Today in the PC-USA Mission Yearbook

The Mission Yearbook for Prayer and Study is a daily devotional with 365 inspiring mission stories that come from next door and all across the globe. It inspires thousands of Presbyterians daily as they uphold the mission of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) in intercessory prayer.

Dr. Carolyn Chen

Today in the Mission Yearbook: November 19, 2022

"A MATTER OF FAITH" PODCAST WITH DR. CAROLYN CHEN - Dr. Carolyn Chen, a sociologist at the University of California, Berkeley and co-director of the Berkeley Center for the Study of Religion, said during a recent “A Matter of Faith: A Presby Podcast” that for many workers — her recent book “Work Pray Code: When Work Becomes Religion in Silicon Valley” focuses on the highly skilled ones toiling in the knowledge economy — workplaces are “the new faith communities in the new economy.”...

• CLICK HERE to read more.

From @FWMission ... Friday Story: “Freed from Confinement”

Founded in 2001, Free Wheelchair Mission is an international nonprofit organization dedicated to providing wheelchairs for the impoverished disabled in developing nations. Headquartered in Irvine, California, FWM works around the world in partnership with a vast network of humanitarian, faith-based and government organizations, sending wheelchairs to hundreds of thousands of disabled people, providing not only the gift of mobility, but of dignity, independence, and hope.

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FWM Photos

Friday Story: “Freed from Confinement”

Daniel, 32, was once a high school teacher in Ghana. During a visit to the western part of the country, Daniel slipped and fell from some high rocks, sustaining a spinal cord injury that resulted in paralysis.

Daniel has been unable to walk ever since. He was also unable to continue his job because he could no longer get to the school where he taught.

He would spend the next two years confined to his room, battling feelings of depression that would wash over him, wishing that he were back in his classroom to nurture young mind ...

• Read the rest of this FWM report ...

YOU make this happen!

Thank you for being part of Free Wheelchair Mission. With your prayers and support, we have given away more than 1.3 million wheelchairs to those in need in 94 developing countries, and together, we can continue to provide mobility to even more in the days to come.

In the News ... "GIVING BACK: Curbside ready for eighth annual Thanksgiving event"

OA Photo by Royal McGregor

• ”It truly is for a community by a community”

By Royal McGregor, Reporter
• Odessa American

ODESSA, TEXAS - For the eighth year, Curb Side Bistro is hosting its annual free Thanksgiving Day event.

The event is scheduled to begin at 11 a.m. Thursday and plates loaded with turkey, ham, mashed potatoes, cranberry sauce and stuffing will be served along with a drink and dessert. The plates are free.

Curb Side Bistro will operate as drive-thru only again as Chef Alejandro Barrientos, who is co-owner of Curb Side Bistro with his wife Stephanie, said that seems to be the most efficient way to serve as many people as possible.

“We found with that model that we are able to feed a lot more people,” Barrientos said. “More and more people like that because they can go home and have their tradition. They can be with their families and their kiddos.”

A year ago, Curb Side Bistro served 1,100 plates. Barrientos said he’s hoping to surpass that mark and reach 1,500 plates. He said the first free Thanksgiving Day event served 300 plates and it has steadily grown each year.

Barrientos explained that as long as he’s legally allowed to serve food this free Thanksgiving Day event will continue. The ability to host a free Thanksgiving Day event is due in large part to donations and volunteers. He said there will be between 30 to 40 volunteers at one time.

”It truly is for a community by a community,” he said. “We couldn’t do this without everybody’s help. Everybody is just as much apart of it as we are.”

A couple of large donations came from Sam’s Club, which supplied desserts and drinks. Barrientos also explained that he had trouble finding turkeys since the beginning of October, however, that changed when the newly-established eatery Pickles donated 100 turkeys.

Despite rising inflation and searching for turkeys for more than a month, Barrientos said the thought of not having the free Thanksgiving Day event never crossed his mind. He said whether he received turkeys or not the event would still go on as he would simply substitute chicken for turkey.

“Whenever we were dealing with the turkey shortage, I was going to do fried chicken or smoked chicken,” Chef Alejandro said ...

• read the rest of this OA report ...

