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01/22/2014

Youth & Family Ministry E-bulletin February 1, 2014

NEW FEBRUARY  INFORMATION

Second Annual Hunger Leaders Day

February 22, 2014
9:00AM-3:30PM

Abiding Christ Lutheran Church,

326 E. Dayton-Yellow Springs Road, Fairborn, Ohio

Youth are invited and encouraged to attend!

Click Here: Hunger Leaders Day

 

Lutheran Social Service Day

Join other Southern Ohio Synod Congregations for a day of Service in Southeast Ohio. Contact Gary to be placed on the "in the loop list." In the meantime,

Click Here: April 26 2014 Service Day

 


3TC: February 18th - Faith5
               with Rich Melheim
               1pm (central time)
 

 

Faith5

Rich Melheim grew up on the plains of North Dakota but never did own a pick up with a gun rack.

 

An entrepreneur, author, semiotician, cartoonist, comedian, speaker, publisher, playwright, songwriter, family counselor, business systems consultant, amateur complexity theorist, log cabin builder, preschool designer, and student of the human brain, Melheim has appeared on 50 network television news shows from WNBC-NY to KTLA to CNN consulting on family issues.

 

An ordained Lutheran pastor with a BA in Journalism (UND – 1977), an MDiv in Theology (Luther Seminary – Spring 1981) and a DMIN in Semiotics and the Future (George Fox Evangelical Seminary – Spring 2013), Rich has invested his ministry in creating Christian education systems that pull parents into the core of children, youth and family ministry “every night in every home.”

 

 

Rich is the founder and initiating force behind Faith Inkubators, a Christian education systems design think tank. He founded and serves as CEO and Chief Creative Officer of Faith Inkubators, the Faith Inkubators Foundation, and the Preschool Incubators Project, a new entity dedicated to creating "access to excellence" in early learning through the arts.

   
Find Us:
·  Website
·  Facebook
·  Twitter
  YouTube
  Extravaganza 2014
 
Network Members
3rdTuesday Conversations are open to members of the ELCA Youth Ministry Network.  

If you'd like more information on becoming a member of the Network, you can get information at www.elcaymnet.org/join

What is 3TC?
·  3rdTuesday Conversations  are monthly gatherings of friends.  They are great continuing education events.  They are chances to hear from, and interact with experts in the field.  3TC conversations are free for Network members.
 

 

DIRECTOR OF YOUTH AND FAMILY MINISTRY

Hope Evangelical Lutheran Church in Cranberry Township is seeking a full-time Director of Youth and Family Ministry.

The Director will work with the pastors, staff and members of Hope to develop, coordinate and implement programs of discipleship, spiritual growth and service opportunities for all youth and families. Applicants should have a Bachelor's degree, preferably in education, along with strong leadership, communication and organization skills. For more information, or to apply, contact: dyfmposition@hopelutherancranberry.org

or Hope Lutheran Church, 8070 Rowan Road, Cranberry Twp, PA, 16066.

Please include a cover letter and resume.

 

Upcoming Webinars
  We're excited about our next "upcoming webinars!
  1. "Framing Youth" with Dr. Jeremy Myers. Monday, March 10th at 11am Pacific/12pm Mountain/1pm Central & 2pm Eastern.
  2. "Framing Failure with Forgiveness" with Dr. Colleen Windham-Hughes. Thursday, April 10th at 11am Pacific/noon Mountain/1pm Central/2pm Eastern
  3. "Framing Christian Community" with Josh Graber. September - Date TBD.
  4. "Framing the Vision: Seeing Things New" with Dr. Mindy Makant. Thursday, October 9th at 11am Pacific/noon Mountain/1pm Central/2pm Eastern.
  5. "Framing the Path: Practicing Things New with Rozella White. November - Date TBD

 

 

Welcome Dr. Nancy Going!

 

Vibrant Faith Ministries welcomes Dr. Nancy Going as the new interim executive director, succeeding Dr. Paul Hill. Dr. Going has deep roots with Vibrant Faith Ministries, having served on the board and as board chair for  

five years.

 

Dr. Going has a distinguished career in teaching, leadership and youth ministry. Most recently, she served as the director for the Children, Youth and Family Ministry Distributed Learning Master's Program at Luther Seminary in St. Paul, MN, and as the project manager for Center for First Third Ministry. In these capacities, she pioneered innovative change in distributed degree programs in theological education. She taught in both online and intensive formats while mentoring and investing in students across the country.

 

Dr. Going has also served as adjunct professor at Concordia College and assistant professor at Augsburg College, both in Minneapolis. She earned her bachelor's degree from Valparaiso, her master's degree in counseling at Covenant Seminary, and her Ph.D. at Luther Seminary.

 

Known for her passion for the church and innovation within the church, Dr. Going's evangelical fervor has led her to explore many new and creative ways for how ministry can start, be reborn or be reinvented and has worked with a wide variety of Christian audiences.

 

"When Nancy was our board chair, I was continually impressed by her wide understandings of how God's kingdom can surface," said Dr. Paul Hill, outgoing director. "Nancy is always pushing the edges, thinking adaptively, creatively and with a passion for families and faith formation." 

