The Sunday Of Salt & Light Youth Group
Last Sunday, June 13th was Sunday of the Salt & Light Youth Group at St. Sarkis Church. This was a simple yet very symbolic day for not only our youth group members, but also for the parish of St. Sarkis Church as it brought our members and their families back to the fundamentals of our involvement in the church community, Badarak and Fellowship Hour.
It has been a long and challenging year since March 2020 when the COVID pandemic hit, with most, if not all, of our church gatherings being cancelled or transitioned to online events. With the absence of our youth group in-person sessions this past year as well as the absence of Fellowship Hour after church services, Der Nareg and our youth group coordinators felt the best way for our members to reconnect was back in the church sanctuary at a Badarak dedicated to the youth. Our members actively participated in the Badarak service that day, with two of our girls reading from the scriptures, and many of our boys serving on the Altar. Der Nareg addressed the youth during his sermon with a heartfelt message about the idea of mercy from the teachings of St. Nerses the Great. He encouraged the youth to practice having mercy towards others, but more importantly to practice being merciful towards themselves, ultimately asking them to reflect on using their time wisely with activities that promote knowledge and self growth, and most importantly activities that preserve and continue their proud Armenian culture and heritage.
Following Badarak, youth group members, their families and parishioners in attendance participated in the first Fellowship Hour since the pandemic hit last year. It was a wonderful and vibrant Fellowship hour sponsored by Salt & Light Families, that filled our Main Hall with the beautiful sounds of chatter and laughter. On behalf of our Salt & Light Youth Group coordinators, we thank all of our families that contributed towards the Fellowship Hour and we hope to have more Sundays of the Salt & Light Youth Group in the future.
It has been a long and challenging year since March 2020 when the COVID pandemic hit, with most, if not all, of our church gatherings being cancelled or transitioned to online events. With the absence of our youth group in-person sessions this past year as well as the absence of Fellowship Hour after church services, Der Nareg and our youth group coordinators felt the best way for our members to reconnect was back in the church sanctuary at a Badarak dedicated to the youth. Our members actively participated in the Badarak service that day, with two of our girls reading from the scriptures, and many of our boys serving on the Altar. Der Nareg addressed the youth during his sermon with a heartfelt message about the idea of mercy from the teachings of St. Nerses the Great. He encouraged the youth to practice having mercy towards others, but more importantly to practice being merciful towards themselves, ultimately asking them to reflect on using their time wisely with activities that promote knowledge and self growth, and most importantly activities that preserve and continue their proud Armenian culture and heritage.
Following Badarak, youth group members, their families and parishioners in attendance participated in the first Fellowship Hour since the pandemic hit last year. It was a wonderful and vibrant Fellowship hour sponsored by Salt & Light Families, that filled our Main Hall with the beautiful sounds of chatter and laughter. On behalf of our Salt & Light Youth Group coordinators, we thank all of our families that contributed towards the Fellowship Hour and we hope to have more Sundays of the Salt & Light Youth Group in the future.