Today in the PC-USA Mission Yearbook

The Mission Yearbook for Prayer and Study is a daily devotional with 365 inspiring mission stories that come from next door and all across the globe. It inspires thousands of Presbyterians daily as they uphold the mission of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) in intercessory prayer.

The Rev. Dr. Letiah Fraser

Today in the Mission Yearbook: November 18, 2022

THE OPEN TABLE: A "1001" NEW WORSHIPING COMMUNITY" - The Rev. Dr. Letiah Fraser, an ordained pastor with the Church of the Nazarene as well as a hospital chaplain, disability rights advocate, activist and organizer who also recently began ministry at The Open Table, got to appear alongside the organizer of the new worshiping community in Kansas City, Missouri, Nick Pickrell, on a recent broadcast of “Being Matthew 25,” ...

• CLICK HERE to read more.

Equal Exchange Blog ... "How a Trip to Yellowstone Changed How We Think About Food"

Equal Exchange's mission is to build long-term trade partnerships that are economically just and environmentally sound, to foster mutually beneficial relationships between farmers and consumers and to demonstrate, through our success, the contribution of worker co-operatives and Fair Trade to a more equitable, democratic and sustainable world.

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How a Trip to Yellowstone Changed How We Think About Food

40 years ago, our family traveled to Yellowstone National Park to camp for a few days. When we entered the park, the ranger handed us a newspaper with the headline “Human Food Kills Bears.” That headline was about to change our lives and those of our progeny. We realized that if our food was killing 300 lb. bears, it wasn’t doing us much good either. That was the start of something big ...

• Read the rest of this post ...

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Join Us!

We invite you to join our growing community of citizen-consumers who are getting even more deeply involved in Equal Exchange.

We need consumer participation in our organization to build a deeply democratic trade system made up of farmers and their democratic organizations, workers and their democratic organization, and citizen-consumers who now have a democratic space in Equal Exchange as well as their own network. Join us in changing trade, together!

• Learn how YOU can help Equal Exchange ...

Local Equal Exchange partners include Grace Presbyterian Chuch, Midland, TX.

From @FWMission ... Friday Story: “Free Wheelchair Mission announces new book from founder Don Schoendorfer”

Founded in 2001, Free Wheelchair Mission is an international nonprofit organization dedicated to providing wheelchairs for the impoverished disabled in developing nations. Headquartered in Irvine, California, FWM works around the world in partnership with a vast network of humanitarian, faith-based and government organizations, sending wheelchairs to hundreds of thousands of disabled people, providing not only the gift of mobility, but of dignity, independence, and hope.

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Friday Story: “Free Wheelchair Mission announces new book from founder Don Schoendorfer”

Free Wheelchair Mission, a humanitarian, faith-based nonprofit, has announced that a new book written by its President and Founder, Don Schoendorfer, will be officially released on December 6, 2022. Pre-release copies of the book are available now on the organization’s websites.

In his new book, Miracle Wheels: The Story of a Mission to Bring Mobility to the World, Schoendorfer shares the story behind the “miracle wheels” that have transformed the lives of more than 1.3 million people living with disabilities across 94 developing countries ...

• Read the rest of this FWM report ...

YOU make this happen!

Thank you for being part of Free Wheelchair Mission. With your prayers and support, we have given away more than 1.3 million wheelchairs to those in need in 94 developing countries, and together, we can continue to provide mobility to even more in the days to come.

Equal Exchange Blog ... "Cooperatively Grown Avocados: An Interview with PROFOSMI"

Equal Exchange's mission is to build long-term trade partnerships that are economically just and environmentally sound, to foster mutually beneficial relationships between farmers and consumers and to demonstrate, through our success, the contribution of worker co-operatives and Fair Trade to a more equitable, democratic and sustainable world.

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Equal Exchange Photo

Cooperatively Grown Avocados: An Interview with PROFOSMI

We all have differing knowledge of the fruit that has quickly become a staple in the North American diet. Through years of successful marketing, consumers have been taught the many health benefits of consuming avocados and that they spread well on toast. Most of us are aware they are native to Mexico, where 88% of the United States’ imported supply comes from. But what does life look like for a small-scale avocado farmer in the Mexican state of Michoacán? And what is the actual difference between a conventional and an Equal Exchange avocado?

