Thank you to all who particapated in the PURPLE POTTY FOR HUNGER.
Here are a few photos of where the Potty was placed
Church's purple potty -- the ultimate pay toilet by Michael J. Murschel
Courier News Article.
February 18, 2010
No. It's not your imagination. Nor the tricks of light and shadow. Not even a lack of sleep.
Anytime from Feb. 1 on to the present, you really might have seen a purple potty on someone's front lawn. But you need not feel flushed if you drive by the next day to show it to your doubting family and friends and they continue to doubt you. The purple potty will merely have gone on to another deserving address in the community. Lest you feel drained at the prospect of this suddenly appearing outside your front window, "community" here means the yard of a member of Zion Lutheran Church, 330 Griswold St., on Elgin's southwest side, sponsors of this month long event.
Contact Mike Murschel at mjmurschelfeedback@gmail.com.
And it's all designed to make people sit up and take notice of the global crisis of hunger.
Here's how it works:
The purple potty is one of the recommended fundraisers promoted by World Vision's 30-Hour Famine emphasis. This Christian humanitarian organization is dedicated to working with children, families and their communities around the globe to achieve their full potential. This is accomplished by meeting head-on the causes of poverty and injustice.
The 30-Hour Famine itself is an international youth movement of World Vision's call to youth to serve God and fight hunger. An estimated 840 million people in the world simply don't have enough to eat, and the severity of this crisis is reflected in the sobering statistic that every 7 seconds, one child dies from hunger-related issues.
While much of this need is in Africa, South America and Asia, hunger also is a reality in this nation. As a result, some of the funds stay in the United States on a local level to supply this basic life need.
"This idea came from the 30-Hour Famine Resource Book," said Marlene Daubert, diaconal minister at Zion Lutheran. "Our church youth loved it, our congregation embraced it, and so we decided to go ahead and do it.
"It is only open to our membership, and the idea comes with three ways to raise funds for World Vision," she said. "First, you can donate for insurance to ensure that the purple potty does not show up on your front lawn. Second, if you don't have this insurance and it does show up, you can donate to have it removed. And third, you can donate to have it sent to another church member of your choosing."
Actually, this is a rather stylish purple potty. "Artistically purple and outrageously fun" is how Daubert described it. And it comes with a sign proclaiming it as the "Zion Lutheran Purple Potty for Hunger."
It will traverse the community for the duration of this year's program, set to wrap up on Feb. 26.
On that date, youths from Zion Lutheran will join with the youths from Holy Trinity Lutheran Church, 357 Division St., on Elgin's near-east side, for the actual 30-Hour Famine. Over the course of the next 30 hours, they will fast while spending the night at Zion Lutheran. The next day, they will go into Chicago for a service project painting a preschool classroom, returning to Holy Trinity that afternoon to break their fast and reflect on those food-deprived hours.
This marks the fifth year that Zion Lutheran has participated in World Vision's program, which mobilizes hundreds of thousands of youth across the nation.
For more information, call Zion Lutheran Church at 847-888-2882.
Michael J. Murschel is a church consultant, theologian, and writer specializing in religion and culture. He may be reached for comment at mjmurschelfeedback@gmail.com.
