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09/08/2014

Youth & Family Ministry E-bulletin September 15, 2014

 

2015 Youth Gathering Soft Registration Opens Today!  

Soft Registration means that your adult leader can input all of the basic information for each gathering participant into the system

Then on or after October 15th that same adult leader can "officially" submit the registration information for your congregation

Click Here: Registration  

 

 

SYNOD INTENTIONAL LISTENING POST OPPORTUNITY

FOR THOSE THAT WORK WITH YOUTH

This Week! 

Your ideas are valuable to this synod and

the bishop’s desire is that all may be heard.

On Wednesday September 17 and Thursday September 18, those who work and volunteer with children and youth in churches from across the synod are invited to a time of intentional listening and sharing your input for the future direction of the synod.  

Mary Ellen Helms (a representative from the Vision Team) will facilitate this time of conversation and dreaming together.  Please consider attending one of these sessions if you are able.  

If you are not able to attend note that there will be another opportunity this fall for you to share your input, either at a regional gathering or through an online or paper survey.  

Join us Wednesday September 17th - from 11:30am-1:00pm at Young’s Dairy 6880 Springfield Xenia Rd, Yellow Springs, OH 45387  

OR

Thursday September 18th - from 10:30am-12:00pm at Christ Lutheran Church 2314 E Main St, Bexley, OH 43209 (bagels and beverages will be served)!

Please RSVP to Mary Ellen Helms (mehelms@popluther.org) for the Wednesday Gathering.  

Please RSVP to Jenny Frantz (jfrantz@christbexley.org) for the Thursday Gathering.  

 

 

Bishop's Faith Advance

Registration opens today for the Bishop's Faith Advance initiative 

The initiative is primarily for 5th-8th Grade Students and their Parents and/or Grandparents, Aunts, Uncles

Click Here to see the contents of the mailing: Faith Advance Mailing

Questions: Connect with Gary gpecuch@southernohiosynod.org 

Space is limited

 

One More Chance to Attend

a Fall Gathering Informational Meeting: 

 

There is still one Fall Informational Meeting opportunity remaining!

If your congregation is going to the Gathering in Detroit you

really, really, really, really, really

should get someone to a Fall Gathering Informational Meeting

 

The meeting is from 7:00 -8:30 pm

 Tuesday September 16: Zion, Tipp City 14 W. Walnut St. Tipp City, Ohio 45371 

Directions 

 

 2015 Synod Gathering T-shirt

 

Yes, there has been a long standing tradition that the Southern Ohio Synod offers Gathering participants the opportunity to purchase a Synod Gathering T-shirt. This time around is no exception. Abby (a high school student) from Al Saint's Worthington designed our Detroit shirt.

Shirts are $10 each and can be ordered through Gary in the Synod office. Just send Gary the sizes you wish to order. Checks can be made payable to "Southern Ohio Synod" with Gathering t-shirt placed in the memo.

Purchasing t-shirts of course is optional. Those who purchase the t-shirts will wear them on Gathering Synod day which is yet to be determined.

 T-shirt Link Click "rotate" to see back of shirt.

 

 ELCA World Hunger Resources

The ELCA World Hunger Folks have some great resources including service learning guides, brochures, and various action campaigns to choose from.

Click Here: Resources

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 Nothing Below is New Information

 

1. Gathering Updates

 

A. Contact Diane (Gathering Coordinator) with specific questions:

dsaministry1@gmail.com

 

B. Registration Reminder:

 

Soft Registration Opens September 15th

Hard Registration Opens October 15th

Not sure what is meant by "Soft" or "Hard" Registration? Then consider getting someone to one of the three remaining fall informational meetings. See Below.

 

Wow, did you just say that Hard Registration 

opens in just 30 days?

Yepper!

 

 C. One More Chance to Attend a Fall Gathering Informational Meeting: 

 

There is still one Fall Informational Meeting opportunity remaining!