These are the questions the Equal Exchange produce team seeks to answer ...

• Read the rest of this post ...

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Join Us!

We invite you to join our growing community of citizen-consumers who are getting even more deeply involved in Equal Exchange.

We need consumer participation in our organization to build a deeply democratic trade system made up of farmers and their democratic organizations, workers and their democratic organization, and citizen-consumers who now have a democratic space in Equal Exchange as well as their own network. Join us in changing trade, together!

• Learn how YOU can help Equal Exchange ...

Local Equal Exchange partners include Grace Presbyterian Chuch, Midland, TX.

Today in the PC-USA Mission Yearbook

The Mission Yearbook for Prayer and Study is a daily devotional with 365 inspiring mission stories that come from next door and all across the globe. It inspires thousands of Presbyterians daily as they uphold the mission of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) in intercessory prayer.

Today in the Mission Yearbook: November 6, 2022

GOD'S VISION - Evidence that we live in a broken world is all around. While some can accept this as simple reality and that we should just “get over it and muddle along the best we can,” others cannot. They are the ones deeply troubled by societal dysfunction and either try to work around it or, for the most ambitious, engage with full energy to ameliorate the impact of the dysfunction and address its causes ...

• CLICK HERE to read more.

In the News ... "Odessa Church News"

• Today and in the days ahead, in Odessa-area houses of worship

Staff Report
• Odessa American

ODESSA, TEXAS - Coming events include worship services, classes, Bible studies, community outreach, fundraisers, mission opportunities and more. The Odessa American welcomes church special events. Submission deadline is 5 p.m. Wednesdays for consideration for the following Saturday’s edition. Email oalife@oaoa.com.

Faith Fellowship Lutheran Church, 1603 N. Grandview Ave., has scheduled a Fall Women’s Retreat from 10 a.m. to noon today.
Snacks and drinks will be provided.
For more information, call 432-362-2549.

The Knights of Columbus is holding a drive to gather things for babies benefiting The Life Center through Sunday.
Diapers in sizes 3-6 are highly recommended. Other items such as clothing and baby essentials are also appreciated.
All donations can be dropped off at the Holy Redeemer Catholic Church foyer, 2633 Conover Ave., or contact any KOC for any items needed to be picked up.
For more information, call Phillip Valadez at 432-288-3237 or visit tinyurl.com/479vsuj7.

St. Elizabeth Ann Seton Catholic Church, 7601 N. Grandview Ave., has scheduled Women’s Bible Study, The Turning Point, a study of the gospel of John by Dr. Allen Hunt, at 6:15 p.m. Wednesday in the church parlor.
Cost of material is $20.
Signup sheets are located in the Narthex.
For information, email Sondra Eoff at sondra@oppartnerinc.com.

Connection Christian Church, 4241 Tanglewood Lane, will present the 64th Spaghetti Day from 5:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. Thursday.
Meals include spaghetti with secret sauce, salad, bread, dessert, and drink.
Tickets are $10 in advance or $15 at the door.
For more information, call 432-332-2954 or visit tinyurl.com/yzhr387j to purchase tickets.

KWO Ministries has scheduled Kick 4 Kenya 2022 at 7:30 a.m. Nov. 12 at Golf Course Road Church of Christ, 3500 W. Golf Course Road, Midland.
Kick for Kenya is one of the largest, longest-running races in the Permian Basin. 100% of all entry fees will be used to fund the high-school education of orphans living in one of KWO’s 16 Children’s Homes in rural Kenya.
General admission starts at $40.
For more information or to purchase tickets, visit tinyurl.com/2vmwuxr7.

St. Matthew Baptist Church, 809 Barrett Drive, has scheduled the women’s annual celebration starting with breakfast at 8:30 a.m. and women’s empowerment at 9 a.m. Nov. 12 and worship service at 11 a.m. Nov. 13.
This year’s theme will be “Praising My Way Through: I Am the Storm,” Psalm 56.
The Saturday event is $15 at the door, includes breakfast and lunch. Attire is camouflage and church casual.
Speakers will be Deja McKnight, Daisy Jeffery and Minister Pamela Jackson and worship service speaker Chasity Bass.
For more information, call Angela Love-Jackson at 432-349-5803 or tinyurl.com/5p24jh2h.

