Making a difference

One of the things that makes December bearable--amid the sense-ravaging and soul-destroying commercialism--is discovering alternative ways to honor God's self-giving in the Incarnation by giving of ourselves. More and more churches have alternative gift bazaars where one can find unique handcrafted items that support local workers in third-world countries or nurture ecologically responsible production. Heifer International and Oxfam and others provide venues to help people feed themselves and become self-supporting. And then opportunities pop up where one may touch lives for the better. I don't know about y'all, but I take heart when I see these opportunities and have a chance to pitch in.

Having rejoined the ranks of the unemployed as of this morning, I may not be able to do much, but I can do my little bit and I am passing on links to a couple of venues where I chipped in my very modest bit today, all courtesy of our fellow bloggers.

Those who visit Grandmère Mimi at Wounded Bird are familiar with the image above. The Dillenkoffer Endowment was established in memory of Mimi's beloved sister Gayle who was a victim of pancreatic cancer. Alyse Gordon, pictured below, was a scholarship finalist this year.


What a wonderful, supportive work. I can recall my own youth when there was no encouragement I knew of for lesbian, gay, bi, or transgender teens. All one typically knew was isolation, fear, and the terrifying sense that one was not only different but "wrong." The courage of youngsters who are willing to be themselves, to be out and proud, is inspiring. A growing awareness that we are ALL just people and we ALL need the freedom to be who we are is both a sign of hope and an ongoing challenge.

You can read more about Alyse and the Dillenkoffer Endowment at Wounded Bird and at FranIAm's blog where she says all the eloquent things I wish I were typing right now.

What's more, you can head on over to the Dillenkoffer Endowment site and make your own contribution.

Then there is THE GREAT 2007 CHRISTMAS APPEAL at OCICBW. MadPriest and That Kaeton Woman have joined forces (and that should scare us right there) to support ministry in the Cidade de Deus (City of God) neighborhood of Rio de Janeiro where seminarian Luiz Coelho has been serving. A PayPal account has been set up. Click on over to Maddie's place to read more about it and don't forget to click that PayPal button and help out. You'll be glad you did.

We intend to be a place where all are welcome to be free, especially in the Cidade de Deus (City of God) neighborhood, where poverty, violence and hunger are so well-known. And in order to live this Gospel of liberation and reconciliation of the entire world through Christ Jesus, we also seek to integrate the Church with society, through several social projects. Our mission is bold: to say that Christ is the King is to say that love has the last word in the midst of this world of calamities. However, we are sure that, with Him, we are victorious. (link)

Frankly, I'm terrible at organizing and social justice work. But I have heard the voices of the prophets and felt the compassionate heart of God and can at least pass the word.

Check out the kids from Christ the King Anglican Church in the Cidade de Deus. As Wikipedia says: "These days Cidade de Deus is infamous as a high crime quarter saddled with social problems." You may have seen the film about it (City of God). You can be part of making a difference there.

--the BB