Wednesday Evening - Lenten Meal Series
During the Lenten season, Zion Lutheran Church in Portland is offering a midweek meal series, Wednesday evenings, beginning at 6:30 p.m. The church is located at 183 William St. The public is welcome to attend any or all of these events, sample global cuisine and learn about the ELCA World Hunger program. The series includes:
March 16, Week 1: Latin America – Spotlight on Nicaragua and the story of the recently widowed, “Nubia,” and her dairy cows and the alfalfa crop that she learned to cultivate to keep her cows healthy and fed. The meal for the evening will include cheese soup with rosquillas, gallo pinto (beans) & maduro (bananas) dessert.
March 23, Week 2: Middle East – Spotlight on the West Bank, Palestine and the story of “Lydia,” who was called to begin a ministry for visually impaired women. The meal for the evening will include red lentil soup with pitas and hummus.
March 30, Week 3: Spotlight on the U.S.- Food Stamp Meal and the story of eighty-eight year old “Jim” from South Carolina. Jim’s wife recently passed away after a twenty-two year battle with Parkinson’s Disease. He lives below the poverty level and receives Mobile Meals delivered each day. A Lutheran volunteer says “This is what ELCA World Hunger is all about.” The meal for the evening will include a baked lentil or broccoli casserole or rice burritos.
April 6, Week 4: Bangladesh – and the story of “Salma” and her husband “Ali” who did not have enough food to feed their children, who often went hungry. The two cows they now have make a big difference in the life of this family. The meal for the evening will include bhorta (mashed potatoes) and biryani and tiler nahu (sesame seed balls).
April 13, Week 5: Tanzania – and story of little two-year old Baracka, who lives in East Africa, where drought struck last year. Livestock was lost and the families here have suffered from a severe lack of food. Baracka was treated for TB and malnourishment by Dr. Friberg, an ELCA missionary. The meal for the evening will include pilau with kachumbori (rice with meat and seasoning).
April 20, Week 6: Spotlight on the U.S. – “100 Mile Meal”- At this weekly gathering, the emphasis will be on locally raised food, not only good for our health, but the environment (less gas and oil to transport), and the local economics. The meal for the evening will have ingredients from within a one hundred mile radius of our town.
Lent is a time for prayer, reflection and self-examination; a time when many of us choose to live simpler lives. During Lent, we often reflect upon those who do not have food, money or the resources to simply go about the routine of daily living. Please consider bringing a dish for this event (recipes are available by calling the office) and a food item for the Portland Food Bank would be greatly appreciated.
The public is welcome at all special events and worship services each week. Call the office for details (860-342-2860) or visit us online at www.zionlutheranportland.com
