It's not too late to attend the "Glocal" Mission Gathering 

Great news!  The deadline to register
for the upcoming "Glocal" Mission Gathering has been extended to JULY 29, 2011! 

What is a "Glocal" Mission Gathering?

The ELCA Glocal Mission Gathering is a capacity-building event that gathers teams of congregational leaders for a time of worship, skill-building workshops, plenary sessions and conversation on global and local mission.
  

When:  August 4-6, 2011
 
Where:  Christ the King Lutheran Church, 5575 Peachtree Parkway, Norcross, GA  30092
 
Cost: Only $35 per person

August 4, 2011, 7PM:

Optional reception with our visiting Companion Synod delegation from Germany and Bishop H. Julian Gordy 

August 5-6, 2011:

Glocal Mission Event

If you would like to request Glocal information in Spanish or need any further information, contact Kyle Cristofalo at 404-589-1977, ext 222.

Funding Requests Now Being Accepted

Faith Alive at Lutheridge

The Good Snack: A VBS Revelation!

Looking at the Bible School list of snack options reminded me of an article that I read by a local columnist in The Tennessean (Nashville's newspaper) a few months ago posing the question of the difference between treats and snacks. In researching the definition of treat, I found the words extravagance, indulgence and luxury. I think that we all understand the meaning of a snack as anything that fills the void in our stomachs before the next meal. Reading further, I have found that the typical American high calorie, low nutritional snacks might have truly become overindulgence not only in the cost of snack products but also in the cost of Americans' health and health care. One family physician states that in looking at the dramatic growth in serious but preventable health issues that are impacting children and adults, it is obvious that people have lost a sense of what foods have nutritional value.

A recently-completed twenty-year study tracking obesity rates in the United States has found that a dozen states topped 30 percent obesity in 2010, most of those states in the South. Twenty years ago, every state had an obesity rate of 15 percent or below; today only Colorado has an obesity rate less than 20 percent. Two-thirds of adults and nearly one-third of children and teens are currently obese or overweight, putting them at increased risk for more than 20 major diseases, including type 2 diabetes and heart disease.

Back to VBS and the snack list. The object of the VBS snack break was three-fold: (1) to sample foods that Jesus would have eaten in a variety of circumstances, (2) to provide an opportunity for those participating to explore and taste different flavors, and (3) to quell hunger pangs. Foods were chosen for their nutrition and freshness with minimal processing. Fruits, vegetables, cheeses, nuts, honey, hummus and fresh baked breads helped to explain how Jesus received his bodily nutrition and shared food with others everyday and on special occasions. Goldfish crackers were served to represent fresh fish caught daily during Jesus' time.

The volunteer who planned and designed the nutritional snack menu for VBS stated that she was surprised by how many children ate the fresh vegetables. Several groups encouraged their children to try "one new food" a day. More than 60 to 70 percent of the children tried new foods throughout the week and 70 to 80 percent tried and liked the different dips that were provided. The kids loved the fruit, but kitchen chefs actually almost ran out of celery, too! Good smells coming from the kitchen throughout the week provided an unexpected aromatic "snack" for all those attending.

The next time that you reach for a snack to tide you or the children over until mealtime, be sure to pick one high in nutritional value. If you think your child will not eat a particular vegetable or fruit, try it with a creative, low calorie dip. For a lifetime of good health, save the high calorie, low nutritional treats for special occasions.

References:

Hance, Mary, Ms. Cheap Column, Don't Confuse Snacks and Treats, The Tennessean, Sunday, October 31, 2010, Page1D.

Overweight and Obesity Trends Among Adult, The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, www.cdc.gov, July, 2011.

RWJF News Digest  http://www.rwjf.org: Childhood Obesity, Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, July 08, 2011.

What is LSPS?

Check them out at www.lsps.edu.

Around the Synod

Needed:

40 copies of With One Voice.  

Contact Pastor Deborah Halter, Coordinator for

Pastoral Care at 404-580-5703. 

 *******************************************************************