Homeless Sabbath December 14-16, 2018
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 third annual Homeless Sabbath Weekend December 14-16, 2018, on behalf of all people who are homeless in Union County!
Register Online for the Homeless Sabbath
Participating Congregations in 2018
On the night of January 23, 2018, 459 people, including 41 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 14th, 15th and 16th, 2018, 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,” which will be held on December 20th at 7 PM at at St. Mark’s Episcopal Church, 1430 Park Avenue, Plainfield.
We are encouraging all who will be attending the vigil to bring donations of new mittens, scarves and hats for families and children.
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
- Sample Bulletin Insert, which includes the community resources and
- Homeless resources in Union County
- 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.