Happy Easter from New Mexico

The Lord bless you, and keep you;
The Lord make His face shine on you,
And be gracious to you;
The Lord lift up His countenance upon you,
And give you peace."' (from Numbers 6)

Good Friday Reflection: Charity and Justice Both Needed to End Hunger

I was asked about the reflection I shared at the Urban Way of the Cross on Good Friday (since my post was about everyone else). Here is my text:

First Station: Food Insecurity
(Location: Main Library)

When we think of hunger and hungry people, one of the the first thoughts that comes to mind is the men and women and children standing in line every Sunday afternoon to get a hot meal at Immaculate Conception church. Or perhaps we might think about the families who must walk or take the bus to get a food box from The Storehouse.

These are just a couple of the very visible ways in which hunger and food insecurity appear in our community.

But many times, hunger is not as obvious. What about the third-grade child who is not able to pay attention in class because he or she did not eat breakfast? Or the family whose food stamps run out before the end of the month? Or the elderly woman who must choose between paying her utility bill and buying nutritious food. Or the families on limited income in the rural communities in New Mexico who must spend 10 dollars for a gallon of milk.

Hunger is a very real problem in our state. According to a report conducted by Roadrunner Food Bank and its parent organization Feeding America, nearly 19 percent of New Mexican are food insecure. In other words, they don’t know where their next meal is coming from. And another report shows that nearly 147 thousand children—29 percent of all children in the state—are hungry.

In a country as wealthy as ours, this situation is intolerable.

There are two ways to respond to hunger, both legitimate and necessary. The first response is charity. We can take such actions as donating to The Storehouse and Roadrunner Food Bank or volunteering at Project Share, the Rio Grande Food Project or the Alvarado Urban Farm.

But we must also demand economic justice. We must also urge our government to use our collective resources to create a strong safety net for the most vulnerable in our socty and support programs such as food stamps and the WIC.

Isaiah 58-6-11

Is not this the fast that I choose:
to loose the bonds of injustice,
to undo the thongs of the yoke,
to let the oppressed go free,
and to break every yoke
Is it not to share your bread with the hungry,
and bring the homeless poor into your house;
when you see the naked, to cover them,
and not to hide yourself from your own kin?
Then your light shall break forth like the dawn,
and your healing shall spring up quickly;
your vindicator shall go before you,
the glory of the Lord shall be your rearguard.
Then you shall call, and the Lord will answer;
you shall cry for help, and he will say, Here I am.

If you remove the yoke from among you,
the pointing of the finger, the speaking of evil,
if you offer your food to the hungry
and satisfy the needs of the afflicted,
then your light shall rise in the darkness
and your gloom be like the noonday.
The Lord will guide you continually, and satisfy your needs in parched places,
and make your bones strong;
and you shall be like a watered garden,
like a spring of water,
whose waters never fail.

Good Friday: Listening, Acting in Solidarity and Giving Thanks

Walking in silence in a short loop through downtown Albuquerque, a few dozen pilgrims (more than 50, but not quite 100) prayed, meditated and mostly listened as we participated in the Urban Way of the Cross.

As I child, I was taught that Good Friday was a time to be sad and not indulge.  Fasting was encouraged, if not required.  But how could not one indulge in the beauty of a sunny, mild day?  Are we supposed to ignore the gift that our Creator was giving us today?  So when I went for my blessing and anointing at the end of my walk, all I asked was for a prayer of Thanksgiving.

But prayer is not only about strengthening that personal connection with God.  In our busy lives, we fail to see that our Creator is always there.  As God commanded us, our love (like our prayers) must not be only a two-way street.  We must be aware of those around us.  So in my personal conversation with God, there was only one word: Listen!  God was urging me (and every fellow pilgrim) to use our  senses to see and hear.  

That's what the Urban Way of the Cross, organized  by an ecumenical group of ministers and lay people, was all about on this Good Friday in 2013.  How are we relating to those around us, especially those who do not enjoy the same material prvileges and comforts that our political and economic system affords us?

This morning, some of the words we  heard included  Isaiah 58: 6-11 (charity and justice both needed to address food insecurity); Matthew 8:18-20 (everyone needs shelter),  Matthew 5:1-12 (stepping outside ourselves to show compassion and seek justice); Leviticus 19:33-34 (fair treatment of the immigrant in our land),  Luke 23:26-27 (carrying the cross for those without a home); Luke 24:50-53 (embracing those near the end of life) and  Matthew 19:13-15  (caring for our children).

