Hello families,
We hope you are having a wonderful summer. The Faith Formation Board is actively planning for fall programming and events.
In order for us to provide opportunities for children and youth, we would love to get your input. Please take a few minutes to complete this short survey.
In other news, we are very excited to welcome Ted and Susan Hoffman as Ministers of Faith Formation. They will be sharing the position Sharry held until a permanent replacement can be identified. This pastoral couple served as Lead Pastor and Christian Education Minister of First Congregational United Church of Christ in Rapid City, ND. They start on August 10.
Finally, our board is partnering with the Mission and Justice Board on the August 21 Pantry Drive from 8:00-10:00 am. Collected items will be brought to the Birchwood Neighborhood’s Share Spot the same day. You can learn more about the drive on the Full Circle Blog.
Below are some resources for your family to dig deeper by learning more about food deserts and how our faith inspires us to help our neighbors.
Bible Reading/Story:
Matthew 25: 31-40 (in the Shine Bible, you can find the story on page 258)
Mark 12: 28-34 (in the Shine Bible, you can find the story on page 254)
Video:
Living in a Food Desert (covers the state of Virginia, but still informative and relevant)
WWU Honors Student paper on the Birchwood Food Desert Fighters: https://cedar.wwu.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1304&context=wwu_honors
Family Dinner Discussion Points/Questions:
- Where do we get the food we eat? (grocery store, garden, farmer’s market, etc)
- How do we get our food (e.g., drive, bike, walk to store)
- Do you know what a food desert is?
- If no, start off by talking about a real desert - ask what makes something a desert (e.g., hot, dry area with limited food/water for people or creatures)
- Explain that a food desert is a neighborhood that doesn’t have access to affordable, fresh, healthy food for its residents
- Show a map of Bellingham, point out Birchwood neighborhood - explain that the grocery store closed and many people can’t get to the bigger, more expensive stores that are farther away (don’t have cars, the bus doesn’t go by them, etc)
- Do you know what a pantry is? (maybe you have one at your house)
- Explain that in Birchwood, the Birchwood Food Desert Fighters have started a community Food Pantry
- Our church is inviting us to contribute food to the pantry. Why is our church helping donate food to the community pantry?
- Why do Christians help other people?
- How can our family participate?
- Share the list of items, look for them at your house, and decide which one’s to purchase and donate)
