Faith Journey Pipe & Helium Stick

Holy Family’s Youth Group recently met for its September dinner and teambuilding session. Youth participated in “faith journey pipe” where a small bead had to be transported through a 1/2 inch pvc pipe in two five-foot sections without making contact with the ground. The bead represents the fast and slow times of life and the need to have others around you to get you to the goal through love and support.
 
 
Helium stick is a team building activity in which participants are challenged to suspend a 10 foot section of pipe using only two fingers and lower it to the ground without losing contact with the pipe.  The urge to raise the pipe (temptation) is overpowering and the group must work as a team to achieve the goal relying on solid communication, positive affirmation, and mental agility. Following the teambuilding activities, the youth closed the evening by participating in Compline worship together.
 
Holy Family’s youth meet for Sunday school each week at 9 AM and once each month on Sunday evenings for dinner, fellowship, and teambuilding activities. For more information on Holy Family’s youth programs, please contact Director Marty Blake. mblake@hfec.org
 



Care Kits for Kids

 
During our 9 AM Sunday school hour, our Godly Play class (PreK-1st grade) chatted with Holy Family’s Deacon, the Reverend Cathy Scott, about children in need right in our own city. They talked about all the items that help kids stay clean and healthy, and how some families do not have enough money to buy those items.
 
 
Children packed 61 bags with toothbrushes, toothpaste, dental floss, mouthwash, shampoo, body wash, and lotion. The bags will be distributed to one elementary school and one intermediate school in Fishers. These bags will be added to the supplies from the Gleaner backpack program that supports children who need food and other items at home.

 
During our 10 AM service, the children were invited forward to bless with bags with our visiting clergy, The Reverend Jay Lawlor. The bags will be delivered early next week. Special thanks are extended to Dr. Jennifer Kugar at Northeast Pediatric Dentistry and Dr. Malinda Mundy-Burgett at Grin Dentistry for donating supplies. For more information about outreach projects in our Sunday school program, please contact Children’s Ministry Director Jolene Johnson. jjohnston@hfec.org
 


Hero Central VBS 2017

 
In early June, Holy Family welcomed children to this year’s Vacation Bible School program. Children discovered their strength in God through our “Hero Central” theme. Each day included a bible story, crafts, outdoor games, music, science activities, and a snack. We are grateful for the hard work and dedication of VBS leader Kristine Canter as well as our adults and youth leaders. More photos of our Hero Central VBS are available by clicking HERE. Please contact Children’s Ministry Director Jolene Johnston at jjohnston@hfec.org for more information about Children’s Ministry at Holy Family.


Helping the Homeless

 
 
During Sunday school on April 29th, students in preschool through high school helped to pack supply bags for the homeless. They talked at length about the challenges faced by the homeless and how specific items in the bags can be comfort items or even save lives.
 
 
Youth Group member Mikaila Blake and her friend Lauren Crimm organized the outreach project. They also consulted Holy Family’s deacon, The Reverend Cathy Scott, for suggestions about distributing the bags. Deacon Cathy also helped secure additional donations of items from St. Christopher’s Episcopal Church in Carmel. Mikaila had the following to contribute:
 
“We decided to start a project to help the homeless in Downtown Indianapolis. We have always desired to make a difference no matter how big or small. A few months ago we started a Go Fund Me campaign so we could buy items that people like you and I take for granted. We raised around $350. With that money we bought dried fruit, water, drawstring bags, snacks, socks, deodorant, and dry shampoo. We also received items from our schools, CRU (Campus Crusade for Christ), family members, and St. Christopher’s Youth Group in Carmel. We appreciate all of the help and are very blessed to be able to do this for others!”
 
