Trick-or-Treat for UNICEF
UNICEF and the PC(USA) have long had a special relationship. Why? Because Trick or Treat for UNICEF was initiated by the Reverend Clyde Allison, a Presbyterian minister and curriculum editor, and his wife Mary Emma. The initiative was first introduced to Presbyterian junior high students in a curriculum story written by Mrs. Allison and included in the curriculum the Rev. Allison edited. It was subsequently adopted by UNICEF as a fundraiser, and the rest is history.
The Allisons’ son, Monroe, says the needs of children worldwide was what inspired his parents to start Trick-or-Treat for UNICEF. “They believed that every child is created and loved by God,” he says. “And as far as God is concerned, a child born in Darfur needs the same care and nurturing as a child born in Pennsylvania. Every child is a gift from God, and we all have the obligation to lead every child to become a caring, productive adult.”
Invite kids to read a story for children about Trick or Treat for UNICEF
A New Congregational Election Year Resource Focused on Children
The Presbyterian Child Advocacy Network (PCAN), a network of the Presbyterian Health, Education and Welfare Association (PHEWA), has developed a child-focused election year resource. This resource invites candidates and church members alike to look at the issues and their own records through the lens of child advocacy. Read more
'How Are the Children?'
God’s Creation, Our Health: Taking Action Together
God’s Creation, Our Health: Taking Action Together, a four-session study to engage older elementary children in discipleship through a virtual partnership with peers in Peru, is now available. Produced by the Office of Child Advocacy in partnership with the Office of Environmental Ministries and Jed Koball, mission co-worker and companionship facilitator for Joining Hands Against Hunger Peru, the study gives children the opportunity to explore what our faith has to say about environmental stewardship. Following the lead of CAMBIALO, a group of concerned and active young people in Peru, they will learn how to speak out about contamination of the environment and what it does to children’s health and how to take action to protect God’s creation and children’s health. Stories and video clips on Kids4Kids are an integral part of the study, and kids can also post their own ideas and comments on “Says Who? Says U! “, the website’s message board.
God’s Creation, Our Health: Taking Action Together
Our Day to End Poverty: 24 Ways You Can Make a Difference
There’s a new study guide for use with the book Our Day to End Poverty: 24 Ways You Can Make a Difference, by Shannon Daley-Harris and Jeffrey Keenan. The book offers scores of practical actions anyone can take to fight poverty.
The study guide, for use with small groups of adults in congregations, provides additional suggestions that connect with work being done by many ministries of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) to end poverty. Written by Shannon Daley Harris, an ordained Teaching Elder in the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) and creator of the National Observance of Children’s Sabbaths and the Proctor Institute for Child Advocacy Ministry for Children’s Defense Fund; and Carol Wehrheim ,writer, editor and consultant in Christian education and 2001 APCE Educator of the Year, the seven-session study provides groups with worship, learning activities, and ways to respond based on the book.
'For Children We Pray'
At the close of the Decade, pray for children.
Use the video clip “For Children We Pray” in worship or as a devotion to begin a Christian education or outreach committee meeting.
Set up prayer stations. Use “Creating Prayer Stations” to guide your preparation. Download images, statistics, prayers and worship resources.
No child soldiers!'
Presbyterian Red Hand Campaign
Make Red Hands to say that children are children, not soldiers.
UNICEF estimates that as many as 300,000 children under age 18 are engaged in armed conflicts in various places around the world. This all takes place despite international laws which prohibit the use of children as soldiers. As followers of Jesus who welcomed children, Presbyterians have joined people around the world in an effort to change this situation: the Red Hand Campaign. The message of the Red Hand Campaign is clear. Red hand prints proclaim the message to the world—children should NOT be used as soldiers! Over 300,000 red hands have already been delivered to world leaders. The Red Hand Campaign calls for universal ratification and enforcement of the Optional Protocol to the Convention on the Rights of the Child on the involvement of children in armed conflict. The goal is for every country in the world to ratify the optional protocol by 2012, the tenth anniversary of treaty.
A new network: Presbyterians in Covenant with Children
Presbyterians in Covenant with Children unites Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) congregations and groups in intentional ministries of justice and compassion with and for children in our congregations, communities, nation and world through worship, education, service and advocacy
This is an invitation for your group or congregation to become a part of a new network of Presbyterians who care about children and who want to make a difference with and for them.
Through Presbyterians in Covenant with Children, we hope to provide a dialog among churches and groups of all sizes already doing great things and seeking to do more.
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Comments
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Just wanted to say thank you to whoever made this "pin"able!!
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Una, we are definitely continuing this work- in fact, we are expanding it on an ongoing basis through the work of the Human Trafficking Roundtable.
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Martha, I don't see any mention of the work that G.A. and PHEWA are doing to end child trafficking and exploitaiton of children. I hope we are continuing to work on both of these issues. Una . is