Summer Stretch 2009
Over 25 middle-school IDE youth joined together in four fantastic days of service and fun this past summer. This district middle-school ministry called Summer Stretch, involved kids from St. Paul in Mt. Vernon; Zion in Hiawatha; Concordia, Bethany, and Trinity in Cedar Rapids; Our Redeemer in Iowa City; St. Paul in Williamsburg; and St. John in Homestead. Summer Stretch mornings were full of varied service and ministry projects and the afternoons brought fellowship time for the youth. Host churches provided lunch and arranged the service and work projects and the fellowship activities.
June 17 was hosted by Bethany Lutheran Church in Cedar Rapids and organized by Ben Venteicher, DCE. Work groups helped with landscaping and gardening at the Brucemoore Estate, assisted residents with rehabilitation activities at a care facility, and worked with Aid to Women (a Christian crisis pregnancy center) in Cedar Rapids. One volunteer observed, “I liked helping and serving the people that really needed it.” In the afternoon, the youth were treated with a trip to the theater for a movie!
July 1 was dedicated to helping King of Glory, amission church established by African refugees in Iowa City. The founders of the church had come to the U.S., learned about Christ, and eventually started a mission church. Some of the youth made sandwiches at King of Glory to distribute to the needy. Others served by cleaning and sorting at the Salvation Army in Iowa City. They all had a blast with water games on the church lawn in the afternoon. One participant commented, “I liked folding the boxes and sorting out food at the Salvation Army.” The host church was Our Redeemer in Iowa City, and the event was organized by Kaja Mueller, Director of Youth Ministry.
On July 22, youth prepared and served lunch at Mission of Hope, a soup kitchen in Cedar Rapids. They also tied a number of fleece blankets for area children. Afterward, they enjoyed games in the youth room at our host church, Concordia Lutheran in Cedar Rapids. The day’s events were organized by Leah Welter, DCE.
On August 12, youth tied quilts for Lutheran World Relief, assisted with His Hands Medical Clinic, and helped local nursing home residents with exercises and Bingo. “I learned about a cool ministry in Cedar Rapids that helps families without health insurance,” a youth shared. The afternoon was filled with games back at the church that included Jello!? The host church was Zion in Hiawatha, organized by Brittany Newton, DCE intern.
IDE Summer Stretch was an awesome program and the kids look forward to doing it again next year!!
Ann Rackow, Director of Youth Ministry
St. Paul Lutheran Church, Williamsburg, IA
