Chapel of the Cross, Chapel Hill, NC

Greetings! It is a pleasure and a privilege to serve the youth of this parish. I came to the Chapel of the Cross with a variety of experiences in youth work. I was a camp counselor for three summers at a camp near Flat Rock, NC. I volunteered with the youth of the American Cathedral in Paris for two years and later with the youth at Church of the Nativity, Raleigh.

At the Chapel of the Cross, I have thoroughly enjoyed getting to know the youth and youth leadership of the parish. The playfulness of God is a characteristic we often overlook, and God's humor reflected in the Bible is often lost in translation. Working with the youth is a welcome and constant reminder of this important facet of the image and likeness of God. I have been consistently impressed by and often overcome with gratitude for the commitment and vivacity of the youth program here. Episcopal Youth Community (EYC) leaders such as Caroline Williams, our youth assistant extraordinaire, Mike Stafford, Dana Campbell, Lynn Williams, Carter Kersh, Creighton Irons, and others provide strong role models. I have been equally encouraged by the level of engagement of the church school leaders and students with the support of Gretchen Jordan.

My own youth ministry work has taken new turns since I began here. I have been trying to adapt my adult spiritual formation work to a younger age while not diminishing the substance or meaning of the work. I have been growing into my "priest-as-travel-agent" vocation while planning the summer mission trip and the annual beach weekend for senior high youth. I have been trying to support and not get in the way of an already well-functioning EYC planning and leadership team. I have helped lead the youth inquirers' class on their trip to Washington, DC, and the EYC on their ski trip. I have been visiting church school classrooms and parent gatherings and spending time with youth at various events, in an effort to know the people, their hopes, and their strengths.

As we move into the summer, I hope to gather a youth advisory and support committee to strengthen the vision and functioning of the youth program. Also, the EYC leaders and I are interested in doing an intentional planning process this summer.

Whenever a child is baptized here, we all vow to do all in our power to support the child's new life in Christ. I encourage you to consider if and how you might do that through the youth program at the Chapel of the Cross. Please contact me with any questions or ideas.

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