Our Blog Has Moved

We have a new blog website for our Hunger Action and Advocacy partnership with New Brunswick Presbytery. There is still good info on this blog but the latest info is at the new site - hope to see you there!

November 2009 - Welcome to New Jersey Presbyterian Hunger Action and Advocacy, a ministry of Monmouth and New Brunswick Presbyteries. We share the goal of the Presbyterian Hunger Program: to alleviate hunger and eliminate its causes. We are here to help congregations engage in a range of creative ministries to help hungry and poor people.

In the Spotlight:

• Hunger in the U.S. is at a 14-Year High - please share your stories with us - What are you seeing in your community? What is your congregation doing? Where do you see God at work?
• Winter 2009-2010 Newsletter
  
• On Tuesday, November 17^th, the Senate Foreign Relations Committee will consider approval of S. 1524, the Foreign Assistance Revitalization and Accountability Act. Please call NJ Senator Robert Menendez at 1-800-826-3688 before noon on Tuesday, November 17, and urge him to vote “YES” on S. 1524.
• Holiday Postcard Campaign for Immigration Reform
  
• from the Presbyterian Hunger Program's Joining Hands initiative: Transparency Bill before Congress, S1700
  

Check out our “Congregations” pages to learn more about what congregations are doing and find ideas of what you can do. Hunger Action Enabler/ Advocates, Rev. Marcia MacKillop and Rev. Phyllis Zoon, serve as educators and motivators–we are here to help.

Our website/blog is a “work in progress” that we hope will be informative, useful and fun. All comments welcome!

October 18 (or a Sunday of your choice): Bread for the World Sunday

When did we see you hungry and not give you food?

Then the righteous will say to him, “Lord, when was it that we saw you hungry and gave you food?” -- Matthew 25:37

The headline read, “World hunger reaches 1 billion mark” - and I never got any further in praying for the news this week.

Lord, when did we see you hungry, and not give you food?

The global financial meltdown has pushed the ranks of the world’s hungry to a record 1 billion, an increase of 100 million over last year. One billion. That’s one out of six people in the world.

Lord, when did we see you hungry, and not give you food?

Pray the rest of this prayer (you will need a Yahoo Id

Good (no, great ) Coffee, Good (no, great) Cause

1. Would you like to reach out to neighbors overseas not only with prayers and offerings but also by the products you purchase?

2. Would you like to know for sure that more of the money you spend on coffee goes to the hardworking farmers who grow it?

3. Would you like to know that the coffee you drink has been grown with care for the stewardship of the natural environment?

4. Would you like to save some money on your purchase of fair trade organic coffee (compared to prices in most supermarkets)?

5. Would you like to know that your coffee purchase will help guarantee that farmers will earn the income they need to feed their families, educate their children, and improve their communities?

6. Do you have a pulse?

If you can answer “yes” to at least one of these questions, check out the Presbyterian Coffee Project. Try a package from the presbytery —better yet, organize a project at your church! More info at www.pcusa.org/coffee

Food Crisis, Agribusiness Accountability & Pigs

Whether or not you are taking part in the PC(USA) churchwide fast, July's fast materials are right on target for helping to understand issues related to food here in the U.S.

The fast materials explore the role of agribusiness in the food system and its relation to the food crisis. Pigs will be the teachers as we reflect how they are produced. By the end of this minicurriculum,
prayer, and discussion, you should be able to answer questions such as:

• Does agribusiness (large companies which increasingly control more and more of the
industry) produce them sustainably and humanely?

• Are there other models of production? And what are the positives and negatives?

• How do we engage to make our food system better?

A Taste of Things to Come? Fast Food Facelift

Chipotle's Fast Food Facelift

Shared via AddThis

No matter who you are . . .

Palm Sunday - Scene 2

The following essay is by Peter Sawtell, Executive Director of Eco-Justice Ministries. I put it up on the blog last year and decided to repeat it this year. It really is "food for thought"!

"Palm Sunday is that occasion in the church year when we try and get ourselves into a really joyous mood, so that we can experience the full roller coaster effect of Holy Week.

"In many churches this weekend, the members of the Sunday School will be drafted to form a palm-waving procession through the sanctuary. Some lucky child may even get to play the part of Jesus, and ride the wooden donkey, the same one used by Mary in the Christmas pageant. Meanwhile, in the pews, well-dressed adults will sing All Glory, Laud and Honor and look very self-conscious about waving their fronds.

