Good news for those of us who enjoy a coffee at Starbucks every now and again. The coffee giant will be doubling FT purchases in 2009 to 40 million pounds. This will make Starbucks the largest Fair Trade Certified coffee purchaser in the world.

Fair trade is not perfect, and we can go further, but it at least ensures that strict social and environmental criteria are met, guaranteeing a decent wage for small family farmers, ensuring safe working conditions, and protecting fragile environments.

Almost every page of the Bible speaks of God’s heart for the poor. His concern for the marginalised. His compassion for the oppressed. His call for justice. The Poverty and Justice Bible megaphones God’s voice as never before.

Using the clear Contemporary English Version (CEV) text, The Poverty and Justice Bible highlights more than 2,000 verses that spell out God’s attitude to poverty and justice. And at the core of this groundbreaking Bible are in-depth studies and practical suggestions on what we can do to tackle poverty and injustice in our world today.

You know God cares for the poor. Now, with The Poverty and Justice Bible, you can know how much. Until now this wonderful resource was only available in UK. Now you can pick one up at Renovare.org. siteClick here to check it out.

Lynne Hybels is calling for the church to respond to the crisis in Congo. Click hereto watch the video.

In Congo, where more than 5 million people have died in the past twelve years, the violence has again flared up in the past few months.

“More than 250,000 people have been forced to flee their homes due to heavy fighting….” said Hybels, “In some communities, 95% of women have been raped.”

Many are hungry, have seen their homes destroyed, lost all of their property or are in desperate need of medical care. Outbreaks of cholera are threatening the lives of thousands.

Please join with World Relief by helping to rush emergency food, water and other supplies to the most vulnerable.

The Associated Press reported that one woman said, “We’ve had nothing to eat for three days.” She’d been on the run from the advancing rebel army for five days, but was heading back to her village because she could not find food or shelter. “My only choice,” she said, “is to go home.”

2008 Presidential Election: What's Next?

And, after that, if you agree with him, consider joining BFTW’s efforts by:

Hosting an Offering of Letters at your church or campus or with your friends in 2009. Learn more »

Ask your church to become a Bread for the World Covenant Church. Learn more »

Organize or join a Bread for the World chapter in your community or campus. Learn more »

Write a letter to the editor or post a blog entry about hunger. Learn more »

THE ELECTIONS ARE OVER – SO THEN WHAT?
Tuesday, Nov. 11th 7:00-8:30 p.m.
Ice Cream social at 6:30 p.m.

SAN MARCOS LUTHERAN CHURCH
3419 GRAND AVE, 92069

Purpose of our ecumenical gathering:

+ Encourage newly elected leaders to continue the fight against poverty
+ Keep our Nation’s commitment to Millennium Development Goals
+ Learn how to partner with government, agencies and churches
+ Use our citizenship to “Do justice, love kindness and walk humbly.”
+ Listen, discuss, pray, share and be present to one another in the struggle

GUEST SPEAKER: DAVID GIST, California Regional Organizer for Bread for the World, Offices in Pasadena.

A BREAD for the WORLD EVENT
Thinking Critically, Living Faithfully To End Hunger

For more information call 760-471-8240 or 800-315-3239
email: severinelaine@aol.com or breadca@bread.org Youth are also invited.

The most important political office is that of private citizen.

I haven’t been spending an hour a day, though, as you probably guessed. I had always planned to write a post explaining why I was slowing down. But, alas, too much time has passed and awkwardness set in. (Don’t you hate that?)

Am I sorry I started Hour Challenge? No. I was always planning to get back to it. The reality is that I started something new. And this something new has been taking A LOT of my time. Too much time if I’m honest with myself and with you all. I plan to talk about it. It also is awkward because it will seem to many to be antithetical to what I have been opposed to in many posts on this site.

Ok, I know, I’m being vague. I’ll get to it. My wife has encouraged me to pull the tail out from between my legs and begin posting again. For now, the activity will be modest. We’ve still been working on the cause so there are updates.

So, here goes again. Another round for those of you who are still interested.

Hello and welcome to

The 2nd Annual CEP Alternative Christmas Market

We’re excited that you have joined us for this year’s gift market. We realize you’ve come here to shop for beautiful hand crafted goods from all around the world and to make a difference in the lives of those who made these goods, but don’t forget to…

• Grab some complementary refreshments inside

• Watch a few of the powerful video presentations provided by our vendors

• Purchase a hot chocolate from local children who are raising money for an Orphanage in Liberia that houses more than 50 children

Vendor list:

Amani ya Juu works to empower and Equip African women. The women behind these beautiful goods are provided a just income that allows them not merely to survive, but to meet basic health care needs, education for their children and adequate housing.

