In this Issue:

All Saints Village: Executive Council endorses further exploration of concept

Blessing of teddy bears during Bishop's visit and Children's sabath

Part of the Heart of our Mission: News and pictures form around the diocese

Mission in Mississippi: Diocesan Team Works at 10 Locations in Pascagoula

From the National Front

From the Anglican World

2006 Diocesan Convention

Commentaries

From the Bishop: Thankful for how much we have

Reflection: Saints of the address book

X-ercizing: Community, solidarity and humanity (Part 2)

Diocesan Calendar

Past Issues

Blessing of teddy bears during Bishop's visit and children't sabbath

On Oct. 23 Trinity Episcopal Church in Danville, Ky., celebrated its second annual Children’s Sabbath. During the Children’s Sabbath, the parish focused on children who are in need in our country and all over the world. The Trinity Youth took part in the service by ushering, reading the lectionary, singing, and they designed the bulletin. Bishop Sauls baptized and confirmed some of our families during the service. The Children’s Defense Fund began the National Observance of Children’s Sabbaths to unite thousands of religious congregations of many faiths in speaking out and acting faithfully for justice for children and families on the third weekend of each October.

On this weekend congregations of Christian, Jewish, Muslim, and Baha’i faiths celebrated children during their service. During the Children’s Sabbath weekend, religious congregations held special worship services, conducted religious education programs, and hosted other congregational activities to help people of faith to learn more about the serious problems facing children and families in our nation and to inspire congregations to respond to children’s needs and commit to seeking justice and care for all of the nation’s children.

During the weeks leading up to the Children’s Sabbath, the youth from Trinity Episcopal Church in Danville learned about children in the United States who are living in poverty. Through games and activities, they learned how hard it is for one who is living in the nation’s poverty level to break through the barrier.

Along with discussion of faith, the children participated in an outreach project. They traveled to Louisville to Build-A-Bear and made five bears that went to the hurricane victims and 20 bears that were blessed by Bishop Sauls and were given to Danville’s Social Services. The social workers will give the bears to children who have been taken from their homes due to traumatic situations. Many times the children will only be able to bring the clothes on their backs and the bear will be able to comfort them and they will be able to keep it as they are moved around to different places.
During the making of the teddy bears, the children put a little heart inside each bear and made a wish on it. The wish was for whoever became the owner of the teddy bear to have a life of hope, love, and happiness.

Advocate Online Staff:

© 2005 The Episcopal Diocese of Lexington

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