Liturgy - Part 2

This past Sunday was Children's Sabbath.  Children's Sabbath is an opportunity for people of many faiths to re-commit themselves to advocating for children.  People of faith are compelled by the Spirit to be a voice for justice for all people everywhere, but children even more so because they lack a voice of their own in the political process.  Perhaps if children could hire lobbyists...

The following worship resources are largely the work of the Children's Defense Fund.  I have re-written to adjust for inclusive language, congregational participation appropriate to my own audience, and for a largely nontheist worldview.  The CDF website includes resources and advocacy information for a variety of faith settings.

Something we had to work through - both in the staff and in the Children's Educaton Team - was the idea of Sabbath ABOUT children or ON BEHALF OF children, rather than Sabbath for children or Sabbath highlighting children.  Let's face it - children are cute and everyone wants to see them singing or dancing or ushering or whatever on a Sunday morning.  The idea of getting serious about children's education, safety, and health was something different.

I'm planning for next year an expanded (maybe multi-faith?) Children's Sabbath celebration with accompanying individual and community-wide opportunities for social justice action in partnership with the Shadow Rock Living Our Faith team.  Enjoy and use this litany, etc. if it is helpful to you or your faith community.

 

Call to Worship for Children's Sabbath

We come to worship, each of us as a beloved child of God.  In our worship, we seek to remind ourselves of each child's sacred worth.  We come with trust and vulnerability, acknowledging our interdependence.  We hope to leave refreshed and re-committed to service in the cause of justice.

 

Prayer Litany for Children's Sabbath

One:     The challenges facing children and those who care for them can seem so huge and so abstract that we lose touch with reality.  As we lift up everyday items, we remember the needs of each child, each parent, each teacher and each caring person. 

Many:   When we see a crayon and remember its feel and smell from our own childhoods...

One:     We remember child care providers and parents who provide safe and stimulating environments for our youngest children.  We pray for providers who are underpaid and undervalued; for parents who struggle to find quality care for their children; for children whose potential is stunted by unsafe environments.

Many:   When we see a piece of chalk and recall teachers who encouraged us...

One:     We pray for teachers who devote themselves to educating our children.  For their dedication, imagination, and concern, we are thankful.  We pray for teachers who are tempted to give up on themselves or on the children; for education workers who feel unsafe or unappreciated.

Many: When we use a pencil this week...

One:     We think of students striving to learn, especially those faced with the challenges of disability, unsafe schools, low expectations from their parents, teachers, and selves, and inadequate resources.

Many:   When we see a bandage and remember a childhood hurt...

One:     We pray for children who are sick and injured, whose ability to learn is hampered by illness.  We remember especially children without health insurance and their worried parents.

Many:   When we get a penny in change...

One:     We think of youths preparing for the world of work, that they will receive guidance adequate for discovering their gifts and talents.  We pray especially for young people who fear for their futures, who don't have encouraging adults in their lives, who despair of finding success.

Many:   When we use pen and paper in our daily busy-ness this week...

One:     We pray for leaders in government and business, that the laws they write and the culture they propagate will demonstrate an investment in our children and their futures.

Sending Forth

May the Spirit who moves in and through us as we work for justice be with you and every child of the universe, now and always.
Go forth, recognizing each child as a blessing from God.
Go forth, knowing yourself to be blessed.
Go forth, committed to being a blessing to all.

Comments

[Dee Dee Allan]

It's funny you say that about for vs. about. I tried to do a children's sabbath at TUMC once a few years ago and it deteriorated into a three ring circus of children doing EVERYTHING. I tried to get the point across that it was to be about children's issues, but alas, I was terribly unsuccessful.

[Pastor Jim martin]

good stuff!

[Karen Richter]

I am laughing at your comment, but only because I know exactly what you mean! When we ask the children's ed team what SR could do to support families or encourage more family participation, they ALWAYS say the same thing: the kids need to sing in church every week. Of course there are those families that only come when their own offspring are in the spotlight... We did have children as greeters on Children's Sabbath, but that's all.