
Worship held several markers. Laura was our “witness,” testifying to ways in which an academic has traveled the path of faith, continually making glorious discoveries all along the way, findings that connect faith and science.
The oft-present clipboards testified that we’re preparing to host homeless families at the end of August. Wonder how many families have spent the night at Fairmont? 100?
With the choir taking a break from an amazing year, we are blessed with the range of other church musicians. On that day, Leah led us with her music on the marimba. What a glorious and rich sound.
We welcomed guests, some first time worshipers, some there with family, some present to lead the blessing of our newest Stephen Ministers, Beth and Betsy. Fifty hours of training for each…hmm. 2 times 50, that’s 100.
Sunday Night LIVE! (number 895) was that oft-repeated opportunity for young and developing musicians, as Randy’s student Samuel played piano. There will be more to come, just as young people within the life of the church have known dozens of those moments–hey, maybe 100.
Once again, the bus ranneth over as the men of the Healing Place filed off to attend the service. June marked 9 years of doing that. That’s not 100 Sundays, but it’s 100 times 4.68. It’s good to keep the brain sharp during the summer…
I don’t think the day reached 100 degrees, but in 100 ways, we reached out, reached for God, and sensed God’s reach in one another. That was a day in the life–there will be more. Like this one today.
Steve
STEPHEN MINISTRY: Equipping the Saints for the Work of Ministry
July 9, 2010
Caring for people is at the heart of a congregation’s ministry. In our fast-changing and broken world, congregations are overwhelmed with the need for care. People who are hospitalized, the grieving, those suffering loneliness or discouragement, the divorced, those who are dying, parents grappling with loss when children leave home, new parents, single parents, those going through transitions in their work…the list of needs for care goes on and on. Pastors and church staff are able to provide immediate care at the onset of a crisis, but may not be able to provide adequate ongoing follow-up care to those who are hurting.
Stephen Ministry is an ongoing ministry which seeks to identify and mobilize the gifts of lay people to meet the constantly growing needs for care. Well-chosen, trained, and supervised Stephen Ministers reach out with Christ’s love by providing caring relationships with those who need a listening heart, empathic understanding, encouragement, and prayer. With today’s service of “commissioning”, Fairmont’s Stephen Ministry begins anew. As before, these Stephen Ministers will use their Spirit-given gifts in this meaningful and fruitful ministry. These committed individuals embody the qualities emblazoned on the Caregiver’s Compass: COMPASSION, FAITHFULNESS, TRUSTWORTHINESS, and SKILL.
Today we celebrate the beginning of another chapter of Stephen Ministry in our congregation as our newest Stephen Ministers are commissioned. They have completed fifty hours of initial training, and will continue in a group setting marked by confidentiality, continuing education, and mutual encouragement. We celebrate all those in our congregation who have served as Stephen Ministers in the past, and are thankful for their contributions. Together, we are working to become a more loving community, sensitive and responsive to people’s needs, and where no one slips through the cracks. In this we rejoice and give God the glory.
Our Stephen Ministers underwent training at the Wake Forest Presbyterian Church, and their supervision group will take place at West Raleigh Presbyterian through the leadership of the Rev. Moffett Churn.
To Betsy Lampley and Beth Jennings we offer our heartiest congratulations. The several of us who gathered at Wake Forest to witness the end of your training were moved to see you at that juncture. We offer you our prayerful support as you seek to be faithful to the calling you have answered!
Pastor Steve
Won't You Be My Neighbor?
July 2, 2010
Mr. Rogers had it right–didn’t he? Fred Rogers, an ordained minister of the Presbyterian Church, studied for eight years at the Pittsburgh Theological Seminary, buy not to pursue a ministry of preaching. Instead, he was charged to continue his remarkable ministry among children in the humble setting of the PBS series, Mr. Rogers’ Neighborhood. Each episode began with him singing that gently inviting refrain, “Won’t you be my neighbor?” One did not have to be a child to be drawn into his orbit, and to delight in feeling personally invited to be his neighbor.
As a church, we have lots of neighbors. For over ten years, we have affectionately referred to Stop Hunger Now as our “upstairs neighbor.” One could regard the many denizens of our building also as “neighbors:” Parents’ Morning Out, Carolina Interfaith Task Force on Central America, Raleigh Wesley Foundation, sixteen various 12-step groups, the Martin Luther King, Jr., All Children’s Choir, Amnesty International, International Bible Study, a pipe and drum class, groups meeting around mental health policy reform, enhancing education in Wake County…neighbors all.
We have also enjoyed a decade’s long special neighborliness with churches in the area–West Raleigh Presbyterian, Holy Trinity Lutheran, Community United Church of Christ, Pullen Memorial Baptist, and in more recent times, Wilson Temple Untied Methodist. We have shared in worship, and dreamed together of how to be good neighbors to the larger community.
Lately, a new neighbor has arrived. (I was, uh, busy the day they unloaded the truck.) When our Methodist Building was sold so that a more useful ministry setting could be created, the North Carolina Council of Churches lost its home! A faithful tenant for many years, they struck out to find a new domicile. In part due to our success with Stop Hunger Now, the NCCC landed at West Raleigh Presbyterian. As I repeat the phrase, “There goes the neighborhood!”, remember that I am an officer of that body!
Yes, there does go the neighborhood…in a most excellent direction. What a remarkable 75 year legacy of leading in the causes of social justice, health care for all, disaster preparedness, and now, as we heard first-hand July 1, comprehensive immigration reform.
If my mother was right, and yours, too, we are known by the company we keep. (Anyone want to argue with that mother wisdom?) We delight in the neighbors within and around our building.
You can get to know our neighbors on Tuesday, July 6, from 4:00- 7:00 pm. There should be a greeter at the door to direct you to the space for introduction, information, and of course, refreshments! I haven’t checked with George Reed, executive director, but if asked, he may indeed lead us in a chorus of “Won’t you be my neighbor?”
Pastor Steve