Holy Redeemer Catholic Church, 2633 Conover Ave., will present the annual LARS Bazaar from 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. Nov. 12-13.
Call 432-580-4295 or visit tinyurl.com/y4cjsewe.

First Odessa, 311 W. Eighth St., will present a Veteran’s Day celebration from 9 a.m. to noon Nov. 13.
Veterans and their family members can sign up for a table in the Commons to display their military honors and pictures.
For more information, visit tinyurl.com/yn2buks2, or text the word “Veteran” to 40778 to sign up for a table.

Connection Christian Church, 4241 Tanglewood Lane, will present an event for children and youths (K-12th) from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Nov. 12.
Tickets are $20 per student.
Visit tinyurl.com/yumkmsza or email Dawn Weaks at drdawn@odessaconnection.church.

Sherwood Baptist Church, 505 E. 42nd St., will be the local Operation Christmas Child Shoebox drop-off locations Nov. 14-21.
Operation Christmas Child has been collecting and delivering shoebox gifts, filled with school supplies, hygiene items and fun toys, to children worldwide since 1993. Anyone can pack a shoebox. In 2022, Operation Christmas Child hopes to collect enough shoeboxes to reach another 11 million children. Sherwood Baptist shoebox drop off times is from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday. 10 a.m. to noon Saturday and 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. Sunday and 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Nov. 21.
Visit tinyurl.com/492k2m5j.

First Baptist Church of Midland, 2104 W. Louisiana Ave., Midland will present a free comedy show featuring The Skit Guys on Nov. 20. The doors open at 6:15 p.m. and the show starts at 6:30 p.m.
The Skit Guys have traveled the world performing at events, churches, and conferences. They have grown SkitGuys.com into a media resource for pastors with countless videos and scripts that are used in churches all over the world. The Skit Guys also have a web series called Bedtime Bible Stories, their “Laugh More” podcast, and a book on friendship called “Smells Like Bacon,” as well as comedy DVDs.
For more information, visit tinyurl.com/357s2a73.

Grace Christian Fellowship, 3450 Billy Hext Road, has scheduled a Pancakes with Santa from 9 a.m. to 11 a.m. Dec. 10.
The event will include a pancake breakfast, pictures with Santa, a snowball fight, Christmas crafts, and more.
The event is free. Visit tinyurl.com/5ns4urwn.

The Gathering Church, 3303 W. Illinois Ave., Midland, will present a pop-up food distribution event from 9 a.m. to 11 a.m. Dec. 17.
Families who are experiencing hardship are welcome to come and receive free food and other items for their household.
Visit tinyurl.com/72fs3fhc.

Crescent Park Baptist Church, 3002 E. University Blvd., will be offering ESL classes from 7 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. every Tuesday, starting Sept. 13, in the fellowship hall.
For more information, call 432-366-4476.

Crescent Park Baptist Church, 3002 E. University Blvd., is offering a Spanish Language Bible Study by the Rev. Mike McGuire at 9:30 a.m. every Sunday.
For more information, call 432-366-4476.

Belmont Baptist Church, 806 N. Belmont Ave., offers family meals during its Family Supper time from 5:15 p.m. to 5:45 p.m. each Wednesday when Awana is in session.
Admission is free.
For more information, call 432-332-0248, email belmont@belmontbaptist.org or visit tinyurl.com/23vkhr47.

Catholic Charities Community Services Odessa, 2500 Andrews Highway, need of volunteers for pantry distribution.
Distribution times are scheduled from 9 a.m. to noon and from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m. Tuesdays through Thursdays.
For more information on dates and times, call 332-1387.
Visit facebook.com/ccodessatx or ccodessa.com.

Second Baptist Church, 711 E. 17th St., has scheduled classes in English as a second language at 6:30 p.m. Wednesdays.
Classes are free and childcare is available.
Call 432-366-2153 or visit tinyurl.com/4ektcjk6.

The West Texas Street Rod Association has scheduled Cars at Crossroads from 8 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. every fourth Saturday of each month at Crossroads Church, 6901 E. Highway 191.
There will be coffee and donuts inside the church.
Visit tinyurl.com/cdjd6pvt.

