Congregations are being invited to take part in a new Church Urban Fund campaign encouraging people to take up a fasting challenge this Lent in solidarity with people who struggle to put food on the table.
The CUF Give it Up for Lent campaign is inviting congregations and individuals to take part in some form of fasting during the Lenten season including giving up a meal on Fridays or hosting a frugal lunch.
Youth groups are also being encouraged to consider the possibility of doing a 24-hour fast from breakfast on a Saturday and ending with a shared breakfast on Sunday morning before a main morning service in church.
The campaign aims to draw inspiration from the ancient Christian tradition of fasting during Lent with the money saved or raised donated to CUF’s work tackling poverty and social exclusion in England.
The campaign by CUF, the Church of England’s poverty charity, comes after joint research was published last year showing that two thirds, or 66%, of Church of England churches are involved in running food banks.
Support from churches includes collecting food, providing volunteers and offering premises as well as helping to manage the food banks, according to the joint study from the Church of England and CUF.
The cross-party Feeding Britain inquiry, co-chaired by the Bishop of Truro Tim Thornton, and updated in December has shown that the number of people relying on food parcels remains at a level previously unseen since the Second World War.
Nearly a fifth, or 17%, of Anglican churches are also involved in helping support the growth of credit unions, in many instances through the Church Credit Champions Network.
Paul Hackwood, executive chair of CUF, said: “The Give it Up for Lent campaign is firmly rooted in the Christian tradition of prayer and fasting during the Lenten season as a way of drawing closer to God and preparing for Easter.
“We hope that congregations will use this opportunity to show solidarity with the poorest and most marginalised as well as raise money for those who struggle to put food on the table.”
For more details of how to take part as well as prayer and worship resources see http://www.cuf.org.uk/giveitupforlent