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News from PC(USA) ...

‘Souper Bowl’ scores record $9.5 million

Presbyterians raise more than $1 million for second straight year

by Evan Silverstein, Presbyterian News Service

LOUISVILLE — Souper Bowl of Caring officials say Presbyterian churches collected more than $1 million in

last month’s annual anti-hunger campaign.

 As of March 5, organizers say, 2,356 Presbyterian churches nationwide had raised $1,001,523 — and collections haven’t

been fully reported. The total marks the second straight year that Presbyterian collections broke the $1 million

mark. 

So far some 14,654 organizations and congregations from a variety of U.S. religious denominations have reported

collecting a record $9.5 million, according to Souper Bowl officials. Donations from Presbyterians made up more than 11 percent of the total, the second most contributions behind the Roman Catholic Church. The Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) had the second-highest number of churches participating, behind the United Methodist Church.

The Souper Bowl program was inspired by a prayer the Rev. Brad Smith offered at Spring Valley Presbyterian Church in

Columbia, SC, on Super Bowl Sunday in 1988. Since then the campaign has raised nearly $50 million for

charities like food banks and soup kitchens. Participating groups phone in totals, then send donations to charities of

their choice.

“I am thankful to God for the long history of participation of Presbyterian churches in the Souper Bowl of Caring,”

said Smith, the program’s executive director. “It is especially gratifying to see over 2,300 Presbyterian churches using this resource as a means to reach out to those who are hungry and hurting in their communities.” 

Last year more than 14,000 organizations and congregations raised $8.1 million in all 50 states for the Souper Bowl of

Caring. The total was up from $5 million in 2006.  More than 2,450 Presbyterian congregations took part in

Souper Bowl 2007, generating $1.1 million. It was the first time that Presbyterian collections broke the $1 million

mark.

About 2,387 Presbyterian churches participated in Souper Bowl 2006, generating $921,616.

So far this year’s top-contributing PC(USA) congregations are Sunrise Presbyterian Church in Salina, KS, with

$25,869, followed by Second Presbyterian Church in Indianapolis with $24,483 and Memorial Drive Presbyterian

Church in Houston, $14,926.

Other top PC(USA) Souper Bowl contributors: Pine Shores Presbyterian Church in Sarasota, FL, $13,092; and Trinity

Presbyterian Church in Atlanta, $11,999.

 In another phase of the Souper Bowl program, young people are urged to serve a charity in their community on Super

Bowl weekend — a task that more than 12,000 youths performed this year, including 1,966 Presbyterian youth.

Overall, 277,678 youth participated in the 2008 Souper Bowl of Caring in some capacity, including 19,024 Presbyterian

youth.

 

Shared by Daniel Ray ...

I hope the message of this story finds a warm spot in your heart.  It represents the teachings of our Lord and Savior, as can be seen in Matthew 25:34-40.
 
God Bless,
Daniel
 
Ruth went to her mail box and there was only one letter. She picked it up and looked at it before opening, but then she looked at the envelope again. There was no stamp, no postmark, only her name and address. She read the letter:
Dear Ruth:
 I`m going to be in your neighborhood Saturday afternoon and I'd like to stop by for a visit.
 Love Always,
Jesus
Her hands were shaking as she placed the letter on the table. "Why would the Lord want to visit me?
I'm nobody special. I don't have anything to offer."
 
With that thought, Ruth remembered her empty kitchen cabinets. "Oh my goodness, I really don't have anything to offer. I'll have to run down to the store and buy something for dinner." She reached for her purse and counted out its contents. Five dollars and forty cents. Well, I can get some bread and cold cuts, at least."

She threw on her coat and hurried out the door.
 
A loaf of French bread, a half-pound of sliced turkey, and a carton of milk...leaving Ruth with grand total twelve cents to last her until Monday. Nonetheless, she felt good as she headed home, her meager offerings tucked under her arm.
 
"Hey lady, can you help us,lady?"
 
Ruth had been so absorbed in her dinner plans, she hadn't even noticed two figures huddled in the alleyway. A man and a woman, both of them dressed in little more than rags. "Look lady, I ain't got a job, ya know, and my wife and I have been living out here on the street, and, well, now it's getting cold and we're getting kinda hungry and, well, if you could help us. Lady, we'd really appreciate it."
 
Ruth looked at them both. They were dirty, they smelled bad and frankly, she was certain that they could get some kind of work if they really wanted to.

"Sir, I'd like to help you, but I'm a poor woman myself. All I have is a few cold cuts and some bread, and I'm having an important guest for dinner tonight and I was planning on serving that to Him." 

"Yeah, well, okay lady, I understand. Thanks anyway."
 
The man put his arm around the woman's shoulders, turned and headed back into the alley. As she watched them leave, Ruth felt a familiar twinge in her heart. "Sir, wait!"
 
The couple stopped and turned as she ran down the alley after them. "Look, why don't you take this food. I'll figure out something else to serve my guest." She handed the man her grocery bag.
 
"Thank you lady. Thank you very much!" "Yes, thank you!" It was the man's wife, and Ruth could see now that she was shivering
 
"You know, I've got another coat at home. Here, why don't you take this one."
 
Ruth unbuttoned her jacket and slipped it over the woman's shoul ders. Then smiling, she turned and walked back to the street...without her coat and with nothing to serve her guest.
 
"Thank you lady! Thank you very much!"
 
Ruth was chilled by the time she reached her front door, and worried too. The Lord  was coming to visit and she didn't have anything to offer Him. She fumbled through her purse for the door key. But as she did, she noticed another envelope in her mailbox. "That's odd. The mailman doesn't usually come twice in one day."
Dear Ruth:
 It was so good to see you again. Thank you for the lovely meal. And thank you, too, for the beautiful coat.
 Love Always,
Jesus 
The air was still cold, but even without her coat, Ruth no longer noticed.

******

Shared by Maud Woodsinger ....

My 19-year-old nephew is departing to Iraq very soon for his first year-long deployment.  His elementary-age sister wrote this poem.

The Departure

By Scarlet Stovall

 

The moment has approached,

He has to depart.

 Just a split second ago it was a daydream to think about him leaving.

He’s like an eagle,

 Finally prepared to soar.

I glimpse at the concealed sorrow, in their faces.

It doesn’t appear to be fair,

But our country needs him.

 He’s doing what he does best, fighting for us.

He is barely gone,

 But still the scent of his cologne lingers.

My tears stream down my face,

 Like a light spring rain.

Fantasizing his return brings warmth and happiness to me.

 

 

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