Bead for Life helps Ugandan women turn colorful recycled paper into beautiful beads. The beads provide not only income, food, medicine and school fees – but also hope to these women who live in one of the poorest districts of Uganda. ALL PROFITS from BeadforLife are invested in community development projects that generate income and help people work their way out of poverty.

Christians Ending Poverty is a diverse coalition of San Diego Christians responding to extreme world poverty by promoting advocacy and personal discipleship. This event is brought to you by Christians Ending Poverty. Visit our website to find out how to get involved http://christiansendingpoverty.org

CRWRC - The Christian Reformed World Relief Committee (CRWRC) is a relief, development, and educational ministry of the Christian Reformed Church in North America. CRWRC partners with local agencies that understand local needs. Together CRWRC and its partners find ways to provide lasting change for people in more than 30 countries around the world. Goods from Lutheran World Relief (LWR) are also offered at the CRWRC table.

Escondido Neighborhood Heath Care is a community health organization that employs over 400 people and provides medical, dental, behavioral health counseling and promotes wellness to 65,000 people a year including 20,000 children who might otherwise go without care.

Floresta is working to reverse deforestation and poverty by transforming the lives of the rural poor.

Glory Ministries International supports Uganda orphanages by providing food, shelter and other basic needs. Glory runs a 60 acre facility housing 70+ children.

Invisible Children works to improve the quality of life for war-affected children by providing access to quality education, enhanced learning environments, and innovative economic opportunities for the community.
The Invisible Children Bracelet Campaign creates economic opportunities for people in Northern Uganda’s IDP camps through employment and the facilitation of savings and investment.

Karma Market is dedicated to offering stylish, affordable and socially responsible gifts and goods enabling world artisans to earn a fair and stable income for their families. By purchasing goods from Karma Market, you not only help provide income, dignity, hope and respect to people in developing regions, you also help to sustain the communities and the environment of these hard working artisans.

Olivewood carvings from Palestine – This project supports impoverished artisans in Palestine. By purchasing these beautiful hand carved goods you can bring hope to many who have been oppressed. As the conflict has progressed in Palestine, tourism has dropped drastically making life difficult for many in this region.

God’s Kids Intl. & Rangi Mingi Gallery - “Rangi Mingi” means many colors in Swahili, a Bantu language spoken widely through East Africa. Rangi Mingi Gallery celebrates Africa’s beauty by producing, promoting, and selling African arts and crafts. They develop fair trade relationships directly with artisans in the developing world and provide goods to U.S. markets. All profits from this table will go to God’s Kids Intl. supporting the Christian Orphanage and Agriculture project in Liberia. The facility is home to over 50 Liberian orphans.

San Diego Friends of Fair Trade works to increase the understanding and use of Fair Trade throughout San Diego through education, policy change, and a shift in economic paradigm.

Ten Thousand Villages works with over 100 artisan groups in more than 30 countries in Africa, Asia and Latin America. They offer fair trade jewelry, textiles, gifts and more. As one of the world’s oldest and largest fair trade organizations, they build long-term relationships with artisans that are based on mutual understanding and respect. Fair Trade enables artisans to earn a fair wage and provides the opportunity for a better quality of life.

Trade as One - By purchasing Trade as One goods you can change lives with everything you buy. Trade as One sells products that come with meaning and stories behind them. They use spending power of the developed world rather than donations as the means to bring jobs to the poorest of the poor by offering products that US consumers need. The products are all of extremely high quality and made by innovative socially responsible organizations in the developing world. You can learn more about Trade as One by watching the video in the main hall of the community center.

The Women’s Bean Project is transforming the lives of Women. The project employs women who come from backgrounds of chronic unemployment and poverty, and helps them develop the work and interpersonal skills needed to function independently in the workplace and community.

Y-Malawi: The Mission In Malawi is Total Community-wide transformation through long term targeted work in food security, water security, evangelism and discipleship, health care, education, and economic development through micro-finance.

PLEASE STOP BY AND VISIT THE CHURCHES WHO CO-SPONSORED THIS EVENT: The Bridge, The Father’s House, Anglican Church of the Resurrection, San Marcos Lutheran and Crossroads Christian Reformed Church!

These churches helped cover the facility costs so that the profits for the event could be donated to poverty related causes.