Just for you...a youth and family ministry facebook group page has been created focusing on our favorite topic. Here's a chance to ask questions, have discussions, and share what you are doing in youth and family ministry to an entire network.
The group is secret, which means only group members can see or post on the page.
To join, send a request to Gary Michael or Susan Barton Nonno through Facebook or send an email request and Gary will send you an invitation.
This will take a double invite. One invite from either Gary or Susan to get connected to their facebook page and then you will be sent a second invitation to join the Youth & Family Ministry Group. Please note that neither Gary nor Susan will be doing much posting on their personal pages.
Susan (the Communications Director) in the Synod Office is doing a seminar in September on church communication. We would like to include a session during the seminar on how to communicate church information to congregational teens and youth advocates.
Our hope is that we can present results that will encourage congregations to use updated technologies in communicating with youth and those that work with youth.
The attached survey was developed to gain a few insights. The survey takes about 5 minutes. Feel free to run off the survey and give it to as many 13 to 18 year olds (and adult volunteers) as you would like. The more surveys we get back the better.
We would like surveys back by August 20th. You can mail them to the Synod Office 300 South 2nd Street Columbus, Ohio 43215 or make arrangements for Gary to swing by and pick them up during his summer synod travels.
Teen Ministry Communication Survey
Bethel, Grove City Confirmation Ideas:
1. A breakfast and rehearsal for families is held the day before confirmation.
2. As students approach the altar during the procession into the sanctuary they pause at the cross for a moment of reverence before proceeding to their seat.
3. Confirmands develop a personal mission statement and write a reflection paper during their confirmation preparation.
4. Pastor Ray reads their mission statements and/or parts of their reflection paper during the sermon time. The message gives one a glimpse into the life of each confirmand....very personal...very moving.
The ELCA Youth Ministry Session 1 Training Event will be offered one more time on Tuesday June 30 at Abiding Christ, Fairborn from 6:30pm to 9pm
Session 2 will be offered at three locations this coming fall. The agenda at all three locations will be identical.
Tuesday September 13 from 6 to 9pm at Epiphany, Centerville
Tuesday September 20 from 6 to 9pm (To Be Determined)
Monday October 10 from 6 to 9pm at Christ, Cambridge
With everyone taking a break, going on vacation, and doing summer church trips the July Youth & Family Ministry e-bulletins will be mostly reminders. All past e-bulletins are archived. See link to the left.
June 28, 2011: Free Vibrant Webinar (See Below)
June 30, 2011: ELCA Youth Ministry Session 1 Training Event to be held at Abiding Christ, Fairborn from 6:30pm to 9pm (See Below)
July 10-15, 2011: Synod Sponsored Youthworks Week #1 trip to Charleston, West Virginia
July 10-15, 2011: The Transformation Zone in Marysville, Ohio
July 17-22, 2011: Synod Sponsored Youthworks Week #2 trip to Charleston, West Virginia
September 13, 2011: ELCA Youth Ministry Session 2 Training Event to be held at Epiphany, Centerville from 6:00pm to 9pm (See Below)
September 20, 2011: ELCA Youth Ministry Session 2 Training Event to be held at Trinity, Marysville from 6:00pm to 9pm (See Below)
October 10, 2011: ELCA Youth Ministry Session 2 Training Event to be held at Christ, Cambridge from 6:00pm to 9pm (See Below)
October 22, 2011: Abiding Christ, Fairborn. Synod-Wide Youth Event on World Hunger
November 7-9, 2011: Second Annual Youth Directors Retreat at LMC
January 22-24, 2012: Annual High School LYO Retreat at Camp Kern
February 8-12, 2012: ELCA Youth Ministry Network Extravaganza http://www.elcaymnet.org/Extravaganza
July 18-22, 2012: National Youth Gathering New Orleans, Louisiana
Vibrant is offering a set of free Webinars.
For Access click on...
http://www.vibrantfaith.org/webinars.html
Next up...
Tuesday June 28 at 1pm (CST): How to Communicate Your Vision for Ministry
If so, send your results to Lutheran Youth Organization Board member Laura at tippflutist11@yahoo.com. Laura is gathering net totals from congregations.
Our Southern Ohio Synod National Youth Gathering Coordinator is Jen Jarman (Good Shepherd, Cincinnati) Contact information: 513-891-1700 or (jjarman@goodshepherd.com).
Our Southern Ohio Synod National Youth Gathering Coach is Pastor Michael (Mick) Althauser (St. Jacob, Anna) Contact information: 937-394-4421 or (malthauser@woh.rr.com).
Gathering Facebook: Click Here Gathering Facebook page,
Gathering Website: Click Here Gathering web site
Gathering E-mail: Click on Gathering web site then click on "Subscribe to Gathering E-News" (on right side of web page)
Send an email to Gary if you wish to be placed on the Southern Ohio Synod 2012 National Youth Gathering Email Distribution Update List. Emails will be sent to the distribution list with update information pertaining specifically to the Southern Ohio Synod (Pre-Gatherings, Transportation Coordination, etc...). Click on the "Contact Gary" link above on left.
Expect E-Bulletins around the 1st and 15th of each month
Youth & Family Ministry E-Bulletin Now Archived
Hard Copy Mailings
Gary includes a summary of what's happening in the Synod in youth & family ministry in the Synod monthly congregational mailing. Look for the florescent green flier that is included in the mailing. It arrives on or about the 1st of each month. The information is basically the same as what's in the youth & family e-bulletin but can be easily posted around your church building.