Youth and Young Adult Ministries

Eastern Synod Council invites you and your community of faith to be a part of God’s Backyard!

God’s Backyard May 6, 2012

Go on a nature walk in the dark. Climb a tree. Play in the rain. A British charity has create a bucket list for kids – a collection of 50 things they should do before they turn 12 – activities like burying someone in the sands, or making a mud slide.

It started me thinking, in the weekend after Earth Day, how often we take our youth outside to experience God’s Backyard. Many of our youth events, and Sunday schools are composed of classroom activities and indoor discussions, but we may be missing an opportunity to shake things up by taking them outdoors. Read more »

Attention all Anglican and Lutheran youth ages 13-18and Youth Leaders! We invite you to come to the annual Youth Conference which takes place Friday May 25th until Sunday May 27th at Huron Church Camp. Join us for a weekend of getting to know youth from all corners of the diocese, help bring together a vision for the future, and learn about and discuss current issues in the church. Read more »

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=316AzLYfAzw

I went to the 2012 Annual Church Leaders’ Form—World Changers Event hosted by World Vision at the Metropolitan Bible Church here in Ottawa.  I was excited to join other youth leaders who are engaging and empowering youth to respond to the needs of their world.

Metropolitan Bible Church in Ottawa

For the last five years we have been hearing about this church ‘The Met’ and I was also looking forward to seeing it.  I was not disappointed.  As I approached the front door I passed the keystone that read: “To the Glory of God.  Not Just a Building”.  Wow.  This place had it together. Read more »

Here is a novel idea:  a virtual conference.

The Lutheran World Federation (LWF) is preparing this Green and Just Virtual Conference so that Lutherans around the world can discuss the connections between economic and ecological justice.

LWF is issuing this  broad and inclusive invitation to church leaders, people active in sustainable development, interested pastors and lay leaders, youth leaders.

This is an opportunity to participate in the international Lutheran community. Read more »

At this annual forum held in major cities across Canada, hear respected authorities and dialogue with other Christian leaders about how to respond to issues the Canadian Church faces.  For $35.00 you can help develop your youth leadership training skills.  What an opportunity to hear from some the keenest minds about Youth and Young Adult Ministry.  And what a great way to connect with other youth leaders in your local context. Read more »

Looking for an explanation of Good Friday for young children.  This video, which is led by the voices and artwork of children, is a wonderful way for families to remember the journey that Jesus made.  What a great way to initiate a discussion about our faith and the journey that was taken to get to Easter.  http://vimeo.com/39437796

Teens talk with their fingers – not by making a call. A report by the Pew Research Center’s Internet and American Life Project (which is always worth checking out for new trends involving teenagers and young adults) has found that while texting continues to increase, using the phone to make a voice call has significantly declined.

The Pew Centre found that 63 per cent of teens exchange texts with friends, but only 29 per cent talk daily with friends on a cell phone – and far fewer use a landline.

And the number of text is growing quickly – the median number of text sent on an average say was 60. (And for teenager girls, the median was 100.)

What’s the take away: If we want to reach our youth, we need to communicate on their platform. That means sending texts to alert them to events at church, remind them about worship responsibilities coming up, and for just checking in on them.

Let your fingers do the talking.

Here’s the study, if you would like to take a look.

http://pewinternet.org/Media-Mentions/2012/75-percent-of-youths-text-a-lot-daily.aspx

And an Los Angeles time story if you’d like to newspapers take on it:

http://www.latimes.com/business/technology/la-fi-tn-pew-report-teenage-texting-up-20120319,0,3936572.story

Are you looking for something the youth can lead in your community of faith in preparation for the celebration of Easter.  Try this:

Easter Vigil Play: the Tale of the Three Trees

Narrator #1: God works in mysterious ways. Sometimes, we don’t know what God has planned for us, and when things don’t work out, we get frustrated. Or when life does work out, we forget in our celebration that God had a part from the start.

Narrator #2: But in Easter, God reveals the greatest mystery of all. Easter teaches us the lesson of eternal life in the story of the resurrection of Jesus. Now, it hasn’t been an easy journey to get here. It’s been full of twists and turns.

Narrator#3: There have been heartwarming moments – like the disciples first choosing to follow Jesus by the sea of Galilee.

Narrator #4: And we have had dangerous plot twists – like the Devil tempting Jesus in the dessert, to use his power for wishes other than what God intended. Read more »