wfn.org | Super Bowl Sunday is "Souper Bowl Sunday" for Lutherans

[Brenda Williams <BRENDAW@elca.org>]

Reply-To: ElcaNews <ELCANEWS@ELCASCO.ELCA.ORG>
ELCA NEWS SERVICE

January 22, 1998

SUPER BOWL SUNDAY IS "SOUPER BOWL SUNDAY" FOR LUTHERANS
98-03-011-MR

     (CHICAGO) ELCA -- "On the Sunday when many are tuned to the big
football game and celebrating with football parties, we ask that
congregations raise awareness and funds for the forgotten hungry," said Dr.
Patricia J. Larsen, Tacoma, Wash.  Hundreds of congregations of the
Evangelical Lutheran Church in America will join an interfaith effort to
"fight against hunger in the local community, the nation and the world" on
Super Bowl Sunday, Jan. 25.
     Larsen, associate director for the ELCA's World Hunger Appeal, said,
the effort "can be as simple as having several members stand at the back of
the church with large soup pots.  As people leave they can donate money,
perhaps equal to what they will spend on their Super Bowl refreshments."
     Holy Spirit Lutheran Church, Reading, Pa., will hold its annual
congregation meeting Jan. 25  with a "Souper Bowl" event.  "We have asked
families to bring pots of their favorite soup to share with others and
donate money to the ELCA's World Hunger Appeal," said the Rev. Robert G.
Kaltenbaugh, Johnstown, Pa.
     Youth from St. Stephen Lutheran Church, Pearland, Texas, will use
large soup kettles to collect donations as parishioners leave worship the
morning of the game.  Donations will be delivered directly to the
"Christian Helping Hands" food pantry in Pearland. "The process is simple
and the youth or an auxiliary of the congregation can make it happen," said
the Rev. Brian K. Gigee, New Orleans.
     Other congregations collect pledges based on the score of the game or
hold a special soup luncheon. "The possibilities are endless and totally up
to the participating congregations," Larsen said.  Congregations select and
send the contributions directly to the ministry of their choice.

For information contact:
Ann Hafften, Director (773) 380-2958 or NEWS@ELCA.ORG
http://www.elca.org/co/news/current.html