Snapshots of World Food Day in #ABQ (Part 3)

Our Third Annual Albuquerque World Food Day was held  at La Mesa Presbyterian Church on Sunday, October 14, 2018. Our commemoration featured stories of hope, offered by six inspirational individuals. Here is Part 3 with two more stories, the World Food Day chant and the prayer of commitment.  (See Part 1 and Part 2)

Fifth Story: Katie Morris, MPH, has worked overseas for Catholic Relief Services in four countries over the past 10 years. Her most recent posting was in Ethiopia, managing an integrated food security program for over 240,000 individuals. She served in the Albuquerque chapter of Amigos de las Americas in several Latin American countries from volunteer, supervisor, Program Director, and Board of Directors from 1998-2007.



Sixth Story: Rachel White Sternheim is education director at Congregation Albert responsible for developing, planning and supporting youth and adult education programs. In addition, she is a local synagogue representative for MAZON: A Jewish Response to Hunger and serves on the Interfaith Hunger Coalition steering committee.



Prayer of Commitment: (alternate side beginning with right)

As we pray, Holy One,
we ask you to keep us from using prayer as an escape;
keep us from the temptation of uttering a few words,
in the hope that you will swoop in and do the rest
with no further requirement from us.

May our prayers be a constant,
unending rhythm that drives not just our words,
but our thoughts, our attitudes and our actions;
may we never stop seeking, asking, knocking, pleading for justice, wrestling with the call to love all of creation and humanity.

As we pray for our world,
may we also live lightly on the earth,
aware of the effects of climate change,
may we use only what we need, and live lives so others might live. As we pray for our nation, may we also live as good neighbours,
protecting the weak and vulnerable,
and celebrating goodness and grace wherever we may find it;

As we pray for our community,
may we also live with open arms and hearts,
embracing both familiar companions and unknown strangers,
and welcoming all as you do.

As we pray for our friends and families,
may we also live as those who lay down their lives,
selflessly serving those in our care, and always choosing the sacrificial way of love.

All: And so may our prayers be the catalyst,
that changes us into little incarnations
– ordinary people who manifest a holy life of love in action. Amen