 

Dr. Going will continue the strong emphasis on faith formation for which Vibrant Faith Ministries is so well known. She can be reached at

ngoing@vibrantfaith.org

 

 

 

Dear ELCA Resource Center Directors & Synod Communicators: 
 
My colleagues at sparkhouse are looking for a few ELCA congregations to assist with testing some new "work in process" confirmation resource materials.  We have a number of churches, but are looking for a few more.  Here is their write-up/request: 
 
Calling all ELCA churches: sparkhouse is developing a New Confirmation resource,
and they are looking for ELCA churches to test one sample session between
February 23 and­ March 9.
 
Selected candidates who complete the test and submit their feedback will
receive a $50 credit to the AF (and sparkhouse) store.
 
Come join in the fun here: http://bit.ly/1bgMprw
 
 
 
http://resources.elca.org/Hunger_Resources-Act_2Day_4Tomorrow_Packet.html
Act 2Day 4Tomorrow Packet - Hunger Resources by ELCA Resource Catalog
resources.elca.org
ELCA Resource Catalog - Act 2Day 4Tomorrow Packet This overnight program brings youth together to le...
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

 

 

Trinity Seminary has announced its dates for the 2014 Sampler Program. This summer there will be three two week sessions each with a different emphasis. Click Here for details or contact Claire Hammer at hammer@tlsohio.edu

2014 Summer Sampler Flier

 

 

Free Educational/Activity Books

Our Good Friends at Trinity, Circleville have some extra educational materials and activity books for 1st through 6th grade students. They are offering the materials free of charge to any congregation that could use them. Connect with Gary if you have an interest. Click here for a list of the resources:

 Educational Materials

 

  LOMO Board Meeting Retreat Update

Using the Blue Ocean Strategy method, John Roberto for the second straight year led the LOMO Board & Task Force members in planning next steps as they move our LOMO camps forward. Several solid ideas were mapped out. Look for some significant positive enhancements to our LOMO camps in the area of programming in the coming months.

 

EXTRAVANGANZA 

Pray for the youth leaders heading to the annual ELCA Youth Minsitry Network Extravaganza. It takes place in St. Louis January 31 through February 3rd.

It will be a time of renewal, relaxation, hanging out, attending seminars and large group sessions, worship, and concerts. Folks always come home refreshed, revitalized and with heads full of new ideas.

  

Cluster Dates

Thursday February 6th at high-noon at the Olive Garden in Middletown. Come and celebrate Bryan Jaster's time at Peace, Beavercreek. Bryan recently took another position in Virginia. His last Sunday at Peace Lutheran is February 9th.

Thursday March 6th at 10 am at Christ, Bexley. Jenny will again provide bagels and beverages! Come when you can. Leave when you must.

 

LAST CHANCE

Jacobs Porch High School Retreat

February 14-16, 2014

A few spots remain

Contact Gary for details.

The Porch always provides us with a quality event!

Give your High Schoolers a mid-school year 
opportunity to connect with others!

 

GATHERING INFORMATION

 

2015 National Youth Gathering

Theme Announced: 

"Rise Up Together"

More information about the gathering will be forthcoming after the Extravaganza, which takes place this weekend

   

 Our National Youth Gathering Coordinator

For 2015 Will Be:

Diane Schwiger-Alexander who is the Associate in Ministry working with youth & families at St. Peter's, Lancaster

Our Practice Discipleship Coach for 2014  through the Gathering Will Be:

Pastor Beth Westphal from David, Canal Winchester

               You will be hearing more about Diane and Pastor Beth in February

Pastor Beth has just returned from the Practice Discipleship Training...Yep, Gathering planning is happening. Stay turned !   

 

 NEW AT VIBRANT


Vibrant Faith Ministries Welcomes Tom Schwolert

 

Please join us in welcoming Tom Schwolert to the Vibrant Faith Ministries' team as a coach and consultant. Tom is a leader in helping congregations rethink children, youth and family ministry and has spent more than 26 years serving churches in Minnesota and Texas.

 

Tom has successfully helped congregations shift away from a primarily program-based approach to a more intergenerational and relational ministry. As such, Tom represents the cutting edge of change in how children, youth and family ministry is conceived and carried into action.

 

Tom is also the co-author of Full Circle training workshops and leads these events across the country. This unique, "out-of-the-box" approach to training often takes place in homes and neighborhood/community settings.

  

 YOUTH MINISTRY POSITION ANNOUNCED

Bethel Lutheran Church in Grove City is looking for a part-time (20 hr/week) youth ministry staff person.

The primary responsibility of the staff member will be build a ministry of and for High School students and their families. Secondary responsibilities will include younger youth.

Interested applicants can contact Pastor Peter Ray for more information at 875-0510 or pastor@bethel-lutheran.org 

  

           

 

 

OLDER INFORMATION & ANNOUNCEMENTS 

Youthworks Trip to Charleston West Virginia

Has a few spots remaining!

The July 13-18, 2014 trip to Charleston, West Virginia is full. Contact Nate at youthworks if you wish to be placed on a waiting list.

