What’s In Store For You This Year?

~ “Back to school” brings up lots of feelings for students, past and present, and those can vary from excited and nostalgic for the days of new supplies, new teachers, and new possibilities to dread, stress, and overwhelm. I get it. School is different for everyone.

But something that our wonderful school has been doing for middle school students for the last 2-3 years is a robust and engaging “electives” program. This year, my kids wanted to know first if I could find out who their teachers would be, and second, what their elective choices were. The anticipation of making those choices and getting to study things outside the “normal
school subjects” is big!

But it’s also not a question that only students should be asking. As adults, we know that having goals help move us. Whether we achieve them or not is sometimes secondary to the journey. So I’m wondering: what are your learning goals this school year? And, to get specific – what are your goals for learning more about your faith?

Take some time to give it thought. Because, as our VBS students learned this year, the first commandment we have is: “Hear, O Israel: the Lord our God is one. You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind, and with all your strength.” (Mark 12:29-30) Our faith is a living faith that encompasses all the parts of us – including our intellect – and needs to be fed.

Some goals will be individual. But so often learning is done well in community. So, if there are things you want to learn and explore with others, let me know. I would love to work with you to bring your goals to fruition and provide opportunities for our parish to learn together as we go.

Throughout the year, we present an article in the bulletin each week on a variety of topics, written by a member of our Parish staff or ministries on a rotating basis.