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Hillside Street, Bennington, Vermont (802) 442-2559
"resolutely inclusive, spiritually alive, and empowered for ministry in the world." |
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YOUTH NEWS Posted: April 6th, 2009 @ 7:36pm
The Youth Group here at Second Congregational Church hangs out together having fun and learning more about ourselves and our Christian Faith. For the past 2 years, we participated in the Heifer Project, and learned about how we could help and support that ministry. Our Sunday evening meetings have focused on team building, service, and faith discovery. We are pleased that the youth are represented on the Board of Christian Education - Ian Nicol was nominated and voted as a member of this governing board within the church. If you have questions or concerns, please contact him.
Last fall, we decided we wanted to experience more about how we could support other community mission projects and travel outside our community to give to other communities. We reviewed several options, and decided to join up with Youth Works and travel to Calais, a small town on coastal Maine located on the St. Croix River and the Canadian Border.
We will be involved in 2 projects while we’re there. There will be some kind of work project, be it house painting, minor house improvement, gardening, or some type of community clean-up. The second project would be focused on working with younger kids in vacation bible school, working with residents in nursing homes, or some type of hands-on community interaction.
We are joining up with 70 other interested people our age from 7th grade to 12th grade, and their chaperones. Leaving on Sunday morning, July 5th, we will arrive and get ready for 4 days of intense, active, and exciting adventure to challenge our faith journey. While the focus is on the work and interaction with the community, we also will have time in the evenings to do fun activities such as community cookout and other events, an evening boat cruise, as well as fellowship with the various other youth groups going to Calais, and programs set up by Youth Works.
So we formed a trip mission team of which we are all a part of. Each of us examined ourselves, talked with parents, prayed, and checked our calendars to decide at what level we would commit to. Some chose to stay here and support the team from home.&nb sp; Others chose to go traveling, share ourselves in the projects of Youth Works, and then come back and share those insights with the whole team. That team consists of: Amanda*, Emily*, Michelle*, Sam, Leah, Rachel, Kinsey, Trenton, Jeff*, Ian*, Alec*, Dave*, Lori, Adrian* and Karen*.
[* Youth Works Travelers to Calais, ME}
How can you help besides praying for the team? For the traveling team, each needs to raise $300. We have decided on many projects in order to raise funds. March 15 saw the first Potato Brunch fundraiser for the Youth Group in order to pay for their mission trip. We want to send a big shout-out to everyone who came and ate, as well as all the people who just made a donation. Funds raised totaled $481.51. The rock-athon this year raised over $600. We have a member of the church family who has pledged $20 toward each youth member attending. We also have a dessert auction right afte church on June 28th, a car wash on June 6th is the car wash fundraiser in the parking lot at Pizza Hut from 10-1, and a quilt auction.
We will be departing for our mission trip to Calais July 5th from the church parking lot with a blessing from Mary and anyone else who would like to join in with the send off.
These young people are an extension of all of us, and your words of praise and encouragement have inspired them, and they, in turn, continue to inspire all of us! Please carry on a conversation with these bright, intelligent, and curious young adults - you will find it illuminating! We meet on Sunday evenings from 6-8 in Webster hall. Contact DLIANICOL@aol.com. or call 442-3940 and ask for Dave or Lori is you have any other questions. We are also working together wiht the Christian Education Committe to offer a confirmation mentorship experience for the young adults of our church, All adults looking for a meaningful experience (including fun, silliness as well a faith journey) with the middle and high school youth of this church are welcome to come for a visit and/or to help out with the leadership responsibilities!
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