What can you do?
Organize an Ecumenical or Interfaith Community Service. Download worship resources. 
Hold a Prayer or Candlelight Vigil for people infected and affected with HIV or AIDS in your congregation, community and around the world (For stories about our overseas church partners see the story “Pray for the people of Africa" from the Mission Yearbook.
Order or download “Africa’s Children: A Church Response to Children’s Issues in Sub-Saharan Africa," which contains Bible studies and stories about children. This resource can be used either in the children’s or adult’s Sunday school classes. Have participants discuss the issues that put many of the children at risk in Africa — poverty, lack of education, shortage of food and the high risk of becoming an orphan due to AIDS.
Do the Wrap! The Wrap project tells the story of home-based care in Africa through the pictures on the wrap. Each picture depicts a different aspect of home-based care through this beautifully designed cloth by the volunteers themselves.
Conduct education classes about HIV or AIDS and/or speakers from local AIDS organizations. You can look specifically at HIV and AIDS in the United States or you can select a particular country or continent to focus on.
Visit political leaders or write to them to make sure that they are keeping to commitments they have made for the care and support of people living with HIV and AIDS. Lobby them to increase their commitments. Check out the Presidential Initiative for the World’s Children.
Join the Presbyterian AIDS Network (PAN) to advocate and/or care for persons and families who have been infected or affected by HIV/AIDS and to learn about the seminary consultation.
Subscribe to the International AIDS Ministry’s email newsletter to stay abreast of HIV and AIDS advocacy issues, updates, reports and activities of U.S. congregations and overseas partner churches.
Take up an AIDS offering and give to ECO #862706 AIDS Crisis Overseas to support the AIDS work of the PC(USA).
HIV and AIDS activities of congregations and seminaries
On September 27 youth from Kwanzaa Community Church — the first African American Presbyterian Church in Minnesota — and other community partners painted the first 10 of 20 sidewalks across North Minneapolis with artworks reinforcing HIV/AIDS prevention messages. Teams of youth assisted by professional artists came together to create art utilizing the internationally recognized ABCs of HIV/AIDS prevention: A: Be Abstinent, B-Be Faithful/Be Tested and C: Consistent & Correct Use of Condoms. The messages especially targeted communities of color. A traveling exhibit is planned for this winter. Learn more.
In 2007 the Louisville Presbyterian Theological Seminary (LPTS) conducted a series of community events starting with an ecumenical worship service at the seminary. Other events included a panel discussion on HIV and AIDS issues and the role of leadership in churches and in counseling settings around HIV and AIDS issues, a film showing of “A Closer Walk,” and a World AIDS Day Memorial and Celebration. The Memorial and Celebration of Life Service, honoring those who have died and those that live with HIV or AIDS, included a light meal and fellowship, the lighting of a Memory Candle and a reading of the names of those who have died of HIV/AIDS. Red ribbons were distributed at each event.
HIV and AIDS activities of overseas partner churches
The synod office gathers on World AIDS Day 2007. Photo by Shirley Hill
One in every 20 persons in Cameroon is HIV positive. Among those hardest hit are women and children — the least likely to be able to help themselves. Therefore prevention is a high priority. World AIDS Day is one way in which the Presbyterian Church in Cameroon (PCC) is joining with the rest of the world in trying to raise awareness of this pandemic which is claiming the lives of the most productive members of society at an alarming rate.
Last year, the PCC celebrated World AIDS Day at the denomination’s headquarters in Buea, Southwest Province of Cameroon. Synod office staff donned in World AIDS Day T-shirts, joined students from the Presbyterian Secondary School in Buea and members of Buea Town Presbyterian Church to march through the streets of Buea singing songs, handing out red HIV ribbons and literature with information about caring for persons living with HIV in the home. More than 1,000 brochures and ribbons were distributed. In addition, more than 100 persons received free HIV testing. After the march, staff gathered at the synod office to share a meal and fellowship.
A poster for an HIV/AIDS Training in Muyuka. Photo by Shirley Hill
We would love to hear from you and know what your congregation, presbytery or seminary is doing to commemorate World AIDS Day. Email your HIV and AIDS activities to joy.raatz@pcusa.org. Pictures are greatly appreciated. Also, please tell the media so that others can attend your event.
Advocacy
Presidential Initiative for the World’s Children launched
Global Action for Children as launched an initiative that calls on the President to name vulnerable children and orphans a top policy priority in 2009. The Presidential Initiative for the World’s Children (PIWC) will:
- Consolidate, coordinate, monitor and evaluate the primary U.S. programs benefitting the most vulnerable children globally under the authority of one high-level ambassador answerable directly to the Secretary of State.
- Maximize taxpayer dollars and the impact through increased coordination and monitoring of current and new foreign aid programs for children.
- Support children in need while strengthening the United States’ image abroad.
- Promote U.S. national security by supporting the world’s most vulnerable.
Learn more about PIWC.
Give to ECO E051674 AIDS Orphan and Vulnerable Children in Africa to assist with the work of PC(USA).
Advent Calendar
This is a daily devotional Advent Calendar starting on World AIDS Day and ending on Christmas Day. This calendar provides an opportunity to join together with other Christians to remember the pain, hope and love of people around the world due to AIDS. Download the calendar.
Resources
Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.)
International AIDS Ministry – keep informed about activities of our overseas partner churches and our mission co-workers concerning HIV and AIDS.
Presbyterian AIDS Network (PAN) – Join PAN or find out about the Seminary consultation concerning HIV and AIDS.
Peacemaking Program – learn about the study/travel seminar to Malawi and South Africa.
International and Domestic HIV and AIDS fact sheets and multimedia
2008 UNAIDS Report on the Global AIDS Epidemic
HIV/AIDS in the United States (revised August 2008)
Wall-sized chart – a Global view of HIV infection in the world
Video – Voices from a world with AIDS
Photo Gallery
World AIDS Day Campaign Resources
Posters and the 20th anniversary card can be downloaded in five different languages. |
