Day 31: Kids Count

The rate of Colorado children living in poverty increased 50 percent between 2000 and 2008, compared with a 6 percent increase nationwide, according to 2010 Kids Count Data Book, an annual report by the Annie E. Casey Foundation that tracks how states have progressed — or regressed — over time in protecting the well-being of children.

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The Kids Count survey for 2010 was based on the most recent information from 2007 and 2008, prior to the severe economic turndown. The recession could further impact these troubling statistics. These are factors that effect every aspect of the social fabric. Problems with education, health, employment and public safety can find roots in poverty, which takes its worst toll on children.

Click here to read the entire article as published in the Denver Post on July 26, 2010.

Day 31. Dollar 31. God of compassion, whose Son became poor for our sake: Help us to see the face of Christ in those who are poor, and in serving them to serve you. Give us generous hearts so that those living in poverty may have adequate food, clothing, and shelter. By your Spirit, move us to affirm the dignity of all people and to work for just laws that protect the most vulnerable in society; through Jesus Christ, our Savior and Lord. Amen. (ELW, additional prayers)

Day 30: Who Needs Jelly...

...when you can have PEANUT BUTTER! Peanut butter may protect against a high risk of cardiovascular disease due to high levels of monounsaturated fats and resveratrol; butter prepared with the skin of the peanuts has a greater level of resveratrol and other health-aiding agents. Peanut butter (and peanuts) provide protein, vitamins B3 and E, magnesium, folate (helps your DNA cells), dietary fiber, arginine (helps your heart) and high levels of the antioxidant p-coumaric acid. (Source: Wikipedia)

Peanut Butter alternative: Sun-Butter! This is a yummy alternative to peanut butter. Made from specially roasted sunflower seeds, Sun-Butter is completely peanut-free, tree-nut free, and gluten-free. An excellent choice for people with peanut allergies or gluten intolerance. (Source: Sun-Butter)

Day 30. Dollar 30. Peanut Butter is one of the items listed on Metro CareRing's immediate pantry needs. Visit their site to see the latest items that will help feed those in the Denver area.

Day 29: Renewed Hope

Pray for the ELCA Domestic Hunger Grants Program (click for more info), that it may continue to provide renewed hope in hundreds of communities for people like Greg Washington in Milwaukee, who works in the food industry, serves food to others, but does not earn a living wage himself.



Day 29. Dollar 29. Praise God from whom all blessings flow. Praise God all creatures here below. Praise God above, ye heavenly host. Praise Father, Son, and Holy Ghost.

Day 28: Birthday Boys

Day 28. Dollar 28. In order to HANDEL the hunger issues in our community, you can be SHÜTZ that giving BACH is the way to go!

Day 27: Feeding Hungry Children

WASHINGTON (ELCA) -- Nearly one in four American children are hungry, according to a report by the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA). Bishops and members of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) are working together to fight hunger among children.

"Our job as the domestic caucus of the Conference of Bishops is to do our best to advocate for the hungry in America," said the Rev. James F. Mauney, bishop, ELCA Virginia Synod, Salem, and chair of the domestic caucus. In cooperation with the ELCA Washington Office, more than 34 of the ELCA's 65 synod bishops are participating in a nationwide movement to provide reliable and nutritious meals for hungry children, he said.

Mauney reported that his colleagues also urged other clergy and professional church workers and lay leaders to act.

Click here to read the entire press release from the ELCA.

Day 27. Dollar 27. How exciting to be part of a larger movement that helps feed our children!

Day 26: We Are Called

"We Are Called"
Evangelical Lutheran Worship #720
Click here to listen to hymn

Today's photo: James, one of the 12 disciples
who lived out his baptismal call by
following and teaching about Jesus

We are called to act with justice,
We are called to love tenderly;
We are called to serve one another,
To walk humbly with God.

COME! Live in the light!
Shine with the joy and the love of the Lord!
We are called to be light for the kingdom,
To live in the freedom of the city of God!

COME! Open your heart!
Show your mercy to all those in fear!
We are called to be hope for the hopeless,
So hatred and blindness will be no more

SING! Sing a new song!
Sing of that great day when all will be one!
God will reign, and we'll walk with each other
As sisters and brothers united in love!

Day 26. Dollar 26. We are called to act with justice! We are called to open our hearts to those who lose hope! We are called to serve one another! Thank you, Hunger Community, for responding to the call!

