First Church is graced by amazing youth and a congregation
that has a wonderful tradition of generous spiritual, financial, and hands-on
support for our young adults. The dedication shared by Rev. Chris Mereschuk, the
members of the Youth Board, and the Youth Advisors is truly a blessing for all.
Of course, we could not accomplish everything without our volunteers, a
combination of parents and members, who round out the community-building aspect
of our work.
It is admittedly a board that requires a great deal of work,
but the return - the impact it has on the church now and in the future - is
enormous. There are so many things about which to report. Here are just some of
2009-2010 highlights, of which there are too many to list in this report. It was
another very busy, productive, and rewarding year for the Board of Youth
Ministry.
June and July
Meetings, meetings, meetings - I am extremely grateful to
Rev. Chris Mereschuk, Vice Chair Kathleen Swahn, and Treasurer Lynne Montgomery
for the time they spent with me during the months of June and July planning for
2009-2010. This is typically a time when Youth Board members catch their breath
after all of the work that takes place from September to June.
Heads Up! Hartford (HUH) - Talk to any of the youth who
participate in this faith-based camp and you will be overwhelmed by their
enthusiasm for the week they spend providing community service in the greater
Hartford area with neighboring urban and suburban teens. It is an integral
compliment to the Youth Mission Trip (an opportunity to travel great distances
to serve communities beyond Connecticut), as it builds awareness of needs close
to home while promoting diversity, leadership, and faith. Founded in 2004 by our
former Youth Pastor, Rev. Denny Moon, with the enthusiastic assistance of member
Macy Reid, HUH has grown by leaps and bounds (accommodating 95 campers from an
initial 70). First Church member Susan Davies Sit, the point person for HUH
Communications/Admin, and the Youth Board work closely to engage our young
adults in HUH activities throughout the year, to promote the camp to our
families, and to register our youth for the summer. The registration and
volunteer recruitment is no small feat, managed by Youth Board members Sharon
Conway and Sara Hokunson.
August
Many thanks to the Youth Board members for their willingness
to attend, as per usual, an "unofficial" meeting ("official" board and committee
meetings begin in September) so we could hit the ground running in September.
Among the agenda items:
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Planning the annual Junior High Fellowship (JHF)
and Senior High Fellowship (SHF) Rally Day activities which take place on the
same day as September’s Homecoming Sunday.
§
Gearing up for the infamous Glastonbury Apple
Harvest Festival potato booth in October.
Accomplishments
1. The introduction of a Google site for the Youth Board at
the suggestion of Kathleen Swahn.
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Enables sharing important information without
sending or sorting through emails.
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Facilitates succession planning, so that
outgoing and incoming members have a central location for the what, where,
how and when of each program or event.
Ø
Supports our church commitment to "going green"
by eliminating excessive paper.
2. The introduction of the Great Lakes Scrip fundraiser
also at Kathleen’s suggestion, and implemented and managed by Lynne
Montgomery.
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An opportunity for the congregation to support
the Youth Mission Trip while shopping!
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Cross promotion with other committees save the
congregation from trips to the mall!
3. The creation of a JHF and SHF Youth Leadership Team by
Rev. Chris Mereschuk to actively engage the youth in their programming.
4. The creation of JHF and SHF Board Liaisons (JHF Advisor
Carol Tiroff and SHF Advisor Dave LaFargue, who also serve as board members)
to facilitate communication between the board and the youth.
September
Rally Day - Both JHF and SHF events were well attended
with 35+ youth. Many thanks to Kathleen and Bryan Swahn for hosting the SHF at
their home. Rally Day is an exciting time for our young adults to reconnect
after the summer months and to welcome new peers to the programs. It is the
first step in building community among the youth for the year and for the Youth
Mission Trip.
Accomplishments
1. In response to a survey of parents and youth, Rev. Chris
Mereschuk and the Youth Board made a commitment in September to increase the
frequency of mission trips from bi-annually to annually.
2. The introduction of a new "Meet & Greet"
community-building program. In separate JHF and SHF meetings, parents and
youth were introduced to the advisors and board members, given an overview of
the structure, objectives, and calendar for each program, educated about the
significance and benefits of the Youth Board’s fundraising efforts to the
families, and provided an opportunity to ask questions, put faces with names,
and get acquainted with one another.
October
Apple Harvest Festival – The bad news: this year’s baked
potato booth did not net the funds anticipated (and crucial to fulfill our
commitment to an annual Youth Mission Trip) because the second day was a
rainout. The good news: we were able to supplement the profit as a result of
these efforts:
1. A baked potato sale with remaining potatoes held during
the Social Hour of the subsequent Sunday, spearheaded by Lynne Montgomery and
Jean Linderman.
2. The bar was raised on the Shares sales goal.
We thank the congregation for their generosity in helping us
achieve and exceed our goals. We are grateful for Amy Potter’s expertise, and so
appreciate her willingness to coach us. Stephanie Croswell receives the Shopper
of the Year award for her help with this event and all of the others requiring
countless trips to grocery stores near and far!
