With a grateful heart, I write to share that September 25 will be Katrina Leslie’s last day as our Minister for Youth and Young Adults. Two years ago, Katrina joined the Trinity Church staff and since then has fostered a thriving youth and young adult community among us.
With her kindness and creativity, Katrina built teams of teachers and mentors in this short time, equipping and empowering the youth and young adults for leadership. Katrina has joyfully created community for our tweens, teens, and 20s and 30s.
We are deeply grateful for all of her care, compassion, time, energy, planning, and presence at weekly events and special programming from youth lock-ins and retreats, to chorister chaperone-ing and acolyte training, Young Adult book clubs and service opportunities. Katrina met each person right where they were as beloved children of God – thank you, Katrina!
Making time for her several constituencies, we are hosting several farewell gatherings:
- for the youth, on Sun., Sept. 21, 11:15-12:15 pm in LL-A;
- for the Choristers, on Wed., Sept. 24, at 6 pm in the Parish House;
- and for our 20s and 30s, on Thurs., Sept. 25, at 6 pm in the Ferris Library.
We are already at work to hire an Interim Minister of Youth and Young Adult Ministry in the short term and, working closely with our steering committees, start a search for our next Minister for Youth and Young Adults this winter.
Abi
Dear Friends of Trinity Church Boston,
It is bittersweet to write to you all today sharing that my two-year commitment at Trinity Church Boston has come to an end. While I would love to stay on longer, I am feeling a call from God to move closer to family to begin a new chapter.
My time at Trinity Church Boston began three years ago as a parishioner. Since my very first event, I have found friendships that will last a lifetime, a joy-filled community, and a worship space that was built to glorify God. I am grateful to have helped start new traditions for youth such as the Youth Summer Service Week and Good Friday Lock-Ins, and to help incorporate more service projects into our 20s and 30s Ministry through our Pine Street Inn Nights and Friendsgiving Service Day. I feel there is a joy and vibrancy to being a young person at Trinity Church Boston, and I believe I am leaving the ministries strengthened and reenergized.
As my time at Trinity, and in Boston, comes to a close, I’m reflecting on the comfort and parallels that the Book of Ruth has been to me in this season. Ruth stepped forward into the unknown and said yes to going to a new place even though it wasn’t her norm to say yes to big adventures. When I first visited Boston, while looking at grad schools, there was something tugging on my heart when my family walked down Commonwealth Avenue. It was as if God was speaking to me in the rustle of the trees inviting me to look a little closer at this place so far from my home. Eventually, I said yes. Six months later, I was given another opportunity to look a little closer, this time in an email offering me to be the Minister for Youth and Young Adults at Trinity. And again, I said yes and took a leap of faith and joined the staff here.
Like Ruth, I stepped forward in trust, not knowing what I would find in this city or this position, but I can say that I certainly have been blessed. I leave with the memories of late night live-action Mario Kart with the youth in the Sanctuary, the Choir Pilgrimage silly chant that will echo in my brain for years to come, answering big questions about our faith during confirmation class, and the laughter of Bingo nights with our young adults at Pine Street Inn Service Nights.
Overall, it will be the conversations I’ve shared with you all offering a moment of solace, kindness and prayer that will stay with me forever. I have been blessed beyond measure by all of you, and express my heartfelt thanks for allowing me to be your Minister for Youth and Young Adults these past two years. You will be in my prayers.
Blessings,
Katrina Leslie