The Children’s Defense Fund created the idea of a National Observance of Children’s Sabbath back in 1992. During October of each year many places of worship, non-Christian and Christian alike, will participate in Children’s Sabbath by following a devotional, holding a special worship service, participating in service projects benefiting children, holding an educational event, or adding something to worship through October 22.
This year’s theme is, Moving Forward with Hope: Love and Justice for Every Child.
That is an ambitious vision here in 2017. I say that because the past 60 days have been full of events to which we can only react. And, react is something we’ve become good at doing. Social media is often the tool of choice for many as we post messages of thoughts and prayers, we donate dollars (Week of Compassion has one of the lowest overhead costs of all non-profits receiving money for natural and human made disasters), create Clean Up Buckets and Hygiene Kits for Church World Service to distribute, and prepare for the mission trips to help neighbors recover and rebuild. All good reactions.
Individuals cannot stop hurricanes, flooding, tornadoes, earthquakes, or other creation events that damage lives. Systems, public and private, cannot stop hurricanes, flooding, tornadoes, earthquakes, or other creation events that damage lives. Individuals and systems cannot stop all bad things from happening that are human made events that damage lives.
But, individuals and systems, public and private, can mitigate the potential that children will want for or dream about having basic necessities: food, shelter, healthcare, safety, education, equality, an opportunity to make their dreams of life real. Individuals and systems can mitigate the potential that children or adults will be shot or injured with weapons created by the industrial military complex. All this starts with individual and systemic, public and private, proaction that is based in universal desires for justice, love, and hope. These are ideas and feelings that transcend race, nationality, religion or political ideology; or at least they should be. Maybe that is the first step to reconcile and be proactive. Reclaiming justice, love, and hope as universal needs.
Exalted and hallowed be God’s great name
in the world which God created, according to plan.
May God’s majesty be revealed in the days of our lifetime
and the life of all Israel, and all who dwell on earth — speedily, imminently.
Blessed be God’s great name to all eternity.
Blessed, praised, honored, exalted, extolled, glorified, adored, and lauded
be the name of the Holy Blessed One, beyond all earthly words and songs of blessing, praise, and comfort.
May there be abundant peace from heaven, and life, for us and all Israel,
and all who dwell on earth.
May the One who creates harmony on high, bring peace to us
and to all Israel and all who dwell on earth.
To which we all say, Amen.(1)
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Note
1. An adaption of the Kaddish Prayer from Reformed Judaism [http://www.reformjudaism.org/
