Family

Sunday was the first of the last three days of NEP. It was a day when we celebrated the special connection we have shared with Second Presbyterian Church this year. We began the day with worship—the last Sunday we’d have our names listed in the bulletin under the church staff column. The experience of our last Sunday together as YAVs would probably have been different just as our last days at work tomorrow would be different if three of the four of us weren’t staying put. But, it was our last day sitting in a row at Second with Patrick, and when any member of the family leaves, it’s tough.

After a great sermon by Annie McClure, the four of us were called to the front to be de-commissioned (that would be the opposite of the commissioning in September, right?). Amy and Annie led a service that included naming what we had contributed to our mission placements and to the church. As I’ve said a lot, this year was somewhat strange in that it was the least involved I have ever been in the church, while at the same time, Second Pres. allowed me to be the most involved in the ministry of Christian faith than I have ever been. It was a stretching experience to take my faith outside church committees and well-ordered worship. The church newsletter lists some of the things the four of us did at Second this year: music, Sunday School teaching, newsletter articles, letter writing campaigns, baby sitting, mission trip chaperoning, house sitting, Room In The Inn volunteering, and lots of fellowshipping.

After worship came the celebration of what I consider to be the most important part of what I took from my experience with the church this year—the family we gained. NEP is the only site in the YAV program that is linked to an individual congregation. In other words, Second is the only church out of the 11,000 in our denomination that sponsors its own Young Adult Volunteer site. Along with that came a natural family. Just today, a woman dropped by a picnic basket full of “traveling food” for us. This is emblematic of the kind of extraordinary support we’ve received from Second from day one. Many of our closest friends from the church trekked over to our driveway yesterday for a reception. Later that night, we went to Jim and Deb Kitchens’ house for a farewell dinner with the church staff, NEP committee, our mentors and Janet Salyer. The only wrinkle in the day was that Susan, our site coordinator who has been an outstanding part of our year, was unable to be with us due to her mother’s death earlier in the week. Despite missing the most important person in our year, we managed to have a great time, sitting around laughing with the church staff after everyone else had left. Second has become a true family for us over the past year.

It is a church that truly calls its members to become active servants in the world. I am so thankful for the wonderful people that call Second Presbyterian in Nashville their church home. What a gift it has been to add Second to my list of church homes, alongside Central Pres. and Trinity Lutheran in Terre Haute, and it’s exciting that I’ll be able to continue to call Second home for a while longer. It’s a remarkable congregation, and we’re all so thankful for everything they’ve done for us.

Our good pal Zach, who could be considered to be the 5th NEP volunteer this year, is moving away too in August--to Indiana. I guess Zach and I are trading states. Good luck to him as he starts at Notre Dame Law School. Between Chasie and Zach is Ariel, who might as well be the 6th NEP volunteer this year. She is serving as Second's youth director through the Center for Youth Ministry Training.

The reception in the driveway -- Janet Hilley, Sue Biddle and John McClure were having a blast!

This is the church's gift to me, presented last night at the dinner. It's a calabash rattle from Cameroon.

"The flowers decorating the sanctuary today were given by the Campus for Human Development in honor of Jeff, Chasie, Tara and Patrick."

The Campus people are nice (at least I liked you until this afternoon...ha.)