Spring Gathering is almost here!

On March 13-15 youth from across our diocese are coming together at All Saints Center for Spring Gathering: Building a Community! We will spend time in retreat away from schedules, cell phones, and computers and with the guidance of Mother Katherine Doyle and Father Matt Bradley, dive into our theme, "Building a Community" through Romans 12:4-5.

We will celebrate the life and times of our graduating seniors and send them off All Saints style and electing new members to Youth Council.

 Join us in song, games, making new friends while connecting with old ones, and most importantly FUN!!

To find out more and to register, visit our Spring Gathering webpage!

A Few New Leaders: Youth Council 2015

We are looking for new Youth Council members! During Spring Gathering we will elect 9 new members. To broaden representation across our diocese, we will be using a new format based on regional representation.

Those elected will gather at an overnight at All Saints Center on September 11-13 where we will work on team building, learn leading music and games, learn welcoming the stranger, learn small group facilitation, and plan the events for the following year. They will also lead small groups and facilitate games and music at gatherings and summer camp.

To learn more about Youth Council, regional representation, and how to be added to the ballot, visit our Youth Council webpage.

Directory of Youth Workers

Calling all youth workers in the diocese both paid and volunteer. In order to foster congeniality and shared resources among those who minister and work with youth in our diocese, our Director of Youth Programming and Young Adult Ministries, Kendall Badgett, is collecting information to put together a Kentucky Youth Workers Directory. When complete this resource will be available on the Diocesan Youth webpage for all.

If you are a youth worker or know of someone who is, please send the following information to Kendall Badgett at kendall@episcopalky.org.

1.  Name

2.  Position/Title

3.  Church Affiliation

4.  Contact information (email and phone number)

Remind - a New Service

Life is becoming more fast paced, and there is a lot to juggle these days. To make keeping up with youth events easier, Youth Programming is going to start using a text messaging service called Remind. When new event registrations open, a reminder will be sent directly to your cell phone in a text. It's that easy!

To sign up for the service and receive messages via text, text @eventyouth to 81010. You can opt-out of messages at anytime by replying, 'unsubscribe @eventyouth'. Messaging rates may apply.

Become a Camp Volunteer

According to research done by the Search Institute, healthy adult relationships are proven to be crucial to healthy childhood development. Your time and talent spent with the youth at camp and gatherings is not only vital to us being able to run these programs, but also to the development of the next generation. 

To learn more about what it takes to be a volunteer at summer camp and to apply, visit our Camp Volunteer webpage.

Freedom Dancer

By Kendall Badgett

I recently wrote about Ferguson and race relations. Since then we have entered into a new year. Most of us have created New Year's Resolutions to create good and healthy habits, so that we can be more Christ-like in reflecting our creator into the world around us. As I reflect on this past year, one image and experience pushes to the forefront of my mind. It was a God moment at summer camp. The Holy Spirit was in conversation with all of us during one particular talent show act. The spirit revealed itself in a young African American boy expressing himself through dance.

The boy's name was called, he stood up, walked to the front of the room, waited patiently for his music to start, and then became alive as the music filled him. He poured out his soul and life experiences through grace filled jerky movements. Uninhibitedly he danced for freedom, pulling chains off of his body, and dreaming about a future. The hair on my arms stood on end begging me to pay attention to this act of courage and hope. It yearned for me to pay attention to how the world treats others around me, and it propelled me to look at what binds me personally. We all have chains that bind us.

In this New Year I wish for you to be as courageous as our freedom dancer, to stare down what paralyzes you, to wrestle with the chains that bind you, to have the courage to see the injustices within us and in the world around us and to act.

Scripture study: Genesis 32: 22-31; Jacob wrestles at Peniel

1. Have you had an experience in which you wrestled with God? Would you share that experience?
2. Have you ever felt the presence of God or the Holy Spirit? Where were you and what was going on? How did you feel? Did you hear anything?
3. Can you tell me the mark or impression that was left with you after wrestling with God or encountering God/ Holy Spirit?
4. Think of something that binds you. What steps can you take to rid yourself of the chains?

Matthew 25:35-40 Lived

"But I don't want to go. I won't know anyone." This was the phrase repeated by my eldest after I told her I had signed her up for summer camp at All Saints Center. When I say repeated, I mean repeated-often, loudly, and with a few tears. Finally I said in my best parenting tone, "You have to go this year. I've already paid for it, but you never have to go back." (Okay maybe not my best parenting moment, but she seemed to accept it.)

The week came and I dropped off a pouting, sullen 12 year old, but let's be honest that's pretty much most 12 year olds typical style.  Five days later I went back to pick her up.  As I walked into the closing Eucharist, I saw my sullen 14 year old's face lit up like a Christmas tree on a dark, cold December night.  She ran over to me and gave me a big hug before rushing back to her friends where she danced and sang.  Were there tears?  Yes, as we were leaving. And so began her love of All Saints, which continues today -7 years later. 

