* NEW - Equipping Youth Ministry Training Leaders- FREE TRAINING with good Lutheran Food!! Equipping YM Leaders is important to the ELCA and especially to the NC Synod. We will be offering a free training on Friday May 4th from 1pm-4pm and Saturday May 5th from 9-12noon at Christ the King in Cary, NC. We will be bringing you two Youth Ministry trainings and updates on the 2012 ELCA Gathering within each day as well food and fellowship with other Youth Ministry Leaders and Pastors. We will hold these identical trainings on two separate days to allow training for church staff on Friday and any volunteers that would like to attend on Saturday. Email Liz to sign up.
* NEW - I just completed an introductory webinar on the new resource from Vibrant Faith Ministries called Vibrant Faith@Home. WOW. I'm impressed. There are tons of things and I hope to highlight something new in each e-news. First, go and register - it's free. Then click on the link below and try out this resource that is found under The Basics. There are three basics in this category - Bible Basics, Faith Basics and Prayer Basics. This one falls under Prayer and has a short resource on types of prayer.
* NEW - Join the conversation - Luther Seminary has some great conversations going on their First Third site. This is just one. The ELCA World Hunger program has launched a line of Web-based resources, Hunger Education Toolkits. The Hunger Education Toolkits will help you design, host, and lead a learning experience on hunger or hunger-related topics.
100 People: A Global Village - This activity will help participants see the stark realities of our world by looking at important characteristics of the world's population. In this activity, the world's population is represented by just 100 people.
* NEW - part of the Hunger Games mania? David Lose, professor at Luther Seminary has developed a discussion guide for the movie/books. Enjoy!
* NEW - our next Y& F Network meeting (open to all) will be held on April 17th from 10am - 1pm at the synod office. We'll go out to lunch together this quarter.
If you are unable to travel to Salisbury that day but would like to join us via the web, let me know.
* NEW - just a reminder that Outdoor Ministry sites are gearing up for the summer with great staffs and programs for your children and youth. Wonderful programs for you too at various times throughout the year. Sign those youth up for camp today. It's a gift that we have four sites in our synod. Check out the options available at Agape+Kure Beach and Lutheridge/Lutherock. You won't be disappointed. February was Lutheridge/Lutherock emphasis month. April is Agape+Kure Beach emphasis month. Take the time to invite a youth to experience camp today.
* NEW - extended deadline of April 12th. The Lutheran Association of Christian Educators is sponsoring a spirituality retreat on April 20-22 at the Coastal Retreat Center for folks (rostered or lay) working in the area of faith formation.
* Don't forget that Bishop's School applications are due April 1st. Who do you know that is asking big questions of faith? Put an application in their hands for this wonderful event at LTSS in Columbia.
* Ready to order your NC T-shirts? Click here to order. Cost is $6 for S-XL and $8 for XXL -XXXL. The shirt design can be found here. The shirt will be purple. Deadline is May 1st. We will wear these shirts on Friday of the gathering for our Practice Discipleship day. These will be delivered to synod assembly on June 1st in Hickory.
* Linda Kaelke Scholarship requests are due April 1st. Linda Kaelke served as Director of Christian Education for several of our churches in the NC Synod. Upon her death, she left our synod with an endowment from her life insurance. This gift to our church has been providing scholarship funds for many years. Linda was instrumental in the establishment of LYNC (Lutheran Youth in NC) which is now known as LYO (Lutheran Youth Organization). She served as the first advisor of that organization. Thanks to Linda's generousity, many youth from around our synod have benefitted from these scholarships. Many of our homepage slide show stories are from Kaelke recipients reporting back about the difference Linda's gift has made in their congregation.
*Charlotte Conference - May 21-23, 2012. Join Vibrant Faith Ministries and LifelongFaith Associates for an exciting, interactive 3-day experience Vision & Practice of 21st Century Faith Formation
For pastors, church staff, and leaders in faith formation across the life span
Imagine the potential for churches that develop 21st century models of faith formation to respond to the spiritual and religious needs of all ages and generations. Imagine churches that provide faith formation for everyone, anytime, anywhere, 24x7x365. Immerse yourself in the world of 21st century faith formation and bring home the tools you need to transform your congregation. Sponsored by Vibrant Faith Ministries in partnership with LifelongFaith Associates Information & Registration: www.vibrantfaith.org/faith-formation-training.html
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Saturday, June 2nd is our 2012 NC Synod Service Day. While we hope all our congregations are serving many times during the year, this is our day to serve together - wherever we are. SO,
let us know what you'll be doing and where. If you have opportunities for service in the Hickory area, please let Tammy Jones West know. Tammy@lutheranyouth.org We'll have Synod Serve T-shirts if you'd like to purchase those for your group. Thank you so much for sharing in this service day. "For we are what he has made us, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand to be our way of life." Ephesians 2:10
* In the revamp of the website we have the opportunity to include pictures (slides really that change) on the homepage. I'd love to have pictures of your trips, events, etc. Email me with a 1-2 paragraph description and see your group on the www.lutheranyouth.org homepage.