Day 25: Joy to the World

The Gospel lesson for today:

In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. ²He was in the beginning with God. ³All things came into being through him, and without him not one thing came into being. What has come into being ⁴in him was life, and the life was the light of all people. ⁵The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness did not overcome it. John 1:1-5

An excerpt from Pastor Ron Glusenkamp's sermon:

"Last year when we set aside this date for “Christmas in July” we weren’t entirely sure what to expect or how it would be received. We’re grateful for your response of gifts. I think the genesis of it all is embedded in the notion that the light and miracle of the Word becoming flesh and dwelling among us sometimes feels overshadowed by all the things we think we have to do to make Christmas happen. In other words we often get overwhelmed by the crush of the season as opposed to focusing our hearts and souls on the crèche, the baby Jesus who is the reason for the season! But, in reality we don’t need to make Christmas happen because Christmas is a happening in and of itself."

Click here to read the entire sermon.

Click here to listen to the audio version.

Day 25. Dollar 25. Joy to the World - the Lord is come! Hunger Community, the season of giving has no calendar date, and we thank you for being the light that shines in the darkness of hunger! Amen!

Day 24: Fresh From the Farm

Purchase locally grown, organic (whenever possible) fruits and vegetables. These foods not only support local farmers and the local economy, they actually help the environment by limiting the gas used in shipping foods from far away farms and processing plants to their neighborhoods. (elca.org/hunger)

Reminder: Please bring your Blue Bag
back to Church on Sunday, July 25th!
Christmas in July!

Day 24. Dollar 24. Abundant God, we give you thanks for the fruitful earth, which produces what is needed for life. Bless those who work in the fields, grant favorable weather to all engaged in agriculture, and help us to ensure that all people share the fruits of the earth, rejoicing in your goodness; through your Son, Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

Day 23: Young at Heart

Fun.
Fun food.
Fun food facts for Friday!

Today's post is for the kid in all of us! We stumbled across a fun, interactive website that has a bunch of crazy games, challenges and puzzles that teach nutritional concepts. Sounded like a fun Friday blog post to us!

Click here to visit: "Nourish Interactive"
Match images of food to reveal amazing facts!
Whack a Snack from particular food groups!
Solve the Nutrition Crossword puzzles!

You can play most of the games without having to sign-up or register. Just click and play! We thought the disclaimer on each game page was

pretty funny, too: "Take an activity break after 20 minutes on the computer. You need to be active for at least 60 minutes every day. It's Fun!"

Day 23. Dollar 23. Take a moment or two (but no longer than 20 minutes, of course) and enjoy learning about the food we eat!

Day 22: Seeking Deeper Knowledge

Gracious and holy God, give us diligence to see you, wisdom to perceive you, and patience to wait for you. Grant us, O God, a mind to meditate on you; eyes to behold you; ears to listen for your word; a heart to love you; and a life to proclaim you; through the power of the Spirit of Jesus Christ our Savior and Lord. Amen. (ELW, Additional Prayers)

Reminder: Please bring back your blue (or any other color) reusable bag on Sunday, July 25th, our Christmas in July day, full of items from the lists below! Shop from either or both of these lists: Kids of Kandahar and Metro CareRing.

Day 22. Dollar 22. As we see, perceive and wait for our holy God, we give thanks for the members of the Hunger Relief Day community who are using their eyes, ears, hearts, and lives to seek a deeper knowledge of the good news of the gospel, and come to the aid of those who are hungry.

Day 21: Thanks Be to God

Day 21. Dollar 21. Thanks be to God.

Day 20: Seize the Opportunity

Bread for the World, Heifer International

Leaders Share World Food Prize
(excerpts from press release below)

CHICAGO (ELCA) -- Leaders of two organizations focused on ending hunger and poverty worldwide -- Bread for the World and Heifer International -- are co-recipients of the 2010 World Food Prize, the foremost international award for food and agriculture, often compared to the Nobel Prize. The Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) is a denominational partner with Bread for the World, and it is a covenant agency with Heifer International.
The Rev. David H. Beckmann, president of Bread for the World, Washington, D.C., and an ELCA pastor, and Jo Luck, president and chief executive officer of Heifer International, Little Rock, Ark., are the 2010 World Food Prize laureates, U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton announced in Washington this past week.
Child nutrition programs are another initiative that people can urge their members of Congress to support. Because of the recession, 1 in 4 children in the U.S. do not have enough food to eat, Beckmann said.

"We need thousands of people to be moved by the Holy Spirit to be active in making these changes," he said.

Beckmann added that he is "proud and grateful" that Lutherans in the United States have been working actively for a long time to overcome hunger. He said he hopes the World Food Prize provides encouragement to Christians "to seize the opportunity to change the world now."

To read the entire press release

from the ELCA, click here!

