Kids on Mission: Lakewood
On a Saturday in November 2017 RRCB children (ages birth to 5th grade) visited Lakewood, a faith-based continuing care retirement community birthed in Christian values and Virginia Baptist traditions. In our Wednesday night TFC-Kids missions education we have talked about how missions is showing God’s love to others through our actions. Our visit to Lakewood was a way for children of all ages to participate in missions by showing Lakewood’s residents God’s love through their actions. Prior to our visit, Louise Mason, RRCB member and chaplain at Lakewood, came and spoke to our children about what we could expect during our visit and what we could talk about with the residents.
We visited the healthcare center where we participated in Thanksgiving-
themed crafts, sang a few songs, and had a snack together. Children sat amongst residents and colored turkey and pilgrim masks, magnets, door hangers, Thanksgiving tablecloths, and made paper plate turkeys. Several children gave the item they colored to one of the residents, including fifth grader Amanda Rooney, who asked if she could give her door hanger to the woman with whom she had been sitting and talking. Another connection was made between fourth grader Ashley Glaze and Dottie Williams, an RRCB member and Lakewood resident. During their visit they realized they shared a birthday. Ashley celebrated her 10th birthday when Dottie celebrated her 90th! Finally, the 4th and 5th grade girls took it upon themselves to plan and sing songs to the group – so heartwarming.
A special thank you to Judy Morris who helped coordinate with Lakewood and our RRCB members at Lakewood and to the WMU Connectors who baked delicious cookies for us to enjoy. The visit was a great success with 19 children (and 14 parents) attending. It was inspiring to show our kids that even at a young age they can be part of missions – God’s love was most definitely on display!
Written by Sara Heisler
Youth to Church Hill Christmas Store
While the entire congregation generously gave new gifts to the Christmas Store held at Church Hill Wellness Center, the middle schoolers spent a Saturday at the store helping with various activities.
For the third year, youth met at the church at 8:00 a.m. to head to Church Hill. While there, they talked with parents and grandparents shopping for their children and held the shopping bag and check list of things they would be allowed to select for Christmas gifts. Some youth monitored the tables, set up by volunteers, with socks and underwear in one place, coats in another, and so on. What fun to ask someone about the sizes of those for whom they were shopping and help them make decisions about both color and size!
Already the youth are asking if we can go again next year to see the smiling faces of those who come and know that lots of children will have Christmas presents because of the generous gifts of lots of church folks. Our Friendship Adult Sunday School Class has traditionally been especially generous with both gifts and hours given to offer the joys of Christmas to so many people.
Written by Diane Shoemake
Originally published in the 2018 Spring Quarterly Explorer