20th Annual LUM Community Thanksgiving Celebration
Thanksgiving Day, Thursday, November 24
12:00noon-2:00pm
Central Presbyterian Church
31 N. 7th St

Planning for the traditional LUM Thanksgiving Day Celebration is in full swing! We expect over 700 people to attend this day of food, fellowship, and entertainment.

The generosity of many volunteers and contributors makes this celebration a huge success. Volunteers are needed on the day of the event to help with set-up, welcoming guests and volunteers, serving food and drinks, cleaning up, and much more.

LUM has begun the sign-up for donations of food and drinks. Pies are needed, as are side dishes such as corn, cranberry sauce and salads. Butter, gravy, coffee and tea are also welcome. A complete list of needed donations and volunteer opportunities can be found on the LUM website at www.lafayetteurbanministry.org. You can even sign up online!

Financial contributions also help to make this event possible. Please send your check to LUM, 525 N. 4th St., Lafayette IN 47901, and note “Thanksgiving” on the memo line.

Sign up to donate food, be a volunteer, or make an online donation at:
www.lafayetteurbanministry.org or call LUM at 423-2691

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Planning for Jubilee Christmas 2005 gets underway

The community’s largest Christmas assistance program for low-income families will continue this year, as Lafayette Urban Ministry hosts Jubilee Christmas in partnership with LUM’s member churches.
On December 10, thirty-three of Lafayette Urban Ministry’s member churches will organize Jubilee Christmas “shopping” sites. Parents of nearly 1,500 children from 550 families will select free toys and gifts for their children at 20 toy stores set up by those congregations. But these churches cannot do it alone. Your help is needed now! Here is what you can do:

• Make a cash donation that will help purchase hams, food certificates and gift
  certificates.
• Consider a Jubilee donation in place of gift exchanges at your club,
  organization or business. Send a check equal to the cost of an office party, or make a
  contribution in honor of a friend.
• Donate new, unwrapped toys or new clothing items for infants and children,
  newborn through twelve years of age. Encourage others to do so as well.
• Donate gift wrap, ribbon, bows, tape and gift tags so that parents can wrap their gifts before taking them home.
  

Jubilee provides a way for parents to be heroes with their own children at Christmas-time. If your church is participating in Jubilee, take your gifts directly there. Also contact your church's site coordinator if you are interested in volunteering on Jubilee Day. You may also bring donations to the LUM office, 525 N. 4th St., Lafayette, before noon on December 8.

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When the world spins madly...
by Mary Anderson, Executive Director

I read a lot of church newsletters. I say a quick silent prayer for those on the prayer list. I laugh at the jokes and cartoons. I learn about creative outreach efforts and topics for adult education. And I read the pastors’ letters with their variety of theologies, opinions and styles. Sometimes I remember their words for a long time.

That was the case when I read the August issue of “The Lighted Chalice,” the newsletter of the local Unitarian Universalist church. The words of Rev. Hilary Krivchenia were in response to the London subway bombings that had just occurred. But today, in these weeks when loss of life, desperate situations and non-stop media coverage of the Gulf Coast disasters have overwhelmed many of us, her words seem very appropriate, and I want to share them with you (with her kind permission).

When the world spins madly each one of us has a responsibility to be a voice that speaks of the real possibilities of healing and survival and peace—to be a willing set of hands to make that happen.

When the world spins madly I find myself grateful to be a part of a religious community—a place where people gather hungering for things of ultimate meaning.

When the world spins madly (which it nearly always does)—it is up to each one of us and to our church and faith as a whole, to consciously point ourselves out of our self-absorbed small agendas and into the deep needs and concerns of the world.

We need our discussions—but truly we need the actions that arise from them—actions we take together and separately. We need actions that make a difference in both the material condition of other people and in the arena of thought —the world of ideas that shape action.

Indeed, the world does seem to be spinning madly. I cannot imagine the desperation of poor New Orleans’ residents who faced those flood waters. But neither can I imagine having to choose between paying the rent or buying food for my children right here in Lafayette. I can not imagine fleeing a storm without clothing or medicine. But neither can I imagine not being able to afford an antibiotic for my sick child right here in Lafayette. I can’t imagine being displaced from the place I have called home for many years. But neither can I imagine being homeless right here on the streets of Lafayette.

And we know that the impact of these hurricanes reaches far beyond the Gulf Coast. We will all—and especially the poor—feel the impact of higher winter heating bills. We will see government funds diverted from Head Start, food stamps and child care in order to support rebuilding efforts in the Gulf area.
Marian Wright Edelman, head of the Children’s Defense Fund, said last week that “40% of children in Louisiana were poor before Hurricane Katrina struck. No child should have had to suffer through a storm to get safe housing, healthcare, education and adequate nutrition.” And this isn’t just Louisiana’s problem; in Indiana, 41% of children live below 200% of poverty—the so called “self-sufficiency” level.

We must all be the “willing sets of hands,” the hands of Christ, that change these realities, whether it be the reality of being a hurricane victim or the reality of being poor right here. We must respond to our Gospel call, set aside our “small agendas” and look at the larger needs in our own community. We must take action—together and separately.

For over 33 years, LUM has been, very simply, extending Christ’s love to the poor. We have—together and separately, as congregations and individuals—fed the hungry, housed the homeless, cared for children and strengthened families. At LUM, discussions are followed by actions, actions that make a difference in the lives of the poor.

