The Episcopal Youth at Church group at St. Timothy’s Episcopal Church is holding two fundraisers for two upcoming trips: a pilgrimage for juniors and seniors and a mission trip for all EYC members.
Every two years, the junior and senior EYC members take a pilgrimage, the culmination of their EYC experience. This year’s participants chose Glacier National Park as their destination and planned out their own activities and Bible studies, said Marissa Roth, who is going on the trip.
“It’s our last experience with the church before we go on to college,” she said. “We’ll have a lot of time to get to know ourselves and each other.”
Their goal is to raise one-third of the funds they need for the trip themselves. Their parents will pay one-third and the church the remaining one-third.
The group is planning a fundraising car wash to be held in the parking lot between Siren’s Seafood and Steak Market and Signal Mountain Cleaners Saturday, May 31 from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Siren’s will hold a deck party and shrimp boil to help draw people out to the event, said pilgrimage facilitator Patrick Emanuel.
“It’s important to be supportive of things where children are actively seeking to better themselves,” he said. “Strong youth build a strong community.”
Another fundraiser, this one carnival style, will be held at the church Sunday, June 8 from noon to 2:30 p.m. That event is raising funds for both the pilgrimage and the EYC mission trip to Washington, D.C.
The Rev. Robert Hartmans, priest for families and youth at St. Timothy’s, said he chose Washington, D.C., for the youth mission trip because he attended seminary nearby and has many connections there to ministries geared toward alleviating issues pertaining to home insecurity.
“The trip provides an opportunity to be formed in community while being challenged to confront new and uncomfortable experiences,” he said.
The carnival event will include a picnic following the 10:30 a.m. service, plus bounce castles, a dunking booth, face painting, a caricature artist, live music, a bake sale, cake walk and silent auction. Youth group members will auction their personal services for babysitting, house cleaning, yard work and more.
The event will be held in the church’s parish hall in the case of rain.