By Fr Alex Swain, Assistant for Intergenerational Ministries

This past year, with the inspiration and guidance of parishioner Elaine Harrison and the help of many people, we pulled off, for the first time, the Coins of Kindness fundraiser. The idea was simple: have our youth support a coin fundraiser to raise money for programs within the church (like the UK residency and pilgrimage), and for outreach ministries to directly support those in need.

Months ago, people took coin jars home, filled them up, and hefted them back to the church.

And let me tell you, coins are HEAVY!

Kate, Mtr Beth, and I got a good workout counting and hauling those coins to the bank!

But the weight of the coins makes a lot of sense, seeing that we raised over $5,000.00 from this fundraiser!!!! Coins alone accounted for over $3,000.00!

That’s a lot of coins!

Our next step, now that we have our final counts, is to allocate the funds to various ministries.

Our youth voted on where to allocate the funds, and we are in the final stages of finishing that up. Their voices—often unheard and unsung within the general machinations of the church—have a huge and direct influence here. This was a great opportunity for them to exercise their God-given gifts and talents, and to shape meeting the needs of their community, both within and without the walls of their church.

“Even the children make themselves known by their acts, by whether what they do is pure and right.” —Proverbs 20:11

With our youth supporting endeavors to support and maintain the church and those the church serves, we are able to go far and above what we could otherwise do. Our youth and young adults matter! Their voices matter! They are people through whom we see Christ, and by whom Christ acts on the world—thanks be to God for intergenerational ministry here at Saint Philip’s!