Children, Youth, Family
By Vanessa
Youth & Children
By Byron Walker
I am thrilled to share with you the incredible journey of our Children and Youth Ministries over the past year. It has been a time of remarkable growth, deepening relationships, and inspiring moments that have truly enriched our community.
One of the most exciting developments has been the transformation of our Sunday School classes into vibrant, spiritually enriching experiences. Our dedicated teachers have poured their hearts into offering lessons in each of our classrooms that not only teach the fundamentals of our faith but also encourage our young members to explore their beliefs in meaningful ways, all rooted in the Bible and an affirmation of each and every child of our church as beloved. The feedback we have received from both parents and children has been overwhelmingly positive, affirming the impact these classes are having on our youth.
In addition to our Sunday School classes, we have introduced a variety of new and innovative events that have captured the imagination of our community. From the heartwarming Christmas play, to deep and open teen hangout times, from the insightful confirmation class, to the joyous Christmas party, creative Good News of Kids offerings, a bilingual story book “しゅくふく Blessing” for kids, and not forgetting the incredibly successful Vacation Bible School over the summer “Kids of the Bible” – each event has brought us closer together and strengthened our bond as a church family.
Looking ahead, we are filled with excitement and anticipation for the future of our ministries. We are committed to continuing to provide a welcoming and nurturing environment where our youth can explore their faith, ask questions, and grow into the individuals that God has called them to be.
As we embark on this new chapter, let us be reminded of the words of Jesus in Matthew 19:14, "Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of heaven belongs to such as these." May we continue to nurture and support our children and youth, knowing that they are an integral part of God's kingdom and the future of our church.
I want to extend my heartfelt thanks to everyone who has supported our Children and Youth Ministries over my short year here. Your dedication, passion, and love have made all the difference, and I am excited to see where this journey takes us next.
Young Adults Group
By Sarah Dusek
We have been blessed with many new active YAG members this year.
YAG is a fellowship of young adults ranging from college students to young professionals in their 20s to 30s. Whether new to faith or seasoned church-goers, we all find ourselves here at TUC, wondering, What is my purpose? Who am I? How do I live a good life?
How YAG can best serve this transient, diverse group of people became the focus of this year's fall retreat. We decided to involve YAG members in facilitation and planning, creating the YAG Committee.
We established the roles of:
Chairperson, who facilitates YAG committee meetings and makes sure events are on track. Treasurer, who manages the YAG budget.
Secretary, who keeps record of monthly meetings and member birthdays.
Service who serves as liaison between YAG and church outreach, communicating service opportunities to YAG members.
Bible Study Leader who finds curriculum for and facilitates weekly Bible study.
The planning that goes into YAG is by no means limited to this group, all are encouraged to participate in our monthly meetings and share their ideas for events. Without such involvement, YAG would not have evolved into what it is now today.
Our Activities this year:
Summer YAG BBQ Kickoff Party
Summer at the Movies discussion series lead by Audrey Thorne
Hanabi viewing
Fall Retreat: Moving Forward
Fall Feast potluck
NOOMA discussion series lead by Sarah Dusek
Christmas with Pastor Steve at the Mannes
Christmas Party with Budo no Ki
Christmas party at an orphanage with JOEE
Bible Study: The book of Samuel lead by Sophie Wang
Spring Retreat: Recalibrate