This is one time during the church year when we draw attention to the reality that abuse, in various forms and in various ways, is a part of our church communities. The resources on this page are designed to help us recognize abuse and explore how we, as a church, can respond.
- Abuse Awareness Display Flyer, click here
- Why does my church need to be concerned with abuse? (click here)
- Letter to the pastors, click here
- 2011 bulletin insert - Is it Abuse? (preview or order from Faith Alive)
We hear stories about it in the news, it's a hot topic in the media, it's everywhere. It involves celebrities, athletes, students, politicians, or maybe the family sitting next to you at church. When is it an affair? When can it be defined as abuse? The answers may not always seem clear.
Previous bulletin inserts:
Each year the Office of Safe Church Ministry creates a bulletin insert on a variety of topics related to abuse. These inserts are provided to churches free of charge and provide a good introduction to various topics. Please consider making them available in your church information or gathering area. They may be ordered through Faith Alive. For previous bulletin inserts, click here.
Church Service Resources:
Many churches offer special services on Abuse Awareness Sunday. The resources below are designed to be used as they are or to provide ideas for designing your own Sunday service.
Litanies:
Bless the children - Mark 10:16
Hands Shouldn't Hurt - Jeremiah 22:3
Live as children of Light - Ephesians 5: 8-9
Dramas: Order from Faith Alive; Limit one copy of each drama per church.
Pulling Punches Drama - a drama about domestic violence, written for two characters.
Freedom Drama - a monologue that describes the devastating impact that control has on a marriage or on other relationships.
Prayers: Available in PDF format or ordering from Faith Alive.
A Survivor's Prayer - PDF or Faith Alive
A prayer for survivors of abuse to give words to their anguish and their lament to God.
Abuse Prevention Prayers and Confessions - PDF or Faith Alive
Prayers and confessions appropriate for the church's ligurgy.
Sermons:
Sin in the Community
By Rev. Andrew Beunk, based on Ezra 9 and 10 (selected verses) Abuse in its various forms - emotional, physical and sexual - is a secret sin, so secret that sometimes we think "this never happens in my family or in my church or in my community.
You are the Man
By Rev. Sean Baker, a sermon based on 2 Samuel 11-12
Abuse: Still not getting it
By Rev. Robert A. Arbogast, a sermon based on 1 Samuel 11:1-6a, 15b, 26-27
Group Discussion Resources:
Engaging people in discussions of abuse is difficult because we'd rather not talk about it. Using created scenarios, or true stories can help people see things from a different perspective and create opportunities for creative dialog and exploring new ways of thinking about an issue. The resources below are designed to promote small group interaction around themes of abuse and Safe Church Ministry.
