Serving the City 2015

So, it’s our yearly youth group tradition, to take a bus full of kids and a van full of donated warm winter clothing to the City.

And that’s exactly what we did this afternoon.

And while we’re there, a funny thing happens.  While passing out free lunches and helping people collect free clothing, we also get to meet and talk to and pray with people as well.

This year, we took a pretty incredible group of teenagers.

They really are mostly typical teens.  But on this trip, they also become these amazing, serving, selfless beings and it is a pretty awesome thing to witness.

Serving and loving and helping others is a pretty great way to spend a Sunday afternoon.

And it has to be mentioned.  Because every year, amazing women from our church get together on Monday nights.  They knit and crochet and share lives and hearts.  All year long.  And it’s all in anticipation for today.  Because we take their scarves and hats and gloves and we pass them out to perfect strangers.  And they are delighted to receive such a special gift.

I have to brag a bit about this one.  Because she’s mine.  And she walked all throughout Tompkins Square Park carrying a huge blue tub of scarves and hats.  She walked herself up to strangers and smiled as they dug through her tub to find the perfect scarf.  And she smiled her slightly less shy smile because little by little, she is gaining such confidence.  And we are so, so proud of her.

We are also really proud of them.  And parents.  You should all be proud too.  Because your kids took time out of their busy lives to serve and to show love to others.  They dug through clothing, searched for specifics and smiled their way through the afternoon.  They walked up to strangers, offering them free lunches.  And not one of them held back.  It was quite a blessing to see.

A huge, huge thanks to everyone who helped to make our 2015 Serving the City event a great success.  So many friends and community members stopped by our church to share donations.  And we had an incredible time today, sharing everything that we had.  We are so proud of everyone who joined us for this awesome trip!