Rachel`s Day book
Transcription
Rachel`s Day book
Rachel's Day book 4/19/04 11:23 AM Page 1 Women boldly speaking up for children Rachel's Day Rachel's Day book 4/19/04 11:23 AM Page 2 Rachel’s Day Women boldly speaking up for children Ten years ago, one woman did something bold: She spoke up against the violence children in her congregation and community were facing. This movement spread like wildfire and women around the country today are still calling attention to the issue of children and violence. Much has been accomplished over the last ten years, yet violence continues to escalate and more children are exposed to violence than ever before. There is still much work to do and there are still many who have never heard of the movement. This resource will help you begin to spread the word. What is Rachel’s Day? In 1994, one woman urged her congregation, Bethel Lutheran Church on the west side of Chicago, to support children facing violence. They began by clearing a vacant lot and turning it into a garden—Rachel’s Garden. It became a place where folks could come, mostly mothers, to mourn children killed by gun violence in that past year and plant a simple white cross and flowers in remembrance of these young ones. Two years later, the Metro Chicago synodical women’s organization brought a memorial to the 1996 Women of the ELCA Triennial Convention in Minneapolis to broaden awareness of the violence children face and actions to address it. The convention passed the memorial, resolving “That ELCA women encourage their congregations to recognize the first Sunday in May each year as ‘Rachel’s Day,’ based on Jeremiah 31:15-17 wherein Rachel grieved for her children, to mourn the loss of our children and to renounce the forces of evil and fear that plague our nation.” Why do we still need Rachel’s Day? We still need Rachel’s Day because violence is embedded into every area of a child’s life, and the effect is a slow death for all of our children. Ten years ago the original focus was the loss of inner city children to gangs, gun violence, and other contributors—drugs, abuse, neglect, poor education, health, and hunger. Over these last ten years, however, what appeared to be an inner city crisis is alive and well in all communities across our nation. The challenge of ending violence is more difficult today because what holds it in place is a more sophisticated and complex illusion of individual safety. The media, the economy, community divisions, isolation, entertainment, and even our children’s forms of play have created a much more dangerous environment for them and a different opponent for adults who look to protect them. No one group of children is safe until all children are safe. Using Rachel as an example, we’re all in this together. How do we plan for Rachel’s Day? Although it is important that adults take the lead, youth and children are themselves essential to getting a “read” on the issues and concerns in their lives. Rachel’s Day and anti-violence work are not about fixing others, nor are they spectator activities. Start at home with how violence affects everyday life in your home and community. Then you will begin to be prepared for collective action. Rachel's Day book 4/19/04 11:23 AM Page 3 Begin with God’s word Take a look at Jeremiah 31:15-17. As this work began, we needed to focus on Rachel’s great weeping and her deep sense of despair over the loss her children (verse 15). For Rachel and her people, no children meant no future. We are moved by her refusal to take comfort, which presents to us a sense of urgency and gravity about the need to do something. Today, we are in need of a fresh word, and verses 16-17 point us toward a solution. The urgency is still present and the situation is still complex, but God says that this is doable, our work will be rewarded, and there is hope and restoration. It is important that we see our part in the plan by studying familiar stories of violence against children in scripture. Read Exodus 1, Matthew 2, and Mark 10:13-16. Pay close attention to why and how the adults took violent actions while others (usually women) found hope and solution. Board the “A” train There are four A’s that can help you in planning Rachel’s Day and your ongoing work: assessment, awareness, advocacy, and action. These steps will be helpful in developing a workable plan for your congregation and community. Assessment Planning is more effective when assessment is part of the process. Begin by taking stock of what is immediately around you—both the issues and concerns as well as the resources available. Start with issues and concerns among children in your congregation, community, or school district before moving on to someone else’s situation. Remember, starting at home is not just a slogan. Awareness Once you have discovered what the concerns are, the more information you have, the better you will be able to tackle them. Educating both adults and children on the issues will make goal setting and planning a much cleaner process. Keep in mind the complexity of the violence that is “killing” our children in a different way today—from violence on television to unsupervised access to the Internet. Advocacy Now that you have a good grasp of the issues, speaking out with and on behalf of children will give meaning to your efforts. Choose one issue. Concentrating on one issue will help focus your voice and eliminate that overwhelming feeling of “it’s too much to take on.” Action Organize people to inform the community on issues, and then organize to address those issues. Remember that there is power in numbers and in the assurance that our work is important to God and will be rewarded. Let’s celebrate! The 1996 Rachel’s Day memorial called for congregations and communities around the country to designate the first Sunday in May as a time to recommit to their children. There is power in celebrating: The faith community publicly gives God worship and praise, and in worship, people can experience what has been accomplished as well as envision what is possible. Here are some ways to help shape the day: Educational opportunities Bring the Sunday school classes together and fill the hour with intergenerational activities—including storytelling, poster making, and conversations between adults and children as they prepare blue ribbons (a symbol of hope) to be distributed to folks as they enter for worship. Offer Bible studies. For