This fall, the UCC has launched “Mission:1”, a national effort to engage local churches in fighting hunger. During the first 11 days of November (11/1/11-11/11/11), UCC churches aim to:
- Collect 1 million items of healthy food
- Raise $111,111 for Neighbors in Need
- Write 11,111 letters in support of Bread for the World’s offering of letters campaign¹
Out of this awareness, the “11 by 11/11/11” challenge was born. The lack of clean, accessible water is one of the primary causes of hunger and disease. And the remedy is simple and inexpensive. For $1000, organizations like Church World Service are able to provide a well and training in how to maintain a safe drinking supply TO AN ENTIRE VILLAGE.
Pastor Laura has issued a challenge to our congregation- to raise enough money to provide eleven wells, $11,000, by November 11 of this year.
This is a very challenging goal- but we are going to try. Here are some ideas.
- Tweet or Facebook post about the challenge and invite your friends to donate. Include a link to Church World Service (www.churchworldservice.org). And have them let you know that they did!
- Get together with friends, family or co-workers and have a tag or bake sale, can drive or other fun fund-raiser.
- Pick an amount to set aside each day or week that you’ll donate on 11/11. Perhaps $1.11 per day or $11 dollars per week.
- Do you use bottled water? Drink tap and donate what you would have spent.
This challenge is about more than money though. This is an opportunity for us at First Church to deepen our spiritual roots as we learn the lessons of the desert. During the next few weeks, this will be the topic of our sermons, church school lessons and meditations.
So join us as we serve Christ by serving our brothers and sisters in need.
¹ See www.breadfortheworld.org for more information
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