Almighty and gracious father, we give you thanks for the fruits of the earth in their season and for the labors of those who harvest them. Make us we pray, faithful stewards of your great bounty, for the provisions of our necessities and the relief of all who are in need, to the glory of your Name, through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, on God, now and for ever. Amen (Thanksgiving Day Prayer, BCP, pg 146)

I will be traveling to Chicago this year to visit family including my son, daughter-in-law and my first grandchild, Jameson who is 16 months old. I feel blessed to be able to spend time with family, catching up, sharing stories and having wonderful food and drink over the long weekend.

I am also mindful of this time of year when we give thanks for God’s abundance at the same time remembering those who suffer from poverty and hunger all over the world. Just in Texas, nearly ¼ of the population are food insecure, many of which are children and seniors. Time after time, Jesus demonstrates his mercy to those who are outcasts, orphaned, widowed, the poor and hungry.

We can help as congregations by serving those in need in our communities, as Jesus would have us do.

The Faith Action Team of the Dallas Coalition for Hunger Solutions recently published a document highlighting ten proven, effective ways to address hunger in your community. The Hunger Solutions Guide for the Faith Community ( 2^nd Edition) is free and can be downloaded here. If you or your congregation is interested in learning more about the Guide or how to address hunger in your community, please contact me at 214 500-7205 or . I would be grateful to share more information with you.

Dabney Dwyer

Missioner for Outreach