St Philip is kicking off a new hunger awareness program called CENTS-ABILITY.  All children and members will receive a plastic bank to take home and fill with pennies.  Banks available at the Rally Day breakfast on September 11 or Sundays in the Gathering Area will be given to each child and youth and to family units. Each member of the family – of all ages – is encouraged to put their bank on the kitchen table and drop in 2 cents at every meal.  This simple act is an expression of thanksgiving for what we have received.  It is also a commitment to share with others in response to Jesus’ command “You give them something to eat.” 

 

This joint program sponsored by the Peacemaking and Stewardship Commissions will be on-going throughout the year.  50% of the pennies collected each month at worship on Communion Sundays will go to hunger ministries we support through our mission giving at St. Philip and 50% will go to the Presbyterian Hunger Program of the PC (U.S.A) which provides food for hungry people, public policy advocacy, hunger education, and development assistance.  All of those coins “make a joyful noise unto the Lord” as they are received and dedicated. 

 

CENTS-ABILITY originated in 1976 as “Two-Cents-A-Meal,” a project begun by Presbyterian Women to involve individuals and families in a corporate response to the crisis of hunger in the United States and around the world.  Despite significant progress over these years, 800,000,000 people around the world still lack the very minimum nutritional requirements for productive lives.  And in the United States, 12 million children live in households where there is not enough to eat. 

 

CENTS-ABILITY is a small first step in the battle against hunger and poverty.  These small acts of faithfulness can add up:  One hundred persons in a congregation will contribute $180.00 a month at two cents a meal.  That’s $2160 a year!

 

So don’t forget to pick up your bank on Rally Sunday and start contributing 2 cents a meal and making a difference in the lives of hungry people here in Houston, the United States and in the World.  Together we can make a difference!!!