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Children’s Sabbath Emphasizes Care for All Children

Jan 2014: Hunter Memorial AME Church in Prince Georges County in Suitland, MD held its 2nd Annual Children’s Sabbath Interfaith Celebration this past November. The focus this year was “Creating Safer Communities for Our Children.” In this event, we gave thanks for and emphasized extending justice to the most vulnerable in our communities--our children. During our Children’s Sabbath celebrations, youth and adults learned about and led the congregation from various faith traditions through creative prayers, reflection, scripture, song, etc. A youth preached the homily and the service concluded with calls to action. We also had a prayer room transformed into a playground for prayer and three Unitarian inspired prayer stations (e.g., rock and water station, prayers on notecards, and candle station for youth impacted by violence in their communities). ~ Rev. Jennifer Gillyard, Executive Director, The Real Life Resource Center, Inc. (the community development arm of Hunter Memorial AME Church)