Parish Youth Sunday

My dear Parishioners,

I greet you all on this the first Sunday in February. Today is our youth Sunday, that time when our church gives young people space to develop their spirituality through leading aspects of our Parish worship.

We want to salute those organizations and ministries in our church that cater specifically to the needs and concerns of the Parish youth – the AYPA, Liturgical Dancers and the Guild of Sanctuary Servers. On this Youth Sunday I take this opportunity to commend those young persons who are currently making full use of the said Parish organization and ministries to help them to build a living relationship with God in Jesus Christ. I also use this Youth Sunday to salute and give thanks to the many adults and senior youth in our congregation who continue to make the time and extend the effort to support and encourage our AYPA, Liturgical Dancers and Servers Guild. Your support is valuable and all concerned appreciate it; please continue to work with our young people and children. Young people and children, even when they do not acknowledge it, can always use the help of more mature persons as they search for and seek to affirm the loving, caring and transforming presence of God in the craziness of our world.

I want to make a very passionate appeal for more of the young people in our parish to get involved with the AYPA and liturgical Dancers; I am pleading for persons to come forward to enlarge our Guild of Sanctuary Servers. Parents and guardians I ask that you encourage the young persons and children in your homes to get involved in this ministry. Serving at the Altar helps young people to deepen their personal faith and assist them in developing as disciplined and focused individuals. Most of all, the ministry of Sanctuary Serving brings them under the influence of God and keeps them from getting under the influence of gang, guns and drugs.

I firmly believe that this is the kind of positive development, which all parents, guardians and grandparents want for our children and grandchildren. If this is what we want for the young people and children in our homes and communities then we have to do everything in our power to get them into the right kind of programmes and activities. The AYPA, Liturgical Dancers and Servers Guild offer the right kind of influences that can contribute to the positive development of young people and children, get them in now!

Rev. Isaiah Philip