Tackle Hunger Throughout the months of January and February

More than 20 years ago, the Souper Bowl of Caring began with a simple prayer from a single youth group:

“Lord, even as we enjoy the Super Bowl football game,
help us be mindful of those without a bowl of soup to eat.”

Since that day, more than $98 million has been raised for local charities across the country through Souper Bowl of Caring. It has become a powerful movement that is transforming the time around Super Bowl weekend into the nation’s largest celebration of giving and serving.

Through this mission, young people learn what it’s like to make a positive difference in the world — as they collect food, raise money and volunteer to work in charities that provide shelter to the homeless, food to the hungry and compassion to those in need. Be part of this movement that is sharing God’s love with those in need. How can you help? Check out these options below and don’t miss out on all the fun!

Donate Food Items January 12 through February 2

We challenge all FPC members to bring a canned or boxed item(s) of food to the collection boxes in Courtenay Hall. Vote for your favored Super Bowl champ-to-be with your food donation by placing your item(s) on either the NFC or AFC side. The conference with the most food may not win the Super Bowl champion ring, but the hungry in Nashville will surely win when hunger loses.

Make a Monetary Gift on Super Bowl Sunday, February 2

Look for our youth at the exits after all services and make a donation into their marked soup pots. Every dollar donated goes to Second Harvest Food Bank of Middle Tennessee, our 2014 Souper Bowl of Caring charity of choice. If you donate by check, you may make your check payable to the church and list Second Harvest on the memo line.

Help Deliver and Sort Food at Second Harvest on Thursday, February 6

Join our 3rd graders as they go to the Second Harvest warehouse on Thursday night, February 6, to pack backpacks filled with food that are sent home on Fridays with area school children likely who lack enough to eat over the weekend. Join our children as they also deliver and weigh in our NFC vs AFC Super Bowl Challenge food collections. Sign up for this adventure on the Serving Together page on the Children’s Ministry section of our website here. Look for the February 6 event under the Second Harvest section; space limited, but delivery drivers for food items welcome.

Spread the Love with Peanut Butter Donations February 10 through 28

Even our Early Pre-School children get in on the act of stomping out hunger when they gather together as much peanut butter as their little hands can carry. Whether it’s smooth and creamy, or chock full of nuts or maybe even contains just a hint of chocolate mixed in, peanut butter packs a protein punch that everybody just has to have once in a while.

The recent cold freeze will mean Nashville families have higher utility bills to pay and that means less available to buy enough food to eat. Please give generously to this collection in whichever way you can, and you will make a SUPER difference in the lives of many.

Another Church in Kenya Dedicated

by Linda and Stu Ross, East Africa Coordinators
The Outreach Foundation

Dear Friends: Sunday was a very special day for The Outreach Foundation and First Presbyterian Church, Nashville; one of the three churches dedicated this Sunday was Ragati, which First funded. Ragati is located not too far from Nyeri. The church is a large church that will seat about 800 people. The congregation moved from a very small church.

The Deputy Secretary General officiated the ceremony. Since we had several dedications that day, Daniel represented FPC that day. He told me after the event the roasted goat was excellent.

FPC continues, through its generous gifts, building capacity in churches throughout East Africa. These are the churches that then provide outreach to many of the poor in their community. That will be happening here through education and other community programs. We send to all of FPC our thanks for their most generous gifts!

A Gift of Hospitality…A Gift of Time…A Gift from the Heart

The Mission Committees of First Presbyterian Church challenge you to give of yourself in service to Nashville’s homeless. The church offers you both on- and off-campus service opportunities in partnership with Room In The Inn and Safe Haven Family Shelter.

Room In The Inn — Our Wednesday night winter shelter ministry to Nashville’s homeless is in need of volunteers on every Wednesday night during the months November through March. Members are needed to serve as overnight hosts and van drivers, bring sandwiches for lunch, donate breakfast food and wash bed linens. Dinner food is needed some Wednesday nights when the FPC kitchen is closed. Check out the sign-up board in Courtenay Hall and sign up to fill an open week. Contact our oncampus Coordinator, Hal Sauer (615-243-0167), with questions.

Safe Haven Family Shelter — Our Local Missions Committee has committed to provide Food/Meal and Overnight Host Volunteers on six Monday nights in 2014. Food/Meal volunteers provide dinner for 25-30 residents and may prepare the meal in their own home or on-site at the shelter’s newly expanded kitchen. Volunteers are encouraged to eat with the residents and then head home after cleaning up. Overnight Host volunteers simply spend the night at the shelter and leave by 6:00 A.M. the following morning; all Overnight Host volunteers will need to attend an orientation session unless they have served recently at the newly remodeled facility. We invite you come alongside these families for just one night. Individuals or groups of people are all welcome to serve in 2014 by contacting Mary Earthman (615-665-8845) to select an open date: February 3, April 7, June 2, August 4, October 6 or December 1.