Self Development of People

April 8, 2018

Photo credit: Georgia Women in Agriculture

The West End Belt-Line Farmers Market is a project by the Georgia Women in Agriculture, an Atlanta based cooperative owned network of local growers and support staff farmers. In addition to providing locally grown produce, The Georgia Women in Agriculture help facilitate an environment where community members can learn agricultural skills, food security, food production and sustainability. With a $15,000.00 grant from the National Self Development of People Committee, the group was able to create the WEB public farmers market which promotes community and capacity building as well as provide greater community access to locally grown fresh food.

Through sustaining an urban farmers market, the Georgia Women in Agriculture also sees as its puropose the ability to educate community members about nutrition and health, develop relationships and provide networking opportunities to empower socially disadvantaged women in urban and rural areas. The organization also collaborative efforts to create more growing spaces, economic self sufficiency, and solidarity through agriculture.

This Easter season, the work of Georgia Women in Agriculture reminds us that Christ’s resurrection calls us as God’s people to be cultivators of hope so that all my benefit from the fruits of love, hope and transformation.

April 8 is Self Development of People Sunday, and we invite you to download our SDOP Sunday resource to learn more about the work of building stronger communities and promoting justice through community partnerships . The SDOP Sunday resource (link provided below) lifts up stories of community building, self-reliance, and hope – stories of God in action. It also provides hymns, liturgical suggestions, and how to access other free SDOP resources that are available to you and your congregation.

https://www.presbyterianmission.org/resource/2018-sdop-sunday/

Alonzo Johnson, Coordinator for the Presbyterian Committee of the Self Development of People

Today’s Focus:  West End Belt-Line Farmers Market (WEB)

Let us join in prayer for:

PC(USA) Agencies’ Staff

Shannon Kiser, PMA
Stacie Kizer, PPC

Let us pray:

God of growth and vibrant life, send us your light and your truth so that we may continue to see Christ in the those who are ravaged by poverty and oppression. Loving God remind us that your gift of the resurrection is a call for us to be cultivators of generosity and sowers of justice. Redeemer God who takes the side of the poor and disinherited, remind us of your call for us to do so as well. Amen.

Revised Common Lectionary Readings for Sunday, April 8, 2018, the Second Sunday of Easter (Year B)

First Reading Acts 4:32-35
Psalm 133:1-3
Second Reading 1 John 1:1-2:2
Gospel John 20:19-31