I know many of you have made generous contributions to hurricane relief efforts through your churches or civic organizations. And I have faith that you will continue to support Lafayette Urban Ministry as we address the same critical issues in our own community each day—safe housing, adequate food, utility service, medications.

We don’t give money to LUM simply because it makes us feel good. The column concludes with some good reasons to choose to make a difference in the world:

May we do such work that the days of violence and terror may pass.
May we do such work that every life lost may be honored by compassion and love.

I thank God that you have chosen to make a difference by supporting the work of Lafayette Urban Ministry!

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Hunger Hike 2005 raises over $50,000!

This year’s Hunger Hike presented by Bison Financial Group was a wonderful opportunity for the community to come together for some exercise, fellowship, and fun while supporting anti-hunger programs here and abroad.

It was a great day for hiking! We had beautiful weather and a record crowd—over 500 walkers. Enthusiasm was in abundance as people gathered. We added door prizes this year. Chester Cheetah the Frito Lay mascot and Purdue Cheerleaders entertained. Rick Mummey of WGLM pumped up the crowd, and massages by Myotherapy Family Massage were available before and after the hike.
The Purdue Crew Team, under the leadership of Coach Dave Kucik, was the Grand Marshal for the Hike once again, leading the walkers on a 2-mile hike along the Wabash Heritage Trail. This year we also offered an extended 4.5 mile route for joggers. All returned to the plaza to enjoy refreshments, clowns, free massages, balloons and live entertainment by the Hot Club of Colfax. Bison Financial Group again provided hot dogs for all the participants!

Proceeds from the walk provide important financial support for LUM’s anti-hunger programs, Food Finders Food Bank, and St. Thomas Aquinas’ relief efforts in Haiti. Over $10,000 was generated from churches. Thanks to all the churches that participated!

Thank you very much to the volunteers who helped plan Hunger Hike 2005 and those who helped with the many tasks on the day of the hike, especially those from PSUB, Phi Delta Theta, and Don and Marie Swoverland (and friends). YOU ARE FANTASTIC!

Prizes included trophies, pizza parties, bowling outings, and certificates.

Top adult teams: 1st Place: St. Tom’s ($3351)
2nd Place: LUM Staff ($1820)
3rd Place: Bison Financial Group ($1422)
Top Individual: Brandon Huseman (Also winner of the Most Online Donations!)
Top Youth teams: 1st Place BOSS (with help from WESSO)
2nd Place STRIVE from Lafayette Jeff
Golden Sneaker Award: 1st Purdue Crew Team ($1640)
2nd Kappa Epsilon ($1250)

Special thanks are offered to the major sponsors of this year’s hike, particularly our presenting sponsor, Bison Financial Group, who has made a substantial 3-year commitment to Hunger Hike, and our four major sponsors: Tate & Lyle, Operation Round-Up, Sam’s Club and Cargil.

Other sponsors included:
Lafayette Community Bank
Vectren Foundation
Arnett Health System
Eli Lilly
Greater Lafayette Health Services
Tipmont REMC
Cinergy
Lafayette Life
Payless
Caterpillar
Texas Roadhouse
Journal and Courier
WLFI TV 18
WGLM
Instant Copy
Bar Barry Liquors
Bud Sanders Appraisals
Elmsteel
Henriott Group
MBAH Insurance
Scholer Corporation
Simon Construction
Soller-Baker Funeral Homes
Titus Well Drilling
Regions Bank
Wintek Corporation
Media Art and Design Works
AquaSystems
Myotherapy Family Massage Center
Smith Sound
Subaru of Indiana Automotive
Sundance Sign & Tees

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Food Pantry Shoppers Needed.
The number of people using the St. John’s/LUM Food Pantry is at an all-time high, and the shelves need to be restocked twice a week. The pantry is in need of shoppers to go to Food Finders
on Monday or Thursday afternoons to pick out food for the pantry. Help loading, unloading and transporting the food is provided. If you want to help, please contact the LUM office at 423-2691.

Bach Chorale Christmas Concert tickets are available for sale at the LUM office or through LUM staff or board members. LUM will receive half of the proceeds from tickets purchased directly from us (not through the box office). Invite family and friends to join you for this beautiful concert of Handel’s Messiah and support the programs of Lafayette Urban Ministry at the same time!

Be a Volunteer Tax Preparer at LUM.
Help hard-working families with incomes below $37,000 claim the tax credits they’ve earned! Three hours a week, mid-January to mid-April. No experience required—free training by the IRS.
Contact Patti O’Callaghan for details, 423-2691 or pocallaghan@lafayetteurbanministry.org.

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Plant Justice, Harvest Peace:
Creating an Environment for Justice in Our Communities
Saturday, Oct. 22, 2005
8:00am-3:45pm
University Church of Purdue
320 North Street
West Lafayette IN 47906

Dr. Richard Thomas, Professor of History, Urban Affairs, program, Michigan State University

Advocacy skills sessions and workshops on addressing discrimination in our community

Sponsored by:
Unitarian Universalist Church
Lafayette Urban Ministry
Temple Israel
Lafayette Area Peace Coalition
Greater Lafayette Baha’i Community
University Church at Purdue

Brochures available at LUM
Walk-ins welcome
For more info: 463-5879