The 2009 Acapella Warm Up

Our youth did an amazing job of planning the Acapella Warm Up! This event had around 300 participants, 5 acapella groups (plus one with a guitar), food for all, and amazing decor. The youth raised awareness by reading facts about homelessness and poverty, motivating those in attendance to give even more. One high schooler even dumped the entire contents of his wallet into the basket at the end of the show noting how important this cause is in Chapel Hill. The efforts of PYC raised more than $1200 in one night. The silent auction canvasses will likely raise over $500. By Christmas eve, PYC may near $2000 to purchase blankets for the homeless and coats for teenagers living in poverty in Chapel Hill. More than the money and awareness raised this weekend, our youth learned the value of organizing themselves in service to others. Our SEED committee assigned tasks, created volunteer slots, arrived at school to pass out fliers, used social media to publicize, included community groups in the event, and made sure other PYC youth were involved. All their hard work paid off when they saw THEIR event come together and actually raise money for the cause. I'm so proud of our youth and their work for this service project. It may just become an annual thing. See the video montage of the Acapella Warm Up here:

Committed Communities Called into Covenant

Call. Covenant. Commitment. Community. Change. Those five words dominated the keynote messages at this weekend's New Hope Presbytery High School Retreat. Rev. Christopher Edmondston from Tarboro Presbyterian Church challenged our youth and the choices they make regarding the communities they choose to be a part of. Christopher drove home the point that youth can be a part of making great change in the world but only if they are part of communities that are called and committed to live in covenant with one another. Answering God's call in the world can't be done alone and it certainly can't be done without committment and community among God's people. And a community built without covenant will not stand. This was a powerful message for our youth and really made them think about the choices they make when it comes to the communities they choose to be a part of. Are these the people God is calling me to be in covenant with? Are they living in covenantal trust with me? Are we committed to one another fully? It gave us much to think about on the ride home. Sunday morning, our group committed to wake up early and watch the sun rise over the Pamlico Sound. While the sky was lovely, being out on the end of a pier in the quiet early morning was one of the greatest gifts we were given that weekend. We yawned, laughed, read scripture, took photos, and just spent time being with one another and with God. This time of quiet spent in creation and in community was truly Sabbath. We took time apart, extra time, time that was not in the retreat schedule, to be with one another and to listen for God moving in the wind and water. Even though the weekend was filled with energizers, music, games, and dance parties; and the rest of our Sunday was filled with telling new friends goodbye, a long van trip home, lunch at Subway and later, a nap; our Sabbath was kept holy by setting time apart to be with God in a called, covenantal, committed, community of faith right there on the end of that pier on the Pamlico Sound. Perhaps the first change we will see is in ourselves as we strive to live out the basic command of honoring and keeping Sabbath holy. Pictures to follow soon!

It's Corn-fusion!

PYC at the Corn Maze on October 4th, 2009