ELCA World Hunger Appeal
For Lent, the ELCA World Hunger Appeal wants Lutherans and other Christians to be sensitive to how hunger and poverty exist in our world today. Each week in Lent, a key aspect will be explored on how we can recognize occurrences of hunger and poverty and how we can respond to them.
Week 1 – Many Faces of Christ
We are faced with many situations that require our response, and that response may vary, based upon our understanding of the situation and our Christian beliefs. In those situations that deal with real people, we are confronted with one of many possible faces of Christ. Jesus asked “Who do you say that I am?” People who are in poverty and are hungry may be many of those faces. How do we respond to the face of Christ in our personal relationships with other people?
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Week 2 – Partners in Mission
In lesson 1, we looked at the many faces of Christ in our brothers and sisters around the world who may need our help in overcoming hunger. In lesson 2, we are presented with a face of hunger that we don’t always see. The oppression of women in human societies, including those in our country, have resulted in societal conditions that increase physical hunger for many people. The story of how the ELCA is supporting our sisters in India respond to this problem is highlighted, and also gives some thoughts about how our outreach to other oppressed sisters in our world would help us partner in Christ’s mission for equality and justice.
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Week 3 – Faith & Thanksgiving
In lesson 1, we looked at the many faces of Christ in our brothers and sisters around the world who may need our help in overcoming hunger. In lesson 3 we are presented with another face of hunger that we don’t always see. The cultural norms in societies are sometimes used by these societies to present the face of God as representing these norms. The end result is an increased hunger of faith by those oppressed by these norms. The religious groups supported by the ELCA are acting to show the injustices where these norms oppress some members of these human societies, including places in our country. The story of how the ELCA work in Indonesia is changing societal norms is highlighted.
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Week 4 – God in the Neighborhood
In lesson 1, we looked at the many faces of Christ in our brothers and sisters around the world who may need our help in overcoming hunger. In lesson 4 we look at the root causes of hunger here in the US, especially prevalent in our inner city neighborhoods. A lively Lutheran congregation in Minneapolis, Minnesota shows us how they found a way to make a difference in a difficult environment. Recognizing a major problem and proactively solving it using the congregation’s young disciples, this congregation is getting positive results for its ministry in this ELCA-supported program.
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Week 5 – Reflection on Christ, Hunger, Lent, and Hope
In lesson 1, we looked at the many faces of Christ in our brothers and sisters around the world who may need our help in overcoming hunger. In lesson 4 we look at the root causes of hunger here in the US, especially prevalent in our inner city neighborhoods. A lively Lutheran congregation in Minneapolis, Minnesota shows us how they found a way to make a difference in a difficult environment. Recognizing a major problem and proactively solving it using the congregation’s young disciples, this congregation is getting positive results for its ministry in this ELCA-supported program.
Click here to read more.