Reading in the dark

If you've been following the media or my posts, you know that on Saturday several parts of the world engaged in Earth Hour. Both commercial buildings and private residences voluntarily turned off their lights for an hour to make a statement about energy consumption and our impact on the environment.

We participated in my house, and I spent my hour reading by candlelight. I have a few observations about the experience.

1. I am completely, unconsciously hooked on electricity. When I enter a darkened room, I reflexively reach for the light switch. It's hard to stop myself, even when I'm thinking about it. Change lasting more than an hour would clearly take real effort.


2. Nearly all of my standard evening pastimes require energy. When I have free time, I like to read, cook, knit, watch TV, use the computer. Now, while reading and knitting don't technically require electricity, they certainly are more difficult by candlelight. Which brings me to my next observation...


3. It's not as much fun to read by candlelight. I like electricity better. Posture is much more important when you have to keep your reading material near the candle, and after a while it's uncomfortable. But to sit in my overstuffed chair with my legs flung over the arm as I often do, I'd have to put candles in my lap. Since I'm not keen on setting myself on fire, this obviously isn't an option. So I'm back to improving my posture. I wouldn't be reading as much at night if all I had were candles.


4. Not having electricity is so rare in my life that it's an event to be planned for. Unable to fathom the thought of sitting in the dark talking only to each other for an hour, my husband and I invited some people over for Earth Hour. We thought we'd sit around and talk to our friends. But as it turned out, my husband was sick so we had to cancel it. Still, it made me think of all the places in the world where the absence of electricity is common. What a very different life I lead from the one I would have without constant energy.


5. If Americans didn't have so much electricity, we might get enough sleep.

In the end, perhaps the best thing about Earth Hour isn't the statement it made or the energy it saved, but rather the experience of really considering how thoroughly energy use is woven into our lives.

Food Force

One of the purposes of ELCA World Hunger is to help people learn about hunger and its root causes. And it seems to me, if we can teach people when they're young, so much the better! They will grow up with a better awareness of the world and their role in it. Which is why I think Food Force is such fun!

Food Force is a free computer game produced by the United Nations World Food Programme. It introduces a couple of causes of hunger, and spends time explaining some basics about the work of international aid organizations. All of this is done by making the player a member of a relief team responsible for getting food to hungry people in a fictional location. It's intended for kids ages 8 to 13, and I can easily see how it would be a hit with that age group. It's a bit too basic to really draw in older kids and adults, but having said that, I think most any age group would have fun with it once. I know I both enjoyed it and learned some things! And any age group could use it to open deeper discussion about causes of hunger, the nature of aid, and the roles of relief and long-term development.

Another thing I really like is the web site that goes with it. In addition to the game, there's information about hunger in the world, real anti-hunger initiatives, nutrition, and support for teachers who want to use Food Force in the classroom. Admittedly, I'm not sure kids are going to spend much time with the additional information, but for parents and teachers who want to create more depth and structure around a Food Force experience, it's really helpful.

So if you've got some time to kill this weekend, check it out! Just don't do it tonight from 8 to 9 p.m. - it's Earth Hour and you ought to turn your computer off along with your lights!

The Nature of Power

One of our hunger volunteers, Mary, forwarded me a link to an interesting blog posting. It's written by Brian Konkol, a missionary who has recently moved to South Africa. In his March 11th post, he talks about a class he's taking with several African students from different countries. They are discussing power in the world, who has it, how they use it, etc. The Africans point out to Brian that regardless of its popularity, the United States holds great power and influence throughout the world. The discussion causes Brian to ponder whether "we Americans... have used our vast collective power wisely."

Brian, in turn, has caused me to ponder. The word "collective" really got my attention. What is the role of an individual American in wielding American power? I have absolutely no data to support this next claim, but here it is: I think that most Americans feel pretty divorced from the actions of the government, and especially its foreign policy. Of course there are exceptions. Politicians, lobbyists and activists are obvious ones. But how many of us, our friends, our family, feel they have anything to do with the Farm Bill? With federal budget allocations? With diplomatic relations?

