Passionate about Justice
The heart of the message of Jesus is justice. We read over and over again in Scripture how important it is that we take care of the least of our brothers and sisters. When we experience God's great love for us, our hearts overflow and that love must spill out into the world. It is important to pray, but there also has to be fruits of our prayer. Our lives must reflect the justice that God desires.
The sorrows of the world are so overwhelming that it is easy just to pretend they aren't there, or that there is nothing we can do. It takes discipline to stay informed about the hungry, the homeless, the sick and the suffering. It is a spiritual task not to give in to despair or indifference, but rather to practice hope and try to make a small improvement to the world every day.
Here at St. Thomas, we have an Outreach Committee that reaches out locally, nationally and internationally to try to make a difference in the world. We collect money, food, clothing, and toiletries. In January, we gathered our old coats to share. In February, we collected soup for Souper Bowl Sunday. Our youth participate monthly in TORCH, an ecumenical youth service effort. St. Thomas is one of the founders of the Berea Community Meal. We will continue to reach out, to pray, to stay informed. We ask you to join us!
What one person can do...to end hunger and malnutrition:
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Pack a few nonperishable brown bag lunches or food vouchers in your car so if you are approached by a person in need, you have something nutritious to share.
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Donate to the Heifer Project which purchases animals with your gift and gives them to poor families in the developing world so that they can earn an income from teh offspring.
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Volunteer to deliver Meals on Wheels to seniors in your area.
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Support famer's markets and sustainable agriculture ventures in your area.
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Model healthy food choices to your family and friends.
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At every meal remember those who do not have enough to eat.