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Dominic Chin, Jonah Gouery, Jack Grashof, Kate Hanssen, Nina Ravaschieri, Sophie Riddle, Corby Steiner, Maggie Ulman, and Sonya Ulman
Alexa Chura shared this month’s Moment of Gratitude writing, “Our graduating class is filled with remarkable young adults who lead with kindness and generosity, guided by their steadfast faith. Service is not something they simply do, it is woven into who they are. They contribute with such quiet grace that we often don’t fully see all that they do for our congregation and community.
This class has made an impact both near and far through their many fundraisers, food drives, and mission trips. Within our congregation, they have faithfully served as weekly acolytes, Artie’s Party servers, station leaders at Vacation Bible School, hosts for Stations of the Cross, performers in the Passion of the Christ, facilitators for the Christmas Pageant, Shrove Sunday pancake chefs, Run for the Pies volunteers, and so much more. Their willingness to serve has touched nearly every corner of life here at Good Shepherd.
Their service has extended far beyond the walls of our church into the greater Palm Beach County community. Our graduates have been active with the Outreach Committee, participated in gleaning efforts, led the Souper Bowl Sunday food drive, and served at St. George’s Table.
Their willingness to help others has taken them past the boundaries of even Palm Beach County. Over the years, this class has participated in several mission trips, beginning in South Carolina, where they worked with inner-city youth, cleaned parks, painted a boys home, and partnered with Habitat for Humanity. They also traveled to Maine, where they taught elementary students art and science, packed hygiene kits, and prepared snack packs for those in need.
They have already accomplished so much as youth in our church, but they are not finished yet! In just a few weeks, this class—along with other youth from our church—will embark on a mission trip to Costa Rica, where they will teach Vacation Bible School (a role they know exceptionally well), assist with construction projects, and ultimately spend some time ziplining through the rainforest. After all, it can’t be all work and no play!
The legacy this class leaves behind has made a profound and lasting impact on our congregation as well as on our remaining youth. We are deeply proud of all you have achieved in school, in sports, and in the friendships that you have fostered over the years. We look ahead with great anticipation to what is to come for each of you, may you always remember that you have a home here at Good Shepherd.”
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