Of course many of us vote, and that's important (though many of us don't!). But it's often an isolated act. And to be perfectly honest, I don't usually feel responsible for the ultimate outcome. I pick the candidate that seems to most closely align with my values and then hope for the best. Or I vote punitively, selecting the opposing candidate, regardless of who it is, in hopes of getting rid of the incumbent. Either way, once the voting is done, many of us return to our lives and shake our heads if the news is bad. Outside of this occasional activity, I suspect most Americans don't feel they have a role in how American power is used in the world.

I've sometimes heard statements like, "We don't have anything against the American people; it's the government (or policy, or administration) we have issues with." I think this statement is meant to make criticism easier to accept, but I wonder if instead it doesn't just further divorce us from our government and policies. "Oh. They're not talking about me! I'm not part of the government. I'll just get back to what I was doing." But is that true? Don't we claim a representative government? Don't we claim it represents its citizens - us? me?

Like Brian, I don't really have answers. If you do, I'd love to hear them - please leave a comment! But I will continue to ponder what it means for an individual American to wield American power outside of a career in politics. Because American power in the world certainly has a role in ending hunger, and if I can wield some of that, I want to.

Easter Blessings

Stephen Colbert Honors World Water Day

I can't imagine not having easy access to clean water--it makes me thirsty just thinking about it. I'm glad to know that providing clean water is a key priority of ELCA World Hunger--building wells, cisterns, reservoirs, water management committees, sanitation facilities--nice to know that each month when I give to this ministry I help make clean water more accessible for others.

This year on World Water Day I'm inspired to also learn more about my own source of drinking water--Lake Michigan. Last summer, Indiana's Department of Environmental Management approved a permit for the BP oil company to increase the amount of ammonia and "suspended solids" (what does that mean?!?) it can dump into the lake. There was a huge public outcry and BP has now said that they won't do it--though as I understand it, the permit still stands.

I think I'll check out the Great Lakes Commission and learn what they are working on to protect these bodies of water. And--if the weather ever warms up enough--I'll resume my weekly lakeshore bike rides...I miss that quality time with my lake.

Also, did you see Stephen Colbert's special reporT on water Thursday night?

Someone really MUST talk to the Easter Bunny!

I have a new environmental pet peeve. My disappointment has caught me off-guard, seeing as how two weeks ago I hadn't even thought of it. It wasn't on my radar. But here it is now, in full force: Easter grass. Plastic Easter grass.

My daughter has received a couple of small Easter baskets from friends and family. The baskets are charming and pretty, and my first reaction was "ooh how cute!" And of course my daughter was delighted, and when she's delighted, it tends to rub off on me.

Then she starting digging through the plastic grass to find the chocolate eggs contained within - a perfectly reasonable thing to do. And being a small child, strands of it scattered on the carpet. Before long it had followed her around the house. My first bit of annoyance crept in. The housekeeping variety. But it's a holiday, and she was so pleased...

It took another half beat before I considered that though attractive in its basket, the Easter grass is really strands of plastic. And then I thought, What an unfortunate, disappointing waste. Think of the resources and expense to manufacture it, the amount of it that must get thrown away each year, and the fact that it will probably never decay. It is entirely unnecessary in life. And really, how much plastic Easter grass can one household keep and reuse from year to year? I have a bag full from last year. I don't need more. Can it go in the recyling bin?

I admit this train of thought has taken a little of the shine off my enjoyment of Easter baskets. But there seems to be a simple solution: the home or business shredder. An easy opportunity for me to do better in caring for the Earth. Instead of giving Easter baskets with plastic grass, I'll be filling any I give with tiny bits of my bank statements - something I already have and that's headed for the garbage. What a great way to reuse some shredded paper!

Now it's just a matter of getting the Easter Bunny to take a closer look at his suppliers...

