Middle of the month, the 15th. It’s the day that my article for the church’s newsletter is due. It’s the day that the ever-faithful Georgia B. has my check waiting for me in my mail box. It’s the day that the bulletin has to be done so that Linda can type it up tomorrow.
It is also the day, that in 1963, four little girls were killed in Birmingham’s Sixteenth Street Baptist Church while they were excitedly preparing for their annual Youth Sunday service. It is the day that a hate filled man known to the Ku Klux Klan as “Dynamite Bob” bombed the church and killed Denise McNair, Addie Mae Collins, Carole Robertson, and Cynthia Wesley.
Is the hatred and violence that killed those four little girls that day finally over? I would like to think that it is, but I know that it isn’t. Racial violence and prejudice continues to spill over into our society. We would like to think that those terrible days are past, when people could be killed for no reason other than the color of their skin, or when the word “American” really meant “white”, or when someone could be silently discriminated against because they were from some place other than Europe. But those days sadly are not past. And I fear that as the anger rises in our country against those who are “not like us”, that the bombs and the bodies will be heard and seen again.
Was the Church ever needed more than it is now? Who else will continue to preach the values of loving your brother and your sister, if not the church? Who else will try to convince people that greed is not a Christian way of life, if we do not show the world that those who claim to be Christians are those who serve? Who else will hold out the hand of love and help to those who are sick and hungry, regardless of where they may come from, remembering that “whosoever does it to one of the least of these, does it unto me”, if it is not the church.
If the church does not stand up and be the church, and if those who love Jesus with their words do not love him with their lives, then the bombs will be heard again in our streets, and the voices of hatred will overflow into our courts and the halls of our government. For hatred and prejudice are on the march again, and will prevail, if we do not stand up against them.

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Thank you all so much for the warm welcome, it has been much appreciated. Our new youth group is underway and we are planning many exciting programs for the new year. Your continued support is very much appreciated by the youth. I am incredibly excited to see what we can all do together in the coming year! If you have any questions about youth or young adult activities please do not hesitate to call or email.

A few notes on upcoming events:

• Oct 18th Instead of having a normal youth group meeting at the church we will be joining the First Riverside UMC youth group for a special outing. We will meet together at the Riverside Plaza to have dinner and watch the new release “Where the Wild Things Are”. Time is TBA. Keep an ear out in church!

• The Cal-Pac Young Adult retreat is coming up at the Lazy W Ranch! Oct 16-17 Cost is $42 and includes deep pit BBQ, program, concert, food, and lodging. Several young adults from the district will be going, you don’t want to
miss this excellent opportunity to meet other Riverside District YA’s or camp manager Billy Stempson’s deep pit BBQ! Brochures are available in church and registration is due by Oct 10th.

• The Riverside District Youth first annual Fall Fiesta will be held Nov 7th at the Yucaipa UMC. Planning is still underway but keep an ear open in church. Dancing, costumes, games, and food!

• We are always looking for volunteers! If you have any interest in volunteering with anything having to do with youth please let Diana P. know. She has a sign up sheet and would love to keep you on file! Help potentially needed:
1. Drivers to youth events.
2. Chaperones for youth events.
3. Food donations for potential bake sale.
4. People interested in cooking with the youth for cook outs. Or set up/clean up assistance.
5. Anyone interested in helping out once and a while during youth meetings.
6. Anyone interested in stepping in to run a youth meeting if Diana is for some reason unable to be present. (she would leave you many things to do and you would not have to plan)

If you have ANY talent or ANY idea of something you would like to share with the youth for an activity or event or ANYTHING, we would love to know about it, and thank you, ALWAYS, for the support you have shown!

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