For many years, Fred Rogers, a minister of Word and Sacrament in the PC(USA), invited children, parents, and other adults into his neighborhood every afternoon. Wearing his sneakers and cardigan, he addressed tough topics for children, including change, fears and feelings, separation, common childhood experiences such as hospital stays, sleepovers and daycare, differences, and peace and reconciliation. Over the years, the PC(USA) has drawn upon his work with resources such as “Peacemaking in the Family: Four Intergenerational Events,” “Building a Neighborhood Together: An Intergenerational Peacemaking Project” and “Won’t You Be My Neighbor: Intergenerational Sessions Built on Mr. Rogers’ Neighborhood.”
March 20 is Fred Rogers’ birthday, and the Office of Theology and Worship and the Presbyterian Peacemaking Program have provided resources for celebrating Mr. Rogers Day, which is noted in the Presbyterian Planning Calendar. These include “Walking in God’s Patch of Peace,” a worship service around Ephesians 6:15; a new hymn, “Jesus, Teach Us to Be Neighbors” and a “Quicksheet: A Beautiful Day in the Neighborhood” with 15 other ideas for Mr. Rogers emphasis day.
In the midst of a world where peace at times seems only a distant dream or a future hope, Mr. Rogers Day, in the season of Lent, offers an opportunity to reflect on ways to proclaim the gospel of peace and live as neighbors who work for peace.
You will find a number of resources, those listed above and others, to help you celebrate Mr. Rogers Day and God’s call to live as neighbors and work for peace at www.pcusa.org/mrogers. Scrolling toward the bottom on that page, you will find a “A Beautiful Day in the Neighborhood Resource Roadmap,” which provides information on all of the above resources and more.