The 2020 Annual Report for LOGOS-Chrysalis (mid-week program for middle school youth) ~ Diana Malcom, coordinator

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How good that Chrysalis began the year hosting our annual CoffeeHouse.  Thinking back to that fellowship and the fun had that evening in the Social Hall with many of our church members feels like a dream.  We raised over $800 for Solar Under the Sun, an ecumenical PC(USA) mission that provides solar to communities around the world.  That night is always special for the Chrysalis youth and leaders, as it provides us a way to share the gifts of our fellowship group - good humor, song, practicing faith, connecting to God, one another and ourselves over and over again. We didn’t realize that just a month later, we’d be moving into a whole new way of doing these things with one another.  And, though we went to full-on virtual zoom meetings through May (we usually end mid-April), the beauty of our fellowship remained.  Our dedicated, loving leaders created all sorts of virtual magic to keep the group connected.  Our bittersweet end of year 8th grade sending service was held in a parking lot, socially distant with masks (thanks so much Jim Erickson!). 

In September, we began a new year – this time with a sprinkle of in-person, masked, 6’-distant outside gatherings at Millbrook Marsh, Springcreek Park and around backyard campfires.  We retreated at Millbrook Marsh one Saturday (BYO lunch). We even figured out how to safely do our own mission/outreach holiday shopping, purchasing food for the Foodbank and giftcards for Centre Safe, Youth Service Bureau and OOTC.
 
We’re also really figuring out how to do zoom well. Our prayers are incredibly meaningful as we’ve learned to listen and share in new ways (love the chat box!), playing games in zoom breakout rooms, building community as we focus on one another and the experience at hand.  In some ways, I suspect this experience has helped our middlers and leaders focus better on one another. Sure, we’ve had a few technology hiccups.  But, they’re minor compared to the goodness we’ve experienced gathering in whatever way that we’re able. The Halloween costume party was silly, which is always good. And, our Christmas Party book-gift exchange happened this year as each youth dropped off a book, picked up a book from Diana’s front porch.  Opening these books together on zoom, one at a time, reminded us of the thread of love that weaves us together.  The tie that binds.  God with us, however that happens.

Diana Malcom, Coordinator for Middle School (Chrysalis)