As I write this, we’re in the midst of the rush to Easter, and all the craziness and joy that Easter brings. It’s not an easy time at First Lutheran, as we pray and look for answers to some challenging questions. Still, God is good, God is in control, and that’s plenty to be happy about! We are looking forward to a lot of our favorite things. How will God use these events this year?
We’re looking forward to the Youth Service.
The youth of First Lutheran will lead worship for the entire congregation on Sunday, June 5. So far, we’ve spent two Sunday school classes (and counting) exploring the readings and considering themes, verses, and connections between them. The youth and I have already learned a lot, and we hope you will, too. What will we do for the youth service? There’s only one way to find out… come!
We’re looking forward to VBS.
We’re planning to have Vacation Bible School with St. John’s, held at their church. We don’t have a date and an official theme (though I know what we’ll probably do and it’s really, really cool!) just yet, but we’re excited to work together again. We may be tempted to prefer the years that VBS is here at First. However, I’m pleased that is is St. John’s turn to host, and I hope you are, too. It’s a great chance to step outside out comfort zone and serve our neighbors and friends in a different setting. It’s important to share both the burdens and joys of hosting, and I know it’ll be a fantastic VBS!
We’re looking forward to the mission trip.
Our youth mission trip will be July 10-15 in Charleston, WV. We’re bringing twelve youth and three adults to serve and learn on FLC’s fifth consecutive mission trip. Eleven out of twelve youth are mission trip veterans. Some of us has served each of those previous summers, and several are returning to this specific site for the second time. We know all about the uncomfortable sleeping arrangements, awkward shower situation, challenging work, and summer heat. We know what to expect, yet we are more excited that ever.
Why is that? There will be fun, and new friends, and maybe we’ll get to go somewhere cool… but I think the thing that draws us back is the service – the chance to do meaningful work, and form meaningful relationships, and meet God’s people where they live.
Sometimes people ask me why we don’t serve here – isn’t there just as much work to do in Springfield? Going out of town and working with an established organization has logistical advantages, but the value of a far-away experience is more than avoiding planning headaches or seeing exotic places. (West Virginia is not exotic!) When we leave town, we step outside of the normal patterns of our lives. We can see God’s world with new eyes, and maybe – just maybe – those eyes will be a little more open when we return home. Plus, because we are away, we lose the distractions of friends, family, jobs, sports, and other commitments. We can focus on God, each other, and our brothers and sisters in Christ.
So we pile into cars and travel to a place where we sleep on the floor, eat boring food, visit the least exciting areas of the city, and barely get to take out our cell phones… and it’s amazingly awesome, because it’s about the people, and about our Lord Jesus Christ, who became a servant on our behalf. So we serve, too, and that’s why we’re excited.
It’s going to be an amazing summer!
Yours in Christ,
Erin