Youth Serving Locally
It is one of my core goals that youth
are given opportunities to serve their community and their world. And it is
also important that we go about doing this in a healthy, sustainable way.
In Our Congregation
The past couple of years I have looked
and prayed about ways youth could take ownership of their service. Typically
churches assign menial, annoying tasks to the youth, which creates a culture of
youth that detest service.
We have seen youth step up and serve VBS (largest group of youth served this
year...and LOVED it!), consistent service in Kid's Worship, and
performing skits for Kid's Worship on a consistent basis.
We have started recently incorporating elements of service in our UMYF
time writing letters to shut ins and recently adopting the
gardening responsibilities around the PGUMC sign. We also are
planning on building some small raised beds with herbs as well.
Where we are looking to
grow... with your help
We would like
more opportunities to serve locally in our community. We have done
this by serving food at local non profits with little participation. If you
have connections with folks that can point us in the right direction that would
be great. Anything from lawn maintenance to painting.
We would love for this service opportunity to be joint parents and youth as
well. If you can take ownership of this for us that would be great!
The Inside on Savannah!
I was very excited this past week when I received information on
some of the great serving opportunities we would have in Savannah.
Here are some of the awesome organizations that we will be working with...
Salvation Army: We work mostly in the
warehouse helping with donations, but we also may have the opportunity to help prepare and serve lunch and help
in whatever other capacity they need.
Boys & Girls Club: We
provide some much needed extra hands to the summer program that is offered at
this Club. They have lots of kids that are in need of lots of love.
City of Savannah: In Savannah we have
the opportunity to work with the city to do home painting for senior citizens.
The city provides the projects and supplies and we provide the labor. We also
hope that you are able to get to know the homeowner that you are serving.
Second Harvest: We will
partner with Second Harvest to help them organize and hand out food. They
supply local families as well as serving as a supplier for almost every
homeless shelter and soup kitchen in Savannah. Your group will get to
work with one of the main suppliers of food for the hungry in Savannah.
Youth will typically serve one
organization in the morning and then a different organization in the afternoon.
It will give them diverse exposure to a lot of great organizations!
Then at night we will have the
opportunity to visit the historic district of Savannah, tour one of the oldest
African-American churches in the country, go to the beach on Tybee Island, and
end our week with a community cook out at a local park!
We will be staying at Grace United
Methodist Church in downtown Savannah. I can't wait!
If
you could pray alongside me.
1. Pray for each youth this going on the
mission trip
2. Pray that this would be a life
changing experience for them
3. Pray that God would prepare the way
for us
4. Pray that God would send some more
middle school girls to go! We need more girls!!!
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| Skit Performing, Plant Planting, and Jumping in the Air....Sunday was a good day! |