Here is a video from the pilrimage, with Rene Ronquillo talking about immigrant rights and reading from the reflection I am the Immigrant.



Below are links to videos from a couple of the other stations.

Paul Frederick, S.J. who coordinates Immaculate Conception Catholic Church's Sunday weekly afternoon meal for homeless people in Albuquerque, speaks about hospitality and relates the story of one of the clients he met.  Click here to view on YouTube



Rev. Greg Henneman talks about how the City of Albuquerque wants to remove homeless people from the Fourth Street Mall (and how homeless people in general are treated  in our city)  Click here to see video on YouTube





And here are more photographs from the Urban Way of the Cross.

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A Meditation on Good Friday: Cristo Jesús (Taizé video)

One of my favorite passages in scripture is an account that is only found in the Gospel of Luke. The passage, Luke 23:39-42 , is the most powerful example of God's forgiving love.  The passage is a great example of how Jesus shows solidarity with a fellow sufferer. This Taizé song, Jesus le Christ, goes very well with this scripture verse.  The video is in Spanish, but here is a link to words from the song in many languages.



English Lyrics:
Lord Jesus Christ, your light shines within us. Let our hearts always welcome your love.

Ambassador Tony Hall (Quoting Mother Teresa) Urges You to 'Do the Things in Front of You'

Tony Hall, executive director of The Alliance to End Hunger, urges us to get involved locally to end hunger in the U.S. and around the globe.  Tony Hall has fought hunger and poverty in a variety of ways: as a Peace Corps volunteer, a member of the U.S. Congress, and as ambassador to the UN Food and Agriculture Organization.  But you don't have to do all of that to make a difference:  In this video, Ambassador Hall urges us to get involved in Church World Service;s Crop Walk.  

See You at Albuquerque's Urban Way of the Cross on Good Friday

Holy Week: A New Life

Lenten Prayers for Hungry People
Readings, prayers, and actions to help you and your family observe Lent in 2013—prepared by Bread for the World


Holy Week March 24-30
Jesus Suffers Death

Isaiah 50:4-9a
Philippians 2:5-11
Psalm 31:9-16
Luke 22:14-23:56

These are the scripture readings appointed for Passion Sunday/Palm Sunday.

Then Jesus, crying with a loud voice, said, “Father, into your hands I commend my spirit.” Having said this, he breathed his last. When the centurion saw what had taken place, he praised God and said, “Certainly this man was innocent.”
—Luke 23:46-47

But I trust in you, O Lord …. My times are in your hand …. Let your face shine upon your servant; save me in your steadfast love.
—Psalm 31:14a, 15a, 16

Photo: Rene Ronquillo

PRAYER 
O God, your Son gives up his life for us so that we might live in your steadfast love. May we so trust the new life you give to us that we never grow weary in helping those in need create a better future for themselves, their families, and their communities. Amen.

ACTION
The weeks following Easter are an ideal time to participate in Bread for the World’s 2013 Offering of Letters. Each year, individuals, congregations, and campus groups conduct letter-writing events— to persuade Congress to continue and improve programs vital to hungry people. For tips about organizing an Offering of Letters—as well as sample letters and background information— visit www.bread.org or call 1-800-822-7323, ext. 1072.

Links to scripture are from New Revised Standard Version
Woodcuts were created by Helen Siegl, a longtime Bread for the World member

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A Bread for the World Regional Gathering in North Carolina

We are growing excited about the April 13th NC Bread for the World Gathering in Greensboro, NC.Register TODAY!... fb.me/OtawKpfd
— Bryan F. McFarland (@bryanfmcfarland) March 10, 2013

Bread grassroots advocate (and musician) Bryan McFarland invites Bread members and friends in North Carolina, South Carolina, Virginia, Tennessee and Georgia to join him for a regional Bread for the World gathering at Christ United Methodist Church in Greensboro, N.C., on  Saturday, April 13.  The gathering, which starts at 9:00 and ends at 4:00 p.m., will feature workshops, letter-writing, singing and a keynote address by Rev. James Forbes, senior pastor at The Riverside Church in Harlem, is the keynote speaker.  Rev. Forbes will also lead the opening worship.

