Nativity is a very special community full of love and support for ALL people. Our youth are especially lucky to grow up in this environment and feel the support that comes from each of you. Many, many thanks for helping us nurture and teach them the power of faith.
The last few months have been a trying time for us all, including our young people. Events they have looked forward to have been reinvented to accommodate the necessary guidelines or in many cases cancelled altogether. Kathryn has been right in the thick of things, nimbly reinventing the children’s and youth program and finding new ways to keep their faithful bonds alive. In addition to doing a short children’s lesson every Sunday via video on Facebook, she’s held several Zoom youth groups to provide the kids an opportunity to visit with each other and have some fun.
One group that was affected more than most were our high school seniors, which prompted the first annual Adopt a Senior program. Each graduating senior enjoyed the added recognition and celebration bestowed upon them by their adoptive Nativity families. Thank you to all who participated!
We unfortunately had to cancel our summer ASP mission trip. Instead, we are volunteering with Inter-Faith Food Shuttle each week in July. HUGS (Helping Understand God through Sharing) Camp has shifted to a virtual camp taking place this month. This is a unique and powerful experience where campers with special needs are paired with one or more “helper” campers, who assist the special-needs campers with all the activities of camp life.
We also have Vacation Bible School currently in the works for later this month.
While we don’t know what the fall will hold yet, we are planning for future trips. In June 2021, our rising juniors and seniors will be going on a pilgrimage to Ireland to explore holy and unlikely places to encounter God and connect with their faith on a deeper level through mountain hikes, learning about the life of monks, and history of churches. Our middle school trip, Urban Immersion, will occur in the summer of 2022.
Thanks again for all you do to support our wonderful youth program!
- Stephanie Sumner