By Drew Wilson

During the weekend of Saturday, February 22, Manakin’s youth went skiing at Wintergreen. It snowed, there was a steady wind exceeding 20 mph, and there were wind gusts that pinned children and adults alike into their ski lift seats, sometimes causing them to be parallel with the ground. Apparently these are ideal skiing conditions. Except for brief breaks for lunch and to thaw their hair, the children were on the slopes all day. Some even closed down the slopes at 10:00 p.m. The kids did a great job staying together in groups and looking out for one another. Thirteen young people and five chaperones attended the ski trip. All had a wonderful time and enjoyed fine food, fellowship, and accommodations. A special thanks, as always, to Chandler Williams and Dave Millen. Without their generous hospitality, the trip would not have been possible.

Happening #63, being held at Chanco March 6 – 8, still has space available and needs a few more applicants! Happening is a teen retreat for youth grades 10-12 through the Episcopal Diocese of Southern Virginia, and if you have not been or do not know much about it – it is truly an awesome weekend. You do not have to be a member of an Episcopal Church to attend. And – if you are an adult who has never attended Happening, there is a special “fossil” group just for you! (And often the photos are evidence that they have the most fun of all!

Go to Chanco’s Facebook page for more information, and help us spread the word about this awesome weekend with any teens or adult advisors you know at your parish. It’s truly too good not to share!

Scholarship assistance is always available for all youth activities. Please speak to the Rector if help is needed.

A session at Chanco is more than just a good time in the woods. Yes, there is laughter, singing, bonfires, silly skits and amazing outdoor activities, including swimming, boating, the ropes course and zip lining. But there is more. Through time spent in Christian community and lessons taught by our chaplains who are youth ministry leaders from our own diocese, your camper will have the opportunity to grow closer to God and develop his/her own faith in a unique way. There are many benefits to attending summer camp at Chanco, not the least of which are an emotionally safe environment to simply be yourself, an opportunity to be a kid spending the majority of your time outdoors and away from technological gadgets, and developing true friendships that often develop much faster as a result of living and working together in community.

The Camp Chanco 2015 flier and registration forms are available online at www.chanco.org. You may also stay tuned to our Facebook page for the latest news and photos of all Chanco programs. We can’t wait to see you this summer for the first time or for your ninth visit in Chanco’s magical forests where “friends are friends forever!”

By Jo Blandford

A new year of Christian education starts Sunday, September 7 at 9:45 a.m. All ages, infant through 12th grade are welcome.

Sunday, September 7 is Bring-a-Friend Sunday. It is also Sunday School registration in Denny Hall. Class assignments by grade will be posted. After registering for your class, you will meet your teachers and have group time working on an outreach project with Susie Stone and her helpers.

Sunday, September 14 will be the first day of the regular class schedule. Class begins at 9:15 a.m.

I hope you will get involved with our children’s Christian education by teaching. If you are interested, please see or call Jo Blandford or contact the church office. We are a church family and our children need our guidance and love. We did promise at their baptism to help them grow in the Christian way.