STEP TWO: TELL THE STORY
In February, 1999, Nativity Church members went
on a pilgrimage to Haiti. They were overwhelmed
with the scope of the problems. "How can we possibly make a
difference?" one asked. Searching for an answer, Father Martin told his parishioners
the story of the young boy and the starfish:
As
a young boy walked the beach at dawn, he noticed
an old man ahead of him picking up starfish
and tossing them into the sea. The creatures
had been washed ashore by a storm the previous
evening. Catching up with the man, the boy
asked why he was doing this. The old man explained
to the boy that the stranded starfish would
die if left in the scorching hot sun. "But
the beach goes on for miles and there are millions
of starfish," exclaimed the boy. "How can your
effort make any difference?" The old man looked
at the starfish in his hand and then threw
it safely into the waves. He turned to the
boy and said, "It made a difference to that
one."
A parishioner spoke up after Fr. Martin finished
the story. "Why don't we call our work 'Project Starfish?'" he
asked. Heartened by the Starfish story, and renewed
by their pilgrimage, Church of the Nativity parishioners
recommitted themselves to helping the poor, at
home as well as in Haiti.
Your
second step is to tell the story of your miracle.
Describe what can be accomplished when everyone
does a small part. Use a light hand - keep the
discussion
positive. Talk in terms of the excitement everyone
can share when the miracle takes place. Use the
images, video or other tools that Food for the
Poor will
make available to you. Father Martin only speaks
to his congregation once, at the beginning of Lent.
A basket is placed in the vestibule of the church
and donations are left there. Accompanying notes
often describe the joy of giving small amounts
to make big differences. During Lent, the choir
chooses
a thematic hymn and repeats it occasionally. Nativity's
choir has chosen "THAT THERE MAY BE BREAD."
Perhaps you might appreciate a personal visit. Food for the Poor can send speakers to you to describe the compelling needs
of the poor and the wonderful accomplishments of groups like yours.
Email them
at speakers@foodforthepoor.org or request a speaker using their online form.
[ Next
Step ] [ Step 1 ] [ Step 2 ] [ Step 3 ] [ Step 4 ] [ Step 5 ]
Five easy steps. A simple
concept. A simple process.
A way to bring Matthew 25:40 to life -
“ As often
as you did it for one of the least of my brothers and sisters, you did it for
me.”
ASSISTANCE
IS AVAILABLE FROM:
Food for the Poor
- Ms. Barbara Fazekas,
Coordinator, Church and School Development
- Telephone: 954-427-2222
x6258
- Email: BarbF@foodforthepoor.com
- Mail: Food for the
Poor, 550 SW 12th Ave. #4, Deerfield Beach, FL 33442
- Or gifts can be
sent directly to:
Food For The Poor, Inc., 6401 Lyons Rd. Coconut Creek, FL 33073 -
Note on check
"Nativity
Village / Source Code 77348"
- Web: www.foodforthepoor.org
Church of the Nativity
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