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Jan./Feb. 2010 -- Dealing with Change
Due Date: February 3, 2009
A new year often prompts us to think about changes we need to make—getting rid of bad habits and taking up healthier ones. Making such changes is always challenging as we struggle with our natural tendencies to revert to our old, familiar ways. And perhaps even more challenging is dealing with changes over which we have no control. But change is an inevitable part of life, and our response to it often determines whether we are able to recognize God at work in the new circumstances of our lives. In this issue, we hope to help children begin to learn to live creatively and faithfully with change. (Writers, please note that this sort of theme usually produces many submissions on very “heavy” topics such as death and divorce. While those are appropriate, we also want “lighter” stories that can bring a humorous note to the issue.)
March 2010 -- Love your Enemies
Due Date: March 3, 2009
Jesus’ commandment to love our enemies has always been challenging, and it certainly remains so in these days of international terrorism. The purpose of this issue is not to debate complex global questions. Rather, it is to help children find alternatives to seeing people in their daily lives as enemies and to find peaceful and constructive ways to deal with people who treat them unkindly. How do children respond when they are the victims of bullying? How do they respond when they see others being bullied? How do they respond to those who are, for whatever reason, difficult to love? How do the ways we respond to such people make our world a better or a worse place? And on a broader scale, how can each of us express love for people who may not love us?
April 2010 -- Grace
Due Date: April 3, 2009
“By grace you have been saved through faith, and this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God” (Ephesians 2:8). Children have a strong sense of what is and isn’t fair, what they do and don’t deserve. But the Christian life is not about what we deserve. Paul’s words to the Ephesians guide us as we consider God’s grace shown to us in the salvation offered through Christ’s resurrection. What are the ways we experience God’s grace on a daily basis? And how do we respond to that gift of grace by extending grace to family members, friends, classmates, strangers, and the world?
May 2010 -- Cooperation in the Family
Due Date: May 4, 2009
Each year our May issue focuses on family life. This particular issue will look at cooperation in the family. What are some of the situations that require cooperation? How does cooperation in our families reflect God’s will for us and for the world we live in? If families are the basic community in which faith is lived and passed on, what do our family relationships say to the world about our faith? In our family issues, we always seek to help children affirm their families, whatever configuration those families might take. This issue might also help children see their families as part of an ever-widening circle of families that includes neighborhood, church, community, and ultimately the world.
June 2010 -- Peace
Due Date: June 3, 2009
Many children live surrounded by violence in their neighborhoods or, perhaps, even in their own homes. Even those who live in safe homes and relatively safe neighborhoods are affected by news and images of conflict and violence in the world around them. What does it mean to be a peacemaker in our everyday lives in such a world? How do we deal honestly and respectfully with those with whom we have genuine differences? This issue will attempt to answer those questions in a practical way, helping children to see that peace on a large scale is possible only as we practice it in our everyday lives.
July 2010 -- Being Yourself
Due Date: July 3, 2009
Each of us is created in God’s image and dearly loved by our Creator. Because of this, each of us is of infinite value and worth. We want this issue to help children experience this sense of belovedness and uniqueness. Grounded in this experience, we are more able to be ourselves, to accept who we are and how we look, and to accept our weaknesses and celebrate our strengths. Grounded in this experience, we are also more able to value the worth and uniqueness of those around us. Jeremiah 29:11 and Romans 12:4-8 are among the scriptures that can guide us as we consider this theme.
August 2010 -- Friendship
Due Date: August 3, 2009
True friends are one of God’s great gifts. Yet making and keeping friends can be difficult. How do we choose friends? What qualities are and aren’t important in friends? What does it mean to be a faithful friend? How do friends hold each other accountable? What happens when friends disagree? What happens when a friend wants to do something that is wrong? How do friends welcome new friends while remaining loyal to longtime friends? Do we have the courage to stick by a friend when others are making fun of him/her? How do we hold firm to our faith and at the same time be open to friendships with those whose beliefs are different? This issue will explore a variety of friendships and how our faith shapes those friendships.
