17th Annual

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• 17th Annual
• National Observance ofChildrens Sabbaths
• October 17-19, 2008
• (or on another date of your congregation's
  choosing)

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The teachings and traditions of all the world
religions command the faithful to seek justice
for societys most vulnerable Children and the
Poor

• Charity is no substitute
• for justice withheld.
• 
  Saint Augustine

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Today in America

• A child is born into poverty every 33 seconds
• Over 13 million children live in poverty
• Nearly 9 million children lack health insurance
• 4,440 children are arrested each day
• 8 children are killed by firearms everyday
• More than 3 million children are being raised by
  someone other than their parents -- the majority
  of them in family foster homes, group homes, or
  with grandparents or other relatives
• Over 8,000 children a day are reported abused or
  neglected
• Only about half to 2/3 of children eligible for
  Head Start programs are enrolled
• Over 6 million children are regularly left home
  alone without adult supervision

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Questions to ask

• What is your faith traditions view of children?
• What does your tradition/belief system call you
  to do on behalf of children?
• What is the distinction between Charity and
  Justice?
• How does this understanding show itself in the
  life of your congregation? (Be specific)

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The National Observance of Childrens Sabbath
Offers a Strategy for Making a Difference

• Began 17 years ago in the Religious Affairs Dept.
  of Childrens Defense Fund by Shannon
  Daley-Harris
• Purpose
• -to unite and amplify the voice of the
  multi-faith
• community to demand justice for children
• -to inspire long-term advocacy for children
• -to make a transforming difference in the
• lives of all the nations children

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Childrens Sabbath engages all faiths inCommon
Concern and a Common Commitment to work for
justice on behalf of all children.

• Through
• Worship
• Education
• Ongoing Advocacy

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The Childrens Sabbath Resource Manual

• Where are we where are we going?
• Welcome Letter from Miriam Wright Edelman
  Pages1-3
• Reflections on Moving Forward by Miriam Wright
  Edelman Page 31
• Planning Tips - Page 12-18
• Publicity Ideas - Page 19-24
• How do we get there?
• Faith Reflections
• Devotional Guides
• Songs, Prayers, Litanies
• Advocacy Aids Information

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Making Childrens Sabbath Work

• Order the Manual early www.childrensdefense.org
• Get go-ahead from your leadership
• Recruit the necessary people to form a planning
  team.
• Review the manuals sections and determine the
  appropriate material for your congregation.
• Create a plan that fits your congregation.
• Length and content of service
• Lead-in activities or events
• Follow-up plan a sustainable ministry throughout
  the year
• Advertise - Create a BUZZZ
• Implement the Follow-through Plan
• Fill out Evaluation Form, page 179 in manual or
  rip-out card on page 13, and send to CDF.

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Additional Resources available on the Childrens
Sabbath website

• Lesson Plans Multi-faith lesson plans for all
  ages are available for you to integrate into your
  faith communities' curriculum.
• Bulletin Inserts Use inserts to promote the
  event beforehand and to provide advocacy
  opportunities during the service.
• Alert the Media Customize a press release to
  send to local news outlets.
• Take Action Engage candidates and your elected
  officials by involving your house of worship in
  CDFs advocacy campaigns.
• Improve the Lives of Children 25 things your
  faith community can do to become directly
  involved with children and families in your area.
• Promote the Childrens Sabbath Use newsletters,
  email alerts, and mailings to invite other
  religious communities in your extended network to
  join in this powerful movement for children!

www.childrensdefense.org/childrens_sabbaths
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What Others Have DoneSee Manual Pages 8-11
How Congregations Celebrated Last Year
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A Community-wide Celebration

• Manual Page 15-18

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• In Celebration Of Last Years
• National Observance of Childrens Sabbaths
• My Boat Is So Small Creating a Harbor of Hope
• and Health Care for All Children
• Childrens Defense Fund Texas
• Invites You To An Original Play
• the boat may be smallyet we all will get on
• Written by
• Sister Mama Sonya 3Sisters in the Spirit
  Theatre Ministry
• Performed by a 200 voice
• Multi-Ethnic Multi-Faith Childrens Choir

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Questions to ask

• If your congregation celebrated Childrens
  Sabbath in the past, what worked, what didnt?
• How do you envision Childrens Sabbath fitting
  into the life of your congregation?
• What steps do you need to take to make this
  happen?

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Perform a Pre-Mortem

• Examine in advance what might kill this effort
  in your congregation.
• Be prepared to help it live and thrive.

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Brainstorm Groups

• Worship Ideas - to highlight childrens needs and
  the call of faith to respond
• Education Sessions/Experiences Ideas - to help
  people learn about childrens needs and ways to
  meet those needs
• Activities - hands-on services or justice work to
  enhance the worship service
• Follow-up - how to use the Childrens Sabbath
  service to lead to long-term advocacy and fit
  into the mission and life of the congregation

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Going Deeper

• Attend the Proctor Institute at CDFs Haley Farm,
  
• July 20 - 24, 2009 in Clinton, TN Visit
  www.childrensdefense.org/Proctor for more
  information
• Name a Key Advocate in your congregation
• One person who will focus on Advocacy for
  children and take responsibility for the
  Childrens Sabbath service each year Use the
  Minnesota model described at www.jrlc.org
• Create a Child Advocacy Book Club
• Sign-up members of your congregation to read
  Thus Far on the Way, by Rev. Eileen Lindner, or
  one of Marian Wright Edelmans books to follow-up
  the Childrens Sabbath or lead into it
• Participate in a Day at the Capitol
• Organize a visit to your state legislators with
  members of your congregation around the
  childrens health care issue
• Help create a supportive system for all children
  through advocating for just policies for children
  (Luke 181-8 Christian Bible)

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The ultimate test of a moral society is the kind
of world it leaves to its children.Dietrich
Bonhoeffer
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We are not called to advocate for our children
because, or when, it is convenient, or
comfortable, or even because we know the
difference it makes. We are called to advocate
for our children because we know a God who never
says I dont care or It doesnt
matter.Shannon Daley-Harris, CDF
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