The View from Bolton Street
Green Team: Mt Royal School Micro-Habitat/Garden Classroom
Now that you ask, here's an update on the
Pollinator Micro-Habitat/Garden Classroom
planned for Mount Royal Elementary/Middle School.
The Sheet Mulching Event "happened" last Saturday, the 3rd, and was finished Monday, the 5th. More fun is to be had Friday afternoon, March 16th, when 20 cu. yds. of tan bark mulch will be spread atop the sheet mulching around the project site. Good at throwing hay with a pitchfork? Well, mulch is spread the same way so bring that talent to bear on the 16th. That's an invitation!
Look Back: Children's and Youth Ministries
This past weekend, February 25, The Rev. Shivaun Wilkinson, Director of Children's and Youth Ministries for the Diocese of Washington, D.C., preached and met with parents and the vestry of Memorial. Shivaun+ arrived with a wealth of experience and guidance; and listened to what Memorialites had in mind. Over the course of the weekend we landed on a few general structural guidelines to help us in our progress toward a relevant, sustainable youth ministry.
At the top of the list was to begin with the end in mind by answering the question,"what spiritual qualities and attributes do we want our children to have as they approach adulthood and develop their own personal relationship with God?" In making this happen, several themes emerged including integration of children into as many aspects of church life as possible, including creating opportunities for youth to be as involved in services as possible. Other ideas that emerged were the importance of involving youth in other important church missions including justice efforts, caring for God’s creation, and pastoral care. Another key aspect to consider is the importance of inter-generational opportunities for our children.
We have a host of opportunities that already exist at Memorial and expanding our youth ministry should start with our existing talents and assets ranging from Green Team, to the Justice Ministry to Memorial Players and beyond.
There is still much work to be done to continue the transformation of our youth ministry but Shivaun+ has left us with a good start, and one that holds much promise. It also means you don't have to be a parent to a school-aged child to get involved. If you would like to get more involved, please contact Amy Rial and let her know how you can help.
The View from Bolton St.
This week's reflection is a Bolton Bites video: "What are your 10 commandments?"
which you can view here:
Green Team Call to Action: Chlorpyrifos
We just heard the ban on the pesticide Chlorpyrifos may stall in the Maryland Senate. This is a very important bill that will ban this highly toxic nerve agent pesticide that is known to cause brain damage in children.
Click here to send an email directly to your state Senator to support SB 500.
Please send your email this week, but prior to Thursday is especially helpful.
A national ban on Chlorpyrifos was in the works at the EPA following years of study, but the current administration reversed the planned ban. Banning this in Maryland is our last line of defense!
Jodi Rose
Art Against Violence
Many may remember last year when Memorial hosted a display of art created by kids who have dealt with violence first hand. It was a moving collection of often-times raw emotion that, we think, connected with much of the justice work we try to focus on here.
We are pleased to announce that Art Against Violence, specifically from the University of Maryland Medical Center, R. Adams Cowley Shock Trauma Center, will return to Memorial on March 22nd as part of National Youth Violence Prevention Week - March 19-23.
That evening, from 4-7, the artists will be on hand to showcase their work, answer questions, and be judged. The artwork will remain on display in the back of the church through Good Friday, for all to experience, after which it will head to other venues around Baltimore before returning to UMMC. The artists range in age from elementary school to young adults in college. We hope many of you will make time to witness their response to violence and support their courage and recovery.
Summer Camps at Memorial
Coming this Summer to Memorial for a return engagement it's Mr. Ionic Bond and the Science Guys Camps. The Science Guys held two camps last year at Memorial and they were a huge success, despite warm weather and no AC, and very last minute arrangements. So, if you are thinking about what to do with your younger ones this Summer - act quickly. Space is limited and they will likely book completely long before the end of the school year.
June 11-15, June 18-22, July 23-27, and August 13-17. For more details, and to find out which specific camp is being offered for each of these weeks, please visit scienceguysofbaltimore.com/science-camp or call 443 436 2663
And, for the first time in a long time, Memorial will be offering a church camp this summer. The week of August 20-August 24. Details are being worked out, but if you are interested, please contact the office - the more interest we see the more likely this will happen.
Look Forward: Sunday Night Live!
Youth Group: Sunday Night Live
The Memorial Episcopal teens were invited this fall to join Sunday Night Live, a youth group experience hosted by Brown Memorial. Corpus Christi youth also joined. Meeting monthly, the teens tackled tough issues in small group discussions, participated in large group team building and shared delicious dinners cooked by adult volunteers. Activities varied by themes of the month. For example, October's session ended with a pumpkin carving contest in which all of the students' jack-o-lanterns lined up in front of Brown for judging by adults and in November, the youth divided in three teams (as if they were on a Food Network game show) to create side dishes and desserts for a collaborative Thanksgiving meal.
Each meeting starts with dinner, and is followed by Associate Pastor Tim Hughes of Brown Memorial "preaching" on the topic of the evening. After this the youth break out into age appropriate groups and continue the discussion, or work on a project related to it. Afterwards they reconvene to share insights and have dessert.
The March meeting will be on Palm Sunday, March 25, at Memorial in Upper Farnham Hall and will feature Middle Eastern cuisine. We encourage all to get involved, whether you have kids of the right age or not. In many ways, these are the young people who will inherit our world and it is inspiring to see them engaging it in positive ways and already laying a foundation for leading good lives of purpose.
The view from Bolton Street
They shall come and make known to a people yet unborn *
the saving deeds that he has done. - Psalm 22:30
This weekend the Vestry goes on retreat. We welcome our new vestry members, Daviedra Sauldsberry, Bill Wells and Fred Demers. We welcome our new Junior Warden Bill Roberts. And we welcome some time apart to come together as a group and reflect on where God is calling Memorial in 2018 and beyond.
Now we won’t be gone very far. The retreat is right here in Baltimore! We will spend the bulk of our time in a community organization’s space in the Station North Neighborhood, and will do a tour of West Baltimore to become more familiar with some of the strengths and challenges of our neighboring communities.
The big focus of this retreat is a discussion about how to change the culture of our parish around children and around race. How can we become more inviting for children and families and for people of all backgrounds — ‘becoming the Beloved Community’ as our Presiding Bishop has called us to do?
So I am, of course, drawn to this verse from the psalms, where we remember both that we are here to make a place for those who come after us AND that we are also those unborn to those who came before us. This reminder that the work (making known the saving deeds he has done) remains the same even as our context and our audience shifts and changes from generation to generation.
On Sunday, The Rev. Shivaun Wilkinson will be joining us in the pulpit as she helps our congregation imagine how we can best serve those who are coming after us. An expert in the Episcopal Church in children’s formation and creating communities that embrace believers of all ages, she will be working with the vestry, parents and anyone who is interested over the next few months to help craft new programs for the children in our pews, and for the families too as we seek to create a church that continues to be a sanctuary and place of rest for kids, their parents, and all of us.
See you in Church!
