Blog Post by
Rev. Dr. Clint McCann
Evangelical Professor of Biblical Interpretation
Eden Theological Seminary
I am writing to remind all of us that we Presbyterians have historically been and still are a vital part of the Church World Service (CWS). CWS is an alliance of 37 denominations that are committed to working together to transform the world, which means “building a world where there is enough for all” (see www.cwsglobal.org). Consider CWS’s mission statement: “Church World Service is a faith-based organization transforming communities around the globe through just and sustainable responses to hunger, poverty, displacement, and disaster.” Currently, for instance, CWS is helping to welcome refugees from Afghanistan and to provide them food, shelter, and protection, as well as continuing to respond to the recent earthquake in Haiti.
Responding to a world of need takes money! And you can help! CROP is the fund-raising wing of CWS, and our local St. Louis Metro CROP Hunger Walk will be held on Sunday, October 24 at Eden Theological Seminary, 475 E. Lockwood Ave. in Webster Groves, MO 63119 – check-in at 4:30 p. m., Walk at 5:00, and an outdoor CROP Concert at 7:00 on the Eden field at the corner of Lockwood and Bompart Ave. (see below). If you don’t want to or cannot walk in person, please feel free to register and solicit financial support as a virtual walker. In any case, please go to the following website for details, to register and solicit support from donors, to create or join a team, and/or to donate:
https://events.crophungerwalk.org/2021/event/saintlouismo
CWS/CROP is also doing something new this year – that is, holding a national CROP Hunger Walk on October 16, which is World Food Day. Participants are invited to register, solicit financial support, and walk at their leisure and in their location on October 16 or sometime during the weekend of October 15-17. Distance is up to you, but CROP is suggesting 3.7 miles, which is the average distance that many women and girls walk daily for clean water. To participate in the National CROP Hunger Walk as a walker or donor, go to the following website:
The CROP Concert on October 24 (see above) will also be of particular interest to Presbyterians because it is also the 10th Annual Eden Seminary Festival of Psalms, and we Presbyterians have a long and distinguished history of Psalm-singing! For safety in the COVID-era (and just to try something new!), the Festival of Psalms will be held outdoors for the first time. Bring a chair or a blanket, and enjoy the music of several musicians, who, in church circles, are known locally, nationally (Christopher Grundy and Richard Bruxvoort Colligan), and even internationally (Paul Vasile, Eden Director of Music)! The concert is free, but we’ll welcome donations to CWS/CROP.
If you are not an online person, donations can be made by writing a check to CWS/CROP. You may send them to Clint McCann, 672 Marshall Ave., St. Louis, MO 63119-1922. Questions? You may contact Clint at cmccann@eden.edu or 314-619-0599.
Rev. Dr. Clint McCann
Evangelical Professor of Biblical Interpretation
Eden Theological Seminary