Day 20. Dollar 20. We pray that the Holy Spirit is actively moving in your life as we mark the 20th day of our journey. We are blessed that you have indeed seized an opportunity to change the world by participating in Hunger Relief Day 10.10.10!

Day 19: Jesu, Jesu

"Jesu, Jesu"
Evangelical Lutheran Worship #709
Click here to listen to the hymn

Jesu, Jesu,
Fill us with your love,
Show us how to serve
The neighbors we have from you.

Kneels at the feet of his friends,
Silently washes their feet,
Master who acts as a slave to them.

Neighbors are wealthy and poor,
Varied in color and race,
Neighbors are nearby and far away.

These are the ones we will serve,
These are the ones we will love
All these are neighbors to us and you.

Kneel at the feet of our friends,
Silently washing their feet,
This is the way we will live with you.

Day 19. Dollar 19.
Fill us with your love, show us how to serve
The neighbors we have from you.

Day 18: Holy Hospitality

Luke 10:38-42 38 Now as they went on their way, he entered a certain village, where a woman named Martha welcomed him into her home. 39 She had a sister named Mary, who sat at the Lord's feet and listened to what he was saying. 40 But Martha was distracted by her many tasks; so she came to him and asked, "Lord, do you not care that my sister has left me to do all the work by myself? Tell her then to help me." 41 But the Lord answered her, "Martha, Martha, you are worried and distracted by many things; 42 there is need of only one thing. Mary has chosen the better part, which will not be taken away from her."

Day 18. Dollar 18. The gospel according to Luke reminds us of the many distractions that take us away from the true hospitality we might offer those in need - being consciously aware of balancing how we serve with who we serve.

PRAYER OF THE DAY: Eternal God, you draw near to us in Christ, and you make yourself our guest. Amid the cares of our lives, make us attentive to your presence, that we may treasure your word above all else, through Jesus Christ, our Savior and Lord. Amen.

Day 17: Sprout People

It doesn't get more local than your backyard! Investigate growing some of your own food, and get it into the hands of those who may not otherwise have access to fresh fruits and vegetables.

Grow a garden at home. Whether you have an expansive backyard, a patio, or just a windowsill, you can grow food. The Square Foot Gardening Foundation can show you how to construct a raised bed that allows you to grow food with minimal time and effort. Even if you live in a small apartment, you can grow a small garden in your windowsill. To learn more, visit www.sproutpeople.com. (Source: ELCA World Hunger Advocacy)

Day 17. Dollar 17. God's work, our hands!

Day 16: Cherry on Top

CHERRIES are today's hottest "superfruit." A growing body of science reveals tart cherries, enjoyed as dried and frozen cherries and cherry juice, have among the highest levels of disease-fighting antioxidants compared to other fruits. They also contain other important nutrients such as beta carotene (19 times as much as blueberries or strawberries!) vitamins C and E, potassium, magnesium, iron, fiber and folate.

Cherries also are a rich source of melatonin, a powerful antioxidant known for regulating the body's natural sleep cycle and helping to promote restful sleep. What's more, emerging evidence links cherries to many important health benefits -- from helping to ease the pain of arthritis and gout to reducing risk factors for heart disease, diabetes and certain cancers, and possibly even the prevention of memory loss.

Cherries are one of the most popular fruit and are grown in 20 countries worldwide. The United States grows approximately 150,000 tons of cherries annually. (Source: Cherry Food Facts: Belly Bytes)

Day 16. Dollar 16.

Your pledges are just the BING to help people stay out of the PITS and the CHERRY on top of your already giving spirit!

Day 15: An Attitude of Gratitude

Only a stomach that rarely feels hungry scorns common things. ~Horace

When eating bamboo sprouts, remember the man who planted them. ~Chinese Proverb

If a fellow isn't thankful for what he's got, he isn't likely to be thankful for what he's going to get. ~Frank A. Clark

I feel a very unusual sensation - if it is not indigestion, I think it must be gratitude. ~Benjamin Disraeli

Grace isn't a little prayer you chant before receiving a meal. It's a way to live. ~Jacqueline Winspear

The hunger for love is much more difficult to remove than the hunger for bread. ~ Mother Teresa

Day 15. Dollar 15. Dear Lord, let us be forever seeking how to live our lives with an attitude of gratitude, thankful for what we ourselves have been blessed with, and thankful for the many ways we can step out and help others. Amen

Day 14: Plenty'o'Pasta

Day 14. Dollar 14.