I am a huge supporter of All Saints. I think every child should go every chance they can get. You hear campers say, "It's the one place I can be myself and no one judges me." Or "It's the place I feel closest to God." All that is holy and good and true. But what I learned last month is it is also the place where disciples are formed; it is the place where Matthew 25:35-40 becomes a part of your very DNA.

SK, as she's known around camp, is away at school. She'd had a bad week, and after calling me, the first person she called was her best friend, Mason, who was three states away.  SK and Mason have been best friends it seems forever; they have never gone to school together, never been on the same team, or danced in the same studio. Their connection?  They went to All Saints together and through their time at All Saints they grew to know each other without masks. They know each other warts and all, and they love each other completely. What happened next? Within 2 hours Mason was in her car heading to SK---Matthew 25:35-40 lived.

Help support more stories like this one, 
donate and make camp possible for another child today. 

Karen Crabtree @Christ Church, Bowling Green

How long have you been in ministry? When did you feel called to this ministry?

Like all Christians, I have been a minister ever since my baptism.  However, I felt called to deepen my ministry and become Youth Director last summer.

How were you called to Christ Church?

I felt called to Christ Church in 2007.  I had fallen out of step with God and been without a church home for several years.  I heard Him calling to me, but I was scared of being rejected since I was such a sinner. Even as I heard God calling me, I thought "How can I ever go back after what I've done.  I can't really be forgiven." One day, I saw a story on Christ Church in a local magazine and I threw my hands up in the air and said "Fine, God, I'll go!" And, of course, I was wrong. I'm forgiven, redeemed and sanctified. And God said, "I told you so!"

What age groups do you work with? How often does your group meet?

Our EYC group includes youth in grades, 6th through 12th. We meet weekly on Sunday afternoons or evenings.

What kinds of activities do you do and why?

We like to keep a mix of things going.  Our goal is for every month to do something super-fun, something creative, and something mission-oriented, as well as take one Sunday dedicated to a deep Bible Study. All of these things are important to our fellowship and faith, so we try to keep a balance so we can grow together.

What is your vision for the program?

Right now, our EYC is coming back together after a lapse in programming.  So we're really still getting to know each other and finding our communal heart, as well as finding our talents and callings.  In the months and years to come, I'm hopeful to take mission trips and to broaden our outreach locally.  I'm looking forward to helping each of our youth build a deeper relationship with God so we can all hear His call to greater service.

What is your favorite piece of scripture and why?

James 5:13-16 "Is anyone among you in trouble? Let them pray. Is anyone happy? Let them sing songs of praise. Is anyone among you sick? Let them call the elders of the church to pray over them and anoint them with oil in the name of the Lord. And the prayer offered in faith will make the sick person well; the Lord will raise them up. If they have sinned, they will be forgiven. Therefore confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous person is powerful and effective."
 

This is my favorite Scripture because, in my opinion, prayer is the single most important thing we can do as Christians, but is often something we don't do nearly enough.  We get bogged down because we're worried that our prayers aren't worded prettily, or we'll forget something, or maybe it feels like you're talking to yourself.  But the Scriptures tell us to pray always, and that prayer comes from the heart.  Some of the deepest prayers aren't even words.  They're just an open heart and a cry for our Father to pick us up and hold us close because we're scared or sad or hurt.  And He always, always, always answers.

When did you first feel apart of a church community and why?

I belonged to a youth group in my church when I was younger, and it was some of the best times of my life.  I went to church in a different area of town than I went to school, so my friends at church didn't tease me the way people at school did. (I was, and still am, a nerd.  I have learned to love my nerdiness now.) But as a youth, to be loved and accepted and not teased... it was just the best thing ever.  Despite 20 years and 1000 miles, I remain friends with members of my old youth group.

As an adult, I truly felt part of CEC'S faith community when I joined our Lunch Ministry.  Every week, we make food for anyone who is hungry.  We do it with our own food and money.  We share recipes and tips, we have fellowship, we pray, and we share Christ's love with God's children who were strangers before they came in our doors.  Taking part in that ministry has been one of the best decisions I have ever made, because it has helped me grow so much in my faith.

What kids of programs would you like to see offered by the Diocese?

I'd love to see the diocese create some type of online forum for our Youth Directors, Ministers, and Workers to get to know one another.  Someplace where we can share successes, failures, help each other formulate ideas and support each others' ministries through prayer.  It would be a welcome resource.

Upcoming Youth Events

Why Christians are Excited about Brene Brown

By Jane Gober of Building Faith

Perhaps you have heard that there are subjects that 'we don't talk about in polite company.'  That force of social convention that silences everyday things such as politics, or religion, or shame, or vulnerability.  Dr. Brene Brown is a sociological researcher whose work has been primarily about shame and vulnerability.  Her insights from these subjects have led her to the bestsellers lists, the TED Talk circuit and Oprah's Soul Sunday. 

The following article overviews her body of work in imperfection, authenticity, and wholeheartedness. [Read more...]

Her Whole-Hearted Parenting Manifesto resource is also available for download, here.