World Food Sunday

 

Creator,

Conspire with us
to create a world where all have access to nutritious and sustainable food sources,
and none live with scarcity or food insecurity.

Redeemer,
Save us from oppressive and unjust systems.
Mobilize us to be a part of a world response
that works in partnership with those of good will
to foster equitable resource sharing.

Sustainer,
Cultivate our resilience and expand our imaginations,
so that we might continually find new ways
to answer the call to end hunger—
until all may flourish.

Amen.

—A prayer for World Food Day by Alydia Smith

I know, wrong year and date for the poster above but the image is evocative. 

This is World Food Sunday in the United Church, always an optional recognition for congregations, an opportunity to consider how we are fed, who feeds us, and how we can support those who don't have food. The Prayer of Jesus phrase "give us this day our daily bread" can never be taken for granted. 

This year the UCC is focussing on the plight of Gazans who are starving in the midst of war. For months desperate people seeking food aid were dying in the jostle of distribution sites. Even though there is now a precarious ceasefire the United Nations is saying that at least 600 transport trucks carrying food need to be allowed into Gaza every day to begin to meet the need. 

We need to keep in mind that the war has meant that Palestinians have been unable to produce crops on what is already limited agricultural land in Gaza and so there is essentially a famine. In the West Bank farmers and orchard owners face harrassment and physical threat. 

While not every congregation chooses to recognize World Food Sunday we can all offer this prayer and ask that food aid reach those who are suffering. 

“Eternal Spirit, Earth-maker, Pain-bearer, Life-giver, 

Source of all that is and that shall be, 

Father and Mother of us all, 
Loving God, in whom is heaven: 

The hallowing of your name echo through the universe! 
The way of your justice be followed by the peoples of the world! 
Your heavenly will be done by all created beings! 
Your commonwealth of peace and freedom sustain our hope and come on earth. 

With the bread we need for today, feed us. 
In the hurts we absorb from one another, forgive us. 
In times of temptation and test, strengthen us. 
From trials too great to endure, spare us. 
From the grip of all that is evil, free us. 

For you reign in the glory of the power that is love, 
now and forever.    Amen.”

New Zealand Prayer Book Lord's Prayer Paraphrase