Door of Hope Mission are in need of financial support to help provide hot meals, a safe place to sleep and shower to those who struggle with addictions through Bible study and counseling.
There a few ways to give:
• PayPal Giving Fund: 100% goes to the mission, visit www.paypal.com/us/fundraiser/charity/2432315. PayPal does not keep a processing fee when you use this service.
• Door of Hope Mission website, www.doorofhopemission.com/donate.html, or mail a check to Door of Hope Mission, PO Box 1789, Odessa, TX 79760.
• On Amazon or eBay, add Door of Hope Mission as preferred charity, and a portion of purchases will go to the mission.
• On Amazon Smile (www.smile.amazon.com): Login to your account then select Door of Hope Mission Odessa TX so the mission receives donations from eligible purchases when you shop.
• On eBay (charity.ebay.com/charity/charity-name/2432315): Add the Door Of Hope Mission to favorites.
All donations are tax deductible.
For more information, call 337-8294 or visit doorofhopemission.com.

Sherwood Church of Christ, 4900 North Dixie Blvd., offers free clothing on the first Saturday of every month.
With so many families in the community are losing their jobs due to COVID and the downturn in oil, the Sherwood Clothes Closet is an opportunity for people to find needed clothing items for the entire family.
Hours are 9 a.m. to 10:30 a.m. Masks are required to comply with city orders and to protect each other from spreading the virus.

Victory Christian Fellowship Church, 325 N. County Road West, offers individuals assistance who are hurting from addictions to become drug and alcohol free, physically well and most important spiritually alive.
All services are provided for free.
Several homes are located throughout Texas, New Mexico and Chicago.
For more information, call the Rev. Albert Flores at 432-978-9959 or 432-335-8925.
For home locations, call for Odessa, 325-300-0832; El Paso, 915-838-8887; Fort Worth, 817-626-1819; Houston, 713-880-4732; Mathis, 361-547-3755; McAllen, 956-702-2781; San Angelo, 325-658-1061; Albuquerque, N.M., 505-550-5661; Artesia, N.M., 575-745-4294; and Chicago, 773-696-9094.

• Read the rest of this OA report ...

Today in the PC-USA Mission Yearbook

The Mission Yearbook for Prayer and Study is a daily devotional with 365 inspiring mission stories that come from next door and all across the globe. It inspires thousands of Presbyterians daily as they uphold the mission of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) in intercessory prayer.

iStock photo

Today in the Mission Yearbook: November 5, 2022

A REFLECTION ON HOPE - I was recently watching reruns of “M*A*S*H” — the iconic 1970s sitcom chronicling the lives of the nurses, doctors and even clergy working in a mobile army surgical hospital during the Korean War — when I came across an episode titled “Dear Sis” ...

• CLICK HERE to read more.

In the News ... "PPDC partners with Permian Basin STEPS for West Texas Food Bank donation"

• November 8 at Midland College's Scharbauer Student Center Carrasco Room

Staff Report
• Odessa American

MIDLAND, TEXAS - The Midland College Petroleum Professional Development Center (PPDC) and Permian Basin STEPS will be gathering needed food items for the West Texas Food Bank at 8:30 a.m. during the Nov. 8 STEPS meeting at the Midland College Scharbauer Student Center's Carrasco Room.

Meeting attendees will contribute food and monetary donations, and staff from West Texas Food Bank will be on hand to receive the donations. This is the second year that the PPDC and STEPS have partnered for a holiday food drive.

STEPS and Midland College share a strong focus to make a difference in the community by helping others, especially in a time of need such as the holiday season.

“Reaching out to help the community makes all of us stronger when we recognize how small gestures can make a tremendous impact on others’ lives,” Erin Van Evera-Welch, Midland College PPDC director, said in a news release.

All Permian Basin STEPS meetings are hosted by the Midland College PPDC and take place on the second Tuesday of every month from 8:30-11:30 a.m. in the Midland College Scharbauer Student Center Carrasco Room. Meetings consist of one or two guest speakers giving presentations pertaining to various safety topics, a safety case study discussion and “lessons learned” for all attendees to participate in sharing first-hand safety lessons/tips. Most of the attendees have ties to the energy industry; however, the meeting is open to the public..

