Advent Hope and Renewal

Friends in Faith,

Advent is upon us and the latest issue of the National Council of Churches Poverty Initiative newsletter is here.

People of faith across the nation have been working and praying for a faithful budget, forming circles of protection around vulnerable people. Despite the failure of the Super Committeeand continued hardships of all who struggle with foreclosures and hunger, we live in an Advent season of hopeful anticipation.

This hope is not based in naive optimism. Hope comes from the knowledge that just as God came to dwell with us in Christ Jesus, so too can God’s reign become manifest on Earth. Each Advent, anticipating the coming of Jesus newly opens our hearts to God’s grace, inviting us once again to give all the words of our mouths and mediations of our hearts over to God’s purpose.

May this season of Advent renew your sense of purpose, energy, and hope. May Christ’s presence and peace be with you. And may a Christian hope re-kindle your spirit to put “the least of these” first in your prayers and actions.

Please read our newsletter at

http://www.nccendpoverty.org/Newsletters/December2011.php

Grace and Peace,

Michael Livingston

Director, National Council of Churches Poverty Initiative

Inside the December 2011 Edition of the Poverty Initiative Newsletter

Super Committee: What Happened?” Participate in a Webinar, Nov. 29 at 12:00pm Eastern.

Hundreds of legislators, religious leaders, and people of faith take the Food Stamp Challenge, fasting and praying to protect the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP).

Faithful across the United States Pray for a Just and Compassionate Federal Budget.

United Church of Christ raises hundreds of thousands of dollars and letters to Congress to fight hunger.

“Showered with Fellowship:” First Presbyterian Church in Palo Alto offers local homeless neighbors shower facilities.

Click here to read these stories, find resources, and take action.

Super Vigil: Pray for the Super Committee.

When the least of these are threatened, the people of God rise up in response. The Super Committee is coming down to the wire with their budget-cutting decisions. If the “Super Committee” recommend cuts to social safety net programs such as WIC, SNAP, Medicaid, Medicare, Social Security, and others, the most vulnerable will feel the pain of it for years to come. The leadership of our nation needs our prayers.

You are invited to participate in a national “Super Vigil” day of prayer, Sunday, Nov. 20. On this day, in Washington DC, we will pray for the super committee to make faithful budget decisions. You are invited to host a super vigil in your community, too.

Click here to access a Super Vigil national day of prayer planning toolkit.  Join the Facebook event here. Let me know if you’re planning something.

With Faith in an Abundant Future,

Michael Livingston

Director, National Council of Churches Poverty Initiative

Got something to say about poverty and the budget? Write a letter to the editor.

I am writing to urge you to send a letter to the editor of your local newspaper. How many times have you wanted to act upon your faith in response to the urgency of a crisis – and hesitated until the moment has passed.  If you’re like me, too many times.  Millions of Americans are out of work.  One in four children does not have enough to eat every day.  The hard-earned benefits of the elderly among us – our parents and grandparents, aunts and uncles, neighbors and friends – are being threatened by cuts to programs that dramatically improve the quality of their lives.

Will you help?

Please click here to write a letter to the editor of your local paper asking for a Faithful Budget that preserves the dignity and protects the well-being of God’s most vulnerable people. We have set up a system to help make it easy for you to submit one.

Please forward this email to friends, family, and your faith community, and let us know if you submitted a letter. 
With Faith in an Abundant Future,

Michael Livingston

Director, National Council of Churches Poverty Initiative