I don’t know about you but lately my life has been a roller coaster. Last year, we had a great middle school mini retreat where 40 youth got together safely and worked in small groups to have a Bible Study, played games, and did a service project. Then, we took kids to camp. Lutheridge was a wonderful experience! We started the school year with an outdoor luau for the middle and high school youth! It was great. Things seemed to be getting “back to normal.” Then Omicron hit.

We were back isolating. I had multiple families tell me they would see me in February and now March. I’m tired. I think we’re all tired. I want my faith family back. I want to keep everyone safe, but I miss you. Our children and youth need each other. The adults need each other. We’re better together than we’ll ever be apart.

Jesus recognized that we needed each other too. In the Gospel of John, he was praying to God the father and said this, “I have given them the glory that you gave me, that they may be one as we are one — I in them and you in me — so that they may be brought to complete unity. Then the world will know that you sent me and have loved them even as you have loved me.”

I have been thinking about how we can start gathering again, feeling like we’re one again. What can reunite us when people have lost connections with their faith family? Children and youth’s friend groups have shrunk. Children don’t want to go to things where they won’t know anyone. Youth don’t want to take the step out of their comfort zone. We need to reconnect again.

I’m planning on some low commitment, easy family events to get people connected again. The first is in connection with our Middle and Highschool Fusion Nights. Fusion events are youth group time once a month where youth share a meal, devotion and some kind of activity. While Fusion is happening in the Pit, parents with or without younger children can have Family Infusion. This is a gathering of adults (and young children, if they have them…but you don’t have to) that also share in a meal and gather for devotion and to connect (or reconnect!). We’ll meet at the same time as Fusion to make it an easy night for the whole family. Everyone has something to do.

Then once a month we’ll have an intergenerational family event. This can be a movie night on Christ South’s land or strawberry picking. Something fun for the whole family. Children and youth can make friends while the adults are too!

Our first Family Infusion event is Feb 27 at 6-7:30 in the Fellowship Hall. Here we’ll plan out our first few event days. Come join us to connect, reconnect or just meet some amazing people!