The youth can do it

Throughout my 20 years in ministry with teenagers, I have been approached by individuals and groups of Episcopalians with different kinds of projects in their minds or hands, saying to me, “The youth can do it.”  The reality is, however, that most often, the youth cannot do it. They cannot take on all the projects adults in the parish want them to do or think they should do. Let me tell you why.

There is nothing wrong with many of the projects or activities suggested by adults. The main issue is the actual amount of time the youth spend at the church. These days, teenagers are very over-scheduled. Besides school, they have extra-curricular activities like sports and dance. They have a social life too, which is very important for young people’s development.

Church is part of the lives of many youth, and we are happy to have them in our midst, attending youth group here at St. Andrew’s. For most of them, church and youth group are the only places they get any kind of Christian formation outside of the home. Here they learn about the movement of God in their lives and what it means to be a Christian.

The time the youth spend at church each week is very limited. Therefore I carefully plan each EYC meeting to ensure that we have time for lessons about our faith in Christ and discussions about issues youth face today, like bullying and stress, and opportunities for our young people to strengthen their social connections with each other.  Attendance at EYC is greatly affected by school calendars and also by the parish calendar itself. Consequently church time with our teenagers is very limited, and each EYC meeting is only 2 hours long and full. That’s why there is not a lot of time to dedicate to other projects.

Please know that when I say “no” to your suggestion of a project for our youth to take on, it is because I am carefully guarding the precious hours they have here for formation and spiritual growth.

Next time I will share with you what goes on during EYC meetings.

The Rev. Lorna Williams

Worship Liaison Report

Work willingly at whatever you do, as though you were working for the Lord rather than for people.  Remember that the Lord will give you an inheritance as your reward, and that the Master you are serving is Christ. - Colossians 3:23-24

On any given Sunday at 8 AM, I have the privilege and joy to serve as a Lay Eucharistic Minister, Lector, Acolyte, and/or on an Altar Guild Team or Coffee Team.  And now I am St. Andrew’s Vestry liaison for Worship – the same area that brings me such joy!

Worship ministries at St. Andrew’s have a lot to offer with amazing leadership for each: Altar/Flower Guilds (BoBo Smith); Chalicers, Lectors, Memorial Garden (Bill Wilds); Acolytes (yours truly); Ushers (Dick Barnwell); Sound Techs (Rachel Roby); Choir (Brad Norris); Liturgical Dancers (Pat Woodbury).  These ministry leaders along with their volunteers work to make sure our weekly services run smoothly, seamlessly.  In liaising for my first Vestry Worship report, though, there were two common themes expressed: 1) continue to hone skills with the goal to do as perfect a job as possible, and 2) the NEED for more volunteers.

Case in point:  We are blessed to have our young acolytes.  I schedule the acolytes for the 10:30 AM and special services.  Adult parishioners serve as acolytes at 8 AM because we no longer have enough young people for both services.  When next year’s seniors graduate from high school, with no new acolytes, we will have only seven to fill four positions each Sunday every month.

How can you help make sure these ministries will continue?  How are you involved with Worship at St. Andrew’s?  How are you using your God-given talents, or the willingness to learn something new, in service to the Almighty?

Tonia Graves

Communications Liaison Report

This is an exciting time in the ministry of communications!  Digital tools give us the ability to share the Gospel not only with our neighbors down the street, but with the whole world.  Websites, social networks, video, web conferencing, and other digital media enable us to extend our ministries in new ways.  How can we best make use of them?

St. Andrew’s Communications Team manages our website, Facebook, Instagram, and the Main Street lobby TV.  Our goal is to do more than just share information – we want to provide spiritual content too.  The website includes a page of prayer and devotion resources and a page for current outreach projects in need of volunteers.  Our Instagram features daily prayer.  Last November on Election Day, prayer was offered every hour on the hour, all day long, on Facebook.  An Advent Calendar on Facebook and Instagram offered daily prayers and prompts for activities.  During Lent we’ll be doing online Stations of the Cross several times on both Facebook and Instagram.  There are so many more opportunities, and that’s our challenge!

Everyone can be a part of this ministry in some way.  Follow St. Andrew’s on Facebook and Instagram, like and comment on our posts.  Share what’s going on at St. Andrew’s and what your church means to you on your own Facebook, Twitter or Instagram.  If you’re excited or intrigued by the ministry possibilities of social networks, photography, video, or any other media, join the Communications Team!  Contact Ann Turner, caturner62@cloud.com or 407-1254. 

Ann Turner

The Great Litany

On the first Sunday of Lent, March 10, we will pray The Great Litany during the opening procession at both services.  The Great Litany is an ancient form of intercessory prayer, first used in the 5^th century.  Because of its penitential nature, it is especially appropriate in Lent.  The Litany begins by calling upon the Triune God to have mercy on us; continues with petitions for protection from evil and disaster; invokes Christ’s saving work; and includes many general intercessions, including the plea for God to forgive our enemies, persecutors, and slanders.  You can find The Great Litany on pages 148 to 153 of The Book of Common Prayer.  I encourage you to spend some time with it prior to Sunday. The Great Litany is not a prayer for the faint of heart, but it is a fabulous prayer for those who truly want to turn their hearts again to God.  May that be our aim in this holy season.

Outreach Liaison Report

As a new vestry member, it's exciting to see firsthand all the different ways St. Andrew's participates in outreach in our community. The discernment meetings where we have welcomed our neighbors and non-profit leaders have fostered a sense that our doors are open to meet the community's needs. Lynne Finding of LINK and Angela York of THRIVE Peninsula attended several meetings and provided thoughtful feedback on the needs they see in their ministries. We are steadfast partners of both organizations, which help many in our area who are often overlooked - LINK with a focus on affordable housing and services for the homeless, and THRIVE providing emergency aid to those facing eviction or utility cut-off, while offering resources to become self-sustaining. We are fortunate to have these hands-on organizations at work in our community. We partner as volunteers and the church pledges support for both missions each year. In fact, our February 24th Evensong collection of $323 will be divided between the two. There are many opportunities to volunteer and contribute, for anyone who is interested.

Allie  Wittkamp