Congregation Unitarian Universalist
Children's Sabbath
En Español
NATIONAL OBSERVANCE OF CHILDREN'S SABBATH
October 19
Prelude and Opening Words:
This year we are pleased to mark the annual celebration of the National Observance of Children's Sabbaths, a weekend of worship, education, outreach, and advocacy that proclaims and responds to the faith-based call to meet the needs of children.
If this is your first time participating in the Children's Sabbath, we are delighted that you are joining in this nationwide movement and trust that you will find it an inspiring and energizing experience for your family. If you are a long-time Children's Sabbath participant, we are grateful for your continued witness on behalf of children.
What is the Children's Sabbath?
The National Observance of Children's Sabbaths is an opportunity for people of all ages and all faiths to learn more about the urgent needs of children. Through worship services, religious education classes, and congregational outreach and advocacy activities, people of faith learn more about the problems facing children and commit to responding to them. The goal of the Children's Sabbath is to generate new, long-term efforts to meet children's needs by raising awareness, serving children directly, and advocating on children's behalf.
The Children's Sabbath begins across the nation on Friday with services in synagogues and mosques, and continues through Sunday with church and interfaith worship services. Many Children's Sabbaths are held by individual congregations, while in some communities congregations unite for ecumenical and interfaith celebrations of the Children's Sabbath.
The Children's Sabbath is an intergenerational event that engages people of all ages in planning, participation, and follow-up activities. In this respect, it is different from a traditional "Youth Sunday" that is entirely planned and led by the young people. The focus on serious problems facing children and needed responses also sets it apart from traditional children's days.
Prayer:
Joys and Concerns: (We throw a small stone into this bowl filled with water, to symbolize our thoughts, which move in circular rings eternally, like concentric waves.)
Hymn::
First Reading:
Discussion Theme: The Importance of a Global Awareness for our children and
ourselves Copyright Congregation Unitarian Universalist of Puerto Rico Domestic Non-Profit Corporation #6268
Benediction:
If, here, you have found freedom, take it with you into the world. If you have found comfort, go and share it with others. If you have dreamed dreams, help one another, that they may come true! If you have known love, give some back to a bruised and hurting world. Go in peace.
*Closing circle of hands: (Holding hands or link arms as you read the closing words together)
Extinguish Chalice:
*Hymn:
Lighting the Chalice: by -W.N. Murray (adapted)
Until one is committed, there is hesitancy,
the chance to draw back, always ineffectiveness.
Concerning all acts of initiative and creation,
there is one elementary truth,
the ignorance of which kills countless ideas and splendid plans:
That the moment one definitely commits oneself, then Providence moves too.
All sorts of things occur to help one that would otherwise never have occurred.
A whole stream of events issues from the decision
raising in one's favor all manner of unforeseen incidents, meetings and material assistance,
which no one could have dreamt would have come their way.
In the quietness of this place and in the Spirit of this Community in which we share and find strength let us pray. Today we highlight the needs of children and our responsibility to respond to those needs. A world that lets its children be the poorest citizens has at its heart a spiritual and ethical crisis. The religious communities must help to transform our world's priorities so that we defend those who are youngest, weakest, poorest, and most vulnerable. Pray we find the strength to live the values we want our children to learn. If we want them to stop being violent, then we should stop being violent. If we want them to be honest, then we should be honest. Parents, preachers, teachers, and all public officials must conduct themselves in a way that they would want their own child or any child to emulate. Our children need consistent love, time, attention, discipline, family stability, and limits at home and in school, and they need to see that adults in this world, private sector, and communities value and care for them -- not as customers and future consumers to be exploited or as a non-voting group to be ignored -- but as the heirs of our institutions and values. It is time for all adults to accept their responsibility to be good protectors of and mentors for the next generation. Let us pray.
We invite you to share your joys and concerns since our last meeting
Story for All Ages: (the children go to Religious Education at the end of the story and the adults sing "Spitit of Life" )
# 123 (STLT)
"Spirit of Life" by Carolyn McDade (adapted)
Spirit of Life, come unto us,
Sing in our hearts all the stirrings of compassion.
Blow in the wind, rise in the sea;
Move in our hands, giving life the shape of justice.
Roots hold us close; wings set us ,;
Spirit of Life, come to us, come to me.
We join with the Children of the Earth and with each other
To bring new life to the land
We join with the Children of the Earth and with each other
to restore the waters
To refresh the air.
To renew forests
To care for plants
To protect creatures.
We join with the Children of the Earth and with each other.
To celebrate the seas
to rejoice in the sunlight
to sing the song of the stars
We join with the Children of the Earth and with each other.
To recreate the human community
To promote justice and peace
To remember our children.
We join with the Children of the Earth and with each other.
We join together as many and diverse expressions'
Of one loving mystery; for the healing of the
Earth and the renewal of all life.
May the truth that sets us free,
And the hope that never dies,
And the love that casts out fear
Be with us now
Until the dayspring breaks,
And the shadows flee away.
And now we extinguish our chalice but not:
The warmth of community,
The light of hope, hope for change that brings new blessings into our lives and the lives of those around us continues to burn brightly, we carry hope in our hearts until we are together again. The spirit of gratitude,
Or
The fire of commitment and shared compassion of this community.
Go now in Peace
Go now in Peace, Go now in Peace,
May the Love of God surround you
Everywhere, everywhere, You may go
