I have lots to share with you in this post.
The schedule this Sunday is....
9:00-9:30am Worship
9:30-10:30 Adult Forum: Jim Nelson speaking about youth. See note below*
10:45-11:45am Worship
3:30pm-5:00pm Confirmation-Parents only
5:00pm-7:00pm Youth Group (From 6-7pm there is a mandatory mission trip meeting for youth and parents)
*About Adult Ed: Jim Nelson is a retired child and youth psychologist whose book Running on Empty, speaks to many issues confronting youth and their parents in a plugged-in culture of busy-ness, with expectations on young people from a number of fronts that are leading to disturbing trends amongst adolescents. Jim has asked that I invite you to come with any questions or concerns you have about youth and our current culture as a lead-off to the discussion.
Lastly, from the Stewardship Campaign:
Dear Friends in Faith:
As the 2013 Stewardship Chair, I have been asking members of
our church to share some of the Surprising
Gifts that they have received as part of their life in the Macalester
Plymouth faith community.
I wanted to share with you, parents of the youth of our
church, some thoughts from Anne Bushnell on this topic. Her thoughts echo what I've heard from many
parents and they certainly reflect our own experience raising a family in this
church. As you consider your giving this
year, I would ask that you reflect your own family's experience.
Rich Passmore
Dear fellow MPUC
parents of youth,
I was asked to think
for a bit about what Macalester Plymouth United Church has meant to my boys,
now 15 and 18, and to us as a family. This turned very quickly from a task on
my to-do list, to a rush of gratitude and an overflowing heart. From a bit of a
thorn, to a big, beautiful rose.
Counting the blessings
received from my kids’ involvement in Mac Ply youth programs… It’s so much more
than dropping them off at 5 o’clock on Sunday night for youth fellowship. It is
watching both of my boys get up in front of our trusting, loving congregation
and read their personal statements of faith as they step forward to be
confirmed. It’s an engaged discussion at the dinner table about marriage
equality, people who are homeless in St. Paul, and yes, even about what Jesus
would have had to say about it all. It is standing back while one of them
organizes leaf raking and offers up his pie baking skills to do his part in
fundraising for the mission trip. It is hearing the other explain a Bible story
(in detail I never knew), and being so glad he’s got this in his toolbox. It is
listening to them sing, and laugh, and learn about silence.
I am grateful for all
of the caring adults MPUC has brought into their lives, for our church’s
courage to offer Our Whole Lives sexuality education, for helping teenagers
learn to look outward as well as within.
Thank you, thank you,
thank you.
With love and
gratitude,
Anne Bushnell
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