Family & Children

A blessing service for children and youth

As long as violence against children and youth continues, you are encouraged to copy, update, and adapt this service of blessing for use in your congregation.

Materials needed:

• a large Christ candle and candle lighter;
• cutouts of children's hands for each adult worshiper (die-cut hands of various skin colors can be purchased from stores that carry multicultural materials);
• pencils or pens;
• collection baskets;
• two readers.

Worship Leader 1: As a symbolic response to the escalating violence, especially the violence being done by and to our children and youth, let us now enter into a time of blessing for the children and youth of our community.

Worship Leader 2: 1996, Moses Lake, Wash.; 1997, Pearl, Miss.; Bethel, Ala.; West Paducah, Ky. 1998, Jonesboro, Ark; Edinboro, Pa.; Pamona, Calif.; Fayetteville, Tenn.; Springfield, Ore. 1999, Littleton, Colo.; Conyers, Ga.; Granada Hills, Calif.

Every year there are 365 Columbine High School tragedies because every day in the United States an average of 14 children and youth are killed by firearms in this country. We have expressed our shock, our fears, our confusion about what is happening. We have cried and grieved and blamed and prayed. If the journey is to continue, we cannot assume it is someone else's responsibility to stop this violence. We are people of faith, and as such, we are called upon to cherish the young and that means protecting them. Protecting them from participating in and being victims of violence. Each and everyone of us must personally commit to some specific action to address this issue, so that together we can make a difference in the lives of today's young people.

Worship Leader 1: Let us, members of (congregation name) light this Christ candle and begin a special time of prayer and action on behalf of the children and youth of our community.

[Have a child light the Christ candle.]

[Invite all the children and youth to come forward and silently gather at the front of the sanctuary.]

As you entered the sanctuary today you were handed a paper hand cutout. Please take out that paper hand now and as you watch this silent procession of children and youth, consider what specific commitment(s) you will make to end the violence. Write your commitment(s) on your paper hand as your blessing of these young people.

[Allow time for the children and youth to gather and for the adults to write their blessings and then ask the congregation to stand.]

At the end of the service you may leave your commitments in the designated baskets at the back of the sanctuary. For now let us symbolically surround these children and youth with our commitments by raising our hands, palms up, holding our blessings and reaching toward these young people with our specific commitments to love and protect them.

Worship Leader 2: Let us pray.

[Offer a prayer that lifts up the particular concerns you have for the children of your community.]

Worship Leader 1: To all of you who came forward to receive this blessing, thank you. We give thanks to God for your presence with us. We are grateful for who God made you to be now, and for who you will become in the future.

This service has been adapted from the blessing service written by Kaye Edwards, director of Family and Children's Ministries, Disciples Home Missions, for the 1999 General Assembly of the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) meeting in Cincinnati, Ohio, Sunday, October 10, 1999.

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