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YO!, Annual Report for year 2003

YO!- Annual Report

It is once again, my honor to write a report of what Trinity YO! (youth organization) has been involved in for the past year. We are a small but mighty group of teenagers consisting of Amy Crapsey, Cesy Nguyen, Ellen High, Lori Taylor, Chris and Bethany Spheekas, and Ara Eckel. Last summer we said good-bye to Tim and Anthony Dovey who moved down south. All of these young Christians have been involved in some of the activities of this past year.

January through March saw us busily planning the first DYD, Deanery Youth Day and Dance. Trinity hosted several planning sessions culminating in a wonderful day of food, fun, and fellowship in Christ. The youth did most of the planning, leading, and sponsoring of the days activities which included ice breakers, a youth led Eucharist, snacks, dinner, and a dance, replete with DJ. We had 6 churches, about 40 youth, and a dozen adults participate in this wonderful event. The results were other deanery youth events, newly formed friendships, a spot in the Episcopal Times, and a positive name generated throughout the deanery for Trinity Church. It is also important to note that we all had a wonderful time and are in the planning of the 2nd DYD! Thanks to all who helped us, especially Fr. Crapsey for his support and guidance throughout.

Our next deanery event was a pizza party at St. Andrew's, Methuen. We were involved in generating ideas for deanery youth activities. It is noteworthy that the youth kicked the adults out and did this planning totally on their own and had a blast, not to mention, impressed us all!

Our Easter service project, a car wash, got delayed. You may remember the winter that never ended! We completed this in July and actually held two car washes combined with the youth group of St. Paul's, Newburyport. Together we raised $230 for the Episcopal Development Fund. A BIG thank you to Jan and Tom High for coordinating everything for us! This project simply would not have happened without them.

We sponsored our 2nd Youth Sunday in June with YO! choosing the hymns, coordinating youth leadership in most aspects of the service, and a coffee hour with the Sunday School. Later that day we went for a rainy cookout at St. Paul's, Newburyport. We made our own sunshine and realized that our two groups have similar demographics of age, gender, interests, and numbers. We share wonderful friendship bonds with this group that have directly grown out of our first DYD.

Come September, we reconvened and looked ahead. Our group is changing constantly with sports, licenses (yikes!), and jobs. One things is for certain, we will continue to be Trinity YO!. There was a deanery event at St. James' Amesbury, for pizza, music, and a movie, last September. The older youth led the younger youth.

This year, we wanted to go to Common Cathedral again but couldn't get a date until Dec. 14th. This became our Christmas service project. Again, we took on a combined activity with St. Paul's and made brownies, hard boiled eggs, popcorn (from scratch), and hot chocolate for 200 servings! We then worshipped at St. Paul's and were blessed on our way from their service to go to the service at Common Cathedral in Boston. When we got there we found out that the other sponsoring church wasn't coming nor were their sandwiches! We made a fast PBJ assembly line and made emergency sandwiches. All turned out well and folks went away with great abundance. We also had an Advent party with St. Paul's in December. We plan to go glow bowling over Christmas break.

As we look ahead to 2004 we look forward to our second DYD. We have our first planning meeting on Jan. 25th at St. Paul's, who will be hosting it this year. The youth will develop their ideas for this event with adult guidance and support. We will plan an Easter service project, I hope another Youth Sunday, and whatever else they have a vision for that I can support.

We'd like to say thanks to all of you at Trinity, young and old, lay and professional. Whenever we have done something or asked for something you have graciously supported our every effort. You have prayed for us, donated to our causes, applauded and encouraged our efforts. Thank you for all that you have done for us in the past and for all you will continue to do for us in the future. We really appreciate being so well received and supported.

YO! is open to all teenagers age 13 and up. They do not have to belong to Trinity, any other church, or even be a professed Christian. All teens are welcome. Please feel free to speak to me anytime about our activities and how a teen that you know can become involved with this small but mighty group!

In closing, I must underscore that I feel so honored to work with this specific group of talented, faithful, active young people. Working with teenagers is so special. This is just where I need to be. There is enough in the world that frightens me. (I sound more like my parents with each passing year and that's ok.) Being a part of Trinity YO! gives me hope for this next generation and the positive ways that they will change the world. Thank you for the opportunity to seek and serve Christ at Trinity in this special way.

Yours in Christ-
Maureen A. Dadekian Eckel
YO! Advisor/Mentor

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