"Through it all, we make a noble attempt to capture the genuine spirit of celebration that is part and parcel of Jesus' entry into Jerusalem. We try to claim the hope and excitement of the Messiah's arrival in the capitol city. And we set aside the awareness of what comes later in this Holy Week -- the agonizing times of betrayal and death, and the astounding joy of resurrection.

"The Christian liturgical tradition packs a lot into Holy Week. We observe Palm Sunday, Maundy Thursday, Good Friday, the Easter Vigil, and Easter itself.

"And yet, as I re-read the Palm Sunday account in the gospels, I'm struck by what our liturgies skip over. The tradition of the triumphal entry is truncated. Scene 2 is skipped.

"Picture this in your church's observation of the day: The bathrobe-clad Jesus rides the wheeled donkey down the aisle, while the congregation sings familiar hymns of praise and wave their palm branches. Then, as the music comes to a close, Jesus strides to the chancel, sweeps the silver communionware onto the floor, and shouts, "It is written, 'My house shall be called a house of prayer', but you are making it a den of robbers."

What do you think? Is this true? Read the rest of the article

The painting is undated by Solomon Raj. Asian Christian Art Association

The sculpture of Christ cleansing the Temple is by Brian Burgess.

Making it all count

In C. S. Lewis’s “Chronicles of Narnia” Aslan the Lion takes Lucy, Edmund, Peter and everyone to the New Narnia—we might call it “heaven” or the New Creation. It’s a place of astonishing light and beauty; a place where every blade of grass seems to mean more and where every creature sings for the sheer joy of the Creator. It is a place where everything is just so real in depth and color that the mere sight of a daisy takes your breath away and makes you weep for the sheer beauty of the thing.

But there, in the midst of all that beauty, they see a group of dwarfs huddled together—convinced that they are living in the rank stench of a barn. Lucy—upset that they aren’t enjoying the New Narnia—begs Aslan to help them, and he tells her, “I will show you what I can and cannot do.”

Aslan shakes his golden mane and a sumptuous banquet appears. But when the dwarfs dive in, they start gagging and complaining. “Doesn’t this beat all,” they lament. “Not only are we in this stinking stable but now we’ve got to eat hay and dried cow dung as well!”

The dwarves, Aslan goes on to say, had chosen suspicion instead of trust and love. They were prisoners of their own minds. They could not see Aslan’s gift of the New Narnia for they would not see it. Aslan can but leave them alone to the hell of their own devising.

Living now, in a time of economic crisis and uncertainty, it’s easy to feel anxious—a lot like those dwarfs. It happens to people, it happens to congregations and presbyteries, too. The temptation is to hunker down and hold on tightly to what we have. But now, I think, is a good time to remember and claim God’s promise of abundant life by opening ourselves up even more to the glorious bounty that is all around and to choose trust and love. It’s also a good time to see that everything we do really counts. Give to One Great Hour of Sharing and other Presbyterian mission; spend your money on fair trade items that are beautiful and help the communities that make them.

Remember your treasure isn’t in your IRA or your building. Spend your precious time building relationships—with God, with God’s creation, and with yourselves. And enjoy the abundance!

Where is your treasure? One Great Hour of Sharing: Sharing Resources, Changing Lives

The financial crisis that began here has now touched all corners of the world. Here including many in our congregations) and around the world poor people are wondering, "Can I feed my family today?" Now, more than ever, those who are most vulnerable are looking to us; now, more than ever, we need to ask ourselves how much greater our capacity for sharing might be.

There are very few things you can do in a given week that will impact lasting change around the world. Here is one: take time this week to promote the offering with congregations, groups, and individuals in your circle of influence.

• forward this post to people you know;
• visit the One Great Hour of sharing website;
• find tools that help congregations promote the offering including ads for newsletters, the video posted below, minutes for mission, and more;
• make sure your congregation has received their offering materials and contact Alan Krome in Louisville or Phyllis Zoon at the Presbytery Center if you haven't;
• consider how you might contribute to the offering through your congregation - or if you will not be present when your local congregation receives the offering - give online now.
  

Moderator Bruce Reyes-Chow has put a challenge before our churches to double their offering this year in celebration of the 60th anniversary of the One Great Hour of Sharing, and because now more than ever those who are most vulnerable in our communities and around the world are counting on us to help them make a difference in their lives.

