The Episcopal Church has designated the first Sunday of Lent as a special day for congregations to engage with the Episcopal Church’s ongoing commitment to fighting extreme poverty and disease worldwide. Episcopal Relief and Development assists people in times of disaster and economic hardship, helping them to improve their lives. It also works with other church programs, nonprofit groups and government agencies worldwide toward fulfillment of the Millennium Development Goals, adapted in 2000 by the United Nations.

Millennium Development Goals?

1 Eradicate extreme poverty and hunger.
2 Achieve universal primary education
3 Promote gender equality and empower women.
4 Reduce child mortality
5 Improve maternal health.
6 Combat HIV/AIDS, malaria, and other diseases.
7 Ensure environmental sustainability.
8 Develop a global partnership for development.

The Millennium Development Goals Inspiration Fund, launched in 2007 by the Episcopal Church’s Executive Council, Jubilee Ministries and Episcopal Relief & Development, implements programs to fight malaria and other preventable diseases in Africa and Asia, and provides basic health care, health education, and sanitation systems in Latin America and the Caribbean. To help ERD reach its goal of $3 million by the end of 2009, visit www.er-d.org or call 800-334-7626, ext. 5129