. . . Easter Sunday

John 21:15-17 –  15 When they had finished breakfast, Jesus said to Simon Peter, "Simon son of John, do you love me more than these?" He said to him, "Yes, Lord; you know that I love you." Jesus said to him, "Feed my lambs." 16 A second time he said to him, "Simon son of John, do you love me?" He said to him, "Yes, Lord; you know that I love you." Jesus said to him, "Tend my sheep." 17 He said to him the third time, "Simon son of John, do you love me?" Peter felt hurt because he said to him the third time, "Do you love me?" And he said to him, "Lord, you know everything; you know that I love you." Jesus said to him, "Feed my sheep."

Good works that 'work':

A program to feed poor and homeless persons at Trinity Episcopal Church in Lewiston, Maine, was perhaps typical of many faith-based efforts in the United States. But a new enterprise that grew out of that program is nothing short of astonishing. It all started five years ago when a local firm needed to get out a mailing fast but was shorthanded. The firm approached Trinity for help, offering the job to the people who came by for meals. The Rev. Bill Baxter, Trinity's priest in charge, recalls that he said "yes" mostly on impulse.  Based on the success of that modest beginning, Baxter founded Faithworks, which today is a million-dollar mailing service company that employs nearly 2,000 poor and homeless persons.

During 1999, 21 percent of the requests for emergency food assistance went unmet, and 19 percent of the requests from families.  The leading cause of requests for food assistance is low-paying jobs.  (U.S. Conference of Mayors)

Preaching about poverty:

"Where Do We Go From Here: Chaos or Community?"   Excerpts from Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.'s 1968 book of the same title, published by Beacon Press.