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| Whats Up @ NFCLYO | The monthly newsletter of the NFCLYO   
Issue No. 65
December 2011 | |
NEW! Connections
Senior High events taking faith to a new level
Connections is a new series of events for just senior-high youth. It's an overnight for those seeking a more intense and meaningful faith and worship experience than can be provided at larger events. Connections is about building a solid relationship with Jesus and others just like you, and is about "connecting" your faith to everyday life. And it involves some awesome fun, food, staff and more.
The first Connections overnight is happening at St. John Lutheran Church, Williamsville TONIGHT, on Friday-Saturday, December 2-3. All you need is a completed NFCLYO registration form and your overnight gear. Friends are always welcome. The event is free, and as it's a senior-high only event, any one person can come as an individual...no groups necessary...come as you are. Find out about Connections, including future dates and locations, at www.nfclyo.org/connections.html. |
MercyMe in concert
Coming to UB Sunday, December 11
 MercyMe, a Christian crossover group, is coming to the UB Center for the Arts on Sunday, December 11 at 7:30 pm for one show only. Head to the UB Center for the Arts site for details and tickets! More about MercyMe:
For the men of MercyMe, spreading positivity, hope, and love is very much a life-long calling. This passion for others has been the fuel for the concept of their sixth album, The Generous Mr. Lovewell. "People are taking the concept ten miles further down the road, trying to top each other's random acts of generosity toward strangers," says singer Bart Millard. "We want to see this become a movement that's bigger than the record itself."
The strong dedication that MercyMe has shown to their music and ideology has helped the band reach a higher level of success than many of their Christian music contemporaries. Their career first took off in 2001 with the number one crossover smash, "I Can Only Imagine." Since then, MercyMe has enjoyed an unbroken streak of platinum and gold records, numerous Dove awards, and several Grammy nominations. |
Harvest Bash at Harvest House recap
Over $1,200 raised thanks to help from Thrivent Financial for Lutherans
Another incredible year at Harvest House! We welcomed back Captive Free, a young adult service and music ministry, who returned to lead worship, and they did an awesome job. We also welcomed 105 people and raised over $1,200 for Harvest House, thanks in part to a generous matching gift from the Erie County chapter of Thrivent Financial for Lutherans! Thanks be to God for all who had a part in this year's event: Harvest House, Thrivent Financial, Captive Free, the adults who helped throughout the night and the youth who came for a great experience and made an incredible difference for the lives of those ministered to by Harvest House!
Check out the pictures from the night at the Picture Album on www.nfclyo.org! |
Winter Day Out
Heading to Colden Tubing Co. January 29
It's back! The 2012 NFCLYO Winter Day Out: fun in the snow, dinner, worship, and great times with friends! We head to Colden Tubing Company (at Kissing Bridge) on Sunday, January 29 from 2:30-8 pm. Spend the afternoon with unlimited snow tubing on the largest tubing hill in WNY, then we head indoors for a pizza-wing buffet and a worship experience planned and led by the NFCLYO CORE Team.
This year we are gonna T.P. the F.P.: Bring all the rolls of toilet paper you can to add to the T.P. Castle! All donations are going to the Resurrection Food Pantry on the East Side of Buffalo!
Tickets for this event are $20 for each participant (youth and adult)...with options for tubing-only ($10 pp) or dinner-only ($10 pp).
THIS EVENT IS LIMITED TO 75 PARTICIPANTS...MAKE YOUR GROUP RESERVATIONS EARLY TO GET IN!!!
Get more details, registration and reservation forms (keep in mind the youth sibling discount!), directions, pictures and more at www.nfclyo.org! Reservation deadline is Friday, January 20! |
ELCA 2012 Youth Gathering info
Now is the time to start preparing to head to New Orleans
 The ELCA 2012 Youth Gathering returns to New Orleans on July 18-22, 2012. Registration is still open, but now on a first-come, first-served basis! Get more info on the Gathering at www.elca.org/gathering!
Get connected to these Facebook groups to keep up on the latest local info, connect with others going, and more:
For everyone (youth and adult): Upstate NY Synod National Youth Gathering 2012 Attendees
For adult youth workers: Upstate NY Synod National Youth Gathering (Adult Youth Leaders)
Get ready!
We've posted local NFCLYO info on the 2012 Youth Gathering if you are considering going! Head to www.nfclyo.org/neworleans2012.html for info, a timeline of Gathering-related dates, and ways you can prepare you and your group! |
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LCLC Winter Retreats
LCLC Winter Retreats: fun in the snow, and many of the activities, songs, worship and faith connections that make LCLC great...just in the winter! Lodging in the Retreat Center too! Retreats geared for different age ranges are:
Senior High Winter Retreat: January 6-8 (register by December 27)
4th-8th Grade Winter Retreat: March 2-4 (register by February 20)
Get more info on these and other happenings (including the 2012 Summer Camp schedule!) at LCLC at www.lclcenter.org! |
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NFCLYO at the Resurrection Food Pantry
If your church or group is looking for a really neat service opportunity, The Resurrection Food Pantry is available for small groups to work on the third Saturday each month! From 9:30-noon, groups can come and stock shelves, prepare food for distribution and serve clients that come in for services. Give Rick MG a call at (716) 465-1321 for more info and to schedule your group...individuals welcome!