 Here are other features of this gathering:

• Advocacy training by The Rev. LaMarco Cable, Bread for the World regional organizer
• Music & letter-writing in a lunchtime Jacob's Join
• Regional mini-gatherings for TAKE-IT-HOME plans
• Campus ministry AND local congregation emphasis
• Catered lunch on-site
• Childcare will be provided

CLICK HERE to Register (the cost is $25 before April 8 and $35 after that date)

PRIOR TO THE GATHERING!! A Place At The Table will be shown Apr 5-11 (Fri - Thu) at Geeksboro Coffeehouse Cinema, 2134 Lawndale Drive in Greensboro, NC 27408 (336) 355-7180 Click HERE for showtimes!

A Place At The Table - From the filmmakers of Food Inc. comes a documentary investigating incidents of hunger in American and proposing solutions to the problem.

Learn more about Bread for the World's 2013 Offering of Letters.

AFTER THE GATHERING!! Sunday, April 14, 2013 Rev. Dr. James Forbes will preach 11 a.m. worship at Sedgefield Presbyterian Church - 4216 Wayne Road, Greensboro, NC 27407

------------------ FAQs for NC Bread for the World Gathering 2013-------------------------
What are my transport/parking options getting to the event?
Free & plentiful parking.

Where can I contact the organizer with any questions?
Contact the Rev. Bryan F. McFarland.

Do I have to bring my printed ticket to the event?
Nope!

What is the refund policy?
Your unused ticket price will be considered a donation to Bread for the World. Thanks!

Food Tax Stopped and Other Notes From the Recently Ended New Mexico State Legislative Session

The  New Mexico State Legislature has completed its 60-Day session, and one important action almost slipped under the radar: a last-ditch effort to reinstate a food tax.  Here is a note that Think New Mexico.posted on the day that the legislative session ended.

"We are delighted to report that a last-minute attempt to reimpose the food tax, which was rushed out of the Senate Finance Committee last night, was removed from the tax package that was passed by the Legislature in the final minutes of the session this morning.

Many thanks to all of you who sent in emails to your legislators on such short notice this morning! We heard from several legislators that your emails made a real difference in keeping groceries tax-free for New Mexico’s families. Special thanks as well to former Think New Mexico intern and freshman state Senator Jacob Candelaria (D-Albuquerque), who played a key role in defeating the food tax.

Other Developments
The New Mexico Lutheran Advocacy Ministry offered these updates on actions that the state legislature took regarding hunger and poverty. 

• There is additional funding in HB2 (the state budget) for the state SNAP supplement to serve an anticipated increase in recipients due to changes in Social Security. 
• SB416 (Sen. Richard Martinez & Sen. Bill Soules) would increase the state minimum wage from $7.50 to $8.50. SB416 passed the Senate and the House with an exemption for employers with 10 or fewer employers and a 6 month training wage. SB416 is now on the Governor's desk.

And some notes from Farm to Table and The New Mexico Food and Agriculture Policy Council

• There was a push to add $1.44 million for New Mexico Grown Produce for School Meals to HB2. The Senate Finance Committee amended HB2 to include $100,000.
• HB2 also contained continued provisions from HB100, which provided $85,000 in continued funding to promote and develop farmers markets in New Mexico

As you can see, it depends on Gov. Susana Martinez, who has the power to sign or veto legislation (including a line-item veto for the budget)  Stay tuned.

A Collection of Tweets About Hunger and Poverty

Twitter is a great way to promote a Web site, a blog post, an action alert, an event or an idea. Here are what some of the folks I follow are posting about hunger- and poverty-related events.

I'll start with recent Tweets from Bread for the World, The Bread for the World Institute and The Alliance to End Hunger. They are followed by tweets from anti-hunger advocates in reverse chronological order (newest ones first).

And one of my tweets is among those.  Most of my Twitter posts are links to pieces I post on this blog (as well as other topics not related to my anti-hunger advocacy. My Twitter handle is CNinABQ.

(Note some of the links in the oldest tweets are no longer live)

Bread for the World Urges Congress to Balance the Budget Without Cutting Vital Programs ow.ly/j0pwj#SNAPworks #talkpoverty
— Bread for the World (@bread4theworld) March 15, 2013

It takes 2-3 years to bring hunger data from the source to the world. But, @faonews may soon change that. notes.bread.org #endhunger
— Bread Institute (@breadinstitute) March 19, 2013

2moro 10am, Rep McGovern will give floor speech to #endhungernow. The topic @aplaceatthetable. #takeyourplace #toendhunger
— AllianceToEndHunger (@toendhunger) March 12, 2013

#FF @repmcgovern and @placeatthetable. Watch Rep. McGovern's speeches about #EndHungerNow on YouTube. youtube.com/user/RepJimMcG…
— Megan (@marsmeg) March 15, 2013

