Youth News
Christian Education Report
A LITTLE BIT OF THIS,
A LITTLE BIT OF THAT…
Kentucky Mission Trip
Every year before we leave our week in Kentucky at the work camp, we gather together in “Frannie’s Place”, a beautiful gazebo that was donated to the school by an admirer of Frannie Millward the 85 year old woman that leads us in Kentucky. And for the past 5 years, Patrick Nicolino, the youth minister at Elyria has led us in worship and reflection. This summer, I was especially taken with what Patrick had to say, so…
Patrick began with telling us the story of the wedding in Cana from John 2: 1-10. This was the first miracle of Jesus. You remember it, Jesus, his disciples and his mother were at the wedding in Cana when the wine ran out. Jesus’ mother went to him and told him of the problem. After a short discussion with his mother, Jesus called the servants to bring six jars of water and take them to the man in charge of the feast. The water had turned to wine…very good wine.
Patrick reminded us that Jesus had not gone to the wedding to perform a miracle. But his mother had asked for help. Sort of like when we go to Kentucky. We don’t go there to perform miracles. We go to do what we are asked to do. It’s just that sometimes when we go, the smallest things we do seem to make a miracle for those we work with and for. It was not difficult for Jesus to turn the water into wine. It is not difficult for us to make the lives of those we meet in Kentucky so much better. And likewise, it is not difficult for our lives to be made better. As we share our talents and energies, we get so much more than we give. And that’s what mission work does for each of us who go.
Kids at Church
Sunday school has started, and the theme we will be touching on from time to time is Fruit of the Spirit. There are nine of them: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. They are all listed in Galatians 5:22-23a. As I look over this list, I realize I need to revisit them and see where they stand in my own life. Time to do some changin’. Sunday school isn’t just for the kids, is it?
XOO has also started with a family dinner on the same night as FLOC. We finished up the leftovers from the inside “outdoor worship”. Then when the FLOC members went upstairs for their meeting, the children stayed downstairs in the social hall for “Minute to Win It” games. Lots of fun; those kids are pretty smart and talented. The XOO kids will be talking a lot about the Fruit of the Spirit for the remainder of the year.
Mission 1
I invite all of you to join with the Youth Group and be a part of the wider church Mission 1. Mission 1 is an opportunity for each of us to “live out our faith--in unity--by offering the worship that God most desires from us: loosening the bonds of injustice and sharing our bread with the hungry”. Statistics tell us that worldwide, 925 million people still suffer from chronic hunger. In the United States alone, 50.2 million people, including 17.2 million children, are food insecure. These numbers are higher than ever before. We can be instruments of change.
So, for the first eleven days of November, from 11/1/11-11/11/11 UCC congregations, colleges, seminaries and health and human service agencies will work together to collect more than 1 million food items for local food pantries, collect $111,111 in online donations for neighbors in need, and write 11, 111 letters to Congress in support of Bread for the World’s 2011 Offering of Letters.
The youth are discussing in what way they want to be involved in this. Watch and listen for further details. As Rev. Painting said when he was with us on September 11, one of the items he learned from Sunday school was ”When you see someone in need…help”. We will.
Pop Tabs
I have heard for years that Children’s Hospital in Akron would accept pop tabs from the top of aluminum cans. The tabs are turned in to purchase items for the Ronald McDonald house there. And from time to time I collect them from friends and family and give them to one of the educators I know whose church is collecting them.
Well, I have put a plastic jar on the table outside the Conference Room for us to collect pop tabs. Seems as if Children’s Hospital has touched one of our children in a most positive way recently. I know that many of you drink soda from cans, so before you recycle the can, pull off that tab, make a little pile somewhere, put them in a baggie, something, and bring them to church. Let’s see if we can fill that jar!
Shareholders’ Luncheon
It is time to say thanks. Thanks to all the very supportive folks of St. John’s who have sponsored the youth of the church as they traveled to Synod in Tampa and to the work camp/mission trip to Lotts Creek, Kentucky. Our annual Shareholders’ Luncheon will be held Sunday, October 9 immediately following worship. The luncheon is open to the Shareholders and all members of the church as a way of saying thank you for your confidence and love. So mark your calendars to join the youth as they share the stories of their adventures of this summer. Please check the Friendship Register or call the church office with your reservation by October 6. See you there!!!!