If your congregation is going to the Gathering in Detroit you

really, really, really, really, really

should get someone to a Fall Gathering Informational Meeting

 

The meeting is from 7:00 -8:30 pm

 

  1. Tuesday September 16: Zion, Tipp City 14 W. Walnut St. Tipp City, Ohio 45371 

    Directions 

 

D. Gathering Volunteers Needed:

 

Service Companions: Must be 20 to 30 years of age

Community Life Volunteers: Must be out of high school one year

 

Click Here: Volunteer Information

 

E. Gathering Facebook Link: 

Facebook

 

F. Gathering gNews Link:

 

make sure you check-out the latest issue of g-News for all the news about the Gathering and all the exciting plans our Community Life day at the gathering. It will be "A New Kind of Community"...

 

gNews Link: Click Here

 

2. Upcoming Opportunities/Updates

 

Paul Amlin (Director of Youth & Family Ministry for the ELCA) coming to November Renew Retreat! (November 3-5 at LMC)

 

Diane Schwiger-Alexander (Gathering Coordinator) will stop by the Renew Retreat to answer your Gathering questions in person. (November 4 at LMC)

 

Milestone Ministry Update:

It's Back....Availability to the Milestone Ministry Project. Vibrant is happy to announce that Debbie Streicher and David Anderson will be spear heading the Milestone Project together.

They can be contacted by email: 

dstreicher@milestonesministry.org or danderson@milestonesministry.org.

 

Click here for details: Milestone Project

 

 

Renew Retreat

At Lutheran Memorial Camp on November 3-5, 2014.

Update: Both...

  • Paul Amlin (ELCA Youth Ministry Program Director) and
  • Diane Schwiger-Alexander (Gathering Coordinator)

will be joining us for parts of our annual Renew experience

The Renew Retreat is designed to support fulltime and part-time professional Children's, Youth and Family Ministry staff.

Return to your place of ministry refreshed and renewed! This retreat is a gift to Youth and Family Ministers and their congregations. Housing will be double occupancy in the Priebe Retreat Center.

There is no cost for the retreat, but participants must register in advance:

Click Here to Register

 

Winter Opportunities

 

Middle School MiX

Who: For Middle School students and their adult sponsors

When: January 9-11, 2015 Friday 7 pm to Sunday noon

Where: Yep, at Lutheran Memorial Camp

"X" is the Greek letter for "Christ", so MiX stands for Minds in Christ. 

Come "MiX" it up for a weekend at Lutheran Memorial Camp! Join us for a weekend filled with intentional small groups, music, games, new friends and more. While this weekend is designed for and oriented to middle school youth, groups are encouraged to bring a few high school youth along to be examples and leaders.
 
7:00 pm Friday - 12:00 noon Sunday

Click Here to Register

 

The 2015 Extravaganza

January 29-February 2, 2015

Intensive Care Courses: January 29-30

Main Event:  January 30-February 2

 

If your congregation plans to attend the 2015 ELCA Youth Gathering during summer 2015 it would be a good idea to get someone from your congregation to attend the Extravaganza in Detroit next January 29 through February 2, 2015.

 

If your congregation does not plan to attend the 2015 Youth Gathering the Extravaganza is still way worth it. Detroit is the closest it has ever been. Come worship, relax, attend workshops, and glean great ideas from 600+ congregational youth staffers.

Click: Extravaganza 2015 Then click on Events and Extravaganza 2015

VOLUNTEERS WELCOME! 

 

 

Jacob's Porch Retreat Date Set

Who: For High School students and their adult sponsors

When: March 6-8, 2015

Where: Yep, at Camp Kern

Interest List: Contact Gary to be placed on the interest list.

 

 

The ole Standard Information

 

No changes or additions this month

 

Youth & Family Website

The Youth & Family Ministry portion of the Southern Ohio Synod website has recently been updated. With over 200 files and links we continue to move our website towards a one stop shop for good information on the topics that matter most.  www.southernohiosynod.org 

This months highlight...There are close to 100 files and links just in the  "Safeguarding" and "Forms" sections alone.

And there's more to come!

 

 

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.    

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

 

 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.  

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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