"Christ's example is being
demeaned by the church if they ignore the new leprosy,
which is AIDS. The church is the sleeping giant here.
If it wakes up to what's really going on in the rest
of the world, it has a real role to play. If it doesn't,
it will be irrelevant."
- Bono
The thing the sixties did was to show us the possibilities and the responsibility that we all had. It wasn't the answer. It just gave us a glimpse of the possibility. John Lennon
October 18 Poverty Event Moved to Fairfield Community Center
Sometimes it seems like the universe (or Divine Order of God) has plans that we must fall in line with and that was the message of the last week. Just a week ago yesterday - after months of planning and an event already scheduled with Colby College, the administration told their activist student that the poverty event conflicted with Homecoming weekend. After tons of stress and e-mails, the administration announced the event could still take place, but no parking was available!
Next, we learned that the free food donated by local farmers as well as the potluck food was not welcome. All leftovers are going to the Mid-Maine Homeless Shelter that serves breakfast and lunch every day. Now, we had to purchase food for the free event and free dinner... Every time we attempted to solve a problem and bring the administration into the event, another problem popped up. It reminded me of what my older friends experienced in the sixties - it reminded me of the African Proverb, "If you are not part of the solution, you are part of the problem."
As I sadly decided to cancel the conference, some community activists stood up and insisted that the conference was too important to cancel. I am relatively new in the region, so I often feel like an outsider. I have contacts, but few local resources. Now, there is an awesome new space - donated free of charge. It has a commerical kitchen and tons of parking. All of these volunteers are ready and willing to make this work! Although there is only one room, we will rearrange the discussion panels and have a great day. We have new flyers and ads to get out, but it should all come together.
This is a clear indication of what a community can together to solve problems, which is the focus of the event!!!
Remember, the day begins at Skowhegan Farmer’s Market, where Jan Schrock - the senior advisor to Heifer International and daughter of the founder, Dan West - will talk with the community at 11am. She will discuss importance of community in working on hunger and poverty as well as some of Heifer’s projects in Maine. Schrock said that markets of that type bring communities together by combining food, entertainment and children’s activities. She will also have her new children’s book available.
The conference - Active Communities: Weaving a Sustainable Future - will begin at 1:15pm.
Although there is no charge, please bring a non-perishable food item for one of our local food pantries or pet food. You may also make a donation to one of the represented organizations of your choice.
Although no money is changing hands, many sponsors joined in to donate their time, gifts and food to show how communities working together addresses poverty: Heifer International; the Colby Chapter of Amnesty International; the Skowhegan, Waterville and Fairfield Farmers’ Markets; Somerset County Coffee & Tea Co., Joseph’s Market; Hannaford’s; Maine Council of Churches; NEIDEEP; The Town Line; MOFGA; North End Boys & Girls Club; Loving Caring Hands Food Pantry; the Mid-Maine Homeless Shelter; the Mid-Maine Time Bank; the Fairfield Community Center; The Fairfield/Fairfield Center United Methodist Churches, The Morning Sentinel, the New England Conference of the United Methodist Church, the UN Foundation, and the UN Millennium Campaign.
The afternoon includes discussion panels with experts on Local Poverty, Farming Communities, Faith in Action, and the Global Crisis as well as a chance to be included in the Guinness Book of World Records as the largest number of people standing up against poverty.
Participants are invited to a free dinner based the “Stone Soup” principle, with meats and produce donated by our farming communities. Please bring a potluck dish. Jan Schrock will give her keynote speech after dinner.
Please RSVP for all or part of the event. For reservations and information, contact me.
173,045,325 People Stood Up & Took Action Against Poverty Worldwide
between Oct. 16 - 18, 2009!
They gathered at over 3,000 events in more than 120 countries.
116,993,629 People Stood Up & Took Action Against Poverty Worldwide
between Oct. 17 - 19, 2008!
That is almost 2% of the
total world population!
43,716,440 People Stood Up Against Poverty
Worldwide between Oct. 16 & 17, 2007! Were You One of Them?
