"Last Ash Wednesday, while opening the church for early service at 7 a.m., I noticed some teen-agers sitting on the front steps," writes the Rev. Cathy Deats of St. James Episcopal Church. "In speaking with them, I discovered that our church was a bus stop for the local Technical High School."
Deats and her staff decided to offer the teens a cup of coffee and doughnuts as they waited for their bus. They put a sign on the door offering coffee and doughnuts.
"In good weather, we sit on the steps with them, and in bad weather we gather in the narthex. This has become a wonderful opportunity for the ministry of listening, which all young people need."
On holidays, Deats brings special doughnuts, and the church gives small gifts at the end of the year. "We love to hear about the prom or how they feel about teachers, and they sometimes ask us for our opinion on how to approach a difficult classmate or deal with a family problem. We are blessed by these young people!"
To learn more, contact the church at 908-852-3968, stjames@goes.com.
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