Celebrating Our Faithful Bread for the World Churches in New Mexico

This is a milestone year for Bread for the World in New Mexico. Not only is our national organization turning 40 years young, but Bread commemorates 30 years of anti-hunger advocacy in the Land of Enchantment. Please join us at our Bread Rising in New Mexico celebration on Saturday, October 25, at St. Andrew Presbyterian Church.  (See Program and  Register Here).

Writing Letters after Student Mass, Newman Center (2010)

As part of our celebration we recognize the backbone of Bread in New Mexico for most or all of the past three decades: our churches and faith communities. Four of these churches have remained our partners since the early days--St. Andrew Presbyterian Church and St. Paul Lutheran Church in Albuquerque, First Presbyterian Church in Santa Fe and  Peace Lutheran Church in Las Cruces. Each of these churches has made it a priority to conduct an Offering of Letters every year.

Most of our faith communities below have also organized Offerings of Letters, participated in Hunger Sunday in October and donated to Bread for the World either through the Covenant Church Program or a simple gift to the organization. (And even as we speak about "church involvement" in Bread for the World, we fully recognize that is individual Bread members and other volunteers and committees at these churches who promoted the letter-writing campaigns to the congregation via church bulletins or from the pulpit, set up the writing tables with the sample letters and explain the details of the campaign to letter writers). Our members have used very creative means to promote the OL, including skits at All Saints Lutheran Church and St. Andrew Presbyterian Church and detailed bulletin announcements at Peace Lutheran Church.

Circle of Protection Service, Immanuel Presbyerian Church

Special Events
Some churches have also hosted special events: Immanuel Presbyterian Church (our 35th anniversary event, featuring Bread co-founder Father Bill Byron, S.J, and two Circle of Protection services), and St. Charles Borromeo Catholic Church (joint conference with Lutheran Advocacy Ministry, featuring David Beckmann).  Macedonia Missionary Baptist Church, Monte Vista Christian Church, Iglesia Congregacional Unida and St. Timothy Lutheran Church also hosted our ecumenical worship services, and St. Thomas of Canterbury Episcopal Church hosted our One Agape service. Many churches also hosted our Saturday monthly meetings during the 1990s.  Organizations like Church Women United., CROP Walk, the Center for Action and Contemplation and the Social Justice Office of the Catholic Archdiocese of Santa Fe, the Presbytery of Santa Fe and others have also given us support during the years.

The list below celebrates all these churches and organizations. The list was compiled from records and from my own personal recollections, so I apologize if I missed any faith communities--particularly from the late 1980s (before I moved to New Mexico).

Cathy Pfefferle, Jeanne Elmhorst, Albuquerque Mennonite Church

Albuquerque Area:
Macedonia Missionary Baptist Church

Immaculate Conception Catholic Church, Aquinas Newman Center Catholic Community, Our Lady of the Most Holy Rosary Catholic Church,St. Joseph Catholic Church (JustFaith class), Church of the Risen Savior Catholic Community, St. John XXIII Catholic Community, St. Charles Borromeo Catholic Church, Norbertine Community, Franciscan Sisters, St. Michael and All Angels Episocopal Church, St. Thomas of Canterbury Episcopal Church,, All Saints Lutheran Church, St. Paul Lutheran Church, Luther House, Holy

Skit promoting OL, St. Andrew Prebyterian Church

Cross Lutheran Church, St. Luke Lutheran Church, St. Timothy Lutheran Church, Albuquerque Mennonite Church, First United Methodist Church, Central United Methodist Church, Trinity United Methodist Church, Mesa Vista United Methodist Church, La Mesa Presbtyerian Church, First Presbyterian Church, St. Andrew Presbyterian Church, New Life Presbyterian Church, Second Presbyterian Church, Immanuel Presbyterian Church, Rio Grande Presbyterian Church, Shepherd of the Valley Presbyterian Church, Cristo del Valle United Presbyterian Church, Iglesia Congregacional Unida,  First Congregational Church, Church of the Good Shepherd-UCC, First Unitarian Church.

Women's Group at Smith Memorial Presbyterian Church

Chama: St. Jerome Episocopal Church

Española: St. Stephen Episcopal Church

Farmington: Trinity Lutheran Church 
Gallup: First United Methodist Church 
Truchas: Smith Memorial Presbyterian Church
Los Alamos: Bethlehem Lutheran Church, White Rock Presbyterian Church,  United Church of Los Alamos
Rio Rancho: Rio Rancho Presbyterian Church, Felician Sisters

Laverne Kaufman (center),Peace Lutheran Church, Las Cruces

Las Cruces: Peace Lutheran Church, St. Paul United Methodist Church, Immaculate Heart of Mary Cathedral (JustFaith class)
Santa Fe: First Presbyterian Church, St. Bede's Episcopal Church, St. John's United Methodist Church, Westminster Presbyterian Church, United Church of Santa Fe, Christ Lutheran Church.