“Are you tired? Worn out? Burned out on religion? Come to me. Get away with me and you’ll recover your life. I’ll show you how to take a real rest. Walk with me and work with me—watch how I do it. Learn the unforced rhythms of grace. I won’t lay anything heavy or ill-fitting on you. Keep company with me and you’ll learn to live freely and lightly.” – Matthew 11:28-30 (The Message)
Last weekend at Spiritual Life Advance, or ‘SLA’ to our youth, about 50 middle and high school youth and adult volunteers retreated to the mountains to step away, lay their burdens down, spiritually reset, learn about carrying one another’s burdens, experience Holy Communion, and move back into the real world with intention and grace. The focus verse for the weekend was Matthew 11:28-30, posted above using The Message translation.
For some, SLA ’22 was their first youth retreat, and for others, it is a grace-filled experience they welcome annually for spiritual growth, renewal, and fellowship with beloved members of their Church Street family. And you can be part of their experience by listening to their 2022 SLA Spotify playlist (click here)!
Enjoy hearing more in the video below from Youth Director Jenny Cross and 2022 graduates of our youth program Reece Wood and Sophia Thompson. They share more about how Church Street has played a big part in their spiritual formation and growth.
Youth Ministry serves 110 middle and high school students from all over the Knoxville area.
Mad in the City 2022As you heard in the video, part of what makes Church Street unique is that we welcome youth from a variety of middle and high schools in the region. Students connect with peers from around town; they worship and deepen their faith with adult supporters and peers; they mentor each other as they are in different stages of adolescence and spiritual growth; and they take on leadership positions at a variety of levels — from worship band and small group leaders to becoming paid college interns!
If you missed our MAD in the City summer recap, click here to enjoy learning about the mission work our youth do with community partners during the summer. Youth Ministry offers many missions and outreach opportunities throughout the year: Advent, Lent, this weekend for Thanksgiving Baskets, to name only a few of them!
We invite you to stay up-to-date with all that is happening in Youth Ministry at Church Street.