From @FWMission ... Friday Story: “Free Wheelchair Mission Sending 1,176 Wheelchairs to Ukraine”

Founded in 2001, Free Wheelchair Mission is an international nonprofit organization dedicated to providing wheelchairs for the impoverished disabled in developing nations. Headquartered in Irvine, California, FWM works around the world in partnership with a vast network of humanitarian, faith-based and government organizations, sending wheelchairs to hundreds of thousands of disabled people, providing not only the gift of mobility, but of dignity, independence, and hope.

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FWM Photo

Friday Story: “Free Wheelchair Mission Sending 1,176 Wheelchairs to Ukraine”

Free Wheelchair Mission, a humanitarian nonprofit based in Irvine, California, has partnered with Invacare Europe to provide 1,176 Invacare Action 1R wheelchairs to Ukraine. A total of four containers of wheelchairs are being shipped from the factory in India and are expected to arrive in the coming weeks.

Free Wheelchair Mission has had a long-term relationship with Invacare Europe, and since their Action 1R wheelchairs are already compliant with European Union standards, they were a natural fit to source the wheelchairs for distribution into Ukraine.

• Read the rest of this FWM report ...

YOU make this happen!

Thank you for being part of Free Wheelchair Mission. With your prayers and support, we have given away more than 1.3 million wheelchairs to those in need in 94 developing countries, and together, we can continue to provide mobility to even more in the days to come.

In the News ... "Carpet Tech comes through for Meals on Wheels"

Contributed Photo

• Technicians will collect cans when they come to clean

Staff Report
• Odessa American

ODESSA, TEXAS - Just in time for the winter months, Carpet Tech has teamed up with Meals On Wheels Odessa to collect canned soup donations for senior citizens in need in our community.

Meals on Wheels delivers hot, nutritious meals to the homebound elderly and severely disabled who cannot prepare adequate meals for themselves.

“When Meals on Wheels began asking for food and supply donations for winter, we created the Soup for Seniors initiative, a canned soup drive that includes our customers,” said Carpet Tech Marketing Director Stephanie Fox.

Carpet Tech is asking for a donation of at least five cans of soup and offering donating customers a 15% discount on services. Technicians will collect cans when they come to clean.“Not only do we get to give back to an often overlooked population of seniors in our community, but we have a unique opportunity to offer our customers a convenient way to participate,” said Fox.

Donated soups will help feed Meals on Wheels clients during weekends and days when food delivery is unavailable due to severe winter weather. “Canned soup is not only nonperishable, but a nutritious alternative that is easy for seniors to open and prepare,” said Fox ...

• Read the rest of this OA report ...

Today in the PC-USA Mission Yearbook

The Mission Yearbook for Prayer and Study is a daily devotional with 365 inspiring mission stories that come from next door and all across the globe. It inspires thousands of Presbyterians daily as they uphold the mission of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) in intercessory prayer.

Today in the Mission Yearbook: November 4, 2022

WORLD COMMUNITY DAY - World Community Day began in 1943 as a day for church women to study peace. After World War II, church leaders felt that they should set aside a day for prayer and ecumenical study. The leaders thought that while believers were performing peace and justice work by themselves, a day when they could study across denominations would be beneficial to all. The theme for this year’s World Community Day is “A Call to Prayer” ...

• CLICK HERE to read more.

In the News ... "Blood donors urged to give generously during holiday season"

SAST Photo by Colin Murphey

• Several upcoming opportunities to give blood

By Matthew McDaniel, Reporter
• San Angelo Standard Times

SAN ANGELO, TEXAS - With the holidays approaching, nonprofit blood-services provider Vitalant is urging all Concho Valley residents who enjoy good health to give thanks by donating blood ...

• Read the rest of this SAST report

Today in the PC-USA Mission Yearbook

The Mission Yearbook for Prayer and Study is a daily devotional with 365 inspiring mission stories that come from next door and all across the globe. It inspires thousands of Presbyterians daily as they uphold the mission of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) in intercessory prayer.

