January 26 is more than Super Bowl Sunday. It's Souper Bowl Sunday. The Rev. Brad Smith, Spring Valley Presbyterian Church, Columbia, S.C., came up with the pun while leading prayers in 1988. Since 1990 he's challenged millions of Americans to donate a dollar a piece after worship services on the weekend of the National Football League championship.
Funds raised by each congregation go directly to a local soup kitchen, food bank or other charity.
More than 600 ELCA congregations in 40 states participated in the 1996 Souper Bowl. More than 150 of those Lutheran congregations were in Pennsylvania. Arizona, Minnesota and South Carolina each had more than 50 participating congregations.