Welcome to the NC Synod 
Youth and Family Ministry E-news. 
April 2016
Events and news...

* TODAY - LYO Board Applications are due today before midnight. 

* NEW - 2018 ELCA Youth Gathering - A big announcement is coming today about serving for the Houston Gathering! Stay tuned to the Gathering's social media and website for the news.

* NEW -  Plans are underway for our 2017 Stay-at-home mission trip. If you would like to consider being a host site, please fill out this form. What does this mean? To be a host site, you arrange work projects, find a cook, determine the space you would have open for other congregations to join you, and whether you'd be open to middle & high schoolers or just one or the other. We'll handle curriculum, publicity, registration, funding, shirts, etc. Our hope is to invite congregations from around the ELCA to join us while we work in our own communities. 

* NEW - If you are attending the 2016 NC Synod Assembly and would like to reserve a breakfast table for conversation around a specific topic, please sign up here. For example, Confirmation, Milestone Ministries or Young Adult Ministries. Voting members will be able to see the list of Breakfast Discussions and plan their meal around that topic. We need your help to have a wide variety of topics.

* The Fall Youth & Family Ministry Network meetings are on the calendar. Anyone who works with those in the first third of life are invited. We gather at 10am and go to lunch together. Each time we gather around a specific topic but we also have time to share concerns, joys and challenges. There's great wisdom in the room. We're also going to be trying out our new conference call system so you can join via Go To Meeting.
August 30 - Planning for 2017
September - no meeting (Fall Convo)
October 18 - ELCA Youth Gathering
November 15 - Child safety policies

* The 2016 NC Synod Assembly registration is open and ready to have youth and young adults from your congregation. Every congregation may send an additional voting member who is a youth (confirmed - 17) or a young adult (18-30). 13% of the voting members in 2015 were under 30 years of age. Let's see if we can beat that this year! Early bird registration ends April 15. Register now.

* Mark your calendars.  Pre-Assembly Event
Thursday, June 2 from 9am - 4pm

AM Session for all participants 9am - noon
Rev. David Hansen
Digital Tools for Creating Community

Participants will consider how new and old tools can work together to help us build community in our churches and beyond. We will look at the changing media landscape of our culture, get hands-on experience with some of the most popular tools, and walk away with concrete tips and strategies to make the most of the opportunities they present to us.

PM Session - Breakout sessions (choose 1) 1:30-4pm
Digital Tools Part II - Rev. David Hansen
A Walk through the New Testament - Rev. Dr. Mary Shore
Renewing Congregations - Renewal Team
Stewardship for today - Stewardship Team


2016 Calendar of Events
April 2 - LYO Board Meeting - NC Synod Office
April 4-6 - Youth & Family Staff Retreat - Greensboro
April 7-9 - Faith Formation Summit - Chicago
April 11-13 - Region Nine Synod Youth Ministry Staff Retreat - Lutheridge
April 14 - FREE Practice Discipleship Webinar - Wondering through Service Learning with Mark Jackson. 2pm Eastern
April 15 - Early Registration deadline - NC Synod Assembly
May 12 - FREE Practice Discipleship Webinar - Wondering with Children and Youth with Jeremy Myers 2pm eastern.
June 2 - Pre-Assembly Event - Social Media
June 3-4 - Synod Assembly - Charlotte Renaissance
June 20-23 - LYO Board Retreat - Lake Lure, NC
June 21-25 - Bishop's School - Luther Springs, Florida
August 30 - Youth & Family Network meeting - Synod office
September 8 - FREE Practice Discipleship Webinar
- Wondering about Confirmation with Terri Elton. 2pm eastern.
September 9-10 - Synod Council 
September 26-28 - Fall Convo - Lutheridge
October 13 - FREE Practice Discipleship Webinar - Wondering at Creation with Brian Peterson
October 18 - Youth & Family Network meeting - Synod office
October 22 - YouthQuake - Mt. Pisgah, Hickory
November 3-6 - ELCA Youth Leadership Summit - Lutheridge
November 10 - FREE Practice Discipleship Webinar - Wondering in Prayer with Mindy Makant. 2pm eastern.
November 12 - YouthQuake - Holy Trinity, Raleigh
November 15 - Youth & Family Network meeting - Synod office
November 28-30 - Youth Ministry Retreat - Camp Agape (anyone who             works with youth.)
December 2-3 - Synod Council meeting

2017 
January 14 - LYO Board Planning retreat
January 20-23 - ELCA YM Extravaganza - Louisville, KY
February 24-26 - LYO Assembly
June 18-24 - Bishop's School - South Carolina

2018
June 27 - July 1 - ELCA Youth Gathering - Houston, TX

2019
June 23 - 29 - Bishop's School - North Carolina

2020
July 5 - 11 - Bishop's School - Southeastern Synod

App of the Month - ELCA Youth Ministry Network

Now experience ELCA Youth Ministry Network anytime, anywhere. Renew your faith, experience powerful education opportunities wherever you are, and connect with peers who share the same joys and struggles in ministry.

Resource of the Month - Celebrating Volunteers

April 10-16 is National Volunteer Week. Below are two resources for celebrating your volunteers. 

50 ways to celebrate volunteers from Church Volunteer Central

NC Synod Pinterest Board - Celebrating Volunteers

Video of the Month - Gathering Announcement

Here's the video of the 2018 Gathering site 
announcement this past summer. Please hold in prayer the Gathering teams as they gather this month in Houston for theme discernment.


Outdoor Ministries of the NC Synod 

Below you will find wonderful offerings from our outdoor ministry sites. If you have specific questions, please check out their websites. 

Agape-Kure Beach Ministries
Novus Way (Lutheridge, Lutherock, Luther Springs & Luther Ranch)


May 14
Hey Everybody! Get ready for Agapé-Ganza, a fun-filled day of camp activities: canoeing, archery, rockets, zip-line, etc. PLUS a double elimination GaGa ball tournament, and a pie competition! Fun for the whole family, church group or youth group. Get your teams and recipes ready! The Agapé-Ganza promises to be loads of fun for everyone! If you are interested in entering a team in the gaga ball tournament or entering a pie in the pie competition, contact the main office at 919.552.9421 or via email at agape@agapekurebeach.org.

Faith Alive - 
Four weekends - SEVEN retreats. Two separate retreats each weekend - except November. Our unique curriculum uses experiential learning to leave lasting lessons. Lutheridge staff provide supervision for campers, staying in cabins with them and sharing their faithful witness. Campers can come alone or with a group. Lessons are geared to middle school, but 5th grade through high school youth are welcome to attend (Campers will be placed in cabin groups with those close to their own age). Adult leaders are welcome and encouraged to participate, but not required to attend. Each camper creates a "witness" to share what they have learned with those back home. Pastors Tim and Mary Canniff-Kuhn provide program design and oversight, with involvement from other leaders. Adult Leaders for Faith Alive! are welcome to register and participate in ALL program sessions. 

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