23,542,614 People Stood Up Against Poverty
Worldwide on Oct. 15, 2006! Bless Them All!
"Be the Change You Want to See In the World." Gandhi
Upcoming Events
Send Me Your Events!!! October 17, 2009 NEIDEEP Interfaith Service & Conference
at Fairfield United Methodist Church, 10am to 2pm, including potluck lunch
Join people of all faiths
Discover the role of women in
ending local & global poverty
Location - FUMC, 33 Rt. 201, Fairfield, Maine
Just off I-95, Exit 133
This event is in conjunction with
Stand Up & is Free
The Rev. Dr. Paige Blair Episcopal Priest & Bonnie N. Davis
Buddhist
First NEIDEEP Conference
Our First Meeting took place in Portsmouth, New Hampshire, USA on 2/21/06.
The day began with an Interfaith Service.
Sister True Virtue, who at the time was the Abbess of the Green Mountain Dharma Center, teaching in the tradition of
Thich Nhat Hanh's Order of Interbeing, led a meditation, centering & grounding
the more than 80 participants for the rest of the day.
Local Christians including The Rev. Dr. Paige of St. George's Episcopal Chuch (York Harbor), Pastor Sharon Miesel of
York-Ogunquit United Methodist Church (UMC)
& Pastor Sue Kingman of Sanford Unitarian Universalist Church (UUC) also took part in the Interfaith Service.
Iman Ibrahim Sayer, Boston Dialogue Foundation, did a transforming reading from the Koran in Arabic.
Rabbi David Mark, Temple Israel in Portsmouth, blew the Shofar,
made from Ram's Horn, reminding us that it is made from the same material as our fingernails &
that the work before us must be done with our hands.
The Rt. Rev. Peter Weaver, presiding bishop of the New England Conference of the United Methodist Church (NEUMC)was also
serving the Worldwide head the United Methodist's at the time of the conference. He spoke about trips to Africa, meeting with
religious leaders to speak with President Bush, & attending the Transatlantic Forum on Global Poverty in London prior to the 2005 G8 Summit.
Jan Schrock, Senior Advisor of Heifer International at the time, is the daughter of
Dan West, Heifer's founder, spoke about Heifer's interaction with communities, helping them plan their futures.
Lallie Lloyd, Episcopalian's for Global Reconciliation (E4GR), spoke about her book -
"Eradicating Global Poverty - A Christian Study Guide on the MDG."
Margaret Udahogora, of Rwanda, spoke about educating orphans from her country, also
reminding us of Africa's beauty. Suzanne Bowman,
talked about BeadforLife - Ugandan women (many HIV/AIDS positive) making beads and jewelry for two years and now
supporting 170 families.
NAACP, Salvation Army and United Way attended as guests with clergy and
other participants. Program stressed MDG, trade issues, & activisim.
Millennium Campaign Pledge & ONE Declaration were signed - "No Excuses" White Wristbands were handed out with
resource guides. By setting the example of working together across potitical, cultural, spiritual & religious boundaries,
we can make an amazing difference.
Interfaith Communities Can Heal the World!
A second round of NEIDEEP is planned for October 2008.
Activating New England will make a difference in ending extreme poverty. After all, we hosted a memorable
tea party that changed the course of history.
In a world where so many go hungry,
Let us make the fruits of creation available for all.
In a world where one billion of our brothers and sisters do not have safe drinking water,
Let us help the waters run clear.
In a world where so many die so young,
And so many mothers die in childbirth,
And so many families are ravaged by disease,
Let us bring health and healing.
In a world where women carry such heavy burdens,
Let us recognize and restore the rights of all.
Let us join together, with a new sense of global community,
A new awareness of our need for one another,
And for this fragile planet,
To meet the clear challenge of the Millennium Goals,
To bring hope as substantial as bread,
To make human dignity as visible as wheat in the fields.
Special thanks to The Rev. Mike Kinman for his assistance on how to set up a cool blog!
