P RESBYTERY OF M ONMOUTH
H UNGER A CTION N EWS
V OLUME 1 I SSUE 1
8 C ONGREGATIONS BEGIN C ENTS -A BILITY PROGRAM
Our new Cents-Ability
program is off to a great
start. Since the official
beginning at the Novem-
ber 2006 meeting of
presbytery, eight con-
gregations (Bayville,
Morningstar; Belmar—the FIRST session
to sign the covenant; Forked River; Jack-
sonville; Point Pleasant; Shrewsbury;
Tuckerton; and Yardville) have started the
program; others are considering it.
Cents-Ability is a small first step in the
battle against hunger and poverty. Congre-
gations invite every member — of all ages
— to contribute a few cents at every meal.
This simple act is an expression of thanks
for what we have received. It is also a
commitment to share with others in re-
sponse to Jesus' command “You give them
something to eat.” When members bring
their offerings to church on the appointed
Sunday, all of those coins “make a joyful
noise unto the Lord” as they are received
and dedicated.
Cents-Ability is our presbytery’s strategy
for raising funds and awareness in the fight
P RESBYTERY RECEIVES O FFERING OF L ET TERS
God calls us to work for justice, both as
individuals and as a nation. In a just world,
every person has enough to eat. One of the
ways the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.)
responds to hunger is through advocating
for broader social and government action,
working closely with Bread for the World,
a Christian voice for ending hunger.
In our presbytery worship service on May
22, we heard words from Scripture about
God’s call to action on behalf of hungry
J UNE 2007
against hunger. It has enormous potential
to raise funds, not because large amounts
of money are given, but because large
numbers of people give a very small
amount of money at every meal—and the
“miracle of multiplication” kicks in.
All of the funds raised through the Cents-
Ability program will go to hunger minis-
tries, which are to be selected by a grants
committee (to be convened shortly) made
up of representatives from participating
congregations, will be convened soon.
40% of the funds will be used for minis-
tries within the bounds of our presbytery;
and 60% will go to other national and in-
ternational hunger projects which are de-
scribed in the “Break Free From Hunger”
catalog of the Presbyterian Hunger Pro-
gram. We plan to award the first grants
this fall.
Did you know that if every member of
each of our congregations gave a penny
a meal we would raise about $150,000?
For more information on Cents-Ability,
please contact Phyllis Zoon—e-mail
phylliszoon@gmail.com or phone 201-
910-7047.
people, prayed for hungry and suffering
people around the world, and received an
Offering of Letters (a first for our presby-
tery) concerning the 2007 Farm Bill, legis-
lation that touches the life of almost every
person living in the U.S. and many in the
global community.
To learn more about how to advocate for a
better farm bill, go to www.pcusa.org/
hunger/trade/farmbill. Or contact HAE
Phyllis Zoon.
Hunger and
Stewardship
Hunger is a large and com-
plex problem with many
causes. We believe that the
success and effectiveness of our
presbytery’s Hunger Action
Program lies in many people
in our congregations doing
small things that lead to
transformation of communi-
ties, congregations, and indi-
viduals.
All of this has to do with
stewardship and the choices
and faith practices that make
up the fabric of our daily
lives—whether that is speak-
ing up on behalf of hungry
people, raising funds and
awareness in our congrega-
tions, direct food relief
through faithful and long-
term commitments, or practic-
ing hope each day.
Something New—Hunger
Action News is a one-page
newsletter on hunger issues
and how our presbytery is
addressing them. In addition
to news about hunger, each
issue will feature a “Spotlight”
section about one of our con-
gregations.
V OLUME 1 I SSUE 1 P AGE 2

