I know there has not been a youth section in the newsletter recently, but we have been busy the last couple of weeks. Two weeks ago, we had our annual Kids in a Box event, where we slept overnight underneath the stars in cardboard boxes. We had a good turnout and had lots of fun setting up our boxes, playing games, having a midnight snack, and trying to see who could stay up the latest.
We raised money to be donated to Imagine No Malaria, and are still collecting for this wonderful cause. I would like to thank all of the volunteers who came out and helped chaperon the event, and to those who provided dinner and breakfast. Thank you to Kathy Bandy, Angela Romine, Tim Harlow, Jim Hanigan, and Charlie Williams for coming out to chaperon, and to Mel Willhite, Kaye Bandy, and Kelly Patterson for providing dinner, breakfast, and dessert respectively.
After Kids in a Box was over, it was time for us to turn our focus to a combined youth worship service that was held this past Sunday at Gussie Park here in Farmers Branch. This was another successful event, with multiple youth groups coming together and being in community with each other.
Originally, four groups were planning on coming, but after word was spread, it became a District event and in total, six youth groups form our District came out for this amazing event. Outside of our group, youth from Walnut Hill UMC, Christ UMC, North Haven UMC, University Park UMC, and Holy Covenant UMC showed up as we played games and sang together. The theme of the event was “Loving your Neighbor,” and three youth directors went up and spoke about what it means to do something that seems so easy, but at times could be very difficult to do.
After the three of us directors spoke, we invited the youth to share in a “Love Feast,” where they were to get into groups of five, only one other person could be from same youth group, and be in communion with one another sharing in fruits, cheese, and crackers celebrating the days of our early ancestors in the Christian faith. While they were sharing in the feast, they were asked to write a personalized letter to the immigrant children and youth who have been crossing the border into our nation from Latin America. When they were done writing letters and feasting, they were charged with taking whatever was left, and offer it to the other people playing in the park. There were easily at least 50 youth total who showed up, and it was fun to watch all the youth interact with one another, form new friendships and to step out of their comfort zone a little bit.
The rest of October will be a busy time for us, as we now continue to prepare for the Youth Sunday service and prepare to attend a conference wide youth group worship service, to be held at Highland Park UMC in Dallas.
We are need of wonderful people to offer and provide dinner to our wonderful youth on Sunday evenings beginning this coming Sunday, so if you would like to provide dinner, please email me, or sign up on the sign-up sheet right outside the church office. Also keep an eye out for our Youth Christmas Sale information coming soon. Details coming within the coming weeks.
Grace and Peace,
Bodie
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