While walking in my neighborhood recently, my eyes were greeted
by a strange sight: a lawn covered by a flock of bright pink
plastic flamingoes.
While walking in my neighborhood recently, my eyes were greeted by a strange sight: a lawn covered by a flock of bright pink plastic flamingoes.
Upon investigation, I discovered this phenomenon was not so unusual. These same birds had visited nearly a dozen yards all over Morgan Hill. It was a feat of what has been called “friendly extortion” or “Flamingo-mania.”
The Youth group of the Morgan Hill United Methodist Church always experiences declining participation during the summer months while members go away on vacations. The church’s Youth Director, Jeannie Clayton, came upon this idea to increase the young peoples’ involvement this summer.
First, she bought 30 plastic flamingoes. Then the youth decided upon a family to have their lawn decorated by this pink flock for 48 hours. For a donation to the group’s treasury, the lucky resident could choose the next family to be host to the birds.
Clayton says the reaction to this project has been quite positive. The teens have enjoyed meeting weekly to install and remove the birds. The lucky resident families (who have included both members and nonmembers of the church) have accepted the prank good-naturedly, and each visitation has resulted in pleasant socializing around the neighborhood as people come by to see the birds and ask questions about what happened.
The MHUMC youth group meets at the church (17175 Monterey Street) Sundays from 6 to 8pm. Students in grades seven through 12 are eligible to attend, and nonmembers of the church are always welcome to participate.
Sundays can include a variety of activities: games, Bible study, discussion of important issues in the lives of adolescents and refreshments. One part of the evening is called “Pow and Wow,” a chance to share good and bad things which have happened during the week.
The group also participates in community activities and fund-raisers for outreach. They will be operating a dunking booth at the upcoming Taste of Morgan Hill, and proceeds will go toward creating health kits and flood buckets for victims of Hurricane Katrina.
They also participate in the local Christmas and Fourth of July parades and spent a week this summer on a mission trip to Mt. Shasta where they helped construct a retreat center. Some activities cost money, but scholarship help is available.
The group will soon be holding a swim party and invites visitors to attend. More information can be found on the Internet at www.mhumc.com or by calling the church at (408) 779-4044.
Youth Director Jeannie Clayton invites all teens to “Come join our group to meet new friends, explore our faith, join our spiritual journey, and enjoy fun activities with this welcoming community.
In more youth news: The youth of Advent Lutheran Church (16870 Murphy Avenue) will be holding a benefit car wash on Saturday, Sept. 17, from 8:30am to 3pm. The cost will be any amount the car-owner would like to donate to aid the victims of Hurricane Katrina. For more information call (408) 779-3551.
