Jesus said to them, "They need not go away; you give them something to eat." Matthew 14:16

 

Greetings in the name of Christ.

 

I write to you today about loaves and fishes. As Lower Susquehanna Synod Lutherans, we are on a mission to feed others as we have been fed by Christ. This clear focus and shared vision marks all that we do together. We nourish body, mind, and spirit as we bear the good news and hope of Jesus to our communities and to the world. You've seen some of the amazing stories of how this is happening in our congregations, you have shared ideas, hopes, and dreams, and you have responded to special needs in neighboring synods and through ELCA World Hunger and the Malaria Campaign.

 

Now, we have the opportunity to go boldly where no ELCA synod has gone before: I invite you to participate in a "Loaves and Fishes" food packing event that will provide 300,000 or more meals to people right here in Pennsylvania. We will take hundreds of pounds of bulk food and package it in easy-to-store "meal-size" portions. This mammoth event will take about 12 hours, 900 volunteers, and $75,000 to meet our goal. This may sound like a lot, but if all of us bring what we have to the table, we can feed a multitude through our simple gifts.

 

We will undertake this on Thursday, June 5, the day before Synod Assembly. What better way to begin this year's Assembly, with the theme of "Feeding the Hungry," than by actually doing just that? Joining us this year to reflect on issues of hunger and justice will be keynote speaker and Churchwide representative the Rev. Daniel Rift, Director of ELCA World Hunger and Disaster Appeal, and Bible study leader the Rev. Amy E. Reumann, Director of Lutheran Advocacy Ministry of Pennsylvania (LAMPa). Together we will celebrate the many strong hunger ministries in our synod and equip one another to do God's work with our hands.

 

We are partnering with Thrivent Financial and Stop Hunger NE to handle the logistics of the Thursday "Loaves and Fishes" event, and Messiah College is generously donating space and assisting with set-up.

 

But I need your help to make this event happen. To provide the $75,000 and 900 volunteers, I ask each congregation to prayerfully consider contributing $325 and a team of volunteers. Across our synod, this works out to less than one dollar per baptized member and about four volunteers per congregation. Working together we will easily make our goal to feed more than 300,000 of our neighbors -- truly loaves and fishes that are multiplied in blessing. Won't you join me for this event and in all we are doing together to feed others as we have been fed by Christ?

 

Bishop James S. Dunlop +

 

PS: Look for a toolkit next week in Carings & Sharings and on our website (under Synod Assembly) that will include posters, bulletin inserts, facts about hunger, ideas for fundraising and education, and other resources.

 

Checks from individuals and congregations toward purchasing meal-packing food and supplies may be made to "Lower Susquehanna Synod." In the memo line, please write "Loaves & Fishes Event" and mail to the attention of Linda Lubold, Lower Susquehanna Synod, 900 S. Arlington Avenue, Suite 220B, Harrisburg, PA 17109.