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.
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
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.
The ELCA World Hunger Folks have some great resources including service learning guides, brochures, and various action campaigns to choose from.
Click Here: Resources
Update: Both...
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:
"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
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!
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 |
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.
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.
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 |
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.
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.
www.southernohiosynod.org Click on the youth and family ministry tab
gpecuch@southernohiosynod.org or 614-464-3532 extension 110