September 2010 -- Responsbility
Due Date: September 3, 2009
God is a part of every aspect of our lives, though we often act as if some parts have nothing to do with God. Our routine and daily activities are a part of our relationship to God just as much as our involvement in church and church-related activities. The attitude with which we do our chores, the priority we give our homework, the attention and care we give our pets, our commitment to clubs, dedication to practicing a new skill—all are aspects of being a responsible disciple. We want to help children see their daily responsibilities as a part of being faithful to God.
October 2010 -- Prayer
Due Date: October 5, 2009
“I don’t know how to talk to God.” “How do I know God is listening?” “Why doesn’t God speak to me?” As we receive these and other comments and questions from children, we know they want to be in regular communication with God. Children are serious about prayer. They want to know how to have conversation with God. We do not want to prescribe a “right way” to pray, but rather to help them realize there are many avenues of prayer in which to pursue their relationship with God. We want children to understand that God can be a part of every moment of every day. Quiet time, journaling, breath prayers, objects found in nature, everything and everyone they encounter in a day can point to God. We want this issue to help children come to the understanding that living each day can draw them close to God.
November 2010 -- Serving Others
Due Date: November 3, 2009
Serving others is not a highly regarded concept in our society. It does not mix well with power, prestige, popularity, wealth, and individualism, which are all aspects of our culture. But being a servant was at the very core of who Jesus was and what Jesus taught. We need to give children a sense of what serving means in relation to the decisions they make each day. We are called to help children recognize that Christ lives in each of us and to give them concrete ways to serve as Christ served. How can we present serving in a positive, attainable light? How do we help children see that, as Christians, serving others is a part of our everyday living?
December 2010 -- We Welcome Jesus
Due Date: December 3, 2009
The December issue of Pockets takes on a life of its own as we turn to Advent themes such as waiting, hoping, journeying, giving, and sharing love, joy, and peace. This issue should help children begin to understand how Jesus’ birth, God’s incarnation, is made new for them each Advent and Christmas and how this sense of Emmanuel, God with us, guides our lives throughout the year.
Editorial Philosophy
The primary purpose of Pockets is to help children grow in their relationship with God and to claim the good news of the gospel and apply it to their daily lives. Pockets espouses respect for all human beings and for God's creation. It regards a child's faith journey as an integral part of all of life and sees prayer as under girding that journey.
Special Needs
- Articles about real children involved in environmental efforts, peacemaking, and helping others. Please send photographs of these children with your manuscript and indicate the name and address of the photographer. We prefer photos that show children actively involved in their project. Digital photos are welcome but must be 300-dpi for clear print resolution. Please include parents’ permission to use photos.
- One theme-based story for younger readers, ages 5 to 7, per issue. This story should be no longer than 700 words and should follow easy-reader guidelines.
- Interviews with well-known people, relating how their faith in God is important to them in their daily lives.
Deadlines
Please note the deadlines for submission. Late submissions cannot be considered.
For More Information about Writing for Pockets
Please refer to our Writers' Guidelines posted on this site or by mail with an SASE.
Annual Fiction Contest
Entries are received beginning March 1 and must be postmarked no later than August 15. Please indicate Fiction Contest on both the outside envelope and the cover sheet. There is no set theme and no entry fee. Stories should be 1,000-1,600 words. (Stories shorter than 1,000 words or longer than 1,600 words will be disqualified.) Please include an accurate word count on your cover sheet. Multiple submissions are permitted, but please only submit your best work. Past winners are ineligible. The winner will be announced November 1. Award: $1,000 and publication in the magazine. Entries with an SASE will be returned. If you have questions, visit our website at www.pockets.org or write to us.
Send All Manuscripts with SASE to:
Lynn W. Gilliam, Editor
P. O. Box 340004
Nashville, TN 37203-0004
Please do not send submissions via FAX or email.
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