A note from Linda: Adults, please share this email with your youth. If you'd like me also to send these emails to the kids, please email me their addresses & your permission. Thanks! You are all in my prayers, by name, every day at noon (okay, sometimes later, but always!). Peace be with you! Be well! Linda
ST JAMES EPISCOPAL CHURCH, AMESBURY, MASSACHUSETTS

YOUTH CLASS
TRINITY SUNDAY

June 7, 2020

What you need: a watch, clock, or timer; a quiet creative activity; a candle (if it's okay, or an intentional object like a cross); a Bible, if you'd like; paper; something to write with; a snack. Have your class with a sibling or other family members, or enjoy this time by yourself.

1) Begin with a transition time – Peace & Quiet: enjoy a creative activity for about 10 minutes (journaling, clay, Legos, drawing, etc. Not a focus on a finished product; just enjoyment. Ponder this: three in one.

2) Next, clear the space, or move to another space, and light a candle (or place your intentional object). Settle in, and say a prayer, like: Your word is a lamp unto my feet and a light unto my path. - Psalm 119:105. Offer your own prayers, silently, or out loud.

3) Here are the appointed readings for May 17. Find them in your Bible. Read them out loud.

Our focus for this class is the Epistle:  2 Corinthians 13:11-13 - Paul says:
"Finally, brothers and sisters, farewell. Put things in order, listen to my appeal, agree with one another, live in peace; and the God of love and peace will be with you. Greet one another with a holy kiss. All the saints greet you. The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, the love of God, and the communion of the Holy Spirit be with all of you."

Finally, brothers and sisters, farewell.
Two thoughts: I'm glad Paul included brothers and sisters (a potentially bold choice in his day). Now, we include EVERYONE. How might we express that at our church? Tell me.
Also, "farewell" is such a sweet word. Fare. Well. Vocabulary.com says: "It's not fair that fare means three unrelated things. As a verb, it means to proceed or get along, as in 'Fare thee well.' As a noun, it can refer to the cost of travel ('Train fare is ten dollars') or to food ('Tatertots are typical cafeteria fare')." . . . And well: well, well! Well's another multi-purpose word. What do you suppose the translator was going for with these words? Best wishes? Try hard? Good luck? or simply, ttfn? (Probably not brb.)

Put things in order,
Which things? And why?
What do you choose to organize and/or get right in your life? In the world around you?

listen to my appeal,
Pay attention, hear my words, know what I am asking of you. What appeals are you making these days? Are you being listened to? What conversations do you want to be having?

agree with one another, live in peace; and the God of love and peace will be with you.
Sometimes the right thing is to not agree, blindly: always the best way is to talk, and listen hard, and teach and learn, and then come to a consensus. The goal is LOVE, always, remembering the peace that is offered to you. Think of the Holy Trinity: Father (Mother/Parent), Son (Child), Holy Spirit: what do each of these three-in-ones offer as help?

Greet one another with a holy kiss.
Or maybe an elbow bump. Or just a text saying hey. Keep connections. . . connected!

All the saints greet you.
In this case, Paul's probably referring to other church members. You're a saint, you know! If you feel like being greeted by the other saints of St James, drop in (with parents' permission) to the Zoom Coffee Hours on Sundays at 9:30. The link's on our website and Facebook .
Who are "your people" - and why?

The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, the love of God, and the communion of the Holy Spirit be with all of you. Three! Here is the Holy Trinity: what do those things mean to you? What is the value of each part, separated? And when they're combined: superpowers! How can we express this? How does the Holy Trinity work through you? How does the Holy Trinity work for you? (Check out the symbols in the art above.)

4) Think about what you read, chat about it if you have company, look it up online (if allowed) and see if there's commentary about it – do you agree? Do you feel called to do something?

5) Brainstorm & make a poster, your choice: Top 10 Things that Need to Be Heard. And/or: Top 10 Things that Make Me, Me. Take a pic; email it to me !

6) Snack time! Prayers first: talk to God! "I'm grateful for, I'm worried about, I ask for," etc. And/or take 5 or so minutes for centering prayer: relaxing into peace and letting thoughts go. Enjoy your snack.

7) Finally, clean up your space(s), and say a closing prayer, like: Be kind, for everyone you meet is fighting a hard battle. - Plato. Blow out the candle, or put away the intentional object (or leave it there if you'd like to create a little sacred area) and say out loud: Go now in peace, to love and serve the Lord! Thanks be to God! ALLELUIA! (You can say Alleluia as many times as you want, now!)

News & Tasks:
- Is there a virtual thing we can do? Share it! So we can do it! Write to me or to Fr John, who is always available: stjames.frjohn@verizon.net .
- LMK if you want the links to past classes. You may find that the ways you think about things or the ways you act change over time, especially during these ponderous, pondering days.

Extra and Important:
Read this Forbes article: " How to Be an Ally During Times of Tragedy " - or other resources (what has been useful for you? Please share ). What do you think? What can we be doing - as individuals, as a group, as a Church - to teach, to learn, to be an ally for justice?
Are you interested in being part of a Diocesan anti-racism group?

Also - how are you? What can I, or Fr John, or our church, do for you? LMK ! - Peace, Linda