The African American Lectionary Launches Material to

The African American Lectionary, a free online resource which highlights the African American ecclesial traditions and the liturgical calendar in African American churches, has launched new material focusing on Youth Sunday designed to address youth violence.
Nearly 50 percent of African American children live in poverty, while 63 percent of black youth grow up in single parent homes. Youth Sunday is significant because too often, African American youth are exposed to negative images of themselves and the church is able to provide programs for African American youth recognizing them for their positive contribution to society.
Youth Sunday, which the Lectionary lists on June 13, 2010 (but can be celebrated at any time), kicks off a week of youth-oriented activities. Youth Sunday serves as an occasion in the African American church where youth are recognized for their achievements, encouraged, and provided instruction to become leaders in the church. This year one focus for Youth Sunday by the Lectionary is Addressing Youth Violence.
"Our goal is to provide resources to the African American community which emphasizes how the Bible can be used to address the current relevant realities of the black community," Reverend Martha Simmons, Creator and Director of The African American Lectionary said. "The African American Lectionary is seizing the opportunity to denounce violence and the fear that shapes the realities of too many African youths. Youth violence is one of the greatest challenges now facing the Church."
"Our goals is to design highly constructive events that give youth alternatives to other activities they might be engaged in", said twenty-three year old Reverend Willie D. Francois, a Harvard Divinity School student and Guest Cultural Resource Commentator to The African American Lectionary. "The focus of Youth Sunday in the African American church has been a long-carried tradition for more than 50 years. The old African American adage, "It takes a village to raise a child" rings true for youth."
The African American Lectionary provides lectionary commentary, worship resources, and cultural resources for worship leaders in African American churches to reference when planning church events focused on Youth Sunday activities. The African American Lectionary gives churches that recognize youth and teen violence as an issue the tools they need to address the problem.
The lectionary commentary for Youth Sunday was provided by Eboni K. Marshall, Guest Lectionary Commentator and Assistant Minister for Christian Education at Abyssinian Baptist Church. As Assistant Minister for Christian Education, Rev. Marshall has made great strides in growing and transforming the youth ministry programs at Abyssinian Baptist Church in Harlem, NY.
Visit http://www.theafricanamericanlectionary.org/calendar.asp to download any of the FREE preaching commentaries, worship and cultural resources; the website contains more than 3,500 pages of material Since its inception in 2007, the project has met the needs of many clergy members and served as an innovative way to obtain socio-cultural information and sermons on issues facing the African American faith community. The lectionary has had more than two million unique hits,