Mission Advocate

 

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Mission Advocate

The Presbytery of San Fernando
and
San Gabriel Presbytery


From the desk of Wendy Gist,

the Mission Advocate for Hunger, Poverty, and Peacemaking Issues

 
 

Hunger Action This Month

It’s time to prepare for:

One Great Hour of Sharing 2008
Sharing Resources, Changing Live
s

Since 1949, Presbyterians have joined with millions of other Christians through One Great Hour of Sharing (OGHS) to share God’s love with people experiencing need. Our gifts support ministries of disaster response, refugee assistance and resettlement, and community development that help people find safe refuge, start new lives, and work together to strengthen their families and communities.

Most congregations receive the offering on Easter Sunday, Palm Sunday, or both, while many receive it throughout Lent.  The Presbyterian Hunger Program receives 36 percent of undesignated One Great Hour of Sharing gifts, while the Self-Development of People and Presbyterian Disaster Assistance each receives 32 percent.

For more details, information, and resources visit: http://www.pcusa.org/oghs/

Additionally, the Presbytery office has OGHS packets available.

 

Follow-Up
 

A number of our churches participated in the Souper Bowl of Caring on Super Bowl Sunday this year.  If your church doesn’t know about the Souper Bowl of Caring, please visit the website for more information.  www.souperbowl.org

 
 

Reminders


Mission surveys have been sent to the Mission/Outreach Committees of all churches in the Presbytery.  I’m hoping to have them back in mid-March at which time we’ll have a good sense of what our churches are doing in mission.  Ask your mission chairperson if he/she received it, has filled it out, and sent it back yet.

The 2008 Presbyterian Peacemaking Conference comes to California

The conference will be held July 15-19 at Chapman University in Orange, CA.  This year’s theme is: Sowing Mustard Seeds: Working for God’s Justice — Confronting Poverty.  Please consider going yourself and invite others from your congregation to attend.  For more information see the website: www.pcusa.org/peacemaking/conferences/2008.htm

 

Ideas and Programs

 

New from the Presbyterian Hunger Program 

 

Open Source

Open Source is a library of workshop presentations on many pressing local and global issues related to hunger and poverty. We hope they will be useful resources as you and others in your congregation and community seek understanding and ways to act. They may be freely adapted, but please retain credits when noted.

Presentation Topics

bullet Presentations from PRC’s National Eco-Justice Conference
bullet Climate Change and Ecological Footprint
bullet Hunger and Poverty
bullet Food and Faith
bullet Genetic Engineering in Agriculture
bullet Sweatshops and Fair Trade
bullet Water and Corporations
bullet Globalization and Trade
bullet Living Wage
bullet Assorted: sustainable development, power, land & human right

Visit the website at http://www.pcusa.org/hunger/opensource.htm

 

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Bread for the World is seeking Hunger Justice Leaders

We're looking for the best and brightest advocates to become Bread for the World's Hunger Justice Leaders. Motivated 18-35 year olds are invited to apply for an all-expense paid leadership training from June 14-17 in Washington, DC.

Here's a chance to deepen your faith and put it into action.

Click here to APPLY TODAY.

Download the flyer (color) pdf

Download the flyer (black & white) pdf

Event participants will:

Interact with premier organizing and issue experts

Connect with other leaders from across the country

Hone skills to become an inspiring organizer

Learn how YouTube, Facebook and other new technologies are changing the face of organizing

Return home with the support and strategies you need to lead your campus or faith community

We can end hunger in our time. For the first time in history, we have the knowledge, the resources and the capacity to overcome chronic hunger. What we need is the political will. Everyone, including our government must do their part.

Help us create that political will.

Do you have what it takes to become a Hunger Justice Leader? Don't miss this opportunity to change our world, and yours.

Applications must be received by March 15, 2008.

We will cover all costs for the participants selected in this highly competitive process. Leaders will commit to promoting efforts against hunger and poverty in partnership with Bread for the World. Successful candidates will be notified of their selection by April 1.
 

Focus on hunger, poverty, and peacemaking calendar

 

Spring: 

 

bullet

OGHS Offering: promote it at your church and your funds will support the work of the Presbyterian Hunger Program, Self-Development of People, and Presbyterian Disaster Assistance.

bullet

Hold an Offering of Letters at your church.  For more information visit www.bread.org or call David Gist, CA Organizer for Bread for the World, at 626-568-3233.

bullet

Pentecost Offering: promote it at your church and your funds will support children at risk, ministries for youth and young adults, young adult volunteers, and child advocacy ministries.

Summer:

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Participate in a work trip or study trip or a work-study trip.  For example, you can help rebuild the Gulf Coast or travel to another country to learn about the realities there.

 

Fall:

 

bullet

CROP Walks: Participate and/or sponsor a walker

bullet

Peacemaking Offering: promote it at your church and your funds will support peacemaking initiatives and peace education throughout the church

 

Winter:

 

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Christmas Joy Offering: promote it at your church and your funds will provide support to retired and active church workers and their families and to Presbyterian-related racial ethnic education through the National Ministries Division of the General Assembly Council.

bullet

Souper Bowl of Caring: On Super Bowl Sunday youth groups collect nonperishable food donations for the local food pantry or soup kitchen or charity of their choice.  For more information go to: www.souperbowl.org.


 

Things you can do year round:

 

bullet

Buy fair trade products

bullet

Buy local and organic products at farmer's markets and in your grocery store

bullet

Write or call your Congress persons regarding hunger, poverty, and peacemaking legislation

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Support PC(USA) special offerings

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Participate in PC(USA)'s Enough for Everyone campaign by buying sweat-free clothing, serving fair trade coffee at your home and church, practicing responsible stewardship of God's creation by becoming an Energy Steward Congregation, and/or investing church funds and/or personal funds with Oikocredit or another socially responsible investment fund.    For more information visit www.pcusa.org/enough.
 

 

How you can contact me:

 

Email me at MissionAdvocate@linkline.org

 

Phone me at the Presbytery of San Fernando office.  I'm usually there Thursdays between 10:00 a.m. and 2:00 p.m., but you can leave a message anytime.  The phone number is: 818-891-4781. 

 

I look forward to connecting with you!