World Water Day, March 22

Hello, all.
I'm writing an ELCA News blog about World Water Day, March 22. Does anyone know of a congregation or two that's planning to acknowledge the day? ... a congregational/youth group activity designed to bring attention to people in our world who lack clean, safe drinking water, etc? Is the activity taking place before, during or after worship? ... perhaps the topic of a sermon? Please let me know as soon as possible. Thanks!
Melissa Ramirez Cooper
Associate Director, ELCA News Service



Hi, Melissa!
The new edition of ELCA World Hunger "Congregation Connections" and the new World Hunger "Reproducible Stories," both at the printer as I type, feature water and justice themes. If any of you would like me to e-mail a story or bulletin-ready piece, just contact me.
This is also a good occasion to remind you to sign up to be a World Hunger contact at www.elca.org/hunger/contact and receive the Summer 2008 World Hunger Resource Packet which includes Congregation Connections, Water & Justice reproducible stories, and much more!
Blessings on your head! Sue


Hi, Melissa!
I imagine that a number of ELCA congregations will be conducting baptisms on March 22, since it is the Vigil of Easter this year. The Easter Vigil service is focused on baptism and the believer's baptismal journey with Christ in his death and resurrection, following the tradition of the early church in baptizing converts at the Easter Vigil after catechesis during the season of Lent. The story of the Israelites crossing the Red Sea is read. When the Easter Vigil service is observed with gusto, a lot of water gets thrown about, and a thanksgiving prayer full of water references is prayed.
So, plenty of water connection in the worship on March 22 this year.
Marcus Kunz +

Wow! Have you seen the price of wheat?!

The headlines about rising food prices around the globe are sobering. The World Bank reports that wheat prices are up 200% since 2000 and overall food prices are up 75%. The increases are causing difficulty as people spend an ever-larger portion of their income on food. As usual, the poorest are hit the hardest. Meager incomes never went far, and when the cost of bread doubles, they can buy even less. In some places, people are protesting in the streets, as demonstrated by recent riots in Indonesia and Burkina Faso.

There are several converging reasons behind the increase of world food prices, including greater global demand, adverse weather affecting crop production, and the diversion of grain from food to biofuel. I recently ran across a nice explanation of these factors and their consequences. Check out the BBC Food Series. There are four video clips covering food supply stories in different parts of the world, and the top right of the page has links to several other related articles. (The link to the Chicago video clip is misdirected but you can get to it here.) If you're wanting an quick education or need to explain the situation to others, this is a great place to start!

Earth Hour

Looking for something you can do to help the planet and make a statement about resource consumption? Turn off all of your lights on March 29 from 8:00 to 9:00 p.m. It's Earth Hour!

Earth Hour started in 2007 in Sydney, Australia, where residents and businesses (including the iconic Opera House) turned off their lights for one hour. According to the Earth Hour web site, the result was the equivalent of taking 48,000 cars off the road for a year!

This year the effort is going global. There are thousands of people from all over the world who have signed up to turn off their lights. Won't you join me?

Take it or leave it?

Several conversations in the past few days have left me thinking about this word: accompaniment. I use that word a lot, because it is the term we use to describe the model through which the ELCA partners with our neighbors around the world who are engaged in efforts to fight hunger and end extreme poverty. To me, it means acknowledging that no one knows better about the root causes of poverty than the person experiencing it him- or herself. It means letting go of a "take it or leave it" attitude, and embracing an attitude of service in a very real way. It means that I'm not "the decider" when it comes to how my gifts for God's work will be used, but that those whose lives will be changed through the work ought to be leading and shaping it. It means that those gifts were not really mine to begin with...but they rightfully belong to God. Isn't there a saying along those lines? Letting go and letting God...

P.S. The next time you have 38 minutes free, check out the Rev. Rafael Malpica Padilla's comments on accompaniment - there's a video available here (you need to have RealPlayer installed)...it's kinda long, but good info.

Feeling excessively clean

The following statistics caught my attention this weekend:

• The World Health Organization says a person needs 50 liters of water each day to meet basic human needs.
• The average person in the U.S. uses 300 to 378 liters per day.

If I had a little pie chart of my own use, I'm guessing the shower would account for the biggest slice. I do love a steamy shower in the winter! The kitchen sink and the toilet are probably next, except on laundry days. I wonder how many other uses would be in that chart. And I wonder just how much bigger the shower slice would be. I wonder how egregiously clean I am.

