THE CHILDREN'S DEFENSE FUND HIGHLIGHTS TOLERANCE AND PEACE DURING ITS 10th ANNUAL NATIONAL OBSERVANCE OF THE CHILDREN'S SABBATHS
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE October 16, 2001Contact: Gigi Hinton 202-662-3609
Washington, D.C.-- All across the country, congregations of many faiths will share in a weekend of worship, outreach, and education during the 10th annual National Observance of Children's Sabbaths, October 20-21. Sponsored by the Children's Defense Fund (CDF), this event will be an opportunity for people of all faiths to focus on the many needs of children and now, more than ever, renew our commitment to build a world fit for every child.
This year's theme, "Write the Vision: Creating Communities of Shalom for All God's Children," offers adults ways to show our children, at this critical time in our nation, how we can create a world in which love triumphs over hate, tolerance drives out the forces of bigotry, and peace overcomes violence. As CDF founder and president, Marian Wright Edelman, has said, "While our world changed on September 11, our ability and responsibility to transform the world for good did not. We must redefine our priorities and learn from and teach our children some crucial lessons that can bring great good out of a great evil."
CDF has long recognized the importance of the faith community's role in building a movement to Leave No Child Behind(r). The Children's Sabbaths weekend this year gives religious congregations the opportunity to remind all of us that the best national and global security for America and the world's future is healthy, educated children who value life because their lives are valued.
"Children will learn from the examples set by adults," said Edelman. "In the words of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. years ago, 'If we are to have peace on earth, our loyalties must become ecumenical rather than sectional. We must either learn to live together as brothers or we are all going to perish together as fools.'"
To underscore this thought, throughout the weekend there will be special services, education programs, and outreach activities to address the urgent problems facing children in every community. Marian Wright Edelman will deliver the sermon on Sunday, October 21, at the 10:55 a.m. service at Shiloh Baptist Church, located at 1500 9th Street, NW, Washington, D.C. There will also be a Children's Sabbath celebration during the 11:00 a.m. service at the Washington National Cathedral, Massachusetts and Wisconsin Avenues, NW, where the Reverend Canon Barbara T. Duncan will preach.
The National Observance of the Children's Sabbaths is endorsed by more than 200 denominations, faith groups, and religious organizations and is guided by an advisory committee of Roman Catholic, Protestant, Jewish, and interfaith leaders.
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