. . . Easter Sunday

John 13:1-9 –  1 Now before the festival of the Passover, Jesus knew that his hour had come to depart from this world and go to the Father. Having loved his own who were in the world, he loved them to the end. 2 The devil had already put it into the heart of Judas son of Simon Iscariot to betray him. And during supper 3 Jesus, knowing that the Father had given all things into his hands, and that he had come from God and was going to God, 4 got up from the table, took off his outer robe, and tied a towel around himself. 5 Then he poured water into a basin and began to wash the disciples' feet and to wipe them with the towel that was tied around him. 6 He came to Simon Peter, who said to him, "Lord, are you going to wash my feet?" 7 Jesus answered, "You do not know now what I am doing, but later you will understand." 8 Peter said to him, "You will never wash my feet." Jesus answered, "Unless I wash you, you have no share with me." 9 Simon Peter said to him, "Lord, not my feet only but also my hands and my head!"

Good works that 'work':

Families USA, known widely as the voice for health care consumers, recently reported that, by a very conservative estimate, more than 2.2 million people lost health coverage in 2001 due to increased unemployment, the largest annual increase in the number of uninsured Americans since 1992. These people swell the ranks of the uninsured, estimated at 39 million in 2001. "These numbers, however, only paint part of the picture about America's uninsured. The most poignant parts of the picture are the millions of people and families who are deferring unaffordable, needed health care - often with tragic results," says Ron Pollack, Executive Director of Families USA.  The NCC, which recently formalized a partnership with Families USA, shares these concerns and hopes to strengthen involvement of the faith community in Families USA's grassroots efforts to advocate for healthcare coverage for the uninsured and for low-income working people.

Of the nearly 15 million children eligible for child care assistance, only 10 percent receive any help.  Only about half of the children eligible for Head Start programs are in a program.  (Children's Defense Fund)

Preaching about poverty:

"A Message for Children."  The Rev. James E. Crouch, a minister of the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ).