WHAT'S
NEW...
Our first
“24 Hour Famine” held in conjunction with World Vision’s
30 Hour Famine was a great success!
Nine youth from around our deanery and 5 adults gathered
together to “Be Hungry” at the Cathedral from 6pm April 18th
– 6pm April 19th.
We learned what it felt like to not eat for a day and
grew to better understand how extremely lucky and blessed we
are. Friday night in
the Cathedral chapel we experienced just how often a child dies
from hunger as we watched 300 hundred candles be extinguished.
One candle went out every 3 seconds to represent a child
somewhere in the world dying from starvation and complications
caused by malnutrition. Saturday
morning we got another glimpse at a world unknown to us, the
world of refugees as we did crafts and games with the children at Vive’
a refugee shelter in Buffalo.
The children were so excited and eager to participate in
our crafts and games. They
were so full of life and energy that it was a shocking reminder
to us just how similar and connected we all are, no matter what
country we are from. Saturday
afternoon, after an interesting and personal tour of the
Cathedral led by Deacon Cathy Dempsey, we began to hear our stomachs
growl! Still, we
kept ourselves busy by creating spring centerpieces for
Community Missions and playing games.
The event ended with an informal Eucharist at the dinner
table and we broke our fast with a feast of spaghetti, fruit,
and some cookies! A
great BIG thanks to everyone who helped make our event so
successful, our adult mentors, congregation members who prayed
for us, and those who donated to our cause!
A
Letter From Our Deanery Youth Minister:
Hi! I am Sarah
Harrington and I am the new Niagara Deanery Youth Missioner.
This past May I graduated from SUNY Brockport with a
Bachelor’s Degree in Arts for Children and my initial Early
Childhood Teacher Certification.
So, you may be wondering how I came to be appointed the
Niagara Deanery Youth Missioner.
The Episcopal Church has been a big part of my life. I have
been a member of Saint Andrew’s in Burt, New York since I was born. As a young child
I grew up going to Sunday school and learning to be an acolyte.
In elementary school I was introduced to Sleep Away camp.
I can still remember my parents coming to pick me up at the
end of the first camp session I attended; instead of telling them
how I had missed them, I shouted out how I was coming back next
year!
Church camp was one of the highlights of my summers, from
Sleep Away to Junior High Camp and Senior High Conference.
I loved how these camps allowed me to meet kids my age from
all over the diocese and taught me how we can worship God in many
different ways. My
vision of the Episcopal Church and what it means to be an
Episcopalian was greatly enhanced by my involvement in diocesan
events.
In high school I became involved in Happening.
I attended Happening Number 7 and was very involved in the
movement, attending the National Happening Leadership Conference
and being Rector on weekend Number 12.
Happening helped me to develop leadership skills and taught
me about the importance of teamwork in a diverse environment.
I graduated from high school with friends spread throughout
the diocese and a strong understanding of the importance of faith
to me. Throughout my
college years I still remained close to my hometown congregation,
attending services when I was home and helping out with various
church functions from singing in the choir when needed to planning
summer Sunday School activities.
As the Niagara Deanery Youth Missioner I look forward to
working with and getting to know the youth and congregations in my
area. I hope to foster
a connection between the youth at the various churches while
creating opportunities for them to build on their own faith.
~Your Deanery
Youth Missioner, Sarah Harrington