RT @cws_global: Join CWS & advocates in Washington, D.C., April 5-8 as we seek food justice for a healthy world ow.ly/iMnRG #EAD
— Angela R-Schafer (@AngRSchafer) March 12, 2013

We are growing excited about the April 13th NC Bread for the World Gathering in Greensboro, NC.Register TODAY!... fb.me/OtawKpfd
— Bryan F. McFarland (@bryanfmcfarland) March 10, 2013

BreadNM blog: A Rally at Santa Fe Farmers Market for Food Labeliing #GMO... breadnm.blogspot.com/2013/03/a-rall…
— Carlos Navarro (@CNinABQ) March 10, 2013

150 people in attendance at the Rogue Valley Food Summit keynoted by Mark Winne.
— Sharon Thornberry (@OFB_SharonT) March 8, 2013

@hostvoxpopuli sequestration cuts mean denying WIC nutrition aid to 600,000 kids & moms.70,000 preschoolers in poverty w/o #HeadStart
— Cindy Levin (@ccylevin) February 28, 2013

Budget negotiations can have a huge, negative impact on hungry people. Contact your congress member #bread4theworld ow.ly/1Qmqt5
— Phil Goerner (@HungerActionAdv) December 19, 2012

Tell Congress to protect programs that fight extreme poverty. Make the callhere: bit.ly/RU8K7M #livesatrisk Please retweet!
— Elaine VanCleave (@ElaineVanCleave) November 29, 2012

Hillview UMC is ready for our Offering of Letters tomorrow! #Bread4TheWorld #BreadRising #UsingOurVoices lockerz.com/s/227064387
— Maggie Edmondson (@MaggieEdmondson) July 21, 2012

Great @bread4theworld 2012 OL Workshop in NE Ohio today! #circleofprotectio #hunger yfrog.com/esd1lhj
— North Central Bread(@NrthCentrlBread) February 18, 2012

Going to the Offices of Sen. Marco Rubio and Sen. Bill Nelson today to take letters written askng them to support the circle of protection.
— Miami Bread4TheWorld (@bread4miamidade) December 22, 2011

Check out this website for a great event to benefit Interfaith Hunger Initiativepedalforpeace.org/about-the-char…
— Bread: Indiana (@BreadIndiana) August 18, 2011

Tell Congress to End Hunger in Arizona today!http://www.youtube.com/user/breadfortheworld#p/u/4/qEvgG8R5Pws
— Bread for Arizona (@BreadforArizona) October 4, 2010

Albuquerque Offering of Letters Workshop 2013

Sonya Warwick chats with workshop participants

More than a dozen people attended our Offering of Letters workshop in Albuquerque on March 16.  Thanks to St. Andrew Presbyterian Church for hosting us again this year! Because of spring break and other commitments, some of our regulars were able to be there.  But it was really great to see a lot of new faces.  There were representatives from St. Michael and All Angels Episcopal Church, Albuquerque Mennonite Church, St. Thomas of Canterbury Episcopal Church, Albuquerque Friends Meeting, All Saints Lutheran Church, St. Andrew Presbyterian Church, Immaculate Conception Catholic Church and Aquinas Newman Center Catholic Church. 

We viewed a couple of segments from the Offering of Letters video (the trailer to the movie A Place at the Table and the Offering of Letters video featuring Derick Dailey and Jeanette Salguero) and discussed Offering of Letters strategies.

I would like to share two other highlights

A Dialogue with Sonya Warwick
One of the highlights of the workshop was a dialogue with Sonya Warwick, a communications officer with Roadrunner Food Bank, who tied in some of the issues that were discussed in the documentary A Place at the Table.  A key point that Ms. Warwick brought up is that major cuts in public-assistance programs such as SNAP and The Emergency Assistance Food Program (TEFAP) could leave charitable organizations like Roadrunner Food Bank in a major bind.  "If we see cuts in these programs, the charitable food system will be overwhelmed and may not be able to respond to the increased demand on places such as the Food Bank and the hundreds of agencies we serve across New Mexico," said Ms. Warwick.

