www.byzcath.org Forums Faith & Christian Life Prayer The Poor

The "Giving Tree" at our church this year, instead of being full of requests for clothes or other items, had mostly tags requesting baskets of food. Recently released statistics for our county show over 20% of residents below the poverty line and another 25% just above (the working poor of rural Appalachia). I filled a basket to the point that I can barely carry it, yet it holds at best a weeks worth of food. I'm trying hard not to despair, but my effort seems like a small drop in a large, overwhelming bucket.

Please remember these families and children in your prayers and do what you can in your own community.

Barbara

Thanks for your post Barbara. May our Lord God remember and provide for those who look with faith towards Him for their daily bread.

Our Ladies church philanthropic group (Philoptochos/aka:love for the poor) has three different 'Giving Trees' this year. A new idea is the one for the seminarians of St. Vladimir's Orthodox seminary, located close to us, and who are often married without much money to spend. We are providing local supermarket gift cards of various denominations, with the final total of $100 to be given to each seminarian for them to shop for a holiday meal.

In Christ,
Alice

Sister in Christ, Barbara,

Prayer for all the families in trouble, poor and despairing, trying to see a little light in their lives.

I truly understand how is to be despaired and to see what to put on table as food.

May God have much mercy! Amin!

In Risen Christ, Marian

Barbara, thanks for this post. It reminds me of the scripture below.

Luke.14:23... "And the master said to the servant, `Go out to the highways and hedges, and compel people to come in, that my house may be filled".

My prayers are joined with others here for the poor.

My parish has a monthly dinner in which the above is actually done. Whoever are hungry come to be fed a good meal. Glory to God!

In Christ,

Porter

I offer my prayers for the poor... I only wish I had more to give them as far as clothes, food, and money.

Yes, but God loves a cheerful giver and that you all are.

I remember my husband and our oldest son when he was about five, going out to deliver baskets. He came home one day and said the people were sitting on orange crates and were estatic to receive the gift of a meal. Deacon Stan was very quiet the rest of the day. I am sure that impacted his call to the diaconate many years later. But, so very much we take for granted. Yet, even on this forum, I would dare to guess there are a few who do not have much more.

May our Good Lord surround these people with Legions of Angles to help their Guardian Angles to bring them to fullness of life in him, no matter what their station in life. Bless them Jesus and help us, your children to live out more completely your Gospel message.

I know our parish is always working at something.

This Sunday we do the Christmas wrapping - they make Christmas for the families in two womens shelters and the Ronald McDonald house. It has always amazed me, as they get their wish list whether it be an x-box or a set of kitechen table and chairs for mom. Their goal is to give to these families what their own families would receive on Christmas, so each person receives about four or five gifts. Then it takes the parish a whole day to wrap everything. It is cool to see the kids helping the dads put the bikes and other riding toys together for other kids. It is quite a site.

I do not mean to be proud, the whole thing is just kind of overwhelming to me still after seeing it happen for 20+ years. The generosity and love of a people, shows forth the love of God in the parish life.