July 2012Vol 7, Issue 1
Gathering Communion
Youth and Family Ministry
 NC Synod, ELCA
Greetings!
Youth Cross
 
Walking Together...Sharing Christ!
 
Welcome to the Youth & Family E-news for the NC Synod!  
 Joys and Concerns

* For the forgotten, the lonely.

* For the least of these.

* For the suffering.

* For time with family.

* For the gift of friends.

 
In This Issue
Joys and Concerns
News
Calendar
Join Our Mailing List!
Quick Links
News 

 

* NEW - Mark your calendars for the annual Lutheran Youth Day. September 29th. For more information contact Kyle Butler May or Janet McKee.

 

* NEW - In addition to the Family Table Devotions - watch for our latest resource that will be available in September. People in the Bible. This resource is designed for use with the Spark Story Bible. More on this coming soon. 

 

* NEW - Check out these articles for parents and grandparents on the Vibrant Faith @ Home website. Enjoy!

 

* NEW - The Practice Discipleship website is up and folks are adding all materials from the Practice Discipleship work. Check it out - use the worship with your congregation; use the small group materials with your council; use the webinars with your teams - it's free - take advantage of these great resources. www.practicediscipleship.org

 

* 100 Wells tour, October 14th at Lenoir-Rhyne University. 3pm. Mark your calendars now. Lost and Found, Agape and Rachel Kurtz. Should be a great time.

  

* The next Living Room Summit will take place on October 2-4, 2012 in Minneapolis, MN. Join Lyle Griner, Andrea Fieldhouse Griner, and Marilyn Sharpe in their own living rooms and congregations, in the very places that people live their faith. Experience three solid family ministries in three days.

 

* Our next Y& F Network meeting (open to all) will be held on August 7th 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. 

 

* On our 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.

 

* Family Table Devotions for Year B are online through October.  We are beginning the work on Year C this week. Hard to believe - I know.
Resource Suggestion

I'll be highlighting resources - one you can purchase and one that's free. Enjoy and let me know what you'd recommend. 

 

*  Vibrant Faith Ministries NEW - Ready to bless the backpacks? The Blessing of the Backpack Milestone is available to download. Cost $7.95. This 19 page Milestones Module honors and recognizes the special moment of beginning another school year. It helps children, youth, and adults transition back to the fall schedules and also creates an opportunity to discover God's presence at home, school, and work. This invaluable milestone for parents and children includes a worship litany, cross+generational events and Four Key activities for the home.

 

* NEW - Practice Discipleship Webinars - available for download. Check them out.

- Lutheran Theology - How God is working in the world!

A Story to share...
The Wall
 "God's work, our hands"
 
While walking through "The Wall" - an interactive journey for Practice Peacemaking Day at the 2012 ELCA Youth Gathering in New Orleans - youth had the opportunity to hear stories from individuals that live in war torn and conflict ridden countries. Anna Rogers and Sarah Embry  from Holy Trinity Lutheran Church in Hickory met a Kenyan woman that shared her story and her henna tattoos. She spoke of peace, hope and light even in the greatest darkness. She spoke of "how beautiful our hands are when they are together."
 
 Calendar
Calendar

 

August 6 - After the Gathering online conversation - noon
August 7 - Y&F Network Meeting - Synod Office, Salisbury
September 17-19 - Fall Convo - Lutheridge
September 29 - Lutheran Youth Day - LRU
October 6 - YouthQuake - Mt. Pisgah, Hickory
October 14 - 100 Wells Tour at LR - Lost and Found, Agape and Rachel Kurtz 3pm

2012 ELCA Youth Gathering

2012 Gathering new

 

It's hard to believe and even harder to put into words the time in New Orleans with not only 893 folks from NC but the other 32,000+ Lutherans who were participants. 2,000 additional people made it happen behind the scenes as volunteers. 

 

So, in good Lutheran fashion, I ask this question - what does this mean?

 

For me, there was and is an excitement, an energy, a passion for the "what's next?" response. Let's build on this momentum. One thing I will be doing in my ministry role is highlighting one of the 7 faith practices each month. How did New Orleans change your life? What are you doing differently? Personally, I'm carving out time each day to do some study/reading so I can keep up with trends, happenings that impact our young people. 

Join the conversation.

 

I'd love your ideas. Monday, August 6th at noon. Join me if you can for our first conversation. How are you bringing New Orleans home?

 

1.  Please join my meeting, Aug 6, 2012 at 12:00 PM.
 
2.  Use your microphone and speakers (VoIP) - a headset is recommended. Or, call in using your telephone.
 
Dial +1 (805) 309-0012
Access Code: 631-539-374
Audio PIN: Shown after joining the meeting
 
Meeting ID: 631-539-374
 

 

 
Tammy Jones West, AIM
Youth & Family Ministry Coordinator
NC Synod ELCA
828.308.1362