Diocese of Fort Worth youth, sponsors off to Episcopal Youth Event

The Episcopal Diocese of Fort Worth is sending a group to Episcopal Youth Event (EYE) July 9-13 at Villanova University outside of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. EYE is a gathering of high school youth every three years; youth and their sponsors gather for leadership training, energetic worship, and lots of fun.

This year, our diocese is sending two youth: Sarah Pannell, a junior at Keller High School, and Jacob Tiemann, a junior at Keller Central High School. Both teens are active members, acolytes, VBS volunteers, and Episcopal Youth Community members at St. Martin-in-the-Fields Episcopal Church in Keller/Southlake. The teens will be accompanied by St. Martin’s Children & Youth Minister Mrs. Corrie Cabes and diocesan Youth Coordinator the Rev. Amy Haynie. Haynie accompanied diocesan youth to EYE in 2011, and knows firsthand the value of teens meeting, worshipping, and playing alongside Episcopalians from around the world.

St Martin-in-the-Fields young adults, teens, and children laid hands upon Sarah, Jacob, and Corrie, and the congregation prayed:

As you journey to Philadelphia, we ask God to Guide you in all you do. May you experience the gift of spiritual growth at this youth event. Spirit of God, descend upon your hearts. Renew Corrie, Sarah, and Jacob through this time set aside for service, reflection, and recreation. Grace them with your presence and keep us all steadfast in faith while we are gone from one another. Amen

Pannell said, “It meant a lot to have the children and teens of our congregation send us off with their prayers during the 10:30am service today. It was a powerful reminder that we are connected as a community in Christ, even as we go far beyond the church doors.” Asked about what she anticipates, she said, “The one thing I am most excited about is meeting so many other Episcopalians. I think this journey will give me a new perspective of my faith, which I think will be a good thing for me. When I go to EYE I will bring a very open-minded spirit with me, to let myself see things differently. It’s neat Jacob and I get to go together, since we’ve known each other since we were little kids.”

Tieman said, “Sarah and I are thankful for the financial contributions of people in our parish, and we feel so supported by our parish to be able to go. I’m looking forward to being around more Episcopalians than I’ve ever been with in my life. Being from a mostly Baptist state, it’ll be exciting to meet more Episcopalians and be surrounded by them.”

Cabes reflected on the opportunity that they will have this week, “I’m excited for our kids to be connected on an international level, to be around teens walking the same path, to see over a thousand young Episcopalians excited about every aspect of their faith and worship.  I’m also interested to see where our young people will find God at EYE14 and during our travel. Being away from home, meeting new people and worshipping with other young Episcopalians at this international gathering will make an impact on us all. I can’t wait to share our experiences with our EYC, parish and diocese.”

Pray for EYE

All are encouraged to support this large youth gathering with EYE with prayers:
O God, our heavenly Father, whose glory fills the whole creation, and whose presence we find wherever we go: Preserve those who travel; surround them with your loving care; protect them from every danger; and bring them in safety to their journey’s end; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
~Prayer for travelers, BCP p. 831

16 Days to #EYE14: Commissioning participants? Here’s a link to the Liturgy for Travel: http://t.co/u6cHFjHfmh. pic.twitter.com/ygwqpIVysE

— EpiscoYouth (@EpiscoYouth) June 23, 2014

Follow the journey:

Anyone can search Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter for #EYE14 and immerse themselves in a rich social stream of conversations about EYE.

Our diocesan EYE team hopes to regularly share to Facebook and maybe Twitter using #EYE14, so you’re encouraged to connect to

• our diocesan facebook page facebook.com/DioFW
• Twitter page twitter.com/DioFW
• St. Martin-in-the-Fields Episcopal Church’s Facebook page facebook.com/stmartinkellertx