Homeless Sabbath December 15-17, 2017
Join us for the Homeless Sabbath
Your House of Worship
No one should be Homeless for the Holidays
We are a group of caring people from non-profit agencies and interfaith congregations – Community Access Unlimited, Elizabeth Coalition to House the Homeless, Family Promise of Union County, Gateway Family YMCA, HomeFirst, Iris House, Monarch Housing and the Union County Interfaith Coordinating Council – who are asking you to please join us for a multi-faith “call to action” on the first annual Homeless Sabbath Weekend December 15-17, 2017, on behalf of all people who are homeless in Union County!
Register Online for the Homeless Sabbath
Participating Congregations in 2016
On the night of January 24, 2017, 475 people, including 55 people without shelter, experienced homelessness in Union County, according to NJ Counts, the Point-In- Time Count.
We ask you to help us by including prayers and readings in your service(s) held on December 15th, 16th and 17th, 2017, at your respective house of worship. On this weekend, we will collectively pray for all homeless people and for the commitment to end homelessness in our community.
We have selected this weekend to specifically align with “Homeless Persons’ Memorial Day Vigil,” hosted by First Presbyterian Church, 11 Springfield Ave. Cranford, NJ, on December 21st at 7 PM.
This is longest night of the year and has been chosen as a time to remember all homeless people who died in the past year because of their lack of shelter or care.
We have enclosed a Homeless Sabbath packet which includes:
- Talking points about homelessness
- Universal prayers and diverse faith-based materials regarding homelessness
- Information on the “Homeless Persons’ Memorial Day Vigil” December 21, 2017 7 PM, First Presbyterian Church, 11 Springfield Ave., Cranford, NJ.
- Sample Bulletin Insert, which includes the community resources and
- Homeless resources in Union County
For further information:
- Contact us via email
- Or call Claire at 908-272-5363 x 234 to let us know if you will be participating.
- Follow or join the conversation on social media use this hashtag: #HomelessSabbathNJ
As many of you prepare for the upcoming holiday celebrations in your home and congregation, please remember the many individuals, families and children who do not have a home for the holidays or throughout the year. Please give them a voice, hear them, help them.
