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Would you like to receive notice of each new sermon posted? Click here to e-mail your request to join The Children's Sermon's Mailing List. To download this week's sermon as a printable .pdf file, click here. NEW FEATURE: LISTEN TO THIS WEEK'S AUDIO SERMON Barefoot Sunday - A Special Audio Message from Dan Barefoot Sunday - Audio Sermon for May 24, 2009 Seventh
Sunday of Easter
Sunday, May 24, 2009 SPECIAL EVENT: Soles4Souls - Barefoot Sunday Dear Friends, This week TheChildrensSermon.com is taking a brief detour from the Revised Common Lectionary to encourage your (personal and congregational) participation in Barefoot Sunday, a unique opportunity to support Soles4Souls - an amazing charity that helps to provide new and gently worn shoes to individuals in need around the globe. Sunday, June 7, 2009 marks the national commemoration of Barefoot Sunday, an event that I hope that your congregation - like my own - will be marking. The concept is pretty simple. During worship on June 7th, children and adults will be invited to donate shoes to the charity and leave church barefoot (hence the name). In my own case, I'll be introducing the concept during the children's sermon on Sunday, May 24 to provide ample time for families to plan their participation. Note that if June 7 is simply too fast a turnaround to ensure your own participation, feel free to choose your own date. This is not only a wonderful cause, but presents a unusually concrete opportunity for young children to display Christ's love in a congregational setting. To learn more about Soles4Souls, visit http://www.soles4souls.org I've included a set of suggestions for planning your own Barefoot Sunday event at the bottom of this page. Should you choose to participate on an individual or congregational basis - particularly as a result of learning about Barefoot Sunday here at TheChildrensSermon.com, I'd love to hear about both your choice to do so and your local results. I'd love it if you might drop me a line. You can do so by clicking the Contact tab at the top of the page. Thanks for considering this worthy cause. Dan As we gather each week to talk about the Gospel, you've probably noticed that one of the things that Jesus speaks about over and over again is loving and caring for others. Especially those who really need our help the most. This is one of Jesus' most important lessons for us - and all throughout the Bible there are examples of how he chooses to show his own care. Often these strories talk about Jesus giving food and clothing to people in need. The feet also play a special role in the Gospel stories. People did a lot of walking in those days and so it was the custom to wash the feet of special guests. One of the very important stories in the Gospel of John talks about how Jesus washed the feet of his disciples as a sign of his love and respect. I'm reminding you of these things today because I want to tell you about a special chance that we're going to have to show our love in just the same way. Two weeks from today - June 7, 2009 - is National Barefoot Sunday. On this day you're going to be invited to wear a new - or almost new - pair of shoes to church and, like Jesus, we're going to gather up those shoes (give them away) so that we can send them off to other boys and girls who maybe don't have any shoes of their own. Did you know how lucky you are to have shoes to wear? There are children all over the world who don't have any at all - and so here's a special chance for us to follow Jesus' example and help others. And can you guess why they call it Barefoot Sunday? That's right! After we give our shoes away, we'll spend the rest of the service - maybe even the rest of the day - barefoot! Don't you think that'll be a great feeling to know how you're helping? And kind of a fun way to do it, too. Will you talk to mom and dad about finding a pair of shoes that might be good ones? Great. Can we pray? Dear God, Just as Jesus showed his love to those in need, prepare us to follow in his example as we look forward to Barefoot Sunday on June 7. Amen.  10 Steps to Coordinating a Successful Barefoot Sunday Event National Barefoot Sunday - June 7, 2009 Visit www.soles4souls.org for more information! 1.
Contact
Soles4Souls. A Soles4Souls representative will communicate with you via
phone
and email to cover Barefoot Sunday details. 2.
Secure
the date. National Barefoot Sunday is June 7th, however if this date is
not
practical feel free to change it. Also, keep in mind that we encourage
that
shoes be collected before and/or after the event. 3.
Ask
Soles4Souls for promotional materials. We will provide a collection box
and a
pack of brochures. Some scriptures that apply to Barefoot Sunday could
be used: Matthew
29:35-36 –
“For I was hungry and
you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something
to drink,
I was a stranger you invited me in. I needed clothes and you clothed
me, I was
sick and you looked after me, I was in prison and you came to visit
me.” (NIV) Romans
10:13 -
… As it is written, “How beautiful
are the feet of those who bring good news!” (NIV) Luke
15:22 -
“But the father said to his
servants, ‘Quick! Bring the best robe and put it on him. Put a ring on
his
finger and sandals on his feet.’” (NIV) James
2:14-16 -
“What good is it, my
brothers, if a man claims to have faith but has no deeds? Can such
faith save
him? Suppose a brother or sister is without clothes and daily food. If
one says
to him, ‘Go, I wish you well; keep warm and fed,’ but does nothing
about his
physical needs, what good is 4.
Plan
the collection. Will the congregation bring their shoes to the altar?
Will a
basket be passed around during service? Or will they just drop their
shoes off
in the collection box? Remember, the meaning of Barefoot Sunday is to
let your
congregation experience and understand what it is like to be without shoes
and walk around barefoot. 5.
Suggest
a special offering in order to raise funds to purchase new shoes. For
$2 or
less a pair of new shoes can be shipped around the world. The funds
could also
be used to offset shipping charges. 6.
Use
your local TV, radio, and newspaper to publicize the event. Also please
fill
out the attached press release and return so we can send out in your
local
area; similar to the one attached. Also, feel free to use its wording
for your
church bulletin . 7.
Process
the collected shoes by placing a rubber band around each pair and place
in
boxes for shipping. Please download, complete and include with your
shipment
the Donor Information form to ensure your receive the appropriate
acknowledgement. 8.
Ship
your shoes to our warehouse in Alabama, Tennessee, or Nevada. Contact a
Soles4Souls representative with any shipping questions. 9.
We will
process the shoes and ship domestically/internationally. 10.
Publicize
your results and express appreciation for everyone's participation.
Link up
with our Soles4Souls Facebook page by the state that you live in to
post notes
and pictures. Also contact Souls4Souls with the total collected number
or
pairs. Contact us at (615) 391-5723 or sunday@giveshoes.org. |
