Youth Room Renovation Days - Day 1

Remember the blank walls of the middle school youth room?


Well, we're putting some color on the walls!


Taking a little break, while Andy keeps plugging away!



Wendy Hope - our amazing artist in residence!

More pictures from the Cinnamon Roll Breakfast Fundraiser!

First we cut the bread dough....


Lots, and lots of bread dough....

Then we roll it in cinnamon - mmm mmm!




Then we make the yummy, butter, sugar, cinnamon and other good stuff goop...

And dress the cinnamon rolls....


Don't forget the coffee....

Or to let the dough rise overnight...
And you've got a delicious youth fundraiser on your hands! Oh boy!

Cinnamon Roll Breakfast a huge success!

Hey everyone -- we had a huge success on Sunday!
Our first ever youth-mission cinnamon roll breakfast fundraiser we served over 200 Cinnamon rolls, and raised over $450!

Not only that - but we took in several additional orders for dozens to go! That means that we do still have some work to do...

So, for those youth (and friendly helpful parental kitchen volunteers) please join with Mary Cat on Tuesday, November 25 at 6 p.m. for a follow-up cinnamon roll making party. It won't take long to prep. our pre-order pans, and for those who can stick around we'll have pizza for dinner. We should be done by 7:30 p.m. at the latest!

Hope you can be here Tuesday night we finish off the fundraiser wares -- and I hope you're looking forward to a repeat performance on Saturday, February 21-22 when we have our next Sr. High Youth lock-in and Cinnamon Roll breakfast fundraiser for youth mission!

Hey Everybody!

Grace and Peace to you in the name of Our Lord Jesus Christ!

We’ve got quite a few things coming up in the next week – so take a peek below, and be in touch with me about what events I can expect your participation in. I look forward to seeing you all soon, especially now that we’re back in the beautifully restored church! See you in church! -MC

Youth Announcements

S.O.S. Youth to visit York Place Sunday! Gather at Our Saviour at 1:30 p.m. and return at 4:30 p.m. Youth grades 6-12 will meet and lead an afternoon of games and recreation with children ages 6-12 at York Place this afternoon.

Outdoor fun at Crowders Mountain, Saturday, Nov. 22! Our Saviour’s Youth grades 6-12 meet here at 1 p.m. on Saturday, November 22 for an afternoon outside hiking and at Crowders Mountain. Bring sunblock, layers for warm and cool weather, proper walking shoes and a sense of adventure! Don’t forget your water bottle! Youth will return at approximately 5 p.m. on Saturday afternoon. RSVP if you plan to attend by Wednesday, Nov. 19! All participants must have a signed parish permission slip for the 2008-2009 school year!

Sr. High Youth Lock-In, Saturday, Nov. 22! at 6 p.m. Sr. High Youth will gather for dinner and an evening of fun, fellowship and preparation for our Cinnamon Roll Youth Mission Fundraiser! RSVP if you plan to attend by Wednesday, Nov. 19! All participants must have a signed parish permission slip for the 2008-2009 school year! Youth who cannot attend Saturday night are needed to help with preparation, sales and clean-up on Sunday, Nov. 23! CRSVP if you plan to attend by Wednesday, Nov. 19! All participants must have a signed parish permission slip for the 2008-2009 school year!

Ecuador summer mission follow-up. Join us on Sunday, November 23 at 9:30 a.m. to hear Emily Horowitz share her summer experiences of living and working in Quito, Ecuador. Emily is a sophomore at Winthrop University and spent the summer working with the Episcopal Diocese of Ecuador in 2008.

There's still time to participate in the Crop Walk!

Our October S.O.S. event is the CropWalk on Sunday, October 26th!

So far we have 7 youth from our Saviour signed up to raise funds and walk in solidarity with people who are hungry. If you and your family would like to sign up for the Crop Walk, please do so and pick up your envelope this Sunday, October 19! If you let me know that you plan to sign up, I will make sure you have a t-shirt!

If you can't participate in the walk, support someone who is! Contact Mary Cat for more about supporting walkers.

Here's the scoop:

We gather at 2:30 p.m. at Winthrop on the lawn of Dinkins Student Union (Oakland Avenue -- look for the crowd!)

The walk begins at 3 p.m.

Most of us are back by 4 p.m.

Lauren Winner and others are hosting a "tailgate" after teh walk - back at the parking lot at Dinkins -- drinks, fruit and cookies to refresh you after the walk!

Parents can meet us there for pick up (unless they decide to walk together with us as well!)

Jr. High Fall Retreat 2008

What a weekend! 150 Middle School youth and youth ministers from parishes around the diocese gathered at Gravatt for the weekend.