Nate.Mclaughlin@youthworks.com

 

Transformation Zone Has Space!

Join us at the Transformation Zone Service Trip July 6-11, 2014. Cost $125. They even have a 5th/6th grade 1/2 week option. Contact Gary or click here for details:

www.tzonemissions.org

 

Vision & Practice of 21st Century Faith Formation

John Roberto will be coming to the Marriott Courtyard University of Dayton July 8-10, 2014

Click Here For Details:

at Vibrant Faith Ministries
 

 

Bethseda Lutheran Community Volunteers

 
Bethesda Lutheran Communities, a national non-profit offering services to people with intellectual and developmental disabilities, is looking for more than 700 youth volunteers to serve at four camp ministries around the country, including one Colorado. Bethesda Camps pair youth volunteers with individuals with developmental disabilities for five days of fun, fellowship and faith formation.

Click Here: Bethesda Camps

  

 Network App Update

The Network's mobile app, after roughly a six-month absence is back and up to full-speed again!  

Last May, the app was taken down as the company the Network works with to provide the app went through a significant internal crisis.  You can read more about that on the Network blog.

 

Social Media

If you’re managing social media for your church, it might be useful to know about some of the most surprising social media statistics this year. Here are 10 that might make you rethink the way you’re approaching social media.

Read the whole article 

 
iGivings 

We are passionate about helping churches and ministries of all sizes because they make a difference in people’s lives. We create innovative, cutting-edge mobile solutions and have helped thousands of ministries around the world achieve dramatic results in their mission. Small and large churches are now extending their outreach, growing membership and involvement, increasing giving, improving attendance and retention, communicating more effectively and so much more through our mobile solutions.  Thank you to iGivings for being a partner of the Network.  


 Lutheran Outdoor Ministries

 

Summer VBS
Looking for a summer VBS theme but not interested in paying for a pricey boxed set? Lutheran Outdoor Ministries has a solution for you! New for 2013 LOM is offering a condensed version of its summer curriculum, Living in God's Time, to be catered to fit your VBS needs. This curriculum is perfect for churches looking to create continuity between the camp and VBS experience. 
 
Living In God's Time is an opportunity to explore how we mark time a little differently as Christians. In Jesus, we see God living among us and we learn of a different way of marking time as we learn about the story of Jesus through the church year. Living in God's Time is not a way to escape time, but a way to live more fully and enter into it with the love of Christ. Each day of the curriculum focuses on a different season of the church year so together your VBS students and adult leaders can explore that holy time even in the midst of today's busy culture.
 
VBS Package
Get all you need to run your own Vacation Bible School program, without paying for pricy boxed sets!  The VBS Package includes:
    • Day Camp/Lower Elementary Bible Study
    • “Living in God’s Time” Crafts
    • “Living in God’s Time” Games
Price: $65
 
For more information or to purchase the Living in God's Time VBS Package, visit: http://www.lomnetwork.org

 

 STANDARD INFORMATION FOR NEW SUBSCRIBERS

 

MARTIN'S LIST

 

There are great resources at the ELCA Youth MInistry Network website for all stages of ministry with family and youth and it is free to you at Martin's List.  Over fifteen different categories to choose from. There are lots of requests on our Facebook group for worship, outreach, learning and fellowship ideas. Remember Martin's List to look for ideas in these areas but also to post your resources. The Network that shares is a richer network.    

NEW MINISTRY PARTNER

The ELCA Youth Ministry Network welcomes Trinity Lutheran College in Seattle as our newest silver partner organization! Thanks for your partnership!  Visit Trinity online to find out more about the college and what they offer.  VISIT TRINITY

 

JOB POSTINGS 

 

Lots of people and churches have been posting job opening, descriptions with the ELCA Youth Ministry Newtowrk. Please remember that the Network also has an updated service on the Network website to post positions, job descriptions, and contact information.  Just head over to http://www.elcaymnet.org/placement

          

Cluster Get Togethers,Training Events for Youth and/or Adults, and Youth Events...

are scheduled as folks raise their hand and say, "Hey, let's do one in my area."  Contact Gary and after a date, time, and location are chosen, he will advertise the event through facebook, youth & family e-bulletins, and hard copy mailings to congregations.

    

Synod Youth & Family Connections

 

A. Consider Joining the Synod Youth & Family Ministry Facebook Page

Just for you...a youth and family ministry facebook group page has been created focusing on our favorite topic.  Here's a chance to ask questions, have discussions, and share what you are doing in youth and family ministry to an entire network.

To join, send a request to Gary Pecuch through Facebook or send an email request and Gary will send you an invitation. 

  

B. Youth & Family E-bulletins are sent out the 1st and 15th of each month

 

C. A Hard Copy Mailing of Youth & Family Ministry happenings is sent out monthly to congregations 

 Look for the fluorescent Green Flier

 

D. Visit the Synod Website:

www.southernohiosynod.org  Click on the youth and family ministry tab

 

E. Connect with Gary directly

gpecuch@southernohiosynod.org  or 614-464-3532 extension 110 

 

Thank you for being a Youth Advocate in your congregation!

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