Day 13: Summer Lunches

Colorado Summer Lunch Program Pushing to Feed More Needy Kids

Summer lunches, especially for low-income kids, have been part of the federal school lunch program for 35 years. But this summer is the first time any Wiggins kid has tasted one. It might also be the first year many Colorado parents have known the program existed. View Full Story

Day 13. Dollar 13.

Thank you for reading about how we can provide food to children who need it.

Day 12: Plow and Scatter

"We Plow the Fields and Scatter"
Evangelical Lutheran Worship #681
Click here to listen to the hymn

We plow the fields, and scatter
The good seed on the land,
But it is fed and watered
By God's almighty hand;
He sends the snow in winter,
The warmth to swell the grain,
The breezes and the sunshine,
And soft refreshing rain.

Refrain:

All good gifts around us

Are sent from heaven above,

Then thank the Lord, O thank the Lord

For all his love.

You only are the Maker

Of all things near and far;

You paint the wayside flower,

You light the evening star;

The winds and waves obey you,

By You the birds are fed;

Much more to us, his children,

You give our daily bread. Refrain

We thank thee, then, O Father,

For all things bright and good,

The seed time and the harvest,

Our life, our health, and food;

No gifts have we to offer,

For all thy love imparts,

And, what thou most desirest,

Our humble, thankful hearts. Refrain

Day 12. Dollar 12.
Thank you for scattering seeds of hope to a hungry world!

Day 11: Go and do Likewise

Luke 10:25-37 (NRSV) The parable of the merciful Samaritan

Just then a lawyer stood up to test Jesus. "Teacher," he said, "what must I do to inherit eternal life?" He said to him, "What is written in the law? What do you read there?" He answered, "You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your strength, and with all your mind; and your neighbor as yourself." And he said to him, "You have given the right answer; do this, and you will live."

But wanting to justify himself, he asked Jesus, "And who is my neighbor?" Jesus replied, "A man was going down from Jerusalem to Jericho, and fell into the hands of robbers, who stripped him, beat him, and went away, leaving him half dead. Now by chance a priest was going down that road; and when he saw him, he passed by on the other side. So likewise a Levite, when he came to the place and saw him, passed by on the other side.

But a Samaritan while traveling came near him; and when he saw him, he was moved with pity. He went to him and bandaged his wounds, having poured oil and wine on them. Then he put him on his own animal, brought him to an inn, and took care of him. The next day he took out two denarii, gave them to the innkeeper, and said, 'Take care of him; and when I come back, I will repay you whatever more you spend.' Which of these three, do you think, was a neighbor to the man who fell into the hands of the robbers?" He said, "The one who showed him mercy." Jesus said to him, "Go and do likewise."

Click here to listen to Pastor Ruth Ann's sermon:

"The Scandalous Samaritan: Ditches and Discoveries"

Day 11. Dollar 11. Remembering both parts of the scripture verse: loving the Lord your God and loving your neighbor. We thank you for recognizing the need to love your neighbor, and then putting this love into action!

Day 10: Ho Ho Holds a Lot

Reusable bags eliminate a tremendous amount of waste. Consider using reusable bags in our congregation, homes, and community.

Pick up a blue shopping bag on Sunday, July 18th after any service and bring them back on Sunday, July 25th, our Christmas in July day!

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Shop from either or both of these lists: Kids of Kandahar and Metro CareRing.

Day 10. Dollar 10. Have fun shopping!

Day 9: Say Cheese

Cheese is a good source of calcium, which helps to build strong bones and teeth. Cheese also contains a large amount of other essential nutrients such as phosphorous, zinc, riboflavin, vitamin B12 and vitamin A. Additionally, the milk proteins in cheese help neutralize plaque acids and also help prevent acid dimineralization and help remineralization of tooth enamel (Source: Associated Wellness)


Day 9. Dollar 9. Providing healthy cheeses to our hungering neighbors, be they SWISS or AMERICAN, will help them feel GOUDA, and not BLEU!

Day 8: Loving our Neighbors

O Lord God, your mercy delights us, and the world longs for your loving care. Hear the cries of everyone in need, and turn our hearts to love our neighbors with the love of your Son, Jesus Christ, our Savior and Lord. Amen

Day 8. Dollar 8. Just as God hears the cries of those in despair, let us respond in turn to our neighbors in need.

Day 7: Lentils of Love, Grains of Hope

Day 7. Dollar 7.

Day 6: Root Causes of Hunger

Hunger is a reality around the corner and the globe. Hunger occurs when people do not get enough food, when people do not get the right food, and when people do not have enough resources to buy or grow food.