F OOD FOR T HOUGHT — P RACTICING H OPE , D EFEATING D ESPAIR

Here are some thoughts on another
kind of stewardship: the stewardship
of hope, which leads to faithful
action in the fight against hunger.
We live in a world in which there is
enough for all—but hunger persists
because people do not have access to
food or cannot afford to buy the
food that is available. Around the
world 852 million people receive
insufficient nutrition—1 in 5 is a
child—and here in the U.S. the
number of poor and hungry citizens
continues to rise.
And, while it’s tempting to give in
to cynicism and hopelessness be-
cause of enormity and complexity of
the crisis, we Christians have this
outrageous thing called hope—and
hope calls us to defeat despair by
faithful action. The Presbyterian
Hunger Program, through its five
program areas, offers many ways to
act faithfully and defeat despair by
practicing hope. In this first issue of
Hunger Action News we highlight
some that I hope will inspire you to
a new way to practice hope.
The new Cents-Ability program
offers a way to do this. Every time
you sit down to eat, put one to five
cents in a cup and pray for hungry
people. Maybe you will feel called to
use your gift of citizenship to advo-
cate on behalf of poor and hungry
people by holding an Offering of
Letters in your church. Perhaps the
story of “the diehards” of Tuckerton
will lead you to Atlantic City and
Sister Jean’s Kitchen—or another
feeding program in your commu-
nity.
There are a lot of things that aren’t
the way they’re supposed to be—
but we have this outrageous and
powerful thing called hope. It’s not
just an emotion, it’s a faith practice.
We practice hope in many ways:
when we take an Offering of Let-
ters; when we meet Jesus in the Rev. Phyllis Zoon serves as
Soup Kitchen; and when we put a Hunger Action Enabler
few coins in the Cents-Ability cup, (HAE) for the presbytery and
day after day, meal after meal.
is available to help congre-
Wishing you traveling mercies and gations with their hunger
many glimpses of redemption on
ministries. Contact her at
your journey with Jesus, 201-910-7047 or e-mail
phylliszoon@gmail.com.

I N THE S POTLIGHT :
“T HE D IEHARDS ” OF T UCKERTON
Editor’s Note: Back in February, when I early, we try to listen in and area always blessed by the Sister Jean’s kitchen feeds
was gathering material for the 2007 message. The meal is plentiful and smells delicious. Sr. up to 350 people each
Mission Yearbook, I asked for stories about hunger ministries Jean is a dynamo. She no taller than 4’10” but has a
day, five days a week.
and the ways in which the course of events was changed by a powerful voice and a huge heart.
small group of faithful people. Since I received many responses About 85,000 meals are
“We go to the missions the 2nd Wednesday of each
and more information than could fit in the MYB, I decided to month leaving Tuckerton at 11:15 am and return
served in a year. . . Many
feature their stories in this newsletter. As this response from around 3:30 – 4:00 pm. It’s a wonderful ministry. We come to the kitchen for
Elder Leslie Rafaniello from First Church in Tuckerton shows, look forward to going each month. We feel blessed to more than a meal—they
people are changed by their ministries. be able to serve food to the people who often times come for hope. . . . Sister
“As a member of First Presbyterian Church Tuckerton, depend on this meal as their only one for the day. This Jean’s kitchen provides
NJ and also the chair of our Mission Committee I past Sunday we knew that snow was in the forecast and more than meals. She
learned about your request from Pastor Merideth. After most of us were already worrying about how we would
reading your letter I decided to tell you about a devoted get to the Kitchen. That’s how committed the group is
provides advice and
group of women who have committed themselves to to this ministry. We have one member who comes an counseling. . . . Many
serve at Sister Jean’s Kitchen in Atlantic City. I think additional 40 minutes so that she can be a part of this come to the kitchen for
our church has been involved in this ministry for 15+ wonderful ministry. This is such a wonderful hands on more than a meal—they
years. I am a member for about 3 years and have been ministry. We feel blessed that the Lord has enabled us come for hope.
helping at the Kitchen for at least 2 years. In fact, one to do His work and it is only 40 minutes away.”
of the reasons I joined the church was because I learned Sister Jean believes her
of this ministry and their commitment to Habitat for call from God is to feed
Humanity. the hungry in Jesus’
“We have about 6-8 women who I call the diehards. name. . . .”God told me to
They go no matter what the weather. Sometimes it is so feed the hungry, and God
hot in the summer and there is a fan but it often doesn’t will help me do it.
work. Lunch is served from approximately 12:30 –
2pm. We sometimes serve past 2pm because the lines From the Break Free from
are long and it is hard to close the door when people are Hunger catalog
standing on line.
“Sr. Jean’s Kitchen is located at the Victory First Pres-
byterian Church. Before we serve lunch there is always Sister Jean, founder of the Jean Webster
a preacher who brings a powerful message. If we arrive Kitchen in Atlantic City.