Every week, there are nearly 40,000 New Mexicans who are served by Roadrunner Food Bank every week. "The sad thing is that half of those being helped are children," said Ms. Warwick. So how many food-insecure people are there in New Mexico? Ms. Warwick said the last count occurred four years ago before the recession, and the statistics at at that time was about 232,200 people suffering from food insecurity. A new study will be conducted soon that will offer a more accurate figure. For now, one measure is Feeding America's Mapping the Meal Gap, which looks at food insecurity in every county in the U.S. Here is the link for 2012.  And here is a piece on this topic that we posted  in the Bread New Mexico blog in May 2012.

Ms.Warwick also discussed the difficulty in acquiring fresh produce for distribution to client agencies. "Produce is important in all of our diets, but especially for clients that usually can’t afford to buy produce at the store." But she noted that that Roadrunner Food Bank is doing all it can to make this an option for agencies. She said the warehouse was insulated two years ago to ensure that donated and gleaned produce can last longer. "Compared to our other Feeding America peers across the US, we're probably the best in the country in terms of the produce we give out given our dessert state. Last year it was about 8 million pounds of food, but we could always use more."

Opening Worship: Follow the Crumbs of Heartbreak

Joy Carroll and Terese Bridges

Joy Carroll from Immaculate Conception Catholic Church prepared the opening worship, with some help from Terese Bridges from St. Michael and All Angels Episcopal Church.

Terese led us in an the Taizé song Eat This Bread.

I would like to share the opening litany that Joy used for the worship, taken from the book Mother of God, Similar to Fire (Icons by William Hart McNichols with Reflections by Mirabal Starr).

Mother of Mercy, the cries of the world keep me awake at night.

I rise from my bed, but I cannot locate the source of the wailing.

It is everywhere, Mother, coming from all directions, and my heart is shattered by the sheer intensity of the suffering.

You of boundless compassion, expand my heart to that I can contain the pain.

Focus my mind so that I can arrive at viable solutions, and energize my body so that I can engage in effective action

Give me the courage to follow the crumbs of heartbreak all the way home to the place where I can be of real service.

Let me dip my finger in the dew of your compassion and scatter it now over the fevered brow of the world. Amen

Make it Happen: SIgn the Petition

If you look in the front sleeve of your Offering of Letters booklet, you might have noticed a petition to President Barack Obama. The petition, which follows up on promises the president made during the 2012 campaign, is part of our Offering of Letters campaign this year, along with your letters to Congress. So please send the petition with signatures from your congregation to the Bread office in Washington.  As an alternative, you can sign (and encourage others) to sign the petition online (see link below).

President Barack Obama  
White House
Washington, DC
Dear President Obama:

We are praying that God grant you courage, strength, and wisdom as the leader of our nation.

During your recent election campaign, you promised to earnestly address hunger and poverty. We commend you for your commitment, and we urge you to make it a top priority of your administration. We share the prayer of David in Psalm 72: "May he defend the cause of the poor of the people [and] give deliverance to the needy."

In this spirit, we ask that you set a goal and work with Congress on a plan to end hunger in the United States and abroad.

This will be a major undertaking, requiring strong leadership, bipartisan cooperation, and concerted effort over many years. We are confident, however, that "with God, all things are possible." You can count on our continued prayers.

Thank you.

• Click Here to Sign

And here is the video of the commitments that President Obama made on hunger and poverty during the campaign

Fifth Week in Lent: Abundant Grace and Advocacy

Lenten Prayers for Hungry People
Readings, prayers, and actions to help you and your family observe Lent in 2013—prepared by Bread for the World


Fifth Week in Lent March 17-23 
Jesus is Anointed for Death

Isaiah 43:16-21
Philippians 3:4b-14
Psalm 126
John 12:1-8

Mary took a pound of costly perfume made of pure nard, anointed Jesus’ feet, and wiped them with her hair. The house was filled with the fragrance of the perfume. —John 12:3

May those who sow in tears reap with shouts of joy. Those who go out weeping, bearing the seed for sowing, shall come home with shouts of joy, carrying their sheaves. —Psalm 126:5-6

PRAYER
O Christ, we give thanks for Mary and all your disciples whose faith and witness guide our Lenten pilgrimage. May the outpouring of your abundant grace embolden us as we urge our elected officials to end hunger. Amen.

ACTION
More than three-quarters of the world’s poorest people depend on farming for their livelihood. Increasing agricultural productivity in Africa and elsewhere is the longterm solution to drought and famine. Take a few minutes to write or call your members of Congress to encourage them to keep funding our nation’s “Feed the Future” initiative. Click here to find the names of your senators and representative

Links to scripture are from New Revised Standard Version
Woodcuts were created by Helen Siegl, a longtime Bread for the World member

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