Youth Ministries

Youth Ministries by Dana Jean

At our Zoom New Year’s Eve party, the Youth reflected on the year. While they lamented the inability to be physically together, they also quickly slipped into recounting positive things to have come out of our “virtual” group, and it was a longer list than anyone expected!

Quite simply, the Youth did not let the pandemic stop them. The group continued to provide safe, welcoming space (via Zoom), where we strengthened our relationships and even increased our outreach. Though the number registered for Sunday School decreased, from 42 to 25, Crossover on Wednesdays increased from 25 to 29. We even welcomed three new members! We also retained our volunteers from 2019 and added two more.

Crossover spent the summer reading about the “Five Love Languages,” tackling tough questions of faith, and doing games and crafts on Zoom. They also had a “Virtual LockIn,” attended the Poor People’s Campaign’s Virtual March on Washington, and had a “Virtual Sleep Out for the Homeless” raising almost $1,000 for Promise House. In the fall, the group shared Communion and an outreach project each month, enjoyed more games and crafts, and even talked about what Harry Potter can teach us about our faith.

In Sunday School, the group tackled the theme of exile hearing from “prophets” (church leaders) who encouraged us along the way. In addition to Sundays School and Crossover, we tackled a course called “Dismantling Racism,” and opened a group for high school girls to meet weekly on Zoom for fellowship and prayer.

The Youth Council continued to provide insight and leadership. The group was met with a challenge early in the pandemic as they were asked to give up their Youth Center for the school year so that Parish Episcopal School might spread out more safely. The Council rose to the occasion and decided that, as one member put it, “I don’t think it’s the space that makes us the Youth; it’s the people who make us the Youth.” In fact, the Council, all the youth, and our dedicated volunteers proved this to be true during this very unexpected and different year.

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Vestry Reports