Six of the root causes of hunger:

1. Poverty - of the 6.7 billion people on the planet, 1 billion people live on less than $1 per day


2. Distribution - the biggest challenge to ending hunger is not the production of more food, but, instead, how to ensure equal access and equitable distribution


3. War - ongoing military conflicts force people from their land and restrict relief efforts


4. Poor infrastructure - lack of or little access to roads and transportation impede people's abilities to get to the food


5. Natural Disasters - those who depend on the land for survival are the most vulnerale when disaster strikes


6. Environment - people in poverty may find it harder to adapt to changing environmental conditions (Source: ELCA World Hunger)

Day 6. Dollar 6. Thank you for helping solutions take root!

Day 5: This is My Song

"This is My Song"

Evangelical Lutheran Worship #887

Hymn of the Day, 4th of July

Click here to listen to Hymn

This is my song, O God of all the nations.
A song of peace for lands afar and mine.
This is my song, the country where my heart is,
Here are my hopes, my dreams, my holy shrine.
But other hearts in other lands are beating,
With hopes and dreams as true and high as mine.

My country's skies are bluer than the ocean,

And sunlight beams on cloverleaf and pine;

But other lands have sunlight, too, and clover,

And skies are everywhere as clear and blue as mine,

O hear my song, thou God of all the nations,

A song of peace, for their land and for mine.

This is my prayer, O Lord of all earth's kingdoms:

Thy kingdom come, on earth thy will be done,

Let Christ be lifted up till all shall serve him,

And hearts united learn to live as one.

O hear my song, thou God of all the nations,

Myself I give thee: let thy will be done.

Day 5. Dollar 5.

---O hear my song, thou God of all the nations,

---Myself I give thee: let thy will be done.

Day 4: Free for All

"St. Paul summed up his "declaration of independence" also known as the Letter to the Galatians by writing, "May I never boast of anything except the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, by which the world has been cricified to me, and I to the world. For neither circumcision nor uncircumcision is anything; but a new creation is everything! As for those who will follow this rule - peace be upon them, and mercy, and upon the Israel of God." (Galatians 6:14-16)

The sign of the cross is the most authentic and clear message that I know of. It is the sign of hope and grace to our world. It declares freedom and independence for us because of God's love brought about through the birth, life, death and resurrection of Jesus."

From Pastor Ron's 2010 4th of July sermon.

(Click here to read the entire sermon.)

Day 4. Dollar 4.

As we set 4th to serve others, let us remember who first served us, and give thanks that, through hope and grace, we have received a gift that is free for all!

Day 3: Cool Aid

How COOL is this: coming to

the AID of others...only 25 cents!

Day 3. Dollar 3. Bethany brothers Forrest Christian (green shirt), Elias Christian (red shirt) and neighbor Christian Barry show that you are never too young to be equipped, empowered, and unleashed as disciples! The boys were able to raise $13 for Metro CareRing through their efforts. Talk about vibrant faith in action! Kudos, Boys!

Day 2: Vitamin A

Quite a few trace elements or micronutrients (vitamins and minerals) are important for health. 1 out of 3 people are affected by vitamin and mineral deficiencies, according to the World Health Organization.

Vitamin A: Vitamin A deficiency can cause night blindness and reduces the body's resistance to disease. In children, Vitamin A deficiency can also cause growth retardation. Between 100 and 140 million children are Vitamin A deficient. An estimated 250,00o to 500,000 Vitamin-A deficient children become blind every year, half of them dying withing 12 months of losing their sight. (World Health Organization)


Day 2. Dollar 2. Help us provide food rich in Vitamin A for our community!

Day 1: Join Us

As we embark on

this 100-day journey,

we ask you to join us...

• Join us in song, as we tune our hearts toward the spirit of giving (Mondays)
• Join us in facts, as we absorb the impact of hunger around the world (Tuesdays)
• Join us in images that capture the essence of what it truly means to be hungry (Wednesdays)
• Join us in prayer, as we ponder and reflect upon the gifts we both give and receive (Thursdays)
• Join us in food, where we'll digest the facts of what nourishes our bodies (Fridays)
• Join us in service, as we mark each day and dollar and find ways to reach out to others (Saturdays), and finally,
• Join us in scripture, as we locate and learn what the Bible tells us about hunger and helping our neighbors in need (Sundays).

Our goal is that these 100 days are informational.
Our hope is that these 100 days are intentional.
Our prayer is that these 100 days are inspirational.

Make us worthy, Lord, to serve our fellow human beings throughout the world who live and die in poverty and hunger. Give them through our hands this daily bread, and by our understanding love, give peace, and joy. Amen. (ELW, additional prayers)

Day 1. Dollar 1. Let the journey begin!