Grace Lutheran Church experienced many blessings this year in the area of Youth and Family Ministry.  I had the privilege of developing and implementing new groups, events and strategies in the process of continuing to build the body of Christ.

Sunday mornings were active with Sunday School (including new curriculum for this year) and Sunday nights found the youth active in Bible study, fun/fellowship, and mission projects. Wednesday night Grace Prime Time involved youth in Kids’ Klub and in Confirmation classes.   We renamed our youth, SEEDS OF GRACE (a name chosen by the youth themselves). The parish nurse and I began a Caregivers’ group on Thursday evenings and are in the process of implementing a Health and Wellness program for various days during the week.  A singles’ ministry involving multiple churches was coordinated as well.

I reinstated the Lenten Soup Supper as well as the Thanksgiving Dinner at Grace (both events were very well attended and I have been asked to do them again).  The Pancake Breakfast will begin the 3^rd week of January.  In addition, we assisted Habitat for Humanity this year with housing of university students and with preparing lunches for onsite workers.

We had a fabulous Vacation Bible School in June that involved whole families in learning about the culture portrayed in the Bible.  The summer season saw us going to Confirmation Camp and going to the WOW mission program in Knoxville.  Also, we went to see the Children’s Holocaust Train Car in Whitwell, TN (quite a moving experience for 21 of us).

I attended two training programs this year.  I spent 3 weeks at Lutherock and received a certificate in Youth and Family Ministry in conjunction with Wartburg Seminary.  I spent 2 days with the Catholic Diocese of Knoxville being trained to facilitate Sexual Misconduct Training.  I spent 5 days with people from the Southeastern Synod concentrating on Health and Wellness.

I believe this has been a successful year for youth and family ministry at Grace Lutheran. I hope each and every one of you will prayerfully consider partnering with me next year in order to build up the lay leadership of Grace. This leadership is much needed in order to be able to have new offerings and programming for next year.

I am deeply thankful for all the wonderful people that I have had working with me this year and for the wonderful youth that we have here at Grace.  We have all been blessed!