National Observance of Children's Sabbaths® Celebration
Throughout the month of October, faith organizations in California and around the country will join thousands of churches, synagogues, mosques, temples, Buddist and Baha'i communities, and other places of worship around the nation in CDF's 18th Annual National Observance of Children's Sabbaths® Weekend. Faith groups are asked to hold special worship services, education programs, and direct service and advocacy activities to help people of faith learn more about how they can step forward for America's children and become child advocates. Each year, an advisory board of Christian, Jewish, Muslim, Baha'i, Hindu and other faith leaders guide Children's Sabbaths as a way to raise awareness of the shocking state of America's poor and vulnerable young people, as well as engage faith institutions in the movement to improve the lives of all children.
The 2009 National Observance of Children's Sabbaths Celebration theme, "Create Change for Children Today: Bring Hope and a Better Tomorrow", calls on faith communities to change the reality of the millions of children who live in poverty, lack access to basic health care, and are being funneled into a pipeline to prison. People of faith must step forward now to strengthen families, demand health coverage for all children, and create a pipeline to successful adulthood for all of America's young people.
Each year, CDF produces the National Observance of Children's Sabbaths Manual: A Multi-Faith Resource for Year Round Child Advocacy which helps to guide faith institutions in developing worship services, education programs, direct service activities, and social justice initiatives in their congregations, organizations, and communities. This easy-to-use reference provides workshop materials for Christian, Jewish, Muslim, Hindu, Bahá'í, and other faith traditions as well as resources for interfaith gatherings. The Children's Sabbaths manual offers materials, ideas, inspiration, and guidance for strengthening faith communities' efforts for children throughout the year, and much, much more.
People of many faiths are called to celebrate children as gifts of the divine. The National Observance of Children's Sabbaths Weekend is an opportunity to live out our moral responsibility to care, protect, and advocate for children. A Children's Sabbaths celebration is an inspirational way to renew your faith community's commitment to stepping forward for children.
To learn more about how your faith community and get involved with the Children's Sabbaths movement, please attend one of our Children's Sabbaths Brunches listed below, or contact Saudeka Shabazz, Outreach Coordinator.
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