Thanks to the groups from Holy Trinity, Buffalo; St. Paul's, Elma; and the CORE Team for coming already this year! |
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Youth Ministry Network Gatherings
Connect with local youth workers each month
 Youth workers: ever wanted a place for peers to connect, support and be supported, pray and be prayed for, and toss in some coffee and other goodies? The NFC Youth Ministry is just that! This ministry is especially for youth workers to come and be fed to go back and minister more effectively with your youth. We gather monthly at a local coffee shop or other fun place to connect, learn, laugh, pray and more.
Our next gathering is Saturday, December 10 at 8:30 am at Panera Bread on Niagara Falls Blvd. in Amherst (just south of the 290, across from the new Buffalo Wild Wings restaurant).
Check out our other gathering dates (now set through May) at www.nfclyo.org/nfcymnet.html. |
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NFCLYO North Happenings
NFCLYO North is off the holidays, but will return in January with an overnight lock-in at First English, Lockport on January 20-21. For details on this or other NFCLYO Events, give the NFCLYO Youth Ministry Specialist, Chris George, a call at (716) 380-0330. More info at www.nfclyo.org/north.html. |
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CORE Team on a roll
The NFCLYO CORE Team is at it again, now in their ninth year of ministering to their peers and others they see a need in. They are a group of senior-high leaders in our church ready and willing to witness their faith through Lutheran Charities temple talks at worship, help lead youth ministry activities (from devos and games to overnights to weekend retreats), and serve others in need.
For more info on CORE, contact Rick MG at (716) 465-1321 or at rick@nfclyo.org. The CORE Team would love to visit your church for any of these things or we can design something new...distance is not a problem! |
ELCA Youth Ministry Training Project
In person and now online!
Among the best ways to prepare for the 2012 Gathering is to be a part of the new ELCA Youth Leader Training Project! This project is for adults to learn how to best minister with today's youth...the 2012 Gathering is based on these trainings! And at each training event, get the latest info and questions answered about the Gathering!
Online Webinars continue as well! Yes...these FREE webinars augment the in-person trainings with an online series of webinars premiering through January 8...and the entire series re-premieres on January 22! Either be there as each webinar debuts for live chat, or watch the recorded session anytime. Check out the line-up and register for these FREE webinars at our Youth Workers page! |
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NFCLYO Road Crew
Adult volunteers wanted!
 The NFCLYO is creating the ROAD CREW, a volunteer opportunity for authentic, available, and affirming* adults that LOVE youth, believe they are an important part of the church, and feel a desire to make a positive impact through behind-the-scenes service-even at odd hours!
If you fit this bill, then we invite you to commit to the Road Crew! We are seeking volunteers for our Event Ministries, Back Office tasks, and other areas as needed. The commitment involves an annual orientation, pre-event meeting and serving in your area during the event (4-6 times a year). Back office tasks meet 4 times a year.
If you can help ensure the success of NFCLYO youth ministry, you can apply now using our new online application form! If you can't, but know someone who could, contact Rick MG at (716) 465-1321 or rick@nfclyo.org. Adult volunteers are subject to reference and background checks.
*"authentic, available and affirming" Christians comes from Vibrant Faith Ministries at www.vibrantfaith.org |
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Other 2011-12 Event dates
2012 is almost here...make sure you're set for the New year! Other events are on the horizon, so mark your calendars and keep your eyes peeled for info coming on these events in coming months:
NFCLYO 2012 Volleyball Marathon: Friday-Saturday, March 16-17...NEW LOCATION!!!
The biggest NFCLYO event of the year is going HUGE! All-night volleyball insanity, activities on the side, and midnight devos. This year will be no different, with church teams going at it for a whole array of trophies...most of which have nothing to do with winning the tournament! We all win though as we raise money for Lutheran Charities of WNY: your ministry that makes a difference all over the place!
What's HUGE?! We are moving to a new place with 3 TIMES THE SPACE!!! The Buffalo Niagara Court Center in West Seneca is our new Volleyball Marathon home...with 4 COURTS, an additional practice court and a full basketball court for pick-up games!!! There's also plenty of off-court space for side activities. What this all adds up to is every team will play almost double the time! Our event time is slightly shifting to end at 7 am instead of 8 am, but who cares, we're pumped to be able to offer this new facility!!! More info will be coming soon.
Connections continues!: This new senior-high youth overnight series has two more dates coming up in 2012!...
Friday-Saturday, February 10-11 at Lord of Life, Depew
Friday-Saturday, May 4-5 at Holy Trinity, Buffalo (formerly Hunger-Thon)
Upstate New York Synod 2012 CONVO gathering: June 5-9
An amazing experience! Think "summer camp" in a hotel! Great worship, small groups, games, faith building, activities, and creating life-long friendships with amazing people from all across Upstate New York! Plus, get opportunities to learn about your greater church, meet with "Mama Bish" and others, connect and learn how to make a difference in the world through your church! Details on registration and more are coming this winter...stay tuned! |
The NFCLYO thanks three very generous groups for granting us the financial gifts to continue our growing and vital ministry with the youth of Western New York in 2011...our 40th Anniversary year...and beyond:
St. John's Lutheran Home for Children: This organization manages investments that fund much of the youth-oriented ministry happening in our Lutheran community in WNY.
Lutheran Charities of WNY: Helps Lutheran-operated ministries thrive in WNY...from the NFCLYO and LCLC to campus ministries, health and employment services and more.
YOU!!!: Without your individual contributions to Lutheran Charities and your prayer, the NFCLYO simply would not exist! Thank you all for your support!!!
Have a most blessed Christmas and New Years!
Rick Mollenkopf-Grill
Niagara Frontier Conference Lutheran Youth Organization
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