Would you make a TXT donation for Hunger?

Shamelessly lifted directly from http://beth.typepad.com/beths_blog/2009/01/ill-text-for-fo.html at the suggestion of Rev. Beth and Lynn...

I'll Text for Food

Photo by Joi


No, I'm not talking about texting in your take out order.  I'm talking about No Kid Hungry Text Donation and Canned Food Campaign just launched by Share Our Strength.

Hunger is a serious issue in America, especially in these hard times.  Bloggers have helped raised awareness of this important issue.  Amy Sherman, who does the Cooking With Amy blog, participated in the Hunger Challenge along with several Bay Area food bloggers, including The Kitchn, Tablehopper, Alanna Kellogg, Blog Appetit and The Inadvertent Gardener who  documented their experiences of living on $21 a week (a typical Food Stamp allotment).

Tyson Foods has perfected a social media strategy that leverages blog comments for food donations as noted on the Fast Company blog,part of its innovative giving series.  They are currently running a comments for food donation campaign for New York City Food Pantries.

And now, we have a Text for Food, or rather Text Donations for Food Campaign from Share Our Strength.  President-elect Obama pledged to end childhood hunger by 2015 during his presidential campaign. He has also called for a national day of service on January 19, Martin Luther King Day.  In response, Share Our Strength is asking people to send a text donation and hold food drives to help feed those in need. Food pantries and food banks especially need foods rich in protein, such as peanut butter and canned tuna, chicken, and salmon. 

Between now and March 1, subscribers of all major wireless carriers can donate $5 to Share Our Strength by text messaging “SHARE” to 20222. AT&T will match donations up to $100,000. Share Our Strength is the leading national organization dedicated to ending childhood hunger in America.

So, why not organize a food drive in your neighborhood, organization, or social media meet up? Or write a blog post likeChris Brogan and start retweeting it!

If you're looking for more expert advice on how to plan and implement a mobile phone fundraising campaign, see Mobile Active's Mobile Phones in Fundraising Guide.

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Organ Recital II - Dec 14, 2008

Back on December 14th was a second Organ Recital, or in this case "come up to the organ loft for a sing-a-long of Christmas songs, learn about the organ, and please ... play with it!"  Once again, at least 2 non-members saw it on the street and came in!

If you weren't there, you missed a good time!  Wil really wants everyone to have the experience of making music on the Organ.  Ask him some time!

The (small) photo album is here.

Introducing Snap Shots from Snap.com

I just installed a nice little tool on this site called Snap Shots that enhances links with visual previews of the destination site, interactive excerpts of Wikipedia articles, MySpace profiles, IMDb profiles and Amazon products, display inline videos, RSS, MP3s, photos, stock charts and more.

Sometimes Snap Shots bring you the information you need, without your having to leave the site, while other times it lets you "look ahead," before deciding if you want to follow a link or not.

Should you decide this is not for you, just click the Options icon in the upper right corner of the Snap Shot and opt-out.

2008 Christmas Pageant

The Pageant was inspiring!  I've heard many comments on the great job done by all performers!  We laughed, we thought, we were challenged, and we made new connections between the stories of the different Gospel's account of that first Christmas and the events surrounding it.

My fuzzy, blurry pictures are can be found here, but for a lot of really good pictures, check out the ones that Abby and Amalya's dad, Jim, took:

12.14.08FPCPageant-  sunday (1 album)

I also have one short video, taken during the entrance of the pageant participants - while "Passing the Peace" in Worship - "Whom Shall I Fear?" by Bertilla and the Choir:

Cookie Decorating

Another great weekend at First Church!

2008-12-13 Cookie Decorating

Click the picture to see the whole album

The children, assisted by Youth and a few adults, decorated cookies after the final rehearsal of the 2008 Christmas Pageant.  Many cookies were baked so that everyone had a chance to frost and decorate with sprinkles, colored sugar, red hots, chocolate chips (regular and mini sized), M&Ms (regular and mini sized), and raisins.  Thank you to Prisca, Katy & Matt, Jill & Mark for the cookies and toppings, and the Neuners for that yummy, buttery frosting.

The sale of the cookies on Sunday brought in ... (drum roll, please) ... $154.27!!  (The Youth and Children will be selecting a deserving use for the funds in the future.)

Great job by all!

and now, this musical interlude brought to you by Caleb...