April 2014Vol 4, Issue 1
Youth and Family Ministry
 NC Synod, ELCA
Youth Cross
 
Walking Together...Sharing Christ!
 
Welcome to the Youth & Family E-news for the NC Synod!  
 Joys and Concerns

Earth

Among my prayer concerns and joys...

* safe travels during breaks for those that still have a break. :(

* for the gift of sabbath for our leaders following Easter.

 

 
In This Issue
Joys and Concerns
News
ELCA Highlight
Calendar
Outdoor Ministries
Join Our Mailing List!
Quick Links
News 

Forward Together

 

* NEW - Don't miss out on visiting with Bishop Eaton while she's in our synod. A special gathering for youth and young adults (and the adults who bring them) will be held at Kimball, Kannapolis on Saturday, April 26th from 4-6pm. You still have time to make your reservations. Reservations are open until Wednesday, April 23rd. Register today!

* New - The North Carolina Synod won the Facebook challenge. Thank you all for "liking" our page and sharing with your friends. 
 
* NEW - We need your help. Synod Assembly babysitters. Looking for folks 18 or older to help with childcare during synod assembly (May 30-31). You will be compensated for your time. Email Tammy if you know someone who is interested.

*  Video Challenge - Something new this year. We hope you've  watched the Forward Together video with your congregation or saw it at assembly last year. Maybe you said to yourself at the time - "our congregation could have been a part of that too. We should have been in that video for _____."  Now you have your chance. Put together a 2 minute video clip (Mp4 format) or less highlighting something life-giving in your congregation. Start the video with these words and then share your clip. "(Insert Congregation name here and city) is moving forward together in Christ, in community by..." Deadline - April 30th at noon. Email Tammy when you are ready to send. We'll share by Dropbox.

  

*  Pre-Assembly Event -
Moving into the Neighborhood - Thursday, May 29. 9am-4pm Lunch included. $20. 

 

Presenters: Danielle Kosanovich and Tammy Jones West

Our synod is focusing on being a church moving forward in Christ AND in our communities.  But do we know what our communities look like? Have we made strides to find language to make the Gospel relevant?  Join us for a day-long workshop that will introduce language, ideas and images that help us move for deeply into our neighborhoods for the sake of advancing the kingdom of God. All are welcome. Register for this event, NC Synod Assembly or both.

 

*  Forward Together Initiative - just in case you haven't seen the short video clip about Forward Together that our youth and young adult on that task force created, check it out. Hope you enjoy it!

* Bishop's School reminder - Deadline extended - April 28th. Think of one or two exceptional high school youth in your congregation - the ones who ask the hard questions, stood out in confirmation classes, and exhibit a yearning to deepen faith and explore their relationship with God in more depth. If you have a young person currently in the 11th or 12th grade, please nominate him or her for Bishop's School at LTSS in 2014.
The 2014 Bishop's School will be held the week of June 22-28 on the campus of Lutheran Theological Southern Seminary in Columbia, SC. Youth from all over the southeast will come together to study with seminary professors, worship in Christ Chapel and witness the way God is working in the world and in their own lives. They'll learn what it means to think theologically!

 

* NC Synod Mission Trip - something different this year. We have six sites around our synod willing to host your group and serve alongside you in their community. $160 per person includes program, food, housing, t-shirt, water bottles, etc. Transportation is not included. July 6-12 at the following spots: St. Philip, Raleigh; St. Luke's, Charlotte; Morning Star, Matthews; Kimball, Kannapolis; Christ the King, Cary; and Lutheran Chapel, Gastonia .  Our brochure is here. 

 

* The Practice Discipleship Initiative now has a Facebook page and Twitter account. (@elcapd) Like and follow these for great resources.

 

* 2015 ELCA Youth Gathering buses. In the midst of planning for transportation, let me know if you are interested in riding the synod buses. This does not secure your spot, just helps plan for the number of buses to put under contract. The plan is to use these buses while in Detroit to help with transportation from our hotels into downtown each day. This will only be an option for those riding the synod buses. We are also praying for hotel assignments that allow that to happen. Click here to share your interest in riding the synod buses.

 

* 21st Century Faith Formation Training - Learn How To Develop Christian Faith Formation For All Ages And Generations In A Digital, Connected World. This event will be held in Raleigh on April 28-30th. Don't miss this. It's an incredible event and well worth your time and money. (I'd go again if I didn't have other commitments to Region Nine. SO, go!!! :)

 

* Plan now to invite a youth or young adult to journey with you to our 2014 NC Synod Assembly at Lenoir-Rhyne University in Hickory on May 30-31. Each congregation receives an additional voting member if they are a youth or young adult. Youth is someone confirmed to age 17. Young adult is someone 18-30.

 

* 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.

 

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A Story to share...
 
