Big problems require big answers.

Vibrant spent time tonight praying for those around the world that are trapped in poverty. The service was part of the 30,000 Campaign- an effort led by Sojourners in anticipation of the United Nations General Assembly that will be meeting on the 14th- 16th of this month. They will review the "Millennium Development Goals" that were set in 2000 which included cutting global poverty in half by 2015. Considering the recent news that the gap between the rich and poor is widening, we are not on track.

I wanted to share the Benediction that was given at the end of our service:

May God bless you with discomfort
at easy answers, half truths, and superficial relationships,
so that you may live deep within your heart.
May God bless you with anger
at injustice, oppression, and exploitation of people,
so that you may work for justice, freedom, and peace.
May God bless you with tears to shed for those who suffer from pain, rejection,
starvation, and war, so that you may reach out your hand to comfort them
and to turn their pain into joy. And may God bless you with enough foolishness
to believe that you can make a difference in this world,
so that you can do what others claim cannot be done.
- from the Franciscan order