Based on the scripture passage: Philippians 2:1-13 we faced challenges like, how to make God's joy complete, the importance of serving others before ourselves, the importance of being humble, and responding by faithful action to the knowledge that GOD IS AT WORK IN YOU!!!
We sang songs, ate great food, played games, saw hilarious skits, got to know each other in small groups, worked together on a building project for Gravatt, had fun at the dance, took pictures, went swimming, played games in the big field, had a campfire, prayed together, and played together. It really was a great retreat!

Watch here for more pictures, and don't miss your chance to sign up for the next Middle School or Sr. High Diocesan Youth Event.

Special thanks to Jessica Taylor - our DYLC member (she was on the design and leadership team for this event with Mary Cat and youth leaders from around the diocese). Thanks also to Andy Castillo and Kreg Steppe (this was his first DYE too!) our great youth volunteers.

Fall 2008 is off and running!

Welcome back to school, and business as usual - that means Sunday school on at 9:30 a.m., and youth group and youth events on Sunday evenings! Be sure and watch this website for posts and updates on what's happening with Our Saviour's youth this fall. Some things to note today:

S.O.S. our Senior High Youth planning team for Sundays of Service has started meeting! Join us on the first Wednesday of the month at 6:30 p.m. -- and other Wednesday night's as needed (such as Wednesday, September 10!!!) to plan and lead service and outreach projects by/for/with the youth of Our Saviour!!!

Middle School Youth Group: This fellowship group meets on the first Sunday of the month here at our Saviour -- keep up to date on the progress of painting the youth room and come out for a time to get to know one another, and to grow together in Christ.

YCDC: For 10th grade youth and older, this is a discernment/preparation class for young people interested in confirmation and making a mature faith commitment to be active adults in the Episcopal Church! Sign up with Mary Cat for this group that meets monthly for meals, class and service opportunities.

Diocesan Youth Events: Not only can you meet youth from Our Saviour, but from all around the diocese! Join us for Sr. High and Jr. High Diocesan Youth Events - sometimes a weekend get away, other times day long events at Gravatt, Kanuga and eleswhere around the Diocese of Upper South Carolina!

Stay tuned and stay plugged in to Our Saviour's Youth Blog and the mission and ministry of Our Saviour's Youth!

Peace, MCE+

Where will you be on Sunday, August 24th at 5:30 p.m.?

Hopefully meeting up with fellow youth (and their parents) after a long and busy summer! We've been spread out around Rock Hill, South Carolina and beyond! Now gather youth to learn about our upcoming gatherings for 2008-2009, meet your youth leaders and Our Saviour's youth!

See you here at 5:30 p.m., Sunday, August 24th -- snacks and treats provided!!!

Peace, MCE

S.O.S. - Feed the Hungry

On Wednesday, July 30, youth met at the Church of Our Saviour for our final Summer of Service gathering. The Rev. Ronal King, founder of (Christians) Feed the Hungry - a local outreach and food ministry to people in Rock Hill met with us there. 100+ meal bags were prepared and distributed by youth and adults who came to pitch in.

Below you will find a youth perspective on the experience. For many of us it was a good day and a difficult day at the same time. It was difficult to see people right here in our community who struggle with poverty on a daily basis - and yet in the work that we did and in the people we met there were glimpses of hope for a better tomorrow, and our hearts were filled with compassion.

Love for all of God's people, and hope that we will continue to work toward a world where such polar opposite realities do not exist next door to one another -- these were both important lessons and a fitting end to our Summer of Service 2008. Look for more stories and reflections from youth participants in the September Acorn and here on this blog. Peace, MCE+

A reflection from Chris Costley, 7th grade.

Having The Rev. Ron King come to The Church Of Our Saviour was a great experience for me personally. He showed me something that I will never forget. I was very moved by the courage and hope of some of these people who don't have what we take for granted. One person especially, Mama, would take in anybody that came to her door. At night, she has to pin her money to her shirt so the people staying at her house wouldn't steal it. These people might not have A/C or electric stoves, but they do have courage. Amen.

Homeworks 2008 Mission Trip

Mary Cat, Nick and Chris Costley and Andy Castillo gave a presentation on their experiences on the Homeworks 2008 Mission Trip.

Here's a slideshow from the trip and slides from the the powerpoint presentation that was given.

IHN Center visit, dinner and games!

Our Saviour's youth outside of Interfaith Hospitality Network.

Check out pictures from our evening and return to read reflections from youth about our experiences visiting the IHN center and providing dinner and hospitality to the families staying at Our Saviour this week.








