Bread for the Preacher

Welcome to ordinary time! With the joyful celebrations of Easter and Pentecost behind us, we enter that period when we explore their impact on our ordinary lives. As William Bryon S.J., notes in his reflection on Christian vocation, "this means trying to be always responsive and responding, always attuned to God's voice, always aligned with God’s will." Our hope is that Bread for the Preacher will contribute to helping your congregation stay so "attuned" and "aligned." We offer these lectionary reflections and worship resources with the prayer that ordinary time will be a very fruitful time for church’s ministry.

Gary Cook
Director of Church Relations

P.S. In response to the global food crisis Bread for the World recently launched the Recipe for Hope campaign. Running through Father's Day, the campaign will help engage church members in a hopeful response to the growing hunger brought on by high food prices around the world and in the U.S. You can learn more about the campaign, sign up, and find prayer resources for your congregation: www.bread.org/recipeforhope

Lectionary Reflections

“Is anything too wonderful for the Lord?" Cannot the Lord work any wonder? Is anything impossible for God? Yes, the Lord can work wonders. No, nothing is impossible for God. Why, then, does hunger persist?”  William J. Byron, S.J. explores this question and our biblical call to respond to poverty and hungry through in this coming month’s lectionary reflections.

From Hunger for the Word, Year A

• May 25, Eighth Sunday in Ordinary Time
  God cares deeply for creation, and we can trust God fully in that care. Isaiah’s Jubilee theme is very clear. God covenants not only to establish the land [and] apportion the desolate heritages” (v 8), but God also offers release to prisoners, light to those in darkness, food and water to those who hunger and thirst.  more > >
  

• June 1, Ninth Sunday in Ordinary Time
  Anyone concerned with the problem of world hunger will make special note of the Lord’s instruction to Noah to “take with you every kind of food that is eaten, and store it up; and it shall serve as food for you and for them” (Gen 6:21). more > >
  

• June 8, Tenth Sunday in Ordinary Time
  "Follow me." In describing the call to discipleship, Christians talk not only about hearing the call to follow Christ but about being a call—not so much having a vocation as being a vocation. more > >
  

• June 15, Eleventh Sunday in Ordinary Time
  Those who grow discouraged in the face of persistent world hunger and poverty can find consolation in the story in Genesis 18 of Abraham and Sarah welcoming the three men the Lord sends them. more > >
  

• June 22, Twelfth Sunday in Ordinary Time
  The advocacy dimension of social justice ministry gives the Christian activist an opportunity to line up for the blessing Jesus promises in Matthew 10:32: "Everyone therefore who acknowledges me before others, I also will acknowledge before my Father in heaven." more > >
  

• June 29, Thirteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time
  "Here I am" is Abraham's posture before God. "Here I am" is what every believer hopes he or she will be able to say in response to God's call. That call is sometimes muted, usually nonverbal, typically persistent, and always awaiting a reply. more > >
  

Prayer for a Time of Hunger

God our sustainer, we ask you to pour your powerful Spirit into all who are empty this day: Fill the hearts of persons who are troubled. Fill the minds of men and women who are confused. Fill the stomachs of your children who are hungry. Fill the souls of people who are feeling lost. Fill the lives of all who need you, but do not know you. May your Spirit fill us all to overflowing, dear Lord, and may we be inspired to share our abundance with others, so that there will be no more empty hearts and minds, stomachs and souls. We pray all this in the name of Jesus Christ, who fills lives with your endless grace. Amen.
(from the Recipe for Hope Campaign)

An Announcement For Your Bulletin

Responding to the global hunger crisis, Bread for the World has launched the Recipe for Hope campaign which runs through Father's Day. Each week, the campaign adds two ingredients, something you can do and something you can say to our nation’s decision makers. Sign up at www.bread.org/recipeforhope. There you will find this week’s ingredients and much more, including prayers for the hunger crisis

Bulletin Inserts

Jesus and the Old Testament prophets held their leaders accountable to care for God's most vulnerable children.  Our new advocacy bulletin inserts is a great way to introduce your church to the important work of Bread for the World.  These bulletin inserts can be viewed and printed online.

The 2008 Offering of Letters bulletin insert is available to order at no charge and can be viewed and printed at our online store. 

Other Resources and Opportunities

Bread for the World Sunday is an opportunity for churches to renew their commitment to overcoming hunger and poverty in God's world.  On October 19--or another Sunday between World Food Day and Thanksgiving--faith communities across the country will join together to lift up the needs of hungry people through education, worship, music, and prayer.

This year's celebration of Bread for the World Sunday takes place at a time when a new Congress and new president are being elected.  Living in God's grace in Jesus Christ, we have received a great inheritance: the gift of citizenship, a resource to use on behalf of all who are in need.  The Rev. Heidi Neumark, pastor of Trinity Lutheran Church in Manhattan, will author this year's preaching resource for Bread for the World Sunday.

Requests for the Bread for the World Sunday Reflection Resource, worship bulletin inserts, offering envelopes, and "Bread" bags for bake sales will be taken beginning in June for delivery in early August.  If you have immediate questions, please contact church@bread.org or call 1-800-822-7323.