youth, explore God’s plan for children and youth in scripture. For adults, explore what scripture says about raising children and how the faith community can help. Create a space for an adults and youth forum— talk about the realities of violence in your community, and the fears and hopes not only of your youth but of your adults as well. Be sure to collect the names of young lives lost and write them Rachel's Day book 4/19/04 11:23 AM Page 4 on small white crosses (to be placed in your garden or on long white ribbons to be placed on the altar during worship.) Worship There are suggestions included here to help you create a worship celebration. Remember, the day need not be a complete day of mourning: The Jeremiah text lifts up the hopelessness and severity of losing young life, however, we also need to celebrate life by giving God thanks and praise for what has been accomplished and what the community can look forward to. You can also create your own litany and prayer petitions with the youth and young adults of your community. During worship, provide an opportunity to revisit the promises sponsors make at children’s baptisms. Include children and youth as worship leaders— greeters, readers, ushers, acolytes, communion assistants, and so on. Beyond Rachel’s Day One day is not enough. The goal of Rachel’s Day is to serve as a beginning, a place and time to move participants to action. Gather a group of women to decide how your group will continue working on behalf of children. Suggested Actions Designate an agency in your community that helps children (day care, aftercare program, family shelter). In consultation, determine what kind of “in-kind offering” (tangible items) your congregation can collect to support children at physical risk—diapers, books, school supplies, art, sports equipment, or whatever. But don’t guess or assume; ask local agencies what they actually need. Then bring these items forward as part of the offering during worship. Host an open house and community forum. Invite local officials (government, law enforcement, education, day care and aftercare providers, faith community) to present practices and plans for children’s safety. This open house might also help build relationships within the community. Rachel's Day book 4/19/04 11:23 AM Page 5 Rachel’s Day Worship Suggestions Prayer for the day Look with pity, O merciful God, upon the children in this world who live with injustice, terror, disease, and death as their constant companions. Have mercy upon us. Help us to eliminate our cruelty to these our neighbors. Strengthen those who spend their lives establishing equal protection of the law and equal opportunities for all. And grant that every one of us may enjoy a fair portion of your bounty, through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. (Adapted from Book of Common Prayer © 1979) Or Lord God of our ancestors, we thank you for what you have done and will continue to do with our daughters and sons. Walk with them in life, and keep the evil one from obstructing their path. You see all; you know where the water is deep. Keep them from danger. Order their steps and guide their feet while they run the race of faith. May the good work that you have begun in them be brought to completion at the day of Jesus Christ. Amen. (from This Far By Faith: An African American Resource for Worship) Psalm and response Psalm 73 1 2 3 Truly God is good to the upright, to those who are pure in heart. But as for me, my feet had almost stumbled; my steps had nearly slipped. For I was envious of the arrogant; I saw the prosperity of the wicked. May I be true to the circle of your children. 4 5 6 7 8 9 For they have no pain; their bodies are sound and sleek. They are not in trouble as others are; they are not plagued like other people. Therefore pride is their necklace; violence covers them like a garment. Their eyes swell out with fatness, their hearts overflow with follies. They scoff and speak with malice; loftily they threaten oppression. They set their mouths against heaven, and their tongues range over the earth. Rachel's Day book 4/19/04 11:23 AM Page 6 May I be true to the circle of your children. 10 11 12 13 14 Therefore the people turn and praise them, and find no fault in them. And they say, “How can God know? Is there knowledge in the Most High?” Such are the wicked; always at ease, they increase in riches. All in vain I have kept my heart clean and washed my hands in innocence. For all day long I have been plagued, and am punished every morning. May I be true to the circle of your children. 15 16 17 18 19 20 If I had said, “I will talk on in this way,” I would have been untrue to the circle of your children. But when I thought how to understand this, it seemed to me a wearisome task, until I went into the sanctuary of God; then I perceived their end. Truly you set them in slippery places; you make them fall to ruin. How they are destroyed in a moment, swept away utterly by terrors! They are like a dream when one awakes; on awaking you despise their phantoms. May I be true to the circle of your children. 21 22 23 24 25 26 When my soul was embittered, when I was pricked in heart, I was stupid and ignorant; I was like a brute beast toward you. Nevertheless I am continually with you; you hold my right hand. You guide me with your counsel, and afterward you will receive me with honor. Whom have I in heaven but you? And there is nothing on earth that I desire other than you. My flesh and my heart may fail, but God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever. May I be true to the circle of your children. Rachel's Day book 27 28 4/19/04 11:23 AM Page 7 Indeed, those who are far from you will perish; you put an end to those who are false to you. But for me it is good to be near God; I have made the Lord God my refuge, to tell of all your works. May I be true to the circle of your children. Psalm text: New Revised Standard Version Bible, copyright ©1989 by the Division of Christian Education of the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the USA and used by permission. Also see the hymnal and worship resource This Far by Faith, published by Augsburg Fortress, for hymns, psalms, and other prayers you may wish to use. Rachel's Day book 4/19/04 11:23 AM Women of the ELCA 8765 W. Higgins Rd. Chicago, IL 60631-4189 Phone: 773-380-2730 or 800-638-3522, ext. 2730 www.womenoftheelca.org [email protected] Page 8