HERE & THERE COLUMN

      Choose Between Winning & Worship

  Do parents send their children to weekend sports or do they go to their church or synagogue worship services?
  Some clergy in local churches have voiced concern that some of the weekend kids sporting activities interfere with worship services and family life.
   The Sullivan County Clergy Group comprised of four to five denominations in Liberty, Youngsville, Jeffersonville and Monticello have voiced their concern in a letter written to "youth league leaders."
  The letter states, "we are writing you with a request. We recognize the value of exercise, especially for youth, and the value of team play, working together to achieve a goal as these are both important lessons which guide our lives and help us become healthy citizens."
  "While we recognize that not everyone follows a faith, many do, and for those who do belonging to a religious organization, their faith is also important in the healthy development of their youth," the pastors noted.
  The member of the Clergy Group point out that Faith celebrations  take place Friday and Saturday evenings and Sunday mornings and although "it may not always be possible to fit every game in during non-faith-celebration times we ask that you continue to try to schedule games during non-service times."
  The Clergy group is also specifically asking that "when players miss a game or games because they are attending services that this does not impact their placement in future games."
  It's a fair request that players are not penalized and made to sit on the bench if they have attended their religious service.
  There should be harmony and cooperation between weekend sporting activities and worship services and cooperation should  be considered to schedule games  and sporting activities during non-service times.

                                                                                -30-