Episcopal Church Foundation Vital Practices - Blogs

January 30, 2014

Souper Bowl Sunday

It started with a simple prayer:

“Lord, even as we enjoy the Super Bowl football game, help us be mindful of those who are without a bowl of soup to eat.”

That was fourteen years ago, in Columbia, South Carolina. The movement, led by youth, collected $7.5 million worth of cash and food donations last year—alone. If you break it down, that’s about the cost of seven or eight commercials to air during the Super Bowl. Or enough to help 6,600 charities feed hundreds of thousands of people.

If your church isn’t signed up yet, there’s still time. Even an announcement on Sunday morning might shake loose some donations. And next year, you can get started on it in January, planning some fun activities and generating enthusiasm for the Souper Bowl.

This ecumenical movement is a wonderful example of how to take a popular current event and shine on it the light of Jesus and generosity. I wonder what other opportunities are out there.

What if churches collected and donated gently worn business suits for men and women and held their own red carpet gala during the Academy Awards?
What if, during the Olympics, there was an opportunity to celebrate the variety of gifts (athletics, artistic, academic) in our communities?
What if we donated $1 to a community organization every time Peyton Manning called "Omaha?”

Let’s use the momentum of popular culture to bring about good. Jesus spent a lot of time turning things upside down. Let’s create some opportunities to join him.

And it can start simple. With a prayer.