CHICAGO (ELCA) -- As the Baltimore Ravens of the National Football League claimed victory on "Super Bowl Sunday" Jan. 28, thousands of Lutherans also made the "winning touchdown" in a challenge of a different kind.
Members of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) participated in "Souper Bowl of Caring," a national effort to fight hunger. Organizers reported their results on game day. As of Feb. 8, a total of $3.5 million was raised, the national total is posted on www.souperbowl.org -- the Souper Bowl of Caring's Web site.
Some congregations of the ELCA arranged for young people to collect dollars in large soup pots and collect canned goods as parishioners left worship the morning of the championship game. Some congregations contributed the donations to the ELCA World Hunger Appeal, local food pantries and homeless shelters.
More than 30 congregations of the ELCA Nebraska Synod, Omaha, collected and contributed more than $7,000 for local ministries, said Linda Janssen Gjere, communication director for the synod. Another $1,600 was collected for the ELCA World Hunger Appeal, she said.
Youth at Grace Lutheran Church, Lincoln, Neb., collected 125 cans of soup for the Lutheran Metropolitan Parish Pantry, Lincoln, and provided $193 for People's City Mission there. "Some members of the congregation served at The Gathering Place, a soup kitchen in Lincoln," Gjere said.
At Shepherd of the Hills, Omaha, youth dressed up as cheerleaders. They collected $75 for Project Hope Pantry, Omaha.
More than $1,600 was collected by members at Tabor Lutheran Church, Kane, Pa., for Lutheran World Relief, the overseas relief and development agency of the ELCA and The Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod
Members of Bethany Lutheran Church, Minot, N.D., collected packaged food items and $143.75. The food items were distributed to local food pantries. "The cash was evenly divided for the ELCA World Hunger Appeal and local food pantries," said the Rev. Timothy H. Solberg.
At Trinity Lutheran Church, White Plains, N.Y., members raised $100 for the ELCA World Hunger Appeal "by making soup and gathering contributions from about 80 people before the church's annual meeting on Jan. 28," said the Rev. William L. Hurst, Jr..
At Evangelical Lutheran Church, Reedsville, Pa., members contributed $146 for New Shelter Services, Inc., a shelter for abused women and homeless families in Lewistown, Pa. It is the congregation's sixth year participating in Souper Bowl of Caring.
Other ELCA congregations participating in the Souper Bowl of Caring included: + House of Prayer Evangelical Lutheran Church, Aaliquippa, Pa. Members collected $154.00 for a local hunger project in Pittsburgh.
+ Faith Lutheran Church, Lakeland, Fla. Members contributed $164 for the ELCA World Hunger Appeal.
+ Saint Luke Lutheran Church, Silver Spring, Md. More than $1,360 was collected for the ELCA World Hunger Appeal.
+ Grace Lutheran Church, Villa Park, Ill. More than $124 was given to the Lombard-Villa Park Food Pantry and the ELCA World Hunger Appeal.
+ Messiah Lutheran Church, Alexandria, Va. Members collected money for the ELCA World Appeal and a local program.
+ Emmanuel Lutheran Church, Vienna, Va., where members support local organizations.
In preparation for the Souper Bowl of Caring, the 11,000 congregations of the ELCA received a packet containing resources and ideas for youth groups and others to plan for the event. The packet was produced by the ELCA World Hunger Appeal and the Lutheran Youth Organization (LYO). Housed in the ELCA's Division for Congregational Ministries, LYO represents more than 500,000 high-school age people in congregations of the ELCA.
The packet included a poster and bulletin inserts designed to invite members of the church to give one dollar or more.
Souper Bowl of Caring began when the Rev. Brad Smith, Spring Valley Presbyterian Church, Columbia, S.C., made reference to the National Football League's "Super Bowl Sunday" as "Souper Bowl Sunday" in a prayer. The senior youth fellowship of the congregation took the pun in earnest and a national effort to fight hunger was born.
The partnership has grown from 22 churches in 1990 to more than 11,000 congregations in Canada and in every state. The effort generated more than $3 million in 2000. That year, Lutheran congregations raised $493,000 for local and national hunger organizations and the ELCA World Hunger Appeal.
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Editors: Contributions to the ELCA World Hunger Appeal can be sent to:
ELCAWHA
PO Box 71764
Chicago, IL 60694-1764
1-800-638-3522
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For information contact:
John Brooks, Director (773) 380-2958 or NEWS@ELCA.ORG
http://listserv.elca.org/archives/elcanews.html
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About the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America:
The ELCA is one of the largest Christian denominations in the United States, with 2.8 million members in more than 8,500 worshiping communities across the 50 states and in the Caribbean region. Known as the church of "God's work. Our hands.," the ELCA emphasizes the saving grace of God through faith in Jesus Christ, unity among Christians and service in the world. The ELCA's roots are in the writings of the German church reformer Martin Luther.
For information contact:
Candice Hill Buchbinder
Public Relations Manager
Candice.HillBuchbinder@ELCA.org
