CYF Blast (Page 3)

June 20, 2024 Dear Families and Friends of Peace, VBS begins on Monday, and it’s going to be an incredible week as we go deep sea diving in this year’s program, SCUBA! “Scuba” is our underwater-themed curriculum that has kids dive deep into an adventure full of faith-building fun. Throughout the week, students will travel with their crews to different stations that help kids to grow personally, relationally, and spiritually.  Each of these activities will help teach us and show…

June 13, 2024 Dear Families and Friends of Peace, There are two very exciting events happening in the next two weeks.  First, next weekend (Thursday, June 20 – Sunday, June 23) Peace families will be driving up the north shore and across the Gunflint Trail to Wilderness Canoe Base, a camping ministry of Camp Wapo that resides just outside of the Boundary Waters.  The second, from Monday, June 24 – Thursday, June 27, Peace will be hosting Vacation Bible School…

Dear Families and Friends of Peace, The first week of summer. For many (particularly those under 22, and especially those under 18), it’s a release of the pressure they’ve been feeling for the last nine months, an immediate release valve as their shoulders drop and their worries lighten.  For others (particularly those with children), the months out of school mean increased family time and more time off, but also the reality of needing to make plans for when you’re working…

Dear Families and Friends of Peace, The end of the school year is here—congratulations all around to students, parents, teachers, administrators, and to everyone who makes learning possible for our young people!  Last night, seniors at Bloomington Jefferson High School graduated and received their diplomas—including Peace’s own Gavin Churchill, Bianca Gehant, Parker Kennedy, and Adam Rich. Ben Davis’ commencement ceremony for Richfield High School will be next week.  Also of note, today is the last day of school for all…

Dear Families and Friends of Peace, Yesterday, Peace’s seniors at Jefferson High School had their last day of class. For students in all other grades, they will be done one week from today on Thursday, May 30. And so, as we quickly approach the end of another school year, I offer a prayer for our students and graduates, and all of their upcoming transitions, from writer, Kayla Craig*: “O God, Creator of beginnings and endings, we pray for our students.…

Dear Families and Friends of Peace, This weekend, we will recognize our graduating high school seniors during worship.  These students are kind, compassionate, and caring; they’re hard-working, dedicated, and humble; they walk by faith, serve others humbly, and are more than equipped to move onto the next season of their lives.  Here’s a brief summary of what each of them will be up to this fall: May God bless them and keep them. May God’s face shine on them and…

Dear Families and Friends of Peace, This Sunday is the final day of our 2023-2024 program year, and I am so grateful for all of you who helped make it happen. Whether it was through your prayers, time, financial resources, or something else, it takes an abundance of people to support our young people and their faith formation–thank you! And if you’re reading this, it’s likely you have a child, or know a child, who is involved in Children, Youth,…

Dear Families and Friends of Peace, Typically in the Children, Youth, and Family Blast, I try not to get too far ahead of myself. I want us to stay present in the moment and focused on the things at hand–and I definitely don’t want other important things to get overlooked or feel undervalued. However, just like with parlay, sometimes it’s necessary to break the code–“they’re more like guidelines” anyway. (“Pirates of the Caribbean,” anyone?? And to the parent readers, if…

Dear Families and Friends of Peace, With Sunday’s Affirmation of Baptism for our 8th grade students, our year of Confirmation officially concluded–and it was a great year! Our weekly gatherings were centered around the theme of “God’s Story, My Story,” and our students explored the Bible, focusing on different people and their stories of how God worked in, through, and around them. Through both the Old and New Testaments, there were people and groups who faced hardship, pain, persecution, adversity,…

Dear Families and Friends of Peace, This Sunday, during our 9:30am worship service, is the Rite of Confirmation, an affirmation of baptism for our 8th grade Confirmands—Eli Betlock, Kingston Fast, and Sofia Oman. During the Rite, our students are supporting and proclaiming the promises of eternal life and unconditional love that God has already pronounced over them. They are also publicly stating that they are ready to take on both the blessings and responsibilities of being an adult member of the…

Dear Families and Friends of Peace, We are approaching the end of one of the greatest weeks in all of sports. Last weekend, men’s and women’s college basketball teams competed in the Final Four, and then for the National Championship. Starting today, The Master’s golf tournament begins at Augusta National.  Watching the basketball games, I was struck by the unique situation that both finals included the best individual player against the best all-around team—and in both cases, the best team…

Dear Families and Friends of Peace, Registration for VBS 2024 is officially open! Together with our friends at Community of the Cross Lutheran Church, “Scuba” VBS takes kids deep into an amazing undersea adventure where they’ll be “Diving Into Friendship With God,” and experience God’s ever-flowing, never-ending love. Throughout the week, students will learn that: Kids will be immersed in God’s Word and will discover what the Living Water of God is all about!   I’m very excited to continue our…