Blog:FOREST LAKE TALKS

Dear Friends,

A couple of weeks ago, our long-time youth director, Bill Wannamaker, officially left us and moved to Easley, SC.  (He said something about needing to stay married to his wife Laura who was moving! 😊) We hated seeing Bill move, but Forest Lake Youth does not stop because Bill is gone!  Bill helped us build a strong, compassionate and faith-based community among our 6th through 12th graders.  Now it is our turn to show what we can do and build on the foundation he helped us build.  Forest Lake Youth – known to us as FLY – is an essential part of our church, and while we search for a new youth director there is a lot happening.

We have created a FLY Steering Team of youth and adults who, along with me and Ed Black, are planning for Sunday night FLY.  Regular FLY will begin on Sunday, September 13th.  On that night, the whole congregation is invited to gather for a free supper.  But after we all eat supper together, the youth (6th – 12th grades) will gather to plan events for the rest of the Fall.  The youth themselves will help come up with the programs and, together with adult leaders, will make FLY happen!  I’ve already seen some of the ideas, and knowing this group of youth, I know it will be fun and creative.

All Faith Formation/Sunday School for youth and children will happen on Sunday nights.  This decision was driven by our low attendance on Sunday mornings, and we know that Sunday evenings are much more convenient for many.  In addition to Sunday evening FLY events, we will be continuing mid-week events like the Girl’s Bible Study that meets at Bruegger’s Bagels the 1st and 3rd Wednesdays rom 6:45-7:00am, and the HS Sunday Lunch.  And Confirmation and Summer Montreat Trips are non-negotiable and are in the works!

In addition, on Sundays we will gather all interested youth to begin forming a FLY Band!  Lillie Gardner, a senior at USC, is our new Director of Children and Youth Music.  She will be at FLPC to work with those who love music – singing, playing, even listening and toe-tapping!  All are welcome! Details to come.

What I ask from all of you is: (1) pray for God to identify a new Youth Director and to support the committee who is searching. (2) pray for our youth! They are a busy, amazing and talented group who are essential to our faith community. (3) Let me and Ed know if you would like to help with FLY, or if you know of young adults/college students who would be interested in a part-time job as a Youth Ministry Intern.