Prelude

We leave for Chicago on Saturday at 6:30 am for an eight day adventure with almost fifty teens and adult leaders, and a clear mission: give and receive love. The youth group picks the theme every year, and this one is particularly powerful. Every day we not only get to offer our gifts to the community where we’ll serve and each other, we get to reflect each evening upon where we’ve received love too.

There is a common misconception that mission and service trips are about helping those less fortunate. We absolutely will offer an infusion of energy and good works in places that can use a boost. And, we will get far more than we’ll give. It is the shared learning that makes these trips so important. We learn from those who let us work in their community. They teach us about their lives and we try and offer a few insights about ours. It is the shared experience of opening up and going beyond our normal lives that grows our faith and teaches us what love really is and how it moves, in and out, of relationships.

Our first theme for day one and day two: the stranger. How do we give to and receive love from strangers? All of us will be looking for those moments where we can smile on the street, offer kind words, and help someone who don’t yet know. Will be noticing where strangers love us, sometimes without even realizing they have. We encourage you to consider our questions throughout the week so when we get home, we’ll be able to keep the conversation about giving and receiving love going all year.

We’ll write again Sunday July 31st with the stories of our first days including the travel and church on Lake Erie, and our second theme.

We invite you to post these reflections on facebook and send them to anyone who’d like a little inspiration in their lives.