Angie Zoubian and Alison Taylor organized our taco/enchilada bar and ice cream sundae bar!

Pat Murray, our IHN parish leader, Andy Castillo and Kathryn Coady helped keep our youth on task as we chopped, cooked, and set the table for our meal together!

Thanks adult volunteers and parents and youth for your food and time donations!

Lot's to do!

















MMM MMM Taco meat!



















Beached whale?











I get it - we're playing Ships and Sailors -- Captain (Andy)'s coming!

Summer of Service - a youth perspective on our visit to Pilgrim's Inn

Hope and Healing found at Pilgrim's Inn
by Meg McGill

Many people know of Rock Hill's Pilgrim's Inn. Many people know of the food bank located at Pilgrim's Inn. Many people know how much support Pilgrim's Inn gives to the community. But not many people understand the amount of support Pilgrim's Inn gives to Rock Hill. The staff gives their hearts and souls to helping the people who come to them for help. Pilgrim's Inn is not simply a food bank. It is a day care for working families, there is a shelter for women and children. Pilgrim's Inn also works closely with the Department of Mental Health.
I went there for the first time with some of the members of the Episcopal Church of Our Saviour's youth group. It was a slightly overcast day and our group was small. But we had a mission. Our mission was pretty simple, learn about Pilgrim's Inn and do a small service project. Learning about the organization was the best part of the trip. Cleaning up the children's playground for them was the most satisfying part. It amazes me each time it happens but the best type of work, the most satisfying work, the work that makes a worker happy is the work that helps others. I enjoyed the few hours I spent at Pilgrim's Inn. It showed me that people will perpetually look after one another. It is a good cause, a worthy organization. I say to you that you should stop by one day for a chat and a tour. I can say from experience that it's an eye opener.
So in the small building in the middle of Rock Hill right off of Main Street, you can find Pilgrim's Inn, a place of hope, healing, and happiness that relies on the support of the community.

Meg McGill is a Junior at South Pointe High School. She is active in the choir and several other ministries at the Episcopal Church of Our Saviour and was Confirmed in April 2008.

Visit York Place with us!

Last week we had an incredible tour of Pilgrim's Inn and the many ministries that they participate in.

Tomorrow, Wednesday, June 18, we'll visit York Place - Episcopal Home for Children.

York Place is supported by both the Diocese of South Carolina, the Diocese of Upper South Carolina, our parish, and many, many other individuals.

Meet at Our Saviour at 3:30 p.m. and plan to be picked up at 6:30 p.m.

We will spend part of our time touring and learning about the ministry at York Place and talking with volunteers and staff. We will also spend time helping them prepare a special project for some of the residents there.

I hope you can join us!

S.O.S. starts this week!

Join Our Saviour's Youth grades 6-12 in June and July for S.O.S.

This Wednesday we make our first service-learning site visit to Pilgrim's Inn, an outreach ministry to those in our community in need of emergency assistance. Our Saviour provides financial donations and canned goods to this organization year-round. What else is Pilgrim's Inn up to? How might we continue to help or expand our ministry partnership with Pilgrim's Inn?

Meet at our Saviour on Wednesday, June 11 at 3:45 p.m. to find out more about Pilgrim's Inn. Bring a rake and work gloves for a hands on help that we will provide during our site visit.

Parent's please pick up your youth at Pilgrim's Inn: 236 W. Main Street at 6 p.m.

Youth who do not have a 2008-2009 permission slip turned in to Mary Cat, please bring one along with you. See you Wednesday!

-MC

Our Saviour goes to the movies!

Join the parish family for an afternoon at the movies -
Sunday, May 18 @3:45 p.m., Manchester Theater.

Prince Caspian is the second film in the Chronicles of Narnia series based on the novels by C. S. Lewis. RSVP with Mary Cat to pre-purchase tickets, or pick them up yourself at the movie theater. Stick around afterwards for a slice of Fuel Pizza or a burrito at Moe's and join in conversation about faith and film! See you at the movies!

Communion, canoeing, community!

New Beginnings was a great opportunity for several youth from our parish to join over 120 youth and adults from around the diocese for a weekend of fellowship, fun, talks, outdoor games, praying together, playing together, singing and awesome family group time!

Thanks to the Diocesan Youth Leadership Team and other youth leaders from around Upper South Carolina for providing this renewal weekend for our young people! Check back here for comments and quotes from Our Saviour's Youth Participants: Brett, Jessica, Chris, Andy and MC! And mark your calendars NOW for the fall Jr. High Youth Retreat - September 26-28! See you at Gravatt!