Senior Quilts Turns 10
Photo: (Top Left) Seniors receive their quilts in worship on June 2, 2013. (Top Center) Members of Tabitha Circle and the congregation tie quilts on April 17, 2023. (Top Right) Graduating Senior, Elliot Rea inspects his quilt after worship. (Bottom) Eight seniors receive their quilts in worship on May 7, 2023.
Written by Drew Hogan, director of Children, Youth, and Family Ministries
“Will you nurture one another in the Christian faith and life
and include these persons now before you in your care?
[All respond:] With God’s help we will proclaim the good news
and live according to the example of Christ.
We will surround these persons
with a community of love and forgiveness,
that they may grow in their trust of God,
and be found faithful in their service to others.
We will pray for them,
that they may be true disciples
who walk in the way that leads to life.”
– Congregational Response from the Baptismal Covenant I (United Methodist Hymnal, 35)
2023 is a special year for members of our Tabitha Circle – the sewing ministry of United Women in Faith at Portland FUMC – as they celebrate ten faithful years of making quilts for our graduating seniors! I love to celebrate my own connection to Youth Sunday and these Quilts as I saw the job posting in May of 2021 right after Portland FUMC celebrated Youth Sunday and presented quilts to the seniors in the Class of 2023. It was beautiful to see that this congregation cared about their seniors – some who may be active and attend every week, and others who based on life circumstances and their gifts, may have been active before they hit entered the chaos of High School. Still, though, this church has made it a commitment to support and pour into all our students, and these quilts are one of the ways we are living into our commitments to our students that we’ve made our baptismal covenants to.
Since 2013 when the first quilts were presented, a few things have changed. I was able to interview three of those young adults who were a part of that first crew to receive a quilt: Maggie Zach, Cheyenne Ocampo (previously Barber), and Makenzie Aaby; who is now serving on of our Nursery Care Team. Each of them shared about how much of a surprise it was. Maggie specifically remembers how tired she was after attending the overnight senior celebration and how glad she was to be coerced to go to church. But for this class, each of their parents knew this quilt was coming, so this surprise presentation during worship was a tremendous surprise! For Maggie, she remembers how important and symbolic the quilt surrounding her was as she understands this to be the loving and supportive community of Portland First surrounding her as she crossed one of the thresholds of life. With ten-years of quilts, it may feel ordinary, but when we remember that The Oregonian covered this story (read more), we can celebrate and acknowledge how extraordinary this ministry is!
Our quilt recipients take these quilts with them to their college dorm rooms and some have them in their first apartments. Some kept them in storage for safe keeping, and specifically for Cheyenne, she is looking forward to sharing her quilt with her 12-week-old daughter when she is older. For Makenzie, she brought it with her to school the first year and appreciated that every time she looked at it that she was reminded of who she was and that during the natural struggles of becoming an adult, that this quilt reminded her of a season of life that was restful and grounding. Perhaps each of us have some memories or tokens from the past that we hold onto that ground us and help us remember how faithful God is in each of our lives.
Since then, the Senior Quilt Project has continued to grow and lean into the opportunity to connect our seniors with our intergenerational sewers. They share about their interests and our quilters get an opportunity to pray for our students throughout the year and celebrate them as they go to their final school dances, concerts, games, and discern what the next chapter of life looks like.
Finally, I asked those three quilt recipients what advice they would give to the seniors graduating in the class of 2023 that received their quilts this past Sunday.
Cheyenne says:
“You don’t need to figure out your life right now. Take it one step at a time, and you will figure it out along the way. Also always take care of your mental health. Life can get difficult and hard, so be sure you engage in self care and be patient with yourself. It will all be okay and work out!”
Makenzie offers:
“Remember your community and the people who support and love you.”
And Maggie says:
“Everyone says ‘be yourself’ but remember that you’re allowed to grow and change. You’re allowed to figure out what ‘being yourself’ means…. Everyone else is trying to do this, too.”
The Senior Quilts ministry is not complete without the sponsors that help offset the costs of supplies and the parents that help to plug in their students with the quilters. We are grateful for this community’s outpouring and sharing of themselves to support our students and know we will continue to surround our students and their families whether they’re starting kindergarten or graduating high school!
This extraordinary act of love and support for our seniors is a gift to this community. If you have sewing skills or have interest in learning how to be a part of celebrating the students that call this their spiritual home, reach out to the senior quilt coordinator, Erin Riley (rileymoto@gmail.com) or Drew Hogan (dhogan@fumcpdx.org), director of children, youth and family ministries.