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Teen Scene
Extracted from the Christ Church Annual Report
The youth of this church come into our group as children of 14 / 15 years old. They grow and mature each year and walk away at the end of their youth group experience as amazing young men & women. Thank god I am here to be a part of it.
We had a whirlwind year last year. Much of our time trying to stay on top of what was involved with the many events we participated in through out the year. Fortunately we had four seniors who all had been with us four years. They were a huge help to the new adult leadership.
Some of the things we were involved in were, a fundraising concert that our group planned and put on, the annual meeting luncheon, helping with the pancake dinner, and more, for the Un – talent show / Shrove Tues. festivities, hosting several coffee hours.
Then there was the rollercoaster ride of planning the annual Mission trip, which this adult leadership team had never been involved with before. After the dust settled we found 14 of us on a plane to Cedar Rapids Iowa. We spent a very dirty week working in buildings that had been completely immersed by the floods that had occurred less than a year from the time we arrived.
Interestingly enough we stayed in Christ Episcopal Church, in Cedar Rapids. The people of this church were so pleased that our youth would give up there school vacation week, come all they way out there to help total strangers, that they did what ever they could to make us comfortable. I have to tell you we ate very well that week.
Everyone we worked with, in Iowa, was impressed with the amount of work our group got done. But even more impressive was the message of hope we left them with. God works in very mysterious ways, this year we got to see it in Iowa.
The Mission trips we go on are an unforgettable experience and they would not be possible with out the unbelievable financial support from you the people of Christ Church. You always seem to find a little extra when it comes to the kids, this year was unreal, you all really came through for us. From all of the kids as well as the adult leaders we want you to know just how much we appreciate it, Thank – you.
Another new fundraising campaign that we started was “Pennies from Heaven”. This is a year round program where a jar is left at the church to collect spare change. When we get a good amount, we turn the change in at the bank, take the money and half will go to our Youth Group while the other half is used to buy food for the Needham Food Bank. The first time we got approx. $600.00, we purchased $300.00 of food and got it to the food bank.
Upon the closing of last years group we lost six seniors, but we had five new members join us this year, we currently have ten regular members with five adult leaders. As you will see today are group is back for the annual meeting luncheon. We are also putting into high gear the planning for this years’ mission trip.
One of the things that our group is doing this year is supporting one of our past members who currently is with our Armed Forces in Iraque, Colin Harper. We are coming together to fill some care packages with items from home and Maureen Depp is sending them off to him. Most of our kids do not know Colin personally but the care and support is there just the same.
I also need to mention our adult leadership team who just never stop giving. Our newest member is Jennifer McCracken, we are so glad to have you with us. Maureen Depp, who has been there with me since I first started 3 ½ years ago. I could not be doing this with out her. She has so many great ideas and she is always available for me to vent to and the kids kind of like having her around. Then there is Betsy, she has been a God sent when it comes to the Mission Trip site hunt. She has made so many contacts over the last year and a half that our options are constantly improving. Then finally there is Peter. I appreciate not only his constant, behind the scenes, leg work to help out where ever we need him. I also appreciate the spiritual guidance he brings to our group, he is always seems to come up with just what we need.
Thank – you all so much, the youth of Christ Church is so lucky to have you.
God Bless,
Jim Prescott
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