Most congregations receive the One Great Hour of Sharing on Palm Sunday or Easter and use the season of Lent to promote the offering. So, please take a moment now to help ensure a successful offering this year.



Together we can change the world...

Growing Deep and Wide in Jacksonville

The following article was written by Bill Jordan and will appear in the 2010 Mission Yearbook for Prayer and Study.

Take one second career minister who is a lifetime outdoorsman and has an undergraduate degree in biology and put him with a small church that dates back to 1871 in a community with rural roots and a growing suburban population, and see what happens. The Jacksonville Church is engaged in the mission: “To serve Jesus Christ by caring for God’s creation and its people.”

Pastor Dana Eglinton was a contractor who built energy efficient houses. Before he heard God’s call to ordained ministry he believed that a Christian is responsible for the care of God’s earth. In worship, Bible study and retreats the church explored many avenues of service and discipleship related to the care of the earth. Eglinton discovered that there were already people in the congregation who were concerned about environmental issues. Together, pastor and people developed the Jacksonville Presbyterian Church Earthcare Ministry.

The Earthcare Ministry reached out to the neighbors of the congregation members with the distribution of compact fluorescent bulbs and an invitation to join the congregation in caring for creation. Other projects include working with the High School Science Club in building bird houses on property that is void of trees. Members of the congregation are involved with a watershed project that monitors chemicals in creeks and streamsas well as in clean-up projects in their township. All ages enjoy canoe and camping trips, and outings where the emphasis is on enjoying the earth and caring for God’s creation and all of God’s creatures.

Make social and environmental justice part of your congregation's Palm Sunday celebration

Palm Sunday is April 5, 2009

The Eco-Palm Project
Jesus' entrance into Jerusalem, accented by the jubilant waving of palm branches, is re-enacted each Palm Sunday in Presbyterian and other Christian congregations worldwide as Holy Week observances begin. Unfortunately for the communities where these palms are harvested, palm fronds do not always represent the same jubilation they do for us.

In 2007 the PC(USA) teamed up with Lutheran World Relief, Catholic Relief Services and the University of Minnesota to offer congregations the option of purchasing responsibly harvested eco-palm branches for Palm Sunday. The palms come from communities in Mexico and Guatamala where workers are paid fairly and engage in sustainable harvesting in order to protect the local ecosystem. Learn more about the benefits of Eco-Palms.

Online ordering new for 2009! Orders are due by March 9 if paying by credit card (March 2 if paying by check). Learn about pricing, ordering options and more.

Read the Presbyterian News Service article about Eco-Palms.

Young Adult Eco-Stewards Sought

Applications are being sought for the Eco-Stewards program of the Presbyterian Conservation Corps (PCC), a Christian community responding to God's call through applied eco-stewardship. The PPC is looking for Eco-Steward applicants from ages 18-24 years old who demonstrate interest in church, camp, and environmental concerns. The application deadline is May 1, 2009. To download the application, go to http://www.presbyterianconservationcorps.org/2009.html.

Each program will comprise of two components at different sites: 1. Eco-Stewards Training (3-4 days) and 2. Eco-Stewards Hand-On Program (3-4 days). The two programs are as follows: West: July 5-12 at Highlands Camp in Allenspark, CO and Greenwood Farm in Hardin, MT and Midwest: August 2-9 at Stronghold Retreat Center in Oregon, IL and Chicago, IL. PCC will transport participants between each site, but participants are responsible for travel to the training, and from the program component.
A joint program of Presbyterian Conservation Corps and Presbyterian Church Camp and Conference Association, the Eco-Stewards program seeks to train and inspire young adults in the ways of eco-stewardship within the wider context of our Christian faith. The overarching goal of this new initiative is to help inspire Presbyterian Church, USA churches and their members to become better caretakers of planet earth, our God given island home.

Ecumenical Advocacy Days - March 13-16 in Washingston DC

1. Would you like to know more about the connections between climate change, migration, and poverty here in the U.S. and around the world?
2. Would you like the opportunity to come together with faith-based advocates and activists from other Christian communities?
3. Would you like to meet and talk with other Presbyterians from all over the country who are concerned about these issues?
   
