Saturday Storytelling                                                   
August 5, 2017
Recap of the DC Mission Trip and Student Ministries 

As I continue to get to know Crossroads' students, I am impressed time and time again with how innately compassionate they are. The students I've met over the last two months in our weekly Intersect gatherings, our Saturday evening Crossroads Underground services, in the mission trip groups, and after services on Sunday mornings are absolutely exceptional, incredibly bright, and filled with heart and spirit. It's a privilege each and every day to wake up knowing I get to learn with them (as well as from them), share in a love of Jesus' teachings, and join them in cheering on their successes while also being a listening ear when challenges arise.
 
If you haven't already seen last week's Saturday Story, I strongly urge you to click here and take a moment to be present with some of the outstanding acts of kindness, generosity, and God's love demonstrated by our Pittsburgh Project students and their team leaders last month.
 
In this week's Saturday Story, I want to share a bit about the D.C. mission trip, where I was able to witness first-hand the presence of God moving through seven young men who showed up committed to supporting our neighbors in need.
 
Over the course of a week, we met with speakers who shared their stories of formerly being a part of D.C.'s homeless population and learned about the rising gentrification occurring in all four quadrants of D.C., which is pushing long-term residents out of the city at a rapid rate. We spent time with David Harris, the soft-spoken poet-in-residence at The Pilgrimage, who powerfully reminded us "the only difference between yourself and someone experiencing homelessness is you have a key". We heard from members of our extended Crossroads family who provided inspiring personal accounts regarding privilege, race, immigration, and social justice issues.
 
We were also blessed to be able to support The Good Shepherd Alliance in downtown Ashburn by organizing their donations both inside and outside. We even weeded the pollinator garden in Crossroads' front yard to help out our bees and butterflies!
 
It was a full week in every sense of the word. We had lots to do and many places to be, and yet it all unfolded beautifully. Throughout each day, we were lifted up by smiling faces, helping hands, and encouraging words from people who knew us and those who didn't. God's grace truly went before us in each moment to make a path and provide ample opportunities for each one of us to put Jesus' teachings into action and be the presence of love to the fullest.
 
Through it all, with soaring temperatures and high humidity, extensive periods of walking and being out in the searing sunshine, sleeping on the floor or couches in the Crossroads basement, and long days of service (often in spaces with limited air conditioning), I never heard a single complaint. The young gentlemen on the trip were exemplary in remaining focused on why they were participating in this trip and what they intended to accomplish.
 
They handed out water bottles to people we passed by in our travels and were quick to lend a helping hand (or arm) to help some of our speakers and guides with physical challenges better navigate the streets. None of this seemed motivated by an "I have to" attitude but rather by an "I'm blessed to" spirit. My heart is still so deeply moved, and I will treasure the memories of this week for a lifetime.
 
I'm already looking forward to next year's missions!
 
In the meantime, there's a lot that's being planned for Student Ministries in the coming months. It's my goal, and our overarching vision in Family Ministries, to have even more ways for our students to be able to serve throughout the year. We're starting to plan some brief local weekend mission opportunities as well as a few afternoon or single-day service events. More details will be announced soon.
 
I'm also 100% dedicated to encouraging our students to share their gifts and to be seen and celebrated for all that they do and all that they are. I intend to begin to incorporate their stories, their artwork, their music, their talents, their videos, and more into the Student Ministries newsletter and website as well as within this Saturday Story space too.
 
There's so much we can learn by listening to our students and being present with what's meaningful to them and how God shows up in their lives. I envision a platform and space (both physical and virtual) that's truly theirs where they feel free to create and express their walk with God in a way that enriches and uplifts our Crossroads community and unites us across multiple generations.
 
In terms of what's happening here and now, we meet regularly on Sundays for Intersect, which is the middle and high school version of "Sunday School". Through the Summer, we're meeting as a combined group, but we'll have separate times for middle and high school in the coming months along with special gatherings designed for each distinct age group (such as Connect 4! for middle school students).
 
Additionally, Crossroads Underground is a unique and engaging worship service designed with our students in mind. We have several high schoolers who participate each week by playing in the band, helping to serve communion, reading the scripture, and shaping the service in way that encourages their developing faith and ongoing relationship with God.
 
If you'd like to learn more about what's unfolding with Student Ministries, I encourage you to sign up for our Student Ministry newsletter (which you can do through the weekly bulletin in your worship guide). We're also always on the lookout for passionate, energetic individuals who are called to support our students as a teacher, leader, or volunteer. You can email me at mperry@crossroadsnova.org to learn more about any of the above.
 
Have a blessed and Joy-FULL continued Summer!

Marilyn Perry
                                                   

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Crossroads United Methodist Church                                                                               www.EverydayLifeWithGod.org
43454 Crossroads Dr.                                                                                                                                (703) 729-5100
Ashburn, Virginia 20147                                                                                                                       (703) 729-9048 fax
 
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