National Observance of Children's Sabbath

National Observance of Children’s Sabbath
October 17-19, 2008

As you prepare for the Observance of Children’s Sabbath in your congregations, I offer these Top 10 Ideas to you and your congregation. I would love to receive your pictures and stories of Children’s Sabbath. We are a creative conference that engages in ministry in such unique and varied ways! Let’s celebrate our ministries even as we seek to make disciples of Jesus Christ for the transformation of the world.

1. Fulford UMC, in Miami Beach, Florida, included in their bulletin a history of the Children’s Defense Fund and highlighted the quote from Marian Wright Edelman: “If every one of us looked at each child as a child of God, we wouldn’t stand for the injustice that kids suffer.” They observed a moment of silence at the start of the worship service. The church bell chimed once at 10 seconds, then at 35 seconds, at 36 seconds, 41 seconds. Next, someone stood and stated: “Every 10 seconds a high school student drops out. Every 35 seconds a child is abused or neglected. Every 36 seconds a baby is born into poverty. Every 41 seconds a baby is born without health insurance.” The service concluded with a blessing of the children at the altar. Resources and representation from various community organizations that meet children’s needs were available after worship.
2. Christ Episcopal Church, in Springfield, Missouri, used lessons from the National Observance of Children’s Sabbaths manual. The Executive Director of the Community Partnership of the Ozarks spoke to adult classes. Following worship, there was a community BBQ dinner. The afternoon featured a Fun Day of games and events in the park for children in the community. Other members of the congregation did basic home repairs and clean-up for community residents.
3. Shakeel Syed, Executive Director of the Islamic Shura Council of Southern California, reports that over twenty mosques participated in the National Observance of Children’s Sabbaths Celebration on Friday, October 19, 2007. Khutbahs focused on the more than nine million children in America without health coverage and statistics were used from the 2007 National Observance of Children’s Sabbaths manual to illustrate the need for Muslims to encourage their state and federal elected officials to pass comprehensive health legislation that covers all children. The success of the National Observance of Children’s Sabbaths Celebration led the Shura Council of Southern California to host a follow-up conference highlighting the voiceless plight of children from faith perspectives.
4. The Benedictine Sisters of Mt. Angel, in Oregon, held a prayer service for the welfare of children that raised awareness for children’s advocacy.
5. Temple Emmanu-El in Edison, in New Jersey, invited a speaker from the Children’s Defense Fund to speak for their Children’s Shabbat. The ongoing refrain was, “How is it for the children?” Following the service, people signed-up for a writing campaign to elected officials. The Social Action Committee of the synagogue will focus on children’s justice for their upcoming Mizpah Days event and are planning a community Children’s March.
6. Greater St. Mark AME in Georgetown, in South Carolina, had an entire weekend of events with a Friday “Night Out of Fun” for community children and a Saturday community “Harvest Fest.” Children led the Sunday Worship service. School supplies were collected and sent to victims of Hurricane Katrina.
7. Newport Lutheran Church, in Newport, Minnesota, involved the youth group in the worship service. The youth made and presented a Power Point presentation on the needs and concerns of children. The Sunday School classes made quilts that included positive messages of hope and blessing to children. These quilts were displayed during the service, blessed, and then given to the local St. Joseph Home for Children. The congregation made the Children’s Defense Fund their mission focus for the month of October. Money raised during this time will be split between the Children’s Defense Fund and the St. Joseph Home for Children.
8. Everyone was welcome at the Interfaith Children’s Sabbath service celebrated in Elmwood Park, Virginia! The service was drawn from the National Observance of Children’s Sabbaths manual and enlivened by the talents of the Praise Dancers and Youth Choir of Kingdom Life Ministries, the Children’s Choir of Louden Avenue Christian Church, and music from the Kemp family. The outdoor event included a host of children’s activities under tents, from storytelling and crafts to a juggler and face painting. The coalition of community groups and places of worship that sponsored the service included Mental Health America, Temple Emmanuel, Clarence Sabree Islamic Center, Old Southwest Congregation in Action, National Alliance of the Mentally Ill-Roanoke, Local Colors, New Horizons, and Valley Character. An article in the Roanoke Times noted, “Representatives of Christian, Jewish, Muslim, Hindu, Sikh, and Buddhist faiths were on hand for the afternoon gathering. ‘This is a symbolic effort to show a commitment to unity,’ said the Rev. Kirk Ballin, chairman of the interfaith committee for Valley Character, one of the sponsoring organizations. ‘Hopefully this is the beginning of an annual event. The idea is that as a diverse community made up of diverse faith groups, there are certain values that we share in common,’ he explained, specifically citing, ‘the health and welfare of all the children of our community.’”
   
9. The United Methodist Women of First United Methodist Churches of Beach Haven Terrace and Kynett, in Longbeach Township, New Jersey, coordinated their 2007 National Observance of Children’s Sabbaths Celebration and incorporated its theme, “My Boat Is So Small: Creating a Safe Harbor of Hope and Health Care for All Children” throughout their service. A string of colored origami boats with children’s drawings was hung from the altar rail, alongside life jackets, fish nets, and oars. During the Children’s Sermon, the leader folded an origami boat as she talked with the children about our nation’s nine million children without health insurance. At the conclusion, each child received a boat as a reminder to pray for children. The church convened a team to follow up on the National Observance of Children’s Sabbaths Celebration by finding ways they can help connect eligible families with the state Children’s Health Insurance Program.
10. The United Church of Hayward, United Church of Christ, in Hayward, California, has a long and strong National Observance of Children’s Sabbaths Celebration tradition upon which they continue to build. In 2004, forty backpacks filled with school supplies were collected, blessed, and sent to Fresno International Refugees Ministries for Hmong refugees; in 2005 they adopted an inner-city Oakland classroom as one of their members; and in 2006 they explored unique ways in which they could respond to their young neighbors. This past year, they collected food and funds for an Emergency Food Pantry serving hundreds of children and their families each month. The Children’s Sabbath comes after 40 days of Prayer, a UCC- and Disciples of Christ-sponsored event which culminates in the Children’s Sabbath each year. The sermon, prayers, and music all focused on children and justice. The church prepared a news release to share their inspiring observance with the broader community.