Youth Group Canoe Campout
Several youth group members took an overnight camping trip to Turkey Run State Park in mid-October. The day began with a 6-mile canoe trip down Sugar Creek. The weekend was one of the last of the season with beautiful weather, so they enjoyed time around a campfire and ended the weekend with morning prayer.
Wreath Sales 2016
Click on the image below and go directly to the wreath website.
Use HOLYFAIN001 to save $3 AND send $5 to our Youth Group!
Shipping is free on orders over $60.
Youth Fall Conference Registration
To register for the conference, click on the link(s) below, print, and submit your registration form(s) to the Diocese. Youth forms must be signed by the Youth Director, youth leader, or clergy from your church before mailing.
Eagle Scout Projects
Ian Johnston and Thomas Canter
In the summer of 2016, Holy Family gained two major improvements to the church grounds by way of Eagle Scout projects. Two members of the Holy Family Youth Group hold the rank of Life Scout with Troop 109 in Fishers and chose their home church to fulfill their Eagle Scout project requirements. Both scouts led volunteer teams of youth and adults from the church and Troop 109 in order to complete their projects.
In July 2016, Thomas Canter made improvements to Holy Family’s outdoor chapel area.* He created a gravel path from the parking lot to the outdoor chapel in order to make it handicap-accessible and more convenient for all congregation members.
He also added landscaping around the outdoor chapel with burning bushes, arborvitae trees, dwarf Korean lilacs, and mulch. The final piece of Thomas’ project was building a large, wooden cross for the altar area. The outdoor chapel is used several times a year by small groups within the church as well as the entire congregation.
In August 2016, Ian Johnston built a tool shed for the Holy Family Community Garden. The garden was established in 2011, and a portion of the produce grown is donated weekly by gardeners to a local food pantry. The shed project included building a platform base, then constructing and installing the shed.
The shed will hold the lawn mower, trimmer, hoses, and other supplies needed to maintain the garden area. It will also provide the community gardeners a place to store their personal tools throughout the growing season.
Holy Family wishes to thank Thomas, Ian, their families, and all volunteers for their hard work and dedication to improving the church grounds.
* The outdoor chapel altar and benches were completed as a Girl Scout Gold Award project by Holy Family Youth Group member Ellen Everett in 2015.
Outdoor Eucharist: September 2016
On September 11, 2016 Holy Family held its annual fall Eucharist in the outdoor chapel. The day was glorious with blue skies, sunshine, and puffy clouds. Holy Family’s youth group members filled all serving roles.
Musicians
Greeters
Epistle Reading
Gospel Reading with Deacon Cathy
Homily with Father Mike
Ushers
Prayers of the People
Eucharist
Mission: United in Faith Presentation
On Sunday, August 21st, members of this year’s Mission: United in Faith mission trip team presented to the congregation during our 9 AM Adult Forum. Marty Blake, Director of Youth Ministry, shared an overview of the week’s service work, worship opportunities, and fellowship. Youth Group members shared personal stories as well.
During the presentation, the mission team shared a compilation of photographs and short video clips from the week. Special thanks are extended to Youth Group leader Ruth Everett for creating the video. You may view the video presentation by clicking below.
Back to Church Sunday 2016
On Sunday, August 14th. Holy Family held its annual Back to Church Sunday. On this day, all 9 AM Christian Education programming resumes for the school year, and the choir returns to the 10 AM worship service. It’s an exciting day when youth and adults gather together to share tales of their summer adventures, refreshed and renewed for another leg of their spiritual journey together.
Sunday school classes are offered for children who are three years old through high school. Parents may contact Jolene Johnston, Director of Children’s Ministry at jjohnston@hfec.org or Marty Blake, Director of Youth Ministry at mblake@hfec.org. Registration cards are required for all children who participate in our Sunday school and childcare offerings including nursery. Adult Forum offers a variety of presentations at the same time as Sunday school for children and youth.
Mission: United in Faith 2016
Holy Family recently held its first Mission: United in Faith mission trip as part of the larger Holy Family Youth Exchange program. This program was funded in part by a Youth Ministry Initiative Grant from the Center for Congregations. The week-long program was held in Brown County and Marion County, Indiana.
Seventeen youth and six adults participated in a variety of service activities including serving meals at Mother’s Cupboard, working at the Wheeler Mission Thrift Store, and making improvements to the facilities at Waycross Camp and Conference Center. They worshipped together daily using the Book of Common Prayer and had several special worship opportunities including those led by Bishop Cate Waynick, Father Mike Galvin, and Deacon Cathy Scott. Throughout the week they enjoyed fellowship through teambuilding games, swimming and canoeing, a drive-in movie, and scavenger hunt.
Photos from the trip are available on the Holy Family Youth Group Facebook page. Please CLICK HERE to view the photos (you do not need to have a Facebook account to view the photos.) The Youth Group will continue its Youth Exchange program during the school year and will connect with other Episcopal Youth Groups around the country. For more information about this program, please contact Youth Director Marty Blake at mblake@hfec.org.
YMGI Grant Proposal Submitted
During the summer of 2016, Holy Family Episcopal Church will pilot the week-long Mission: United in Faith event for youth. This mission trip is part of the larger Episcopal Youth Exchange Program. The goals for this program are to provide experiences that will positively impact faith formation and develop the Episcopal identity of our youth.
The mission group will participate in team-building activities, worship services, urban and rural community outreach efforts, nature conservation activities, and educational experiences. We hope that this impact will lead to continued active church participation and a life guided by Christian values. We believe that the proposed programming will have a lasting impact not only on the youth, but also the entire congregation of Holy Family.
The Episcopal Youth Exchange Program is made possible by a Youth Ministry Grant Initiative from the Center for Congregations. The program was developed and directed by Holy Family member Rachelle Galvin. Signing the grant proposal, shown above, are Holy Family’s rector, The Reverend Michael Galvin and Senior Warden, Benjamin Paden.
Meals for the PourHouse
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On Saturday, members of our Youth Group and congregation gathered to prepare sack lunches to distribute through the PourHouse. The PourHouse assists individuals experiencing homelessness in overcoming barriers to housing, treatment and healthcare. Through community-style street outreach and a unique peer advocacy approach, they help people define and achieve their goals and reestablish vision for their lives.
Each Wednesday and Sunday evening, 250 sack lunches are distributed downtown on Monument Circle. The Pour House relies on volunteer donations to provide these meals. Members of our youth group and congregation made 250 sandwiches and then packed them in paper bags with fruit, chips, and a dessert. With all the hard work from each volunteer, we were able to prepare and assemble all the lunches in less than and hour. The Youth Group plans to prepare meals for the PourHouse on a regular basis. Please send us an email if you would like to participate. hfecyouthgroup@gmail.com
