National Youth Event: Florida or Bust!
We are now just one month away from the 2016 United Church of Christ National Youth Event (NYE) taking place in Orlando, Florida, July 26 – 30. NYE is held every four years and allows youth from all around the United Church of Christ to gather for five days to worship, participate in service events, hear world-renown keynote speakers, and to have lots and lots of fun.
Here is what the UCC website says about this year’s event:
Believe hails as our 2016 theme, but it is not a query. It is a charge, responsibility and call to action. The scripture Hebrews 11:1 captures the heart of this charge, “Now faith is the confidence that what we believe will actually happen; it gives us assurance about things we cannot see.” The UCC is inviting our amazing still speaking youth to believe in themselves as leaders of faith sharing in the infinite work of our Lord in a diverse world calling each of us to serve.
This year’s NYE will be a joint venture with the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ Church), with an estimated 4000 youth participating.
For the first time ever, Hope United Church of Christ will be sending youth to this event. Five youth, along with a guest of Hope UCC, and two adult chaperons will leave on Monday, July 25 and return on Sunday, July 31. Those attending include:
Zayna Evans, daughter of Adrian and Amy Evans. Zayna is going to be a freshman at Prairie High School this fall. Zayna has been involved in choir, band, and volleyball. She most enjoys math and science classes. Some of her favorites include: Mountain Dew, M&M candies, hamburgers and Goldfish; what she does not like is snakes. Zayna is most looking forward to hearing the speakers at NYE.
Kaitlyn Gannon, a friend of Zayna Evans, is going with our group to NYE. She will also be a freshman at Prairie High School this fall. She has participated in choir, band, track, cross country and Letters at Literature. Blue is her favorite color and she enjoys sushi and Pepsi.
Meeting people and hearing the speakers are the two things she is looking most forward to as part of her NYE experience.
McKenna Geresma is the daughter of Sarah and Jason Geresma. She will be a seventh grade student at Center Point-Urbana this fall. She has been involved in band and choir. Listening to the speaker and meeting new people is what she is what she is most excited about concerning her NYE experience.
Mya Gersema, is McKenna’s big sister. She will be a freshman at Center Point-Urbana High School this fall. Mya is involved in cheer, choir and track. She wants to meet people from other states and is looking forward to attending the workshops at NYE.
Kate Nus will be a senior at Kennedy High School this fall. She is the daughter of John and Mary Nus. Some of Kate’s favorite things include: Kit Kat candy bars, track and basketball, and the program show, Glee. Kate has been involved in cross country and track and field. While at NYE, she is looking forward to meeting other people who are a part of the UCC.
Laura Nus, Kate’s younger sister, will be a sophomore at Kennedy High School this fall. She has participated in basketball, softball, track and field and creative writing. Her list of favorites is long, but includes: the color yellow, tacos, Goldfish, and Batman. If she could travel anywhere, she would go to Italy. Meeting new people is what she is most excited about as she prepares for this NYE event.
Pastor Mary Beth and Raven Rowe are serving as chaperons for this adventure.
Thank you to the congregation for all of the support that you have given this group of youth as they have work very diligently to earn funds to make this trip possible. Thank you to Women’s Fellowship for supporting this group by providing the funds needed for transportation to and from this event.