The United Church at 2525 Canyon Road. Courtesy photo
By BERNADETTE LAURITZEN
United Church
The staff of the United Church of Los Alamos wish to recognize the graduates of the Class of 2020 this week.
Pastors David Elton, Kara Windler, and Keith Lewis congratulate their graduates, under such difficult times and honor their accomplishments as they move to the next chapter of their lives:
- Zoe Butler
- Jayme Cayton
- Tayra Eidenbenz
- Joseph Foley
- Dimitri Lopez
- Elle Oldham
- Maddie Ovaska
- Eden Schmierer
- Sarah Worley
“You have completed a great milestone in your life and we are so very proud of you,” Youth Pastor Keith Lewis said. “Your senior year has been full of highs and lows, joys and disappointment. In all of this chaotic time, I hope that you have seen the true value of friendship, understand that we are all connected no matter race, gender or age and most important that you appreciate the small day to day things that we took for granted before the pandemic hit.”
Lewis met with the kids throughout the year for donuts before school and sketchy lunch pizza days, under the overpass on Thursdays. The last two months have made that impossible, but Pastor Lewis is always just a text away. Another major milestone according to Lewis was the annual trip to build homes for the less fortunate during spring break. Life interrupted that journey, as well as the ability to pay special respect to those seniors that took part in the journey throughout their high school career.
“The kids from The United Church, like most of the graduating class of 2020 at LAHS, are an unselfish bunch,” he said. “I know, because I have been around most of them since they were in elementary school.”
Pastor Lewis knows that each one of these young people has an area in which they excel and they share their gifts. Some are church members, but others he says he is just fortunate to know.
What advice does Pastor Lewis say he wishes he had listened to when it was dispensed years ago? He says to soak up and savor every minute. He says to never wish days away and not run at such a fast pace that you miss the very best parts of your life.
“The joy is in the journey, God is always faithful,” Pastor Lewis said. “May God keep you safe and Bless your journey!”
The pastoral staff and members of the church community will celebrate graduates with their friends this Sunday, May 31. The event is 11:30 a.m., at the Unitarian Universalist Church, for a “Pull Through Parade.” The event will be a socially distanced way to celebrate the graduates.
Church services can be seen online at http://unitedchurchla.org.
For more information, call the church offices at 505.662.2971.
