Enthusiasm for 2012 NYE no mystery for UCC youth from central Pennsylvania

Enthusiasm for 2012 NYE no mystery for UCC youth from central Pennsylvania

Written by Jeff Woodard
February 9, 2012

The scene of the crime

Now that they know "whodunit," more than 400 youth and young adults from the UCC's Penn Central Conference can tally up "who-all's-going" to National Youth Event, July 10-13 at Purdue University in West Lafayette, Ind.

Last summer, the Conference asked pastors to solicit NYE nominations from their congregations, and response was steady, said Brenda Waleff, Conference minister of communications.

"We contacted one or two people in each of our eight Associations to ask them to contact pastors and churches who hadn't responded," said Waleff. "We told them not to worry if they didn't have any adults to go from their church, or even if they just had one or two youth. We told them the Conference would make sure their youth were matched with another church if they decided to go to NYE."

Megan Waleff, who played the part of Share, hangs out with Charlie Toms, one of the waiters, prior to dinner

In all, 418 invitations were mailed to youth and young adults to attend an NYE info session last fall. The Conference's associations were asked to arrange for sessions to be held in local churches.

"At the sessions, we showed a video of a previous NYE, and had youth and adults who had been to NYE speak on their experiences," said Waleff. "They shared registration information and created a 'Top 10 List' of ways to raise funds in congregations for NYE."

In a creative wrinkle, the youth group at Solomon UCC in Chambersburg, Pa., held a "Stayin' Alive" Murder Mystery Dinner Night on Jan. 21. Thanks to the event, the youth group is $300 closer toward West Lafayette.

"Guests arrived wearing leisure suits and platform shoes from the 1970s and were invited into a trendy Manhattan disco (usually a Sunday school classroom), where it was discovered that the disco owner, Jackie Fever, had been "murdered' the night before," said Waleff. "As they entered, everyone could take a look at the "murder scene.'"

The cast of Stayin' Alive

Between courses of a dinner that included pasta e fagioli and chocolate raspberry cake, actors presented scenes and revealed clues. Guests observed and asked questions of the "suspects" while church youth served as wait staff.

"I won't ruin the surprise of who the "murderer' was in case anyone wants to purchase this particular mystery," said Waleff. "But I will say the youth waiters switched to FBI agents at the end of the evening and escorted the guilty party from the disco."

Each guest paid $15 to attend the dinner, said Waleff, who offered information on how other groups can replicate the event. "It's kept under 30 attendees so everyone has a chance to hear and take part in it. The murder mystery party games can be purchased online or at party stores for under $25. They include scripts, a CD, invitations and even menu suggestions."

Waleff said several families and youth members new to Conference youth gatherings were in attendance. "We assured them all that they can part of NYE," she said.