Dear Peace families and friends,
I want to say thank you to all of you who have made our fall kickoff week so special. Many volunteers came together to host our Gathering Sunday meal, and more yet who helped lead worship. Our middle school Confirmation students gathered for the first time yesterday evening, as did our high school students, and our new parents of teens group. And this weekend, our Sunday School year begins, with thanks to all of our amazing children and teachers. We are very blessed.
Something that sticks out to me though, through many recent conversations, is the prevalence of new joys and new challenges that come with this season. For example, many of our students are enjoying seeing their friends more often at school, playing their favorite sports, and experiencing the thrill of making it into various bands, choirs, and teams. But they’re also struggling to balance their social lives, school workload, extracurricular activities, and the pressures that come with each of those.
There were small (but still significant for them) challenges like navigating a new school and being unable to unlock their locker—and another student who couldn’t get theirs to lock at all! And there were other larger ones—wanting to quit jobs, shifting friend groups, and trying to cope with friends and family members who have been sick or severely injured.
These joys and challenges of life never stop, for better and for worse. Which is why I believe so strongly in the importance of community and strong relationships. We are not meant to go through life alone, nor are we able to.
And so I encourage you to invest in, or create, relationships where you and your family members can talk about all of life’s joys and challenges. For your students, we hope they’re able to find that in our various children and youth ministries. For you as adults, we hope you’re able to find that in choir, a Bible Study, our parenting group, and in relationships outside of Peace too. When we find those places to truly be ourselves, it’s there where we can authentically support one another. It’s there where we can grow together.
Grace and Peace,
Joe
Family Tip Of The Week
Reach out to someone this week with whom you can share mutual support. We all need it!