The Re. Cara Rockhill

I would like to begin by extending to you my most sincere thanks at your patience and understanding as I come on board and get my feet under me here at Holy Comforter.

I know that many people have expressed concern about the youth programs this year, and I would like to take a moment to reassure everyone that those programs are going forward! Because of how quickly the program year started after I began at Holy Comforter (three weeks), and the nature of my position as an interim, there are going to be a couple of changes.

One of the jobs of an interim is to help set the church up for long-term success, even though I may not ever get to see the results. And, to set the church up for success immediately after I leave.

In looking at the realities of the programs as they exist today, 3 days before the program year is set to begin, I see a fairly major problem. The problem is that there simply aren't enough teachers for the High School Sunday School classes. In order to go forward within the reality of the congregation as it stands, and the lack of teachers, we as clergy and leadership have discerned that for this program year only, we have to make a change. That change will be to have the high school Sunday School classes join with the Adult Formation classes into a multi-generational formation group.

If sufficient teachers are found, the program will go forward as it has in past years, with there being adult formation, high school Sunday school, and middle school Sunday school. With one exception, the 6th graders will be joining the middle school group.

If the change to programming is made, students in 9th grade will have the option of attending the multi-generational group, or joining the middle school group.

If you are willing to be a teacher, please signup HERE.

Being a Sunday School teacher is not a huge time commitment, but it allows you the opportunity to be part of a vitally important formation process for our youth. This is the time when faith truly starts to take shape, and when mature questions about faith start to be asked.

This is a period of incredible transition at Holy Comforter. We all must be open to change, and to taking a very honest look at ourselves. An honest look, not a judgmental look, so that we can see who we are, where our passions live, and how we can best utilize the gifts that God has given us.

One of the things that I have found the most humbling about ministry is the constant need to evaluate and address yourself in an honest way. My experience in doing this not just with myself, but in various contexts (ministry and otherwise), is part of what led me to Holy Comforter.

Part of what I have been tasked to do here at Holy Comforter is to evaluate our youth program, in order to see who we are, and how we can best grow. I will begin that evaluative process in the next few weeks, and I hope you all will be part of that process as well.

What would be incredibly helpful in this time is for adults in the parish who feel called to providing a consistent, supportive, and leadership role for the youth program, either as a Sunday School teacher, or leader of the youth group, to step forward. If you would be interested in discerning if God is calling you to this vital and important ministry, please contact me or fill out the form linked above. And if you feel God may be calling you to work with children, please contact Lauren Breeden.

I know that there has been a lot of frustration at the seeming lack of communication about what we are planning to do this year, particularly with the youth. Again, I am very grateful to you all for your patience and grace during my first few weeks here. It took a few days to get a feel for the program as it exists, and a feel for the church. 

We would like to invite all youth and their parents to join Valerie Hayes and me in Lower Rodman at 10:00 a.m. on Sunday (during the forum time), to quickly discuss this, and to discuss the immediate needs and direction of the youth program. I would also be willing to hold an open conversation with the Church to discuss the youth program, the direction we would like to take, and the changes being made. Please click HERE to tell us if you would be interested in such an event.

To register for any youth programming, please do so using the following link HERE.

Blessings as we go forward together, 

Cara+