Join us for Children’s Sabbath
The Children’s Sabbath takes place on a weekend of your choice in April.
What is a Children’s Sabbath?
North Carolina’s Children’s Sabbath is a day your congregation commits to highlighting connections that matter …and investing in supporting children and families through sermons, readings, hymns, and sharing the caring connections that have made a difference in your life. Our children and youth need caring supportive connections more than ever and research shows that the importance of these connections can preventing child abuse and neglect.
This year, celebrate Child Abuse Prevention Month by hosting a Children’s Sabbath in your faith community.
Why Participate in the Children’s Sabbath?
- Highlight the importance of connections, now more than ever, in the prevention of child abuse and neglect
- Educate your congregation and communities on ACEs (Adverse Childhood Experiences) and how our faith communities provide essential Protective Factors in buffering against the trauma of ACEs and promote healing and building of resilience in those you serve.
- Inspire others to get involved and make connections that matter in their congregations and communities
How do I get involved?
It’s simple, celebrate children and the positive connections that support them. Create your celebration to align with your congregation, timing, and resources available. For ideas and resources please check out PCANC and Children’s Defense Fund Children’s Sabbath tools and resources. Please include the hashtags #BeAConnection and #GreatChildhoods on your social media sites to share your celebrations and inspire other congregations to #BeAConnection so that all children can have #GreatChildhoods.
Check out PCANC Child Abuse Prevention Month Toolkit and resources below for quick, easy ways to promote and enhance your Connected Congregation Connected Communities Children’s Sabbath Celebration.
- Connected Congregations
- Connection Matters Infographic (English)
- Connection Matters Infographic (Spanish)
- Connected Congregations Connected Communities Logo (Version 1) PDF JPG
- Connected Congregations Connected Communities Logo (Version 2) PDF JPG
- Child Abuse Prevention Month Toolkit
Long-term, year-round action might include becoming a Connections Matter Congregation, strengthening an existing program in your place of worship, starting something new, or joining with other places of worship or community organizations to make a difference in the lives of children.
Most Children’s Sabbaths involve all or some of the following elements:
- Service / worship / prayers / faith community gatherings focused on children, the importance of connections, and the moral, spiritual, and ethical imperative to nurture, protect, and seek justice for children. Download bulletin inserts, talking points, and these sample sermons from NC faith leaders: 1) The Power of One and 2) Breaking the Silence
- Educational programs for all ages (e.g., religious education classes, forums, special speakers)
- Advocacy and hands-on service activities around the Children’s Sabbath weekend to meet immediate needs of children and families in your community
We would love to hear from you to learn how we can best support you and find out how our resources have been helpful to your congregation. Please take a minute to answer the following questions:
For More Ideas and Resources Including Multi-Faith Celebrations:
Visit the Children’s Defense Fund National Observance of NC’s Children’s Sabbath uniting faith communities of every religious tradition across the state to:
- Raise awareness of problems facing children and families in our nation (such as poverty, gun violence, and lack of health care)
- Explore the texts and teachings in religious traditions that call us to nurture and protect children with love and justice
- Engage people of faith in immediate and long-term action to nurture, protect, and seek justice for children
General Children’s Sabbath Resources for This Year and Every Year (from the Children’s Defense Fund):
- Welcome to the National Observance of Children’s Sabbaths® Celebration
- Planning Your Children’s Sabbath: Ideas for All Faiths
- Promoting Your Children’s Sabbath: Ideas for All Faiths
- Multi-Faith Resources for the Children’s Sabbath
- Actions for the Children’s Sabbath and All Year
- Jewish Resources for Children’s Shabbat
- Christian Resources for Children’s Sabbath
For additional resources or information, please contact LouMecia Staton at lstaton@preventchildabuse.org.