End of Day 1: Success!

The Mid High Mission Team departed today for host church, St. James's Episcopal Church.

After we arrived to St. James’s this afternoon, we got to know each other a little better with icebreakers and games. Then we enjoyed Jazz Mass! After that, we had a yummy Mexican dinner (thanks Stephanie & Rick Golembeski!) followed by a prayer tour around RVA. We stopped at the Diocesan office, the Capitol, RPS Central Office/City Hall, Main St. Station, and finally the Reconciliation Statue. It’s gonna be a great week!

Welcome back to the resource site!

It's official--we're ONE MONTH away from our local mission week in RVA. I hope that you and your participating student(s) are getting psyched for a tremendous experience that will leave a huge impact on their lives! 

While you're here, be sure to check out the "Who We're Serving" and "How You Can Help" pages for more information. 

And don't forget our information meeting scheduled for Sunday, June 2nd at 12:15 in the Garage at Christ Church. See you then! 

"The best week of my life!"

A WITNESS FROM TAYLOR WIGNER

This week was the best week of my life! My team is team Maymont. We went to ARC camp yesterday. It is called Camp Baker. It is for people with disabilities. They were fun and nice! I met a bunch of cool people there, too! I met someone called Chris. He is so cool and nice!

They have a talent show every Thursday for everyone. And Chris was going to sing Bruno Mars. We then met some other people like John, David and Timothy Strong. Timothy was so funny and AWESOME! He likes movies like zombies and he has a DVD player. He has a man cave, too! He also likes wrestling, too. They were all so funny and nice! I am so happy they had fun. They leave on Fridays and come back on Sundays. I had fun volunteering and I hope I can come back next year.

"Just a few miles away there is someone who needs our help..."

A WITNESS BY LUCIA FOGLER 

Yesterday my group (Team Maymont) went to help "Building a Better RPS". Building a Better RPS is an organization where companies and other organizations help beautify the curb appeal of all 44 properties that house Richmond Public Schools. At first we went to Woodville Elementary to help there. Upon arriving we were told that the mulch had been delivered to the back of the school instead of where we needed it, in the front. Since this mission trip is about serving others we were flexible and went to MLK Jr. Middle School to help there with another group. For most of the morning at MLK Jr. Middle we weeded all the flower beds in the front of the school before the mulch was laid down.

After lunch we went to the Sophie House. This is where single women and moms can come to the community center and get the resources that they need to help their families. Half of our group worked outside putting new wood down for the flower beds. The rest of the group worked inside folding and delivering clothes to the clothes closet next door and covering old signs so that they could be used again.

Even though these services were very different we saw how important our work was to not only the people who would receive it but the people running the organizations. It inspired us to keep on serving even after the mission trip was over because just a few miles away there is someone who needs our help here in Richmond.

Quality Time with our Northside Neighbors

A WITNESS BY NATALIE HOERRNER

On Tuesday, my group went to the Northside YMCA to help with the kids. Lucia, Emma, and I introduced ourselves to the Kindergarteners and first graders and they were already so friendly. They had such big smiles on their faces when they learned that we were coming to the playground with them. As soon as we got to the playground they were all grasping on to us and asking for us to play with them. After the playground, we played games and did crafts with them. They were so fun to talk to and they weren't shy at all. It was such an amazing day and I'm so glad we got to spend it with such great kids.

Our youth mission team served children of the Northside YMCA summer camp.  With a focus on nurturing the potential of every child and teen, improving the nation’s health and well-being and providing opportunities to give back and support neighbors, the Y enables youth, adults, families and communities to be healthy, confident, connected and secure.

"An impactful and amazing day!"

A WITNESS BY RYAN ARNOLD
 
My team, Team James River, went to Fairfield Court Elementary School yesterday to work with RPS. In helping them prepare for the coming school year, we weeded the front entrance, mulched 6,400(!) pounds of mulch into the area surrounding the trees and bushes, and leaf blew the sidewalk. Everyone did amazing!

Zoe and Ellie worked with me as we spread the mulch and we had some pretty awesome conversations, Jack and Justin did a lot of the heavy lifting and wheel barreled the majority of the mulch, and William did a great job with the leaf blower. All of our teamwork led to us finishing a half an hour earlier than the time we were expected to finish. We ate lunch and then traveled to Commonwealth Senior Living where we helped flatten paper bags from grocery stores. All of those paper bags would be crocheted into a mattress or bag for the homeless, which is pretty cool! After that, some of the senior citizens decided to teach us dominoes and we had fun playing a few rounds. We then played a few rounds of Bingo where William and Zoe dominated.

We took showers and then went to Bryan Park, where we had a cookout prepared by a few members of the Youth Ministry Team. We had a great time and overall had an impactful and amazing day!

Spreading mulch at Fairfield Court Elementary School.

Quality time with residents of Commonwealth Senior Living Center.

Share your experience on the mid-high mission trip

Share your experience on the mid-high mission trip! Post your photos and updates to Instagram and tag them with #serverva

The countdown has begun!

The trip is only 18 days away!  Have you figured out how YOU are going to join us?  Here are some ideas!


1) FEED US. You know who eats a lot? Growing young people. You know who eats even more? Growing young people who get up early and stay up late to serve their community! Please consider donating some food to our mission team. http://bit.ly/1hZuzO8

2) SERVE WITH US. We'd love to have you join us in service. All ages are welcome to help serve with the team at Shalom Farms on Wednesday, June 28. http://bit.ly/1hZuzO8

3) WORSHIP WITH US. Come to St. James Episcopal Church on Tuesday, June 27 as Rev. Shirley leads us in worship. This a great way to show the team your love and support.

4) FOLLOW US. We will be providing real-time updates as they serve the city. We'll post everything here and you can also follow along at #cceserve.

5) PRAY FOR US. Please keep the students, chaperones and their families in your prayers, as well as the people we encounter in the mission field.

Go with us!

People of ALL ages are invited to participate.  The 2017 mid-high mission trip is not just for 6th-8th graders. We are inviting YOU to participate as we seek to be the heart and hands of Jesus across metro Richmond.
Come to St. James and worship with us on Tuesday, June 27 at 7:00 PM. Rev. Shirley will lead us in the St. James sanctuary. NO NEED TO SIGN UP, JUST JOIN US.

Serve with us at Shalom Farms on Wednesday, June 28.  This is a great opportunity for people of all ages! You can choose from two shifts: 9:00 AM-12:00 PM and 1:00-4:00 PM. You are more than welcome to come early/stay late and bring a bagged lunch to join the youth mission team for lunch. CLICK HERE TO SIGN UP.

Help provide food by providing donations. We are growing people. We eat a lot! If you are able, please consider donating some food items. CLICK HERE TO SIGN UP.

Welcome!

Mid High Mission Trip Announcement

Our "home" for the week: St. James Episcopal

“But seek the welfare of the city where I have sent you, and pray to the LORD on its behalf, for in its welfare you will find your welfare.”  Jeremiah 29:7

This summer, our mid-high students will Be The Church by serving as the hand and feet of Jesus in our local community.  Our home for the week will be St. James Episcopal Church in Downtown Richmond.  Throughout the week, students will be working with local mission partners in the greater Richmond Metropolitan area and immersing themselves in various service and educational opportunities.  There will also be plenty of worship and fun!  Sign ups for students will be available on CCE on-line beginning February 1.  We will also have various opportunities for members of the congregation to participate, stay tuned for more details of how you can help us Be The Church this summer.