Help me with "present thinking"

I'm working on the Pentecost 2008 edition of Congregation Connections, the 12-page biannual resource that links ELCA World Hunger, worship and congregational life. A two-page spread in this edition looks at ways to help congregations, families, and individuals make plans in the summer in order to enjoy a simpler and more meaningful Advent and Christmas. This will morph into a summer article for Seeds for the Parish.

A big part of that planning centers on Christmas giving viz-a-viz Christmas presents. Please share your alternative-giving ideas, suggestions, and experience with me by commenting here or e-mailing hunger@elca.org

Here are snippets from the Congregation Connections for a start. The sentences in bold signal where I'm especially looking for comments. Rest assured that ELCA Good Gifts (World Hunger and beyond) and LWR Fair Trade Projects are lifted up as key alternative-giving strategies.
God bless us, everyone! Sue

UNWRAP YOUR PRESENT THINKING
Help participants initiate conversations about Christmas giving and share their plans with family and friends.

• Think about Christmas-present giving. What do participants feel is “expected” of them? What was their all-time favorite gift? What gifting strategies have they employed in their family (e.g., drawing names)?
• Brainstorm alternatives to store-bought presents. Strategize antidotes to “too much.”
• Make a pact to give up mall and mega-mart shopping during Advent.
• Encourage participants to let family and friends know what they are giving this Christmas (e.g., prayer, gift-donations, gifts of time or food). It is also respectful to share ideas about what you’d like to receive. “Don’t give me anything,” for example, is not as helpful as “Please don’t give me a thing...I’d much rather receive a gift-donation, the gift of your time, or a hand-written letter.” Consider sending an ELCA Good Gifts catalog to folks who want to remember you at Christmas.

"I WANT SOMETHING TO WRAP*" GIFT IDEAS (Please share your alternative gift ideas...whether they can be wrapped or not.)
Light a candle and say a prayer for your gift recipient(s), then wrap up the candle and a copy of the prayer.
For ELCA Good Gifts, wrap up a representative stuffed animal for the youngest member of the family to receive your gift donation to God’s Global Barnyard. Likewise, wrap small-and-useful representations of other gift donations (e.g., a dust pan for a gift donation to ELCA Disaster Response).
Box and wrap a card or hand-written letter to announce your gift donation.
Wrap up consumables, something that can be readily eaten or used (e.g., Fair Trade chocolate and coffee, homemade treats, postage stamps).
Give pre-owned or no-buy gifts: share a gift from your home (e.g., dish, photo, ornament); personalize free calendars with important dates; wrap up garage-sale finds.

Thanks! Sue-s

LVC seeking applications for 2008-2009

Passing on this important information from our friends at Lutheran Volunteer Corps. Sue

Lutheran Volunteer Corps Now Seeking Applications for 2008-2009!

Application deadlines for the 2008-2009 program year are right around the corner! Applications are received on a rolling basis with the following deadlines: March 14 and May 1. Download an application today from www.LutheranVolunteerCorps.org/Volunteers.htm. Please contact Kelly Shinn, Recruitment Coordinator, at 202-387-3222 or Recruitment@LutheranVolunteerCorps.org with questions or for more information.

Lutheran Volunteer Corps is a full-time program that offers people a one-year opportunity for spiritual and personal exploration while working for social justice, living in intentional community and simplifying their lifestyles.
Volunteers are matched with non-profit organizations in Baltimore, MD; Wilmington, DE; Washington, DC; Chicago, IL; Milwaukee, WI; Minneapolis and St. Paul, MN; Seattle and Tacoma, WA; and the SF Bay Area, CA.
Volunteers receive health insurance, time off for retreats and vacation, and a stipend to cover basic living and personal expenses. Most positions also qualify for student loan deferment and a $4,725 AmeriCorps Education Grant.
Members of Lutheran Volunteer Corps unite their time and talents with the time and talents of society’s marginalized people. LVC volunteers work in such areas as AIDS/HIV, addiction and recovery, anti-racism, children and youth, community development, education, employment, the environment, food and hunger, GLBT rights, health care, housing and homelessness, immigration and refugees, international solidarity, legal assistance, and peace.
Most positions are entry level, requiring little or no previous experience except flexibility, a passion for social justice, and a sense of humor!
Finally, LVC is on a Journey to an Inclusive Community, forming and strengthening alliances among people of many cultures and communities, and intentionally dismantling racism within LVC, the church, and society. As a Reconciling in Christ organization, LVC welcomes and encourages the participation of lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgendered people in all aspects of LVC. LVC volunteers come from a wide variety of faith backgrounds, and do not need to be Lutheran to serve. Married and committed partners are welcome to apply. While there is no upper age limit, volunteers should be at least 21 to participate.

