wfn.org | Presbyterian Hunger Program Spices Up "Souper Bowl"

[PCUSA.NEWS@pcusa.org]

15-January-1998 
98016 
 
    Presbyterian Hunger Program Spices Up 
     "Souper Bowl" with  New Cd-Rom 
 
    by Julian Shipp 
 
LOUISVILLE, Ky.-Chicago fans jammed to the "Super Bowl Shuffle" in 1985 
when the Bears won Super Bowl XX, but the Presbyterian Hunger Program is 
giving youths a chance to groove to a newly released, multimedia CD-ROM 
that promotes the "Souper Bowl," a unique, Presbyterian-initiated 
antihunger campaign. 
 
    Called  "Hunger Has a Cure (and We're Part of It!)," the new resource 
is being mailed to the 1,500 Presbyterian youth groups nationwide that 
participated in last year's Souper Bowl, according to the Rev. Gary R. 
Cook, associate for National Hunger Concerns in the Worldwide Ministries 
Division. Cook said the 1997 effort saw congregations representing all 50 
states and Canada join forces to raise $1.1 million to feed the nation's 
hungry. 
 
    The CD-ROM contains eight hunger-related songs, including "Till the 
World Is Fed," "What Does the Lord Require?" and "Heart to Heart." It also 
includes 
 
    *  a segment on 15 ways youth groups can respond to hunger 
    *  40 minutes of video on topics such as the One Great Hour of Sharing 
       Offering 
    *  how to help in food pantry and gleaning programs 
    *  how to organize an antihunger letter-writing campaign to Congress. 
 
    Cook said the disk also includes lead sheets for the songs so youth 
choirs can sing them in church. Performance background tracks are also 
available for some of the selections. He said the disks should be delivered 
to the youth groups by Jan. 25, Super Bowl Sunday 1998. 
 
    "We've produced this as a resource to get youth involved in hunger 
ministry," Cook told the Presbyterian News Service. "But we're also sending 
it as a thank-you to those 1,500 groups who helped us last year." 
 
    "Hunger Has a Cure (and We're Part of It!)" was produced by the 
Presbyterian Hunger Program and the Better World Artists and Activists 
Guild. It is obtainable for  $12 by calling Presbyterian Distribution 
Service at 1-800-524-2612. The product number for the resource is 
74360-97-315. 
 
    The Souper Bowl concept is simple. As parishioners leave worship on 
Super Bowl Sunday (or the closest day possible), they are invited to each 
give $1 and a can of food to help the hungry. Young people standing at 
sanctuary exits receive the donations in large soup cauldrons and then send 
them directly to the local charity of their congregation's choice. 
 
    No advance registration is required to participate in the Souper Bowl. 
Simply obtain permission from your session, advertise the effort, announce 
and receive the offering on Jan. 25, report totals, and deliver the 
proceeds to the charity of your choice. For more information, call 
1-800-358-SOUP or visit www.souperbowl.com on the World Wide Web with 
questions or to report totals on Super Bowl Sunday. 

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For more information contact Presbyterian News Service
  phone 502-569-5504             fax 502-569-8073  
  E-mail PCUSA.NEWS@pcusa.org   Web page: http://www.pcusa.org 
  mailed from World Faith News <wfn-news@wfn.org>  

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