CHRIST-LIKE HOSPITALITY TO CHILDREN & YOUTH

BCH CAMP FORMS DUE NOW! 
Registration forms for Barbara C. Harris Summer Camp are available at church and online and completed forms are due now.  Send in your registration before spaces fill up!  Camp costs $575 per week.  The Camp asks each family to pay what you can BUT scholarships are available and no child will be deprived a week at Camp because of inability to pay.  Diocesan scholarships look to the family, the church and the Diocese each paying 1/3 of the cost.  This means that the requested minimum family share is $192.  If a family cannot pay even the $192, a letter explaining why they can’t pay needs to accompany the regular camp scholarship form.  Camp transforms the lives of young people and St. Stephen’s and the BCH leadership remain committed to making Camp accessible to all children who want to attend.  If you have questions please speak with Rev. Courtney or Rev. Jane.  We ask that you mail your registration forms directly to the Camp as soon as possible (even if money and health forms must follow).  When you have registered for Camp, please give us the Camp checklist so that we know you are all set!

FIRST COMMUNION CLASSES BEGIN ON MAY 1
In the Episcopal Church, we believe baptism makes people, even babies, full members of the church.  However, for many “First Communion” is important so we offer communion instruction and celebration for 1^st-3^rd graders.  First Communion will be held on Sunday, May 22.  Classes will be held on Sunday May 1, 8 and 15 with a Saturday class scheduled for May 7 at 10am.  Speak to Rev. Courtney to register a child for First Communion.

CONFIRMATION CLASS CONTINUES JOURNEY IN FAITH
Those preparing for Confirmation enjoyed fellowship and faith formation during Lent on Wednesday evenings and classes will continue in May at 9:45 on Sunday mornings.  On Friday, May 20 confirmands and their families, sponsors and friends are invited to the Confirmation Pilgrimage at 6:00pm.  Confirmation will be Saturday, May 21 at 10:00am at Christ Church, Hamilton.  Please keep Stephen Bouchard, Shannon Glenn, Erik Whitcomb and Zach Zimoroski in your prayers as they journey towards confirmation.

YOUTH SUMMER JOBS—SIGN UP NOW!
All teens who want jobs this summer need to register with the Youth Career Center and attend job readiness workshops there.  Ask Jason, Charlie or the clergy for a list of the information and documents you need to take with you to register.  And, check with us to find out which Tuesday the Youth Career Center will be coming to the Spot at St. Stephen’s.  In the mean time, with ECCO, we keep working to increase funding in the state budget for youth jobs and to encourage local employers to hire teens.

APPLY TO BE A TEEN MENTORS FOR KIDS IN COMMUNITY
KIC hopes to employ 16 teens this summer as mentors for our 4-week summer camp.  All applicants must complete our application form (available from the office and our youth ministries team) and register with the Youth Career Center.  Some but not all positions are reserved for teens with very limited household income.  Successful applicants will have energy, patience, joy, creativity, an ability to work as part of a team, and a love of children.  All high schoolers are encouraged to apply.

ST. STEPHEN’S SCHOLARSHIP APPLICATIONS DUE JUNE 5
Thanks to the generosity of past and present parishioners, each year St. Stephen’s awards about $3,000 in scholarships for higher education.  2011 Applications are now available.  Students may receive St. Stephen’s scholarships up to four times but must apply each year.  Recipients are asked to be present on Church School Graduation Sunday, June 19, when scholarship awards will be made.

OASIS GATHERS YOUTH ON TUESDAYS AND FRIDAYS—ALL ARE WELCOME
Despite MCAS exams and proms, the teens have continued in their Lenten observances.  Prior to Lazarus Sunday, they watched the resurrection story of Rubin “the Hurricane” Carter, a world class boxer wrongfully imprisoned for 3 consecutive life sentences.  The next day, several of our teens used their God-given talents to advocate for local anti-violence campaigns.  Demo Carrion performed a show-stopping spoken word piece to a packed house at the 13^th annual HALT (Harmony Among Lynn Teens) Conference.  Shortly after Demo’s performance, the teens made their way to First Lutheran for a rock concert benefiting anti-bullying efforts.  Tyler Richard, an Oasis member and KIC mentor, worked tirelessly with St. Mary’s High School classmates to organize this fundraiser for NAGLY, the North Shore Alliance of Gay and Lesbian Youth. 

Strengthened by their celebration of Holy Week with the Annual Oasis Good Friday Brunch and Easter Alleluias, Oasis looks forward to a great May as they begin fund raising for their August Mission Trip to New York City.  They will need lots of parish support as they work to raise $5,000.  May meetings will also focus attention on dating and building and sustaining healthy relationships.

