What an amazing summer it’s been! We held eight camps over the source of six weeks, welcoming well over 100 students, and we couldn’t have done it without our amazing camp staff of youth Fellows and college-age Interns. Hear their reflections and view our Summer Intern Yearbook here, and read a recap of these programs from Associate Pastor Kelsey Kresse here.
Read MoreWednesday, October 28 from 5:30-6:30 p.m.
Our annual “Trunk-or-Treat” event will look a bit different this year, but still provide opportunities for fun for the whole family.
In order to keep everyone safe, participants will drive thru the parking lot from the safety of their vehicles to view our display of trunks and characters. At the end, we will hand out a bag of candy from a safe physical distance. Feel free to make it extra fun by dressing the kids up in their costumes for the drive thru.
Volunteers are needed to:
Donate bags of candy (drop off in the designated bin in front of the church by October 21)
Sign up for a parking spot in the lot to park your decorated trunk, stand in costume or create a display. All parking spots will be physically distanced in order to keep participants safe. Everyone in your parking spot will be asked to please wear a mask and follow COVID precautions. You do not have to stand with your decorated trunk. We will ask all trunks to be in place by 5:15 p.m. and plan to stay in place through the end of the event.
We hope this provides a safe way for our community to celebrate Halloween and the opportunity for the whole congregation to be engaged in this outreach event.
Read MoreStep In, Speak Up! for supporting LGBTQ youth is a 30-minute online training to concerned adults to support youth who may be struggling due to harassment or exclusion related to sexual identity, sexual orientation or other differences. All three trainings are listed in SPRC/AFSP Best Practices Registry.
Read MoreIf you work with children/youth and are interested in short, engaging trainings that help prepare you for potentially challenging conversations, check this resource out: https://fairfax.kognito.com. In these 1-hour online trainings, users enter a virtual environment, assume the role of an educator, and engage in conversations with three emotionally-responsive virtual students that exhibit signs of psychological distress, including thoughts of suicide.
Read MoreHello, 7th-12th Grade Families,
I hope you all are doing well and staying safe.
This week Abiding Presence Youth Ministry will be kicking off our fall calendar. This week’s event schedule and the September calendar are below. Here’s a look at what is coming.
On Monday, September 21st 12 - 2 PM we will have our first-ever outdoor homeroom! Come to the church parking lot and bring your homework, laptops and/or whatever you need for asynchronous learning. We will have Wi-Fi in the parking lot so you can spread out and get some space or sit near your friends (8 ft apart of course).
On Friday, September 25th from 7 - 8:15 PM is Friday Night Lights! This is an event for students to come, have fun, play games, and be together as a youth group. This Friday we will be hanging out, playing games together, and talking about plans for the future. These will be happening ever 2nd and 4th Friday of the month.
Small Groups for 9th & 10th Graders and Abiding Fellows for 11th & 12th graders are opportunities for students to gather in small groups to connect at various times during the week.
If you have any questions, suggestions, or ideas as we head into fall, please do not hesitate to be in touch.
Blessings,
Mr. Jon
