(Click play to hear Brooklyn’s sermon from July 31)
Thanksgiving from Brooklyn Payne
After generous donations from the people and vestry of Holy Communion, from churches around the diocese, and from family and friends, Brooklyn Payne surpassed her goal of raising $10,000 toward her trip to Panama. Any additional donations that are made will also go toward Brooklyn’s year in Panama. Money raised beyond her goal will help offset the cost of the program for other participants from around the church. Brooklyn leaves for Panama at the beginning of September. She couldn’t be more thankful for your generosity in supporting her and praying for her.
Rector’s Letter
Dear friends,
I write with a request for your support of a young person from our parish.
Brooklyn Payne is headed out in August on a year-long mission immersion with The Episcopal Church in Panama City, Panama. Brooklyn will be working day-to-day with at-risk children in the Bella Vista Children’s Home.
Brooklyn is participating in this program through the Young Adult Service Corps of The Episcopal Church. Created by General Convention, The Young Adult Service Corps is a ministry for young adults who are interested in exploring their faith in new ways by living and serving in communities around the Anglican Communion. YASC brings young adults into the life of the worldwide church and into the daily work of a local community. At the same time, it brings the gifts and resources of the church into the lives of young adults as they explore their own faith journeys.
I myself served as a YASC missionary at El Hogar children’s home in Tegucigalpa Honduras. The year I spent in Central America was foundational for my own adult faith. I could never have participated in the experience without the support of parishes throughout my home diocese.
The Episcopal Church’s General Convention provides most of the cost of sending each Young Adult, but every participant must raise $10,000 toward the cost of their trip. Holy Communion’s Vestry has committed $2,500 to supporting Brooklyn. It is our hope that many members of Holy Communion might join us in supporting her financially and prayerfully.
As critical as financial support is for her experience, I also ask you to consider adding Brooklyn to your prayer list over the next year, and following her blog online (link to come).
Thank you for considering supporting Brooklyn!
In Christ,
The Rev. Mike Angell
Rector
Brooklyn’s letter:
Hello,
My name is Brooklyn Payne, and I am 21 years old. I am a member of Episcopal Church of the Holy Communion. I was baptized as an infant and confirmed at 12 years old at Holy Communion. My family have been members of Holy Communion since the 1960s and still attend there.
I grew up attending Sunday school every Sunday morning. I was an acolyte, a reader of the Psalms, a babysitter in the nursery and a member of the youth group. I have served on the Trinity Hot Lunch Program serving our guest as long as I can remember. I participated in the Christmas and Easter pageants. When I became old enough, I was in the youth group where I went on many mission trips serving under the direction of Karen Sterbenz, the Rev. Rebecca Ragland and the Rev. John Stratton. I enjoyed my service as a young Episcopalian. If friends spent the night at my house, it was automatic that they attend church with me on Sunday morning. I guess I was an evangelist even back then!
From age six to eleven, I accompanied my mom to vestry meetings. (Yes, six consecutive years!) I did my homework and played quietly around the church during the meeting. Two hours was about my limit, and by that time the meeting was ending.
I just graduated from Missouri State University, in Springfield, Missouri with a degree in International Business. I am telling my story to gain support from the churches in the Episcopal Diocese of Missouri for the next chapter in my life: missionary work. I have been very fortunate to get accepted into the Young Adult Services Corps through the Episcopal Church, where I will spend a year of service in
San Miguelito, Panama serving at the Bella Vista Children’s Home. I will leave in August 2016 to work with young girls, from infants to 18 years old, who are no longer safe in their families’ homes.
I am tasked to raise $10,000 in order to help cover the expenses of my year-long stay in Panama. I am so excited about my journey, but I need help in raising the funds for my calling to do God’s work. A donation to my missionary trip to Panama would be greatly appreciated. Words of inspiration and well wishes are also welcome!
This will be a year of growth and love for me. I serve with God’s hands on my shoulders, and my heart in God’s hands.
Yours in Christ
Brooklyn Payne
Checks can be made out to Holy Communion with “Brooklyn Payne” in the memo line, or you can contribute online (Please designate your gift to “Brooklyn Payne Service Year”). As critical as financial support is for her experience, we also ask you to consider adding Brooklyn to your prayer list over the next year, and to read her updates online (You can follow her online using this link).
See more videos on The Episcopal Church’s site by clicking here.