July 18th, 2007 - Hunger Awareness Film Night
Film - Sullivan's Travels

Last night was the Hunger Awareness Team’s first summer film night. The smell of popcorn was in the Fellowship Hall. There was a variety of sodas, lemonade, coffee and candy. An artifacts was table set up with books and memorabilia as an invitation to explore and learn about the film Sullivan’s Travels. We passed out programs as well.

Those who came appreciated the film. The main character was someone who tried helping the poor in ways he thought were right. In the end he came to understand by being who he was, he was helping more than he imagined. Our discussion after the film was around this and that simply giving money to the less fortunate was not a complete answer.

Something Mary and I (perhaps others) needed to work out within ourselves were the number of people who came. It was just before the Creator cruise, it was just after a week of 100 degree weather. Perhaps many people don't get excited watching a movie that is not the summer blockbuster. It may be other reasons completely but the work invested and the attendance was a disappointment on one level.

It was harder working on the program for The Grapes of Wrath until I refocused on what this work was all about and what it was doing irregardless of how many people in the congregation decided to attend. These films have taught me as I invested time with them.

Struggling with the programs to make connections is an exercise that may be, more or less, under the radar screen this time but this does link to what the Hunger Awareness Team has been working on since we started. David said "It has been a long journey we have taken as a congregation".

We talked about that journey, where it has lead us and how we might refresh our efforts and improve.

I am looking forward to next Wednesday and The Grapes of Wrath.