4. Would you like to learn more about the abundance of our world and how it can be allocated in a way that's fair and just for all creation?
5. Would you like to talk personally about your concerns with your representative and senators (or their staff members)?
6. Do you have a pulse?
   

If you can answer "yes" to at least one of the above and if your schedule is open, Ecumenical Advocacy Days is for you! Scholarship assistance of $500 is available from the Synod of the Northeast for use by Ministers and for Members of churches with membership greater than 150. Student scholarships are also available from Ecumenical Advocacy Days (applications due by February 6).

Registration Information

• Conference fee: $160 including two lunches and Sunday reception.
• Registration after February 13th will be $175. Register early!
• Student scholarships are available, visit the young adult page or email scholarships@advocacydays.org.
• Consider making a donation to help students attend the conference.

Click here to Register Now!

Wake Up and Smell the Coffee

Would you like to make a positive difference every time you drink a cup of coffee, tea, or hot chocolate or eat an organic chocolate bar? The Presbyterian Coffee Project makes it easy by offering a special link to help us reach out to neighbors overseas not only with our prayers and offerings but with the goods and products we purchase.

Why is this so important? Show the film "Black Gold" in your congregation, which features coffee production in Ethiopia and the farmers in the Oromia Cooperative. Or watch it online Black Gold:

Souper Bowl Sunday - February 1

Souper Bowl of Caring is a national movement of congregations, schools, community organizations and compassionate individuals caring for others on Super Bowl weekend. Souper Bowl of Caring equips and mobilizes youth to positively impact their communities by collecting money or food on or near Super Bowl weekend. 100% of the collections are donated directly to the charity of each group's choice.

Souper Bowl also includes a Service Blitz. In addition to collecting the dollar donations, youth are encouraged to serve hands-on at the charity of their choice the Saturday before the big game.

32 congregations (about 70%) in Monmouth Presbytery are registered for Souper Bowl!

Forty-eight years later . . .

A friend send this to me. Amazing! Thank you Lisa!

This is a Norman Rockwell Painting of Ruby Bridges, the little black girl who had to be escorted to school by federal marshals. "On November 14, 1960 . . . Bridges faced hostile crowds as the first black child to attend a previously all-white New Orleans school. She was 6 years old and had only been told by her mother that she was going to be attending a new school that day and "had better behave." Little did she know that she would be bombarded with jeers and even death threats and that she would end up being the sole child in her first-grade class after all the other children were kept home by their parents. All because Ruby was black.

Forty-eight years later--January 5, 2009--here is a picture of Sasha Obama, a little 7-year old black girl, being escorted to her school by her mother, First Lady-elect Michelle Obama and the Secret Service because Sasha's daddy is now President-elect of the United States, Barack Obama.

Celebrating the Birthday of Martin Luther King

There is a beautiful Litany of Celebration (and other worship resources) for Martin Luther King Day worship celebrations. I'm posting it here and hope this dream will become ours!

Litany of Celebration

LEADER: Martin King had a dream. The ideals of justice and freedom and the belief that all are created equal in the eyes of God are noble principles. But they are meaningless unless they become the personal possession of each one of us.

ALL: For Zion’s sake I will not keep silent. I will struggle with myself. I will not rest until the dream of justice and freedom becomes my personal dream. I must realize that I am not an innocent bystander. I can help realize the dream by my action, or delay it by in inaction.

LEADER: Martin’s dream of a day when people from all races and nations, eve the offsprings of slaves and former slave owners, can sit at a table as brothers and sisters and find ways of transforming their differences into assets. That was Martin’s dream. What is your dream?

ALL: My dream is that one day soon I will find a way to stop just celebrating the dream and start living it. It must become a part of my daily life; or nothing much will change.

LEADER: The dream is not about an ideal world; it is about the real world. Martin King’s poetic refrain, “I Have a Dream,” is a call for us to remember the real world where injustice abounds.

ALL: When I am in the shelter of my home I must remember the homeless. When I eat, I must remember the hungry. When I feel secure I must remember the insecure. When I see injustice I must remember that it will not stop unless I stop it.

LEADER: I have a dream!

ALL: I also have a dream. I have a dream that the Holy Spirit will arouse in me that very flame of righteousness that caused Martin King to become a living sacrifice for the freedom and liberation of all of God’s Children. Then I will be able to resist racial injustice everywhere I see it, even within myself.