 "God's work, our hands"  
Every year, millions of people around the globe observe World Malaria Day on April 25. The ELCA Malaria Campaign is turning this day into a special week, and doing our part by observing World Malaria Sunday on April 27.
This is an opportunity for all of us to come together and do something
big. With nearly 10,000 congregations and over 3.9 million baptized
members, we are a church that rolls up its sleeves and gets to work. The
goal is to raise $250,000 in one week, which is enough to kick-start malaria
programming in Namibia.
We can do more together than we ever could alone. Already, we have
joined hands with our brothers and sisters in 12 African countries, and
have seen great progress. Together, let's help make it 13. Save the date and plan to participate in World Malaria Sunday - April 27!
 
 
 Calendar
Calendar

 

April 15 - Y&F Network Meeting - Synod Office
April 25 - World Malaria Day
April 27 - World Malaria Sunday
April 28 - Bishop's School Deadline
April 28-30 - 21st Century Faith Formation - Raleigh
May 5-7 - Youth & Family Ministry Staff Retreat - Greensboro
May 29 - Pre-Assembly Event - Moving into the Neighborhood
May 30-31 - NC Synod Assembly - Lenoir-Rhyne University
June 22-28 - Bishop's School - LTSS, Columbia
June 23-27 - LYO Board Retreat - Lake Lure
July 6-12 - NC Synod Stay at Home Mission Week
July 15 - September 12 - Tammy's sabbatical
October 4 - YouthQuake (3-5th grade event)

2015
January 30-Feb. 2 - ELCA YM Extravaganza - Detroit
February 27-March 1 - LYO Assembly
May 28-30 - NC Synod Assembly
July 15-19 - ELCA Youth Gathering - Detroit

Outdoor Ministry Opportunities
Agape+Kure Beach Logo
CHURCH STAFF RETREAT - April 28 & 29 
Camp Agapé 
Come to camp, relax and enjoy talking with your peers about personal and church philosophy, communication, networking, and time to meet as a church. Enjoy a free massage, good food, and zip-line rides! Contact Lauren at agape@agapekurebeach.org to register.

SPRING WORK DAY - May 3 
Camp Agapé 
Gather your crew together and come on out to camp on May 3rd for our Spring Work Day. Get your hands dirty and help Camp Agapé get ready for a new season. There will be plenty to do! Contact Mir at ACEEd@agapekurebeach.org to let her know how many folks you'll be bringing!

MOTHER DAUGHTER RETREAT - May 9-10 
Camp Agapé 
Come celebrate Mother's Day, May 9-10, at a special place apart. Hike, craft, worship and share a campfire with that special woman who has listened to, cared for, and loved you unconditionally over the years. Contact Lauren at agape@agapekurebeach.org for registration information.

AGAPÉ-GANZA! - May 25 
Camp Agapé 
Hey Everybody! May 25, is set to be a fun-filled day of camp activities: canoeing, archery, rockets, zip-line, etc. PLUS a GaGa ball tournament, a pie competition, and a chance to Dunk the Director! AGAPÉ-GANZA! will be fun for the whole family, church group or youth group! Register your teams and pies now! Contact Lauren at agape@agapekurebeach.org for more information.
 
NovusWay
 
Create in Me - April 24-27
Dr. Brian Peterson, New Testament Professor at LTSS, will be our Bible Study Leader exploring COSMIC QUESTIONS with Psalm 8 as our central theme. How do ART and FAITH address the issues of beauty and destruction, order and chaos, time and space, purpose and futility... Come to be inspired, encouraged, and re-created! Enjoy a wonderful exchange of ideas encouraging creativity as central to the life of faith! Participate in creative worship and enriching fellowship. Workshops and creation stations offer hands-on opportunities to try new arts and crafts in a safe place where you cannot fail. Process over product is stressed - we are all a beginner at something! Meet others striving to give God's creative Spirit larger space in their lives. Those who think they are NOT creative are especially encouraged to attend! 
 
*There is still space available at Lutherock this summer for Mission Trips. The cost is $300.00/youth and $150.00/adult and includes all Lutherock led adventure activities, help coordinating service projects, Sunday Dinner-Saturday Breakfast, and Lodging! Or, let us supervise the youth overnight and coordinate your service projects for an additional $75.00/youth (adult rate stays the same).

*There is space at Lutherock to host your retreat this summer! Contact Kara Ridenhour for availability and rates! kridenhour@lutherock.com 828-733-5868

*Program Highlight: CrossTraining at Lutherock! July 13-26, 2014-NovusWay ministries only TWO-week summer program for those high school campers who are looking for the next level of adventure! Check out Lutherock's Facebook page to view the Cross Training Video or our website for registration information. 
 
Tammy Jones West, AIM
Youth & Family Ministry Coordinator
NC Synod ELCA
828.308.1362