Matthew Skinner uses a phrase I have latched onto over the last two weeks: peering into autumn's transitions, we belong to one another. You can see more about what lies behind this comment in my sermon blogs over the last two weeks: Journeying Together, and The Tao of Mutual Accountability at relationalrealities.com.

Linda Griggs, our new Director of Christian Formation has been settling into the office and we have begun, what for me is an exciting conversation about new directions in our youth ministry. Thanks to the tireless work that Jen Potter, with the support of parents, has put into the children's ministry our Sunday school is in excellent heart. Our youth ministry is moving through a transition period as Linda and I begin to imagine new possibilities together. It is our hope to build on the good foundations established through the legacy of strong parental involvement in the youth program.

On the 1st, 2nd and 4th Sundays of the month the youth will meet at 11:30am. It strikes me that it might be good for me to do something with the parents, so I would like some feedback about how to make parental waiting time fruitful. We might use this time for Episcopal 101. On the evening of the 3rd Sunday of the month we would like youth and parents and other family members to meet at 5:30pm. Th program would center on preparing and eating a meal together. 

The meal would begin with the blessing, breaking, and sharing of bread and end with the blessing and sharing of the cup. In between, a spiritual learning conversation unfolds as through the medium of storytelling we explore the multiple story lines on one of the Sunday readings. The loose term being used for this approach is dinner church and I envisage an experience not at all dissimilar to a Jewish family Shabbat meal. For further information you can go here. I would warmly invite young people and parents to be open to experimenting with this process, learning as we go along.

This coming Sunday the education program begins in earnest. I look forward to see even more of you - in Church - this Sunday!