The raising of our neighbor, Lazarus

The Gospel text for Sunday, March 8, "The Raising of Lazarus," is found in John 11:1--45. This has been one of my favorite texts for years, ever since I edited an LWT article. The author* wrote something along the lines of "Jesus saved Lazarus from premature death. Unlike Jesus, Lazarus will die again. As followers of Jesus, that's our challenge, too...to save our neighbors from premature death.

Until that day, this text spoke to me about what Jesus could do (raise people from the dead) and what Jesus was about to do (head to Jerusalem and the cross). Now, when I hear this passage of Scripture I also hear a reminder of what I can do. I am response-able for helping to save my neighbor from premature death.

Premature death: One child dies every five seconds from hunger-related causes. The average life expectancy of a female in Zimbabwe is 37 years; the average life expectancy of a female in the United States is 80 years.**

Life-saving difference: Literacy programs teach parents how to read, and scholarship programs help their children attend graduate from primary school and beyond; wells and reservoirs bring life-giving water to whole communities; animal and agriculture projects help families put food on the table and money in the bank. ELCA domestic hunger grants help congregations, organizations, and ministries help neighbors close to home meet today's needs and build a better future.

Response-able: We can give generously to the ELCA World Hunger Appeal. We can send advocacy e-mails. We can donate our time and volunteer. Throughout the year we can link our congregations to ELCA World Hunger and Disaster Response.

With God's grace and spirit: Our eyes open to the needs around us. Our arms open to embrace neighbors we'll never meet. Our hearts open to care about the people behind the statistics. Our imaginations open to see the possibilities of God. Our hands open in service and generosity.

*I believe the author to be the Rev. Phyllis Kersten, but my sources are unavailable for confirmation.
**The appendices at the back of Bread for the World Institute's annual reports are a great source for statistical information.

St. Luke's (Muskegon, MI) gets a star on the calendar

How fun! Visit the link the link below to see how St. Luke's Lutheran in Muskegon, Michigan has "webbified" the ELCA World Hunger 40-day plus calendar for congregational use during Lent. Thanks to Phil O. for passing this information on; feedback on resources is very helpful! Share what's working (or not working) in your congregation by posting a comment here or sending an e-mail to hunger@elca.org Blessings! Sue-s

This Lent we are using the 40 day plus calendar with the offering banks. We are using the recommended table prayers at our church meals each week and have incorporated it into our website (http://www.stlukesnortonshores.com/html/40_days_world_hunger.html) It has been well received and a great tool.
St. Luke's Lutheran Church
Muskegon, Michigan

3rd World Farmer

I found another interesting (and free!) hunger-related game on the Internet. It's called 3rd World Farmer. It's not particularly new, so you socially-minded gamers out there are probably rolling your eyes at this post. But as one who doesn't find the time to hang in the gaming world, I'm enjoying this discovery.

Well, maybe enjoying isn't the right word. The game simulates life for a family of African farmers. You make decisions about what crops to plant, equipment or livestock to buy, whether to pay for school and medicines, etc. Then you're told how your decisions turned out. Armed with that information, you tally up your household's money, equipment, and health, and you make new decisions for the next year. On the whole, there's lots of bad news and it's kind of frustrating. Yet I found I wanted to keep trying. Hope springs eternal, after all.

I learned about the game on gamepolitics blog, and as the author wrote, "It's not fair and it's not fun but perhaps that is the point." The creators (university students in Copenhagen) suggest using it to start discussions, and I can easily see how it could! They also suggest using it to spur action. I think it could do that, too.