Massachusetts Conference Edition
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June, 2004
The Massachusetts Conference’s Mustard Seed Ministries program offers just what many youth groups are looking for: a mission trip that is not too far or costly, provides a hospitable overnight experience, and offers opportunity to work in an urban area that needs help.
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| Youth from Longmeadow’s Confirmation class fix a fence at the children’s play-area at a battered women’s shelter in Dorchester. |
Curt Preston, associate pastor and confirmation class leader of First Church of Christ in Longmeadow, along with the Confirmation class he leads, participated in the first Mustard Seed weekendon March 12-14. Several other congregations are planning similar trips. The ministry is hosted by Phillips Congregational Church, UCC, in Watertown, which offers overnight accommodations and cooking facilities.
Preston had a large confirmation class of 8th and 9th graders, and wanted to hold a Confirmation Retreat with a service component. He wanted to take the youth a little bit away from home but not too far, so the ride from Longmeadow to Watertown was just right.
On Friday night after settling in, the 22 youths and five adults talked about their hopes and expectations. Coming from suburban Springfield, most hadn’t used public transportation, so taking the T into Boston was a new experience.
The youth set up, cleaned up, and cooked their own meals. The program provided ingredients to make lunch and dinner.
“It was a wonderful balance of structure and freedom,” said Preston. “They had two very different service experiences, plus debriefing and worship.”
One group of eight young people spent time with nursing home residents who were preparing to move to a new facility. The confirmation youth met with many of the 90-plus residents one-on-one as friendly visitors, and also interviewed them about the kinds of rooms and services they wanted when they moved. One resident told the youth, “Your visit made my day!”
The other group of 14 worked all day to transform the yard behind a battered women’s shelter, which was littered with trash, to a clean, landscaped play area for children. The young people were delighted when they saw some of the children begin playing immediately on the safer, more attractive grounds.
On Saturday evening, after the work was done, Carl McDonald, Associate for Youth and Christian Education Ministries, led them in debriefing and a vesper service. The next morning they went to Sunday worship at Phillips Church, and were ready to enjoy pizza on the bus ride home, and later to share their experiences with their local church.
“Mustard Seed Ministries benefits Phillips Congregational Church, which joined the UCC in 1999 and is growing,” said McDonald. The church is a field education site, currently served by Victoria Gaisford, a Harvard Divinity School student.
Mustard Seed Ministries are made possible by a grant from the Sarah Moore Field Fund for Youth and Young Adult Ministries, as well as contributions to OCWM Basic Support.
For more information, visit the Mustard
Seed Ministries page.