Children & Poverty: The Bishops Initiative

Prayer Guide: December 2004

Prayer

Prayer Focus: That all children will have hope.

• December 5-11: Pray for children who do not know the story of Jesus, the hope of the world, who was born in poverty.
• December 12-18: Pray for children who have been labeled by others as "hopeless."
• December 19-25: Pray for teenagers who carry deep wounds and cannot see God's vision of hope for their future.
• December 26-31: Pray for children who close this year with no sense of hope or celebration for a New Year.

Call to Action

Learn more by researching the Bible to determine God's vision of hope for all children, especially the oppressed, marginalized and impoverished. Begin with the story of the birth of John: Luke 1:5-24, 57-80. Read the account of Gabriel's announcement to Mary: Luke 1:26-56. Then study the stories of the birth of Christ: Matthew 2:1-23 and Luke 2:1-20 and the dedication of Jesus: Luke 2:25-40. Consider other Biblical passages for further study and reflection: portions of Exodus, the Book of Ruth, Jeremiah 29:11-14, Isaiah 65, Micah 6:6-8, Psalm 139, Psalm 146, the miracles of Jesus, Acts 2. Study others as well.

Identify issues related to hope for children in your own neighborhood, the wider community or around the world.

Act by using positive words in every conversation. Make a commitment to be a "hope-bearer" and look for ways to engage children and youth in conversations about their hopes for the future. Organize a "season of hope" for your congregation to study, pray and act. Include children as partners in the planning and implementing stages. Fill the church and neighborhood with God's words and images of hope for the future of children and youth.

Plan to look for evidence of hope in the experiences of children and youth in your church, the wider community and the world. Share these signs of hope with others.