February 16, 2015

Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ,

As we look to the Holy Season of Lent, we invite you to read and reflect on the book Hand to Mouth Living in Bootstrap America written by Linda Tirado as part of your Lenten Discipline. Several of us on the deacons’ council have read the book and found that it has both affirmed and challenged our ministry!
The following is taken from the book jacket:

We in America have certain ideas of what it means to be poor. Linda Tirado, in her signature brutally honest yet personable voice, takes all of these preconceived notions and smashes them to bits. She articulates not only what it is to be working poor in America (yes, you can be poor and live in a house and have a job, even two), but what poverty is truly like—on all levels. 

Frankly and boldly, Tirado discusses openly how she went from lower-middle class, to sometimes middle class, to poor and everything in between, and in doing so reveals why “poor people don’t always behave the way middle-class America thinks they should.” 

This book can be purchased at Barnes and Noble and on Amazon in hard cover, paperback and kindle format. Hopefully the book will give people of privilege (us) an opportunity to read and better understand what it means to exist in poor, the working poor, and low income class of America. This book provides insight and gives America much to reflect on. How do we of privilege respond to the needs and feelings of the working class poor we encounter every day?

We invite you and a member of the parish you serve or worship in to join the Deacons’ Council as we dedicate the April 22, 2015 meeting to dinner and discussion on our response to this insightful book. The meeting will be held at 6PM at The Commons in Meriden CT. Look for an eventbrite post in order to RSVP.

May this Season of Lent offer reflection and response to what it means to exist, Living in Bootstrap America.

Faithfully,

The Rt. Rev. Laura Ahrens Bishop Suffragan

The Rev. Bonnie Matthews Deacons’ Council Chair