PC(USA) - Decade of the Child - Fight Poverty

Children: God's Gift, Our Call - Decade of the Child: 2001-2011. And how are the children?


	Education \| Service \| Advocacy \| Worship


	Resources for fighting poverty: Worship

	When Will We Hear Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.'s Call to End Poverty in America? Children's Sabbath: October 17-19, 2008 Children's Sabbath manuals are now available. This year's manual focuses on answering the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King's call to build and be the Blessed Community where all children can live out their God-given potential. The resource guides you in developing worship services, education programs, direct service activities and social justice initiatives for your congregation, organization or community. Although these resources can be used to celebrate children throughout the year, people of faith and conscience will unite together for this year's National Observance of Children's Sabbath® celebration the weekend of October 17–19. FREE • PDS #1881985512 Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) Supplement Download the 2008 Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) supplement to get information about PC(USA) resources and programs that address Dr. King's triple threats of militarism, materialism and racism. The supplement also includes calendars and brief candle lighting services to help congregations to observe the "Light a Candle for Children" Forty Days' Vigil of Prayer leading up to the Sabbath observance. What if my congregation can't observe Children's Sabbath on October 19? In many churches, fall is a busy time and calendars include many emphases. If the third weekend of October does not fit your church's schedule, choose another Sunday to observe Children's Sabbath. Can we still observe the Forty Days' Vigil of Prayer if we are not holding a Children's Sabbath on October 19? Yes! The "Light a Candle for Children" Forty Days' Vigil of Prayer is a great way to lift up the needs and celebrate the gifts of children in the days preceding the Sabbath weekend. My church observes Domestic Violence Awareness Sunday on October 19. Is there a way to include the impact of domestic violence on children? Plan to use the bulletin insert "Children: The Silent Victims" that focuses on the impact on children of observing domestic violence. The insert is also included in the 2008 Presbyterian Supplement. Download additional resources produced by Presbyterians Against Domestic Violence.


	Light a Candle for Children Prayer Vigil The Light a Candle for Children Forty-Day Prayer Vigil is a time of preparation for the annual Children’s Defense Fund observance of Children’s Sabbaths. Twelve years ago a small Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) congregation in Louisville, Kentucky, initiated the vigil as a part of their Children’s Sabbath observance. Although that congregation has since closed its doors, their legacy of love for children lives on. The Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) gave the program national visibility, and many congregations of The United Church of Christ also joined the prayer vigil project. Raise a faithful voice for children in your congregation by participating with other people of faith in preparing for Children’s Sabbath in October. Download this prayer vigil brochure to share with your congregation. Use these calendars to lift up the prayer vigil in your congregation Light a Candle for Children September calendar Light a Candle for Children October calendar


	Prayer for Children Orphaned and Made Vulnerable by AIDS


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