FUSION 2015: CHICAGO STYLE
By Jim Rittenhouse, Associate Director of Music and Mark Angleton, Director of Youth
The dust has settled on another FUSION, but the impact of an amazing week will live on!
Our mission this year took us to Chicago and its suburbs. In all, 18 youth and 7 chaperones took off on June 13 (and we are happy to report all came back as well). Here are some of the wonderful things we experienced:
- a warm community at Grace United Methodist in Naperville, IL – we led worship at the two earlier services on Sunday morning, and were inspired by a message about HOSPITALITY of all things – they lived it, and we were blessed;
- loving new friends in the women of G.R.O.W., a ministry to those who are transitioning from destitute situations to a more secure livelihood in the south side of Chicago;
- the incredible sense of community in Roseland, both at Roseland Christian Ministries, and in the actual neighborhood we were in – our kids learned so much by sharing with and standing alongside these wonderful people;
- how to paint, mow, clean, organize, cook, and love on behalf of those who utilize the ministries at Roseland, and for those who day by day give of themselves in service – please pray for Kisha Pleasant as she continues to lead the volunteer efforts and the daily ministry at Roseland;
- singing for the Chicago Temple noon service, and soaking in the history of that beautiful community of believers;
- the Chicago Blues Festival (oh so hot, but great music and good eats!); the Art Institute; Wrigley Field and The Cubs (AND the Blackhawks team holding up the trophy!); a HUGE parade to celebrate the Blackhawks (this was an accident, but very exciting!); Berghoff’s and Ed Debevik’s and Gino’s and The Blue Man Group! We have eaten and played our way through Chicago!
- Worshipping with all our souls and life at Roseland on Wednesday evening, as we shared in their service, and sang with so many others – joining hands and hearts and spirits. It was a blessed night – the adults and kids’ will not forget it….
To all of St. Paul Church… you cannot imagine how vital you were in providing an opportunity for our youth to serve Christ. We had an amazing week living out our commitment to our calling to serve God through our Church “by our prayers, our presence, our gifts, our service and our witness” – your generosity of spirit and pocketbook helped make it so! Thank you for your personal time, extra efforts and in some cases, sacrifices to allow our choir and our youth group members experience the goodness of God. Some special kudos:
- Sal and Cindy Rubino and The Café for a great lunch on the way;
- Donnie Dortch for arranging a donation from SYGMA for plasticware, cups, etc.;
- Debbie Davis for spearheading the t-shirts (and they were popular!!)
- Anita Taylor and Elizabeth Terrell for planning our menus and purchasing great food;
- to our INCREDIBLE CHAPERONES who drove, cooked, corralled, inspired, witnessed, and led our youth in so many ways: Janet Rittenhouse, Janet Sewell, Michael Snelling, Elizabeth Terrell, Jim McFarland. (Mark and I were sorta chaperones – lol!)
We will share in the services on July 12 with some great photos and comments from our travelers. Continue to pray for God to move through and within the hearts of these fabulous young people we have the privilege of leading.