On Friday night, September 21, over 30 teenagers from Grace Church in Madison, St. Paul’s Church in Chatham, Grace Church in Newark, and St. Stephen’s Church in Milburn gathered to “keep watch.” The overnight, hosted by the Revs. Tom Murphy, Brent Bates, Megan Sanders and Mary Davis at Grace, Madison, was the first in a series of events planned for District 4 Youth.
The evening began with games and a scavenger hunt. Then Bishop Beckwith joined us as celebrant and preacher at a late night Eucharist, while Music Director Anne Matlack introduced hand bells and music instruction. Each teen offered their prayers by drawing on a quilting square, which will be assembled into a District 4 Prayer Quilt by the quilting ministry of St. Paul’s, Chatham.
Following worship, Joseph Elisee of Grace Church, Newark treated the kids to fun night of karaoke and dancing, which was followed by some time for prayerful labyrinth reflection.
On Saturday, bagels and Morning Prayer concluded the overnight, and everyone left with plans to attend our next event, at the Community Foodbank in Hillside, on Saturday, November 10 from 9 - 11 a.m. (For registration information, please contact the Rev. Mary Davis at rector@stpaulschatham.org by November 1.)
