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This month we feature
Katelynn Aubrey Pope -
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High School: Shakopee Senior High School
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School/Community
Activities: Jobs Daughters, DeMolay
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Church Activities: T.E.C.
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Favorite Song: You Are My Sunshine
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Collections: Pig stuff
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Favorite St. John’s
Memory: Anything that has to do with
Alison.
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Favorite movies: Little Mermaid, Ever After, Mulan
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Last good book you’ve
read:
Butter Battle Book
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Best advice you’ve
been given: Life could be worse
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Where you hope to be
in 10 years: Alive and on my own
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If you could have
dinner with any person, whom would you choose? Sebastian
(from The Little Mermaid)
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How can church become
more youth friendly?
The services we have during EYE and stuff
totally rock and I think that helps as a kid.
You don’t really understand what is going on during a church service so
you tend not to listen, as you get older it starts to mean more.
Last month we featured
Stephen James Anthony. He was
mistakenly listed as James Anthony. Our
apologies to Stephen!
A Few Words from our Youth Minister Alison Feigh . . .
This
past March I was honored and humbled when I was asked to be a Godmother for the
first time. The amazing thing about the experience was that it was my
Goddaughter, Erin, who asked me to fill this role. I met Erin her junior year
of high school at a TEC weekend and as I worked with her at various retreats, I
was just blown away by her energy, wisdom and spirit. Erin was unchurched, but had been invited to TEC by a good
friend. She continued to explore her faith through various leadership roles at
TEC, EYE, and CLEC. As our friendship
grew, we began to have faith discussions online, on the phone, and in person. I'll never forget her response to the first
time I asked her if she had ever considered being baptized. Her response was,
"I believe strongly in the love that I feel from God, but I don't know
what I think about Jesus, yet."
She
had the hard part down. She understood that she was loved in a community and
that God was the center of the community. It was an amazing foundation to begin
our discussions as to who Jesus was and how he was the ultimate act of God's
love. All of the discussions in the world
could not have replaced the fact that she saw this Christian community as one
built on love and wanted to make that a part of her identity.
Erin
did decide to get baptized and I was asked to be a Godparent, along with two
friends who had been integral to her faith journey. I cried at the service
because I felt so grateful to God for the person that Erin is and was so
excited that I was going to get to see the person she was going to become.
Erin's
journey gives me inspiration when I work with youth, or when I greet someone
who is visiting our church for the first time. I want them to see God's love as
the center of our community, and of our actions. If the love is central, it creates a wonderful, safe place to
explore and ask questions. If we are lucky, some of the answers will allow us
to build new friendships that will enhance our own faith forever.
Mission Trip
At our recent mission trip meeting, the youth
decided that we will be heading to San Diego, CA from July 21st-July
27th. . We will be working with ECS at various project sites
including a women’s shelter, a soup kitchen, and an AIDS clinic. We will also
cross the border into Tijuana, Mexico for one afternoon to help construct a new
church. We have spaces available for twenty youth (those entering 9th
grade-college next fall). The cost will not exceed $500. If you would like to
register, please send a $100.00 non-refundable down payment (made out to St.
John’s) to Alison. The first twenty
youth willing to commit will be registered. The deadline to register is January
15th, but the trip may fill up before that date. Please talk to
Alison if you need to arrange a partial scholarship.
Treasure Hunt
Our big event in January is
our Third Annual Treasure Hunt where Junior High competes against Senior High
in a battle of wits and creativity. Teams will meet at church at High Noon on
January 10th and need to be back for judging at 2:00pm. Parent
drivers will be needed for both teams. If you have any questions, talk to
Alison or the team captains. Team Captains for the Senior High are Anne Moertel
and Elizabeth Schmit. The Junior High Captains are Ellen Anthony and Libby
Mahoney.
Spring Break Civil Rights Trip
The Diocese is hosting a Spring
Break Civil Rights Tour from Friday Mar. 26th-Tuesday, Mar. 30th.
This tour covers historic sites in Tennessee and Alabama and is open to those
14 and older. Deadline to register is January 15th. Please talk to
Alison for information and forms.
Rite of Affirmation
Our parish will be honoring the
Eighth graders of our parish at the Rite of Affirmation service scheduled for
February 1st. The Rite of Affirmation is a special liturgy honoring the
transition in faith formation for these youth and their parents.
Acolyte Festival
Movies, a dance, and acolyte training
all wrapped into one overnight. If you are an acolyte in 6th-12th
grade, you are eligible to attend the festival at the St. Mark’s Cathedral on
January 24th and 25th. Schedules and registration materials can be picked
up from Alison Feigh. The cost for
the event is $25 and scholarships are available. The registration deadline is
January 5th.
Senior High DYE
The Senior High Diocesan Youth
Event will be held at St. John’s February 27th-29th.
Megan Mahoney has been selected to be on the planning team for this event. More
information will be available about the theme right after Christmas.
Junior High Ski Trip
The Diocesan Ski Trip to Giant’s
Ridge is set for March 5th-7th and is open to youth in 6th-9th
grade. The downhill package is $180 and cross-country is $150. Alison is
planning to attend as a chaperone and has registration forms for those
interested in getting more information. Please turn in forms to St. Stephen’s
in Edina before Feb. 14th.
Quote for the Month
Some people, no matter
how old they get, never lose their beauty - they merely move it from their
faces into their hearts. ~Martin Buxbaum
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