             Kids In Community was a huge success this summer. Kids were able to have a fun safe place to be creative, expand their minds and be a kid. Kids did everything from arts and crafts to drama, to poetry to Zumba. The laughs of kids could be heard outside playing foursquare or on the Lynn Common playing capture the flag. There was so much for them to do and thanks to you, the good parishioners of St. Stephens Memorial Episcopal Church they were able to do this in a wonderful secure place that has a history of taking care of its own, including its surrounding community of Lynn.

Kid’s In Community gave the teenagers of Lynn and surrounding communities the ability to have a job in an economy where there are either few or none. Kid’s In Community made things possible like bringing a lot of the kids and mentors to Boston for the first time. The look on the kid’s faces when they got to walk around the ins and outs on Fenway Park was priceless. Kid’s In Community gave EVERY child a chance to do things that some would not have been able to do. So to the community of St. Stephens we say thank you from the bottom of our hearts for once again doing what you do best, and that is opening your hearts, minds, and doors to the children of Lynn and God.  -James Liberge

Kids In Community was a huge first step for me. I heard about the opportunity to be a mentor while attending OASIS one day. It was the last thing to cross my mind. I had never known what “work” was. This sounded far more intense than doing dishes at home, cleaning my bed, or getting allowance. So I did not even ponder the thought until one day when my Raw Therapist and youth minister Jason Cruz, looked at me and said “Do it.” Not the commanding kind of “do it,” but more like “you’re going to be crazy and miss out on too much fun” kind of “do it.” So even though during this time I was enduring my own kind of battles at home, I applied, came for my interview and encountered a week’s worth of orientation and new faces. Then the kids showed up, which meant I had no time to think. All of my attention had to go to the kids. I needed to see smiles or I wasn’t doing my job right. They totally made me forget about stuff going on at home. It got me through the day. Looking at other people sometimes made me feel like I still had space to grow. So right when it was over, I said “I’m going to try and come back again next year.”

This summer I came to my interview with James Liberge and Lucinda McClain and I was probably more nervous then ever because Lucinda had interviewed me last year.  I felt as if there were high expectations. I did my best answering questions as they fell off the tongue. Then I hoped I would get the job, and I did. This summer is definitely going to be one I remember. Field trips to Fenway Park followed by the Boston Public Garden, The Stone Zoo, taking several kids to the Lynn Heritage Museum to learn more about there city was even a learning experience for some mentors. It was the little things like the energetic  “HI SHEYLA” as soon as the kids ran in the door and sat down, or the huge smile and “thanks” they gave after you got them all water. Maybe it was the joy of them bringing home their poems, crafts, and dance moves from the four specialists that came every week. These kids enjoyed themselves and I knew because I asked. I strived for nothing but to make sure they smiled, even if that meant to stop refereeing their game of 4 –Square game and jumping in to play. I’d do it again and again and AGAIN. It means a lot to me to see these kids outside of camp and see the smile illuminate from their face and the little waves they shoot at you. I wouldn’t trade that feeling for the world, that feeling of togetherness, that feeling of community.  -Sheyla Veras, Second year KIC mentor

My name is Sarah and I’m 8 and I went to Kids in Community. And I liked the Boston Science Museum and I like the park inside.  –Sarah Splaine

My name is Lydia and I went to KIC and I am 7 and I liked the zoo because I like flamingos. The End. – Lydia Splaine

(Sarah and Lydia made beautiful pictures describing their experience at KIC.  Please see them on Current Events bulletin board at St. Stephen’s.)

BARBARA C. HARRIS CAMP.  This summer has been full of camp activities!  In total more than 50 young people from St. Stephen’s went to BCH for a week of church camp and five St. Stephen’s young adults were BCH counselors or staff.  What a year! 

"So what exactly do you guys do at St. Stephen's?" asked Jerome, a British Lifeguard, who was spending his first summer at the Barbara C. Harris Camp.  Amidst the chaos of the first week of camp, it was clear to everyone that St. Stephen's Lynn was not your average parish.  We had the most staff members from one parish, the most campers from one parish and every week it seemed that at least one chaplain was connected to St. Stephen's.  So is St. Stephen's in the house at BCH?  Without a doubt and The Camp is grateful.  -- Sam Gould

While I was at camp, I was in YLA (Youth Leadership Academy). I had an awesome group and an awesome time. I felt closer to God than ever. The weather was intense but that didn't stop me from having fun. The music was my favorite part of camp. We had some rockout sessions that were not only loud but fun. Leaving was the worst part. Everybody was nice and no one judges each other. Camp has such a good environment that it made me feel like I never wanted to leave. That week was the sixth time I've gone to camp and I'm more than excited to go plenty of more times.  -Vicky Njuguna

I really enjoyed going to this camp. It was so fun with all of the activities I could do. I want to go for two weeks next year. This is like my most relaxing time during the year. I really had fun. –Erik Whitcomb