November
Mission Trip Shares – This year’s sale of Shares featured
a number of additional "dividends" for our "investors":
1. Engaging levels of giving based on the First Church
2009-2010 theme of opening our hands to our neighbors: Thumbs Up, High Five,
and Applause.
2. A NOLA pin to help spread the word about this program.
3. An invitation to a Shareholders reception following the
mission trippers’ church service upon the return from NOLA (this cost-saving
initiative, a reception instead of a dinner, also helped compensate for lost
profit at the Apple Festival).
4. A Shareholders Report with photos of and reflections by
each mission tripper about their life-changing experience - a keepsake, a
"showcase" of their hard work and contribution to the Hurricane Katrina
recovery efforts, and a means of promoting the Youth Mission Trip among
members and in the community.
December
The Christmas Pageant - Always eagerly awaited by the
youth who perform and the audience of young children and adults, this is a
beautiful, engaging, and meaningful event! If you have not had an opportunity to
view this production, please plan to attend in December 2010. So many thanks to
all who work behind the scenes to make the pageant happen!
February
Super Bowl Grinder Sale - We scored a touchdown with the
introduction of this fundraiser, thanks to a great game plan by Youth Board
members Tammy Spice and Carol Tiroff. Goooooo, team!
Mission Trip Send Off Dinner - 50 lbs of luggage
multiplied by 52 mission trippers, the presentation of the trip tees, a potluck
buffet, and photo opps!
New Orleans Youth Mission Trip - Oh, and Mardi Gras! In
addition to helping and meeting the homeowners impacted by Hurricane Katrina and
learning firsthand about their loss of lives and property, this year the timing
afforded a unique opportunity to experience the culture of the people the
mission trippers met and assisted. 43 youth participated on the trip, and each
gained 20 lbs (of beads!). The Youth Mission Trip is central to all that the
Board of Youth Ministry does throughout the year - fundraising, naturally, and,
through the guidance of Chris Mereschuk at weekly SHF meetings and retreats
(Silver Lake in the winter, Craigville in the summer), providing the foundation
for the teamwork required by the youth on the worksites. We are so grateful for
our Advisors, without whom the physical and spiritual teambuilding and work
could not be a success. "Applause" for the board members, families, volunteers,
and the congregation in supporting the Youth Mission Trip on so many levels.
April
Good Friday Vigil - Rev. Chris Mereschuk led the youth on
a spiritual journey with the Stations of the Cross, and a physical journey into
the bell tower. This is a special faith-enriching and fun-filled (albeit
sleepless) evening which the youth love, partly because it’s followed by the …
Pancake Breakfast & Easter Egg Hunt - This First Church
tradition is hosted by the JHF, and skillfully managed by Bob Ferrante, Chief
Operating Bunny. It’s a hopping event, the first in which the JHF is involved in
fundraising for the mission trips that will happen in their high school years.
Unfortunately, attendance was down this year so the Youth Board will look for
ways to get it back on its rabbit feet next year, and to recoup the financial
loss.
May
Confirmation - With Confirmation, the youth build on the
Christian Education they receive in church school, test their faith, and learn
about the gifts and responsibilities of church membership. Congratulations to
this year’s class as they confirm their baptism and become members of First
Church.
Memorial Day Weekend Craigville Retreat - Another eagerly
awaited SHF event, this trip to Cape Cod is the last opportunity for the SHF
"Class of 2010" to come together. Much of the focus is on recognizing our
graduating seniors.
June
Board of the Month / Senior Recognition / Faith &
Faithfulness Award - An action-packed service highlighting Youth Ministry
and our graduation seniors, without whom the undergraduates would not stay
engaged with the board’s programs. The Faith and Faithfulness Award scholarship
is given to graduating seniors who have been active at First Church, as
confirmed members, beyond their fellowship involvement. It is our way of
thanking them and wishing them well as they graduate high school and move on to
the next phase of their life journey (which might very well include the Adult
Mission Trip!).
Our involvement with the Board of Youth Ministry, and all
that it offers, has been a personally enriching experience for me and for my
family (my husband, Chris, like many spouses, is a member by marriage, and
everyone is so appreciative of his kitchen expertise!). To be surrounded by such
selfless and spiritual individuals - the board members, advisors, youth,
families, volunteers, and members who support the ministry - is truly a
blessing. I am also grateful to my son, Foxy (okay, his real name is Stephen),
for patiently enduring a year of embarrassment with his mom as Youth Board
Chair. But, as one of the graduating seniors having experienced four years of
SHF, he "gets it" - the significance of the Board of Youth Ministry and all we
do out of love for our young adults and First Church. Fellowship has been a
life-changing experience for Foxy and for my family. Thank you, thank you, thank
you, to our outgoing, current, and incoming members.
Respectfully Submitted,
Tora Buttaro