 
The bags were blessed by The Reverend Bob Dekker who celebrated Eucharist at Holy Family this week. For more information about ways to help the homeless, please contact our Deacon, the Reverend Cathy Scott. cscott@hfec.org
 


2017 Lenten Lock-In

 
On March 24th, members of Holy Family’s Youth Group hosted a Lenten Lock-In for 21 students from our community. Please CLICK HERE to view photos and descriptions of all the activities shared by our youth. For more information about Holy Family’s Youth Group, please contact Youth Director Marty Blake. mblake@hfec.org


Advent 2016: Family Program

 
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During Advent this year, Holy Family’s Junior Daughters of the King chapter led a family Advent program on Wednesday evenings. Families took turns supplying a soup supper, and activities were led by Jr. DOK leaders Ruth Everett and Kristine Canter. It was a special way to reflect on the weekly Advent themes and spend time with our church family.
 
foodwilliamlovesophiajoylexa peace


Second Helpings

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On Sunday, September 25th, Holy Family welcomed two representatives from Second Helpings in Indianapolis. Nora SpitznogleDirector of Programs (shown at left), and Adriane Rios, Manager of Volunteer Services, led our Christian formation hour for adults and all children and youth in second grade and higher. 
 
Each day, Second Helpings volunteers and staff rescue prepared and perishable food from wholesalers, retailers and restaurants — preventing unnecessary waste. That rescued food is used to create 4,000 hot, nutritious meals each day that are distributed to 80 social service agencies that feed people in need. The Second Helpings Culinary Job Training program trains disadvantaged adults for careers in the food service industry. This helps eliminate hunger at its source. More than 600 adults have graduated from this program, and Second Helpings alumni are now working in Central Indiana as cooks, executive chefs, business owners and culinary instructors.
 
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During the presentation, Holy Family congregation members were introduced to the services provided by Second Helpings and suggested potential new ways that they may connect in order to offer support.
 
blessing
 
During the month of September, Holy Family congregation members collected pasta and spices to donate to Second Helpings. The donated items, as well as those who work with Second Helpings, were blessed by Father Mike during our 10 AM service. For more information about Second Helpings, please visit their website.
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Mission: United in Faith Presentation

Presentation Marty
 
On Sunday, August 21st, members of this year’s Mission: United in Faith mission trip team presented to the congregation during our 9 AM Adult Forum. Marty Blake, Director of Youth Ministry, shared an overview of the week’s service work, worship opportunities, and fellowship. Youth Group members shared personal stories as well.
 
Presentation Jenny   Presentation AbbyPresentation EthanPresentation Eliza
 
During the presentation, the mission team shared a compilation of photographs and short video clips from the week. Special thanks are extended to Youth Group leader Ruth Everett for creating the video. You may view the video presentation by clicking below.
 

 
 
Video
 


Back to Church Sunday 2016

Adult forum
On Sunday, August 14th. Holy Family held its annual Back to Church Sunday. On this day, all 9 AM Christian Education programming resumes for the school year, and the choir returns to the 10 AM worship service. It’s an exciting day when youth and adults gather together to share tales of their summer adventures, refreshed and renewed for another leg of their spiritual journey together.
Godly Play  Believers
 
Disciples
 
Youth Group
 
Sunday school classes are offered for children who are three years old through high school. Parents may contact Jolene Johnston, Director of Children’s Ministry at jjohnston@hfec.org or Marty Blake, Director of Youth Ministry at mblake@hfec.org. Registration cards are required for all children who participate in our Sunday school and childcare offerings including nursery. Adult Forum offers a variety of presentations at the same time as Sunday school for children and youth.
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Worship


Mission: United in Faith 2016

Mission Trip 2016
Holy Family recently held its first Mission: United in Faith mission trip as part of the larger Holy Family Youth Exchange program. This program was funded in part by a Youth Ministry Initiative Grant from the Center for Congregations. The week-long program was held in Brown County and Marion County, Indiana.
 
Seventeen youth and six adults participated in a variety of service activities including serving meals at Mother’s Cupboard, working at the Wheeler Mission Thrift Store, and making improvements to the facilities at Waycross Camp and Conference Center. They worshipped together daily using the Book of Common Prayer and had several special worship opportunities including those led by Bishop Cate Waynick, Father Mike Galvin, and Deacon Cathy Scott. Throughout the week they enjoyed fellowship through teambuilding games, swimming and canoeing, a drive-in movie, and scavenger hunt.
 
Photos from the trip are available on the Holy Family Youth Group Facebook page. Please CLICK HERE to view the photos (you do not need to have a Facebook account to view the photos.) The Youth Group will continue its Youth Exchange program during the school year and will connect with other Episcopal Youth Groups around the country. For more information about this program, please contact Youth Director Marty Blake at mblake@hfec.org.