. . . Easter Sunday

Galatians 2:7-10 – 7 On the contrary, when they saw that I had been entrusted with the gospel for the uncircumcised, just as Peter had been entrusted with the gospel for the circumcised 8 (for he who worked through Peter making him an apostle to the circumcised also worked through me in sending me to the Gentiles), 9 and when James and Cephas and John, who were acknowledged pillars, recognized the grace that had been given to me, they gave to Barnabas and me the right hand of fellowship, agreeing that we should go to the Gentiles and they to the circumcised. 10 They asked only one thing, that we remember the poor, which was actually what I was eager to do.

Poverty datebook for today:

"Building Alliances to End Poverty: Shaping the Impending Welfare Debate," a March 1-2 conference at Seattle University co-sponsored by the Church Council of Greater Seattle.  For information, see  www.povertyaction.org or call Andrea at 206-694-6794.

First day of month-long March Campaign of Minnesota FoodShare, an annual food drive sponsored by the Greater Minneapolis Council of Churches. FoodShare stocks 258 food shelves across Minnesota. Information www.gmcc.org/MFS

NCC Committee on Justice for Children and Their Families meets Feb. 28-March 1 in Washington, D.C., to strategize on child advocacy issues.  Contact Joe Leonard; 212-870-2673.

The American Assembly meets March 1-2 in an invitational conference to focus on five topics, including economic growth and equality of opportunity.

Good works that 'work':

In decaying urban neighborhoods and across the country, residents and local institutions are quietly turning things around and recreating a sense of shared hope. This is happening in the Elm Park area of Worcester, Mass., New England's second largest city.  Beginning in 1994, with two member churches in the vicinity, the Worcester Area Mission Society of the United Church of Christ (WAMS) invited local residents, churches, businesses, colleges and non-profit and government agencies to rehabilitate housing, provide economic stimulus in surrounding business corridors, improve public safety and provide ministry and programs for children and families.

In 2000 in the United States, 31.1 million people - 11.3 percent of the population - fell below the official poverty line.  (U.S. Census)

Preaching about poverty:

"Worldliness and Injustice."   Dr. Stephen Charles Mott, pastor of the Cochesett United Methodist Church in West Bridgewater, Massachussetts, and chair of the New England Conference Committee of Church and Society.