Dear Westwood Community, 

I know that not everyone will find the things that have been formative to me to be formative to them, but it’s sure a lovely treat when they do. Everest and I were talking about this just last week–as both of us were sharing excitement and details for plans for this weekend’s Youth Sunday.

When I was in middle and high school, I treasured being a part of a church that was willing and eager to let me lead. Though people sometimes said well-intentioned but frustrating things about how “youth are the church of the future,” I experienced the gift of being a part of a church that also valued how I and other young people were the church of the present. I experienced the gift of being a part of the community that took me seriously, believed I had gifts to offer, and invited me into leadership.

Now, all these years later, I am excited to be getting ready to celebrate Youth Sunday here at Westwood UMC. We’ll continue our tradition of inviting graduating high school seniors to speak in worship–but this year our Grapple Group is also stepping up into all kinds of worship leadership. They’ve written prayers, planned a Sanctuary sermon, prepared to speak from the center in the Loft, and rehearsed dramatic scripture readings.

I know that for many of you, this is a return to a familiar tradition. It is certainly not the first Youth Sunday at Westwood! Perhaps you, too, were once a part of a Youth Sunday, when you were given a chance to step into new leadership roles.

I know that there are lots of other ways that our young people have stepped into leadership, too; worship isn’t the only place we see our young people leading. Our Grapple Group is full with wise, funny, compassionate young people, who give of their time in leadership in the church, in their schools, on sports teams and in the arts and in community service. We have young people who serve on our church committees, too, regularly contributing to the administration and governance of our congregation.

Nonetheless, I didn’t want to miss this occasion to celebrate the gifts that our Grapple Group brings to our church. I am grateful for all of the grown-ups who take them seriously: parents, teachers, VBS and Confirmation mentors, church friends, youth leaders. I am grateful for all the younger kids, too, and that they get to see our Grapplers in leadership now. I cannot say enough about how grateful I am for the adults who work with our young people. In particular, Everest Harvey, Deanna Edwards, and Uriya Simeon each possess a rare and beautiful commitment to taking our young people and their spiritual lives seriously. We are so blessed to have each of them in leadership with our youth and children.

I look forward to this Sunday! It’s also Pentecost, which we celebrate as the birthday of the Church, and on which we honor the gifts of the Holy Spirit. I hope you’ll be with us, in the Sanctuary and/or the Loft, to see and experience some of the ways the Spirit has gifted our young people.

grace and peace,

Pastor Molly