Photo courtesy of Brett Webb-Mitchell

Today in the Mission Yearbook: November 3, 2022

BOSTON'S 2019 DRAGON BOAT FESTIVAL - It was an exciting ending to Boston’s 2019 Dragon Boat Festival. Our team — the Golden Dragons — won by an eighth of a second, beating a group of 30-somethings from the San Francisco Bay area. The average age of our crew was 70. We lived up to the motto emblazoned on our T-shirts: “Old age and treachery will always win out against youth and ambition” ...

• CLICK HERE to read more.

Equal Exchange Blog ... "Tasting Seminars – Discover the stories behind the food"

Equal Exchange's mission is to build long-term trade partnerships that are economically just and environmentally sound, to foster mutually beneficial relationships between farmers and consumers and to demonstrate, through our success, the contribution of worker co-operatives and Fair Trade to a more equitable, democratic and sustainable world.

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Tasting Seminars – Discover the stories behind the food

We're excited to announce a series of opportunities for diving deep into the stories behind our products. In each product seminar, you'll learn more about why our alternative trade model is so important for farmers in today's food system, and get to experience a guided tasting.

Cost includes registration for one live Zoom seminar (dates listed below) plus a tasting kit, shipped to the participant ....

• Explore all seminars ...

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Join Us!

We invite you to join our growing community of citizen-consumers who are getting even more deeply involved in Equal Exchange.

We need consumer participation in our organization to build a deeply democratic trade system made up of farmers and their democratic organizations, workers and their democratic organization, and citizen-consumers who now have a democratic space in Equal Exchange as well as their own network. Join us in changing trade, together!

• Learn how YOU can help Equal Exchange ...

Local Equal Exchange partners include Grace Presbyterian Chuch, Midland, TX.

In the News ... "NewsWest 9 kicks off 2022 toy drive"

• Partnering with Salvation Army and United Supermarkets to help gather and distribute toys to children in West Texas

Staff Report
• KWES-TV

BIG SPRING/MIDLAND/ODESSA, TEXAS - NewsWest 9, the Salvation Army and United Supermarkets have once again partnered in 2022 for the annual toy drive.

The toy drive, which kicked-off on November 1, will help gather and distribute toys to children in West Texas to make sure they have a happy Christmas.

Red barrels will be at select locations across Midland, Odessa and Big Spring to collect toys ...

• Read the rest of this KWES report ... 

In the News ... "United Supermarkets, Market Street kick-off 'Turkey Bucks'"

• The money raised in a particular area will stay in that area

Staff Report
• Odessa American

ODESSA/MIDLAND/SAN ANGELO, TEXAS - On Tuesday United Supermarkets launched their annual program, Turkey Bucks, in Midland, Odessa, San Angelo and parts of New Mexico.

Turkey Bucks is a program designed to help raise money for those dealing with food insecurity as the holiday season approaches.

From Nov. 1 to Nov. 14, guests will have the opportunity to make a donation at the register when they are finished shopping.

“We are so excited to once again kick off Turkey Bucks this holiday season,” John Jameson, regional vice president for the United Family, stated in the press release. “It means the world to us to be in a position to help families who are dealing with food insecurity during this time of the year. We encourage our guests to donate what they can.”

The donations will go to several food banks, food pantries and other charitable organizations across the region. This includes West Texas Food Bank, The Food Depot, St. James Episcopal, Storehouse New Mexico, El Ranchito de los Niños, Food Bank of Eastern New Mexico, and Food Bank of the Concho Valley. The money raised in a particular area will stay in that area.

Today in the PC-USA Mission Yearbook

The Mission Yearbook for Prayer and Study is a daily devotional with 365 inspiring mission stories that come from next door and all across the globe. It inspires thousands of Presbyterians daily as they uphold the mission of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) in intercessory prayer.

The Rev. Dr. Justin Reed

span style="color: #b45f06; font-size: 130%;">Today in the Mission Yearbook: November 2, 2022

PAM'S WORSHIP & MUSIC CONFERENCE ADULT BIBLE STUDY - “What was Mary’s favorite nickname for baby Jesus, or Jesus as a toddler?” asked the Rev. Dr. Justin Reed.

This was the opening question at the Adult Bible Study at the Presbyterian Association of Musicians’ Music and Worship Conference ...

• CLICK HERE to read more.