Church is for everybody | Join us Saturday for a youth-led fundraiser!
News –
Dear Beloveds,
I’ve always been a church kid. Growing up in East Tennessee, I spent a LOT of time at church. I sat with my family in the front pews at 8:30 a.m. every Sunday morning. I sang in the church choir. I was a counselor at our summer camp. I ate pizza and played games with our youth group. I read scripture and assisted in worship. I strummed my guitar in the worship band with my friends. I participated in rites of passage supported by family and adult mentors. And, like every kid, I sprinted downstairs for the donuts in the social hall after every service.
While the church I grew up in was different from ours in many ways, I witness our young people here at First Universalist having similarly positive, affirming experiences at church. We often say that at church, every person is “whole, holy, and worthy, welcome and wanted.” We mean that every time we dedicate a baby and every time we host a memorial service, and we mean it in all the moments in between.
One of those in-between moments, our Coming of Age Ceremony, happened just last night in our Sanctuary. Our amazing, thoughtful, creative 9th graders shared spiritual statements they have worked on all year reflecting their beliefs and faith commitments at this point in their lives. Then, we, as a congregation, blessed these youth as full members of our congregation and offered them gifts to demonstrate our affirmation and support. This ceremony is a holy glimpse into their journey and brilliance, and it is a joy to remind these young people that they are held in love and pride by our entire First Universalist community.
Coming of Age, like all of our programming for children, youth, and families, is only possible because of the financial support of people like you. Without full funding, the ministries that create formative memories for kids at church—memories like I have, and memories like our 9th graders made last night—are out of reach.
Luckily for you, this Saturday our youth are putting the “fun” in “fundraising” and YOU can be part of it! Join us in the Social Hall for our Trivia and Talent Show Fundraiser from 5-8 p.m., planned and led by our Youth Leadership Team and benefitting our Children, Youth, & Family Ministries. Get your tickets today to celebrate our programs for kids and youth in a delightful, casual, family-friendly environment, with amazing talents from people of all ages and high-stakes fundraising incentives! Will Rev. Laura get pied in the face? Will the youth dump a bucket of water on my head? Join us, chip in, and find out. Let’s keep church what it should be – for everybody.
We’ll see you Saturday,