Indianapolis Food Independence Day Wrap UP!

Food Independence Day 2009 flyer

On Thursday, July 2, Earth House and Lockerbie Central United Methodist hosted Food Independence Day here in Indianapolis.  It was the first of what will hopefully be an annual event.   Mark your calendars for Thursday, July 1, 2010!

Indianapolis City Council member Jose Evans (left) talks with Slow Food Indy members Todd Jameson (middle), and Ed and Theresea Stites at Indianapolis' Food Independence Day Celebration. July 2, 2009

It was just a great night.  We had fifteen different sponsors, an Indianapolis city council member show up, Jose Evans,  and over 250 people come through the door.  We screened  the film THE GARDEN and the movie’s director Scott Kennedy was in attendance.  He left impressed with what Indianapolis food activists were trying to do.

We got two great write ups in the local papers.  Here is the article from Metromix and from Nuvo.  I really liked this line from Metromix/Indianapolis Star reporter Jenny Elig:

[Scott] Hamilton comes at the invitation of Mike Oles, Lockerbie Methodist lay leader and founder of the Earth House Collective Film Series — which is quickly becoming the city’s premiere showcase for screenings and discussions of socially conscious films.

The question and answer session with Scott Kennedy was also great. I will post footage from the Q and A when it gets online.  But, here is Scott answering questions.  The movie got a standing ovation.

Oscar nominated filmmaker Scott Kennedy answers questions about THE GARDEN. July 1, 2009, Indianapolis, IN.

Filed under: Christians, Earth House, Food Independence Day, Indiana, Lockerbie Central United Methodist Church, POlitics, Thursday Night Film Festival, agriculture, church, city council, community, community organizing, economy, emergent church, facebook, film , Earth House, Earth House Film Forum, film, film reviews, Food Independence Day, Indiana, Indianapolis, Indianapolis City Council, Indianapolis Star, Jose Evans, layleader, lockerbie central united methodist, Metromix, Mike Oles, MIke Oles III, NUVO, Oscars, Scott Hamilton, Scott Kennedy Hamilton, Slow Food, Slow Food Indianapolis, socially conscious films, The Garden, Thursday Night Film Festival

No Texting/Facebook for Lent?

Not such a bad idea…

I have been a bit annoyed about the whole giving up Facebook and texting for lent phenomenom.  A) It seems cheap. B) Why give up something that creates or at least enhances community?

But I think I have changed my mind.  Check the video out here.

The segment from ABC nightly news follows a family going through the Lenten season.  Mom gives up chocolate and teenage daughter gives up facebook.

And it works.   The absence of online social networks  allows the teenager to  develop  deeper, non-virtual relationships with her friends and family.  By giving up online community real community deepens.

And if Lent and ultimately Easter is about anything, it is about the deepening of meaningful community.

I’m not giving up facebook or internet any time soon, but lets not forget that the internet can’t be a substitute for real life community.

Filed under: Lent, church, community, facebook, family life, internet, parenting , abc, abc news, community, emergent, facebook, faith, family life, internet, Lent, parenting, spirituality, teens, texting