Youth & Family Annual Report

January, 2012

By Jessie Twigg-Harris 

YOUTH 

For the youth program at Faith, 2011 was a year of solidifying the core group of regularly participating youth, exploring the ideas of faith identity and advocacy, and building relationships. Youth trips included: May Youth Weekend at Holden Village (10 youth, 2 adults), the Oregon Coast Summer Retreat (8 youth, 3 adults), day trip to the Seattle area for activities (9 youth, 3 adults). Youth fundraisers included: Valentine's Bake Sale, Easter Brunch, and ongoing Peace Gear sales (over $1500 in funds raised combined-which was applied to trips and activities). Youth activities and service opportunities included: weekly youth nights, Shrove Tuesday Talent Show, Church Lock-In, Serving CAST meal on the second Wednesday monthly, Youth Service Day on church grounds, volunteer time in the Community Garden, Bowling Nights, High School Discussion Forum (monthly-beginning Fall 2011), and a Youth Christmas Party.

Weekly youth nights went through a minor change this year, as a result of the group sizes changing with different waves of kids. The middle school group shrank significantly, as more kids graduated into high school and only one graduated into middle school. The high school group grew, for the same reason. Thus, during the summer, weekly youth groups were combined--middle and high school. When fall begin, the middle school group was so small, we created the following schedule: Every Wednesday night: High School Youth Group; First Wednesday of each month: Middle School joined H.S. Youth Group. This plan seemed to work well, as it continued to draw the middle school youth into the program but did not depend on their attendance.

In the past, regular youth attendance has been a challenge, however, over the course of this year, it began to increase consistently. I attribute this to two things: one-ongoing consistent program; two-the youth trips dramatically increased the strength of relationships within the group. Both the consistent program and the trips created relationships where there were none, stories where there were none, and drew friends into the program who had been previously uninvolved.

Each of the program activities, meetings, and trips this year focused educationally on the topic of faith identity and advocacy-who we are, what we're about, and how both change the way we live. Hopefully the education component has encouraged the youth to explore their faith identity through advocacy for others. Many opportunities for fruitful conversation occurred throughout the year, especially on the youth trips.

The youth program was successful in large part to the adult volunteers who gave their time, efforts and creativity to spend with the youth-Kevin Wolber, Carol Wendt, Chris Behee, Jodi Greene, Dan Daniels, Hannah Slater, and others. Thank you!

Goals for 2012 include holding a Chaperone Recruitment and Training Event, a trip to Los Angeles for New City Parish's Urban Immersion Program, a trip to Holden Village, ongoing weekly youth activities, increased opportunities for service work, and continued fostering of core relationships within the youth program.

FAMILIES AT FAITH

For families at Faith, 2011 was a year with ongoing growth and program. Faith again offered the Godly Play program for the children, ages 2 to grade 3. A day-training was offered here at Faith in January for volunteers willing to learn the program and work with the children--seven attended. Another core-training for Godly Play was offered this year at St. Paul's Episcopal--Faith had 3 volunteers attend that. The Montessori-based program continues to be a delight and an adventure. I have observed the children relish it--the materials are interactive, the room is specifically set up for them, and the adults during each session are trained to guide the children into discovering their own ideas, creativity, and organization. Overseeing and participating in the Godly Play program at Faith has been a true delight. The program is offered Sunday mornings at 8:45. Stories from Godly Play have also been used during council meetings, during the early Christmas Eve service, and to educate the parents.

In addition to Godly Play, a Sunday school class has been offered this year for children grades 4-5, taught by Jared Ogle. This was a unique class, as it was designed for only 3 children in the church for whom attendance was sporadic. However, the class combined elements of Godly Play with opportunities for creative response as well as some basic life skills. I am confident that when those children came, the class was a valuable offering.

A constant goal at Faith has been and continues to be full integration of the children in the life of the community. During 2011, families at Faith have consistently been involved in worship, Wednesday evening program, community garden work parties, the Fall Fair, the church picnic, the talent show, and other special events. Witnessing and supporting this integration is a remarkable opportunity.

As attendance of young families has increased this year, we have begun to strategize about reflecting that increase in the program opportunities at Faith. During 2011, planning began for a "Parenting at Faith" series for parents and parents-to-be-a Sunday-morning  forum which will incorporate elements of Godly Play for adults and conversations on the challenges of modern parenting and how the church community is a part of that.

COMMUNITY GARDEN

During 2011, I became the staff liaison for the Faith Community Garden project. This year, we built a fenced garden space with 12 large raised beds and 4 small raised herb beds (and room to add beds) and a separate water line and faucets; we invited the community to apply for garden space and join the garden committee; the garden made it successfully through its first season, providing fresh organic food for those who gardened there; we received many generous donations from the community; we logged over 700 volunteer hours on the project; we received 2 major grants (Community First! Gardens Grant and Thrivent Care In Regions Grant) and many private donor gifts; we hosted a block party for the garden-inviting neighbors and community members; we hosted a composting workshop at our garden (and have continued the composting project); and we are poised for another successful community gardening year in 2012! 

We are in the process of securing for 2012 a volunteer garden coordinator, to work with the staff liaison and help with ongoing efforts in running/maintaining the community garden work. Challenges for 2012 will be to explore additional grant money, increase community involvement, and get through another fruitful gardening season!

WEBSITE AND NEWSLETTER

During 2011, I became the layout/design/primary content editor for Faith's website. This project included a learning component for me, but I successfully updated the "look" of Faith's entire website; I added a link to the site for archived email newsletters; I periodically updated all program information on the site; and through photos and language, I have hopefully improved the clarity of the site and the way we represent ourselves to the public.

I have also been the primary designer for all printed publicity for the church in 2011. A major effort has been made to increase the quality of our publicity. I redesigned the program guide, created a program pew card, and designed and distributed publicity for all major events, including seasonal offerings, the Fall Fair, Christmas, etc.

During 2011, I have also become the newsletter editor. In the ongoing effort to update our communications, we purchased a year's subscription to the email newsletter program Constant Contact. This has allowed us to create a professional, vibrant email newsletter each month. Since the program also allows us to track opens, I am happy to report that the December 2011 newsletter had the largest number of "opens," and it has steadily increased throughout the year! We still also create a print newsletter-transferring material into a printed document. We mail almost 30 print newsletters to those who have requested it, and we make the print version available in the church narthex as well.

Faith Lutheran Church also has a Facebook page, which we try to keep updated as well!

It continues to be a goal at Faith to keep all communications/publicity quality and current. The Constant Contact subscription has been renewed for 2012.

Peace be with you all,

Jessie Twigg-Harris