Members of the youth group at Ladner United Church are hard at work preparing for a trip to Scotland next summer.
They are preparing a week-long program of crafts, music, games and learning focused on the sacredness of the earth and all its peoples, which they will run for primary school children on the isles of Iona and Mull in July, 2012.
Through a friend in the Ladner United Church congregation, Rev. Linda Pollock, minister of the Church of Scotland congregations on Mull and Iona, invited the Ladner youth to help her revive ministry for children by creating an experience of Christian community.
Shirley Baker, Ladner United's youth group leader, is quick to emphasize the teens have assumed ownership of the project and will plan activities, prepare all materials and run the program.
One of their first decisions was to adopt SOLAS, a Gaelic word meaning "comfort, joy or light," as the mission theme.
With a goal of raising $15,000 toward trip expenses, fundraising is now underway and the public is invited to participate in a bottle drive and "shreda-thon" at Ladner United Church, 4960-48th Ave., on Saturday, Dec. 3, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.
If it is inconvenient to bring bottles or containers to the church, leave a message at 604-940-9599 to request pickup.
Urban Impact will be on site with an industrial strength shredder to help avoid identity theft by shredding confidential documents that have been building up in files, closets and desk drawers all over South Delta. Suggested donation: $5 per box of documents.
