March 2017 Newsletter
Still Time to Register for the second 2017 PreConfirmation Retreat!
The first PreConfirmation retreat is this weekend, but there is still time to sign up for the April retreat. This will be a chance for young people to meet other young people discerning their call to Confirmation and their faith journey in general.

The retreat will begin on Friday, April 7th at 7:00pm, and will finish by 4:00pm on Saturday the 8th. Because these are one night retreats, we do pack a lot into 20 hours!
April 7-8, 2017

at Barbara C. Harris Camp
Greenfield, N.H.
Good Friday Overnight

Join young people from across the diocese to experience the practice of compassionate witness through creative expression. Attendees will participate in poetry workshops and performance activities that empower youth to speak their truth while listening and learning from their peers.

Participants will create new written work, individually and in groups, that speaks to their experiences and reflects on the meaning of Christ’s crucifixion and resurrection for the world around us today. Youth will be invited to share their poems and stories at a mini-open mic at the overnight.
Friday April 14 at 5:30pm
to
Saturday April 15 at 10am

Trinity Church, Copley Square, Boston
2017 Diocesan Acolyte Festival
Building on the energy of last year’s successful festival, acolyte teams of all ages are invited to gather with peers from across the diocese for a morning of workshops, a shared meal, and a glorious festival Eucharist with Bishop Gates.

May 20, 2017

9:30am to 2:00pm

First Evangelical Church, Brockton

Lynn Youth Pride
Join St. Stephen's Church for their 2nd annual Youth Pride hosted by the BE YOU LGBTQ+ Youth Group. BE YOU is proud to present this event as a celebration of the LGBTQ+ community in the great city of Lynn and beyond.

The event will include food, games, community art project, and make-up artists to help youth express their inner beauty. The event will feature True Colors, an award-winning theater program for LGBTQ+ youth.  The True Colors team will perform from 1pm-2pm followed by a Q&A with the cast and producers.

The event is free and welcomes all LGBTQ+ youth as well as allies!
June 3, 2017

11:00am to 3:00pm

St. Stephen's, Lynn

(For more information, please contact The Rev. Sarah van Gulden at 508-367-4750 or svangulden@ststephens.org)
Resources for Youth Ministry
Open Sanctuary: What Youth Leaders and Young People Can do for Immigrant Families

People around the diocese are thinking about how to make their parishes into safe sanctuaries, especially for those families and individuals who are being targeted by homeland security. This list of resources for youth leaders and youth groups can help you think about what your parish can do to help this effort:

1.) A “Know Your Rights” handout for young people and families, in English and Spanish.

This is for undocumented people and their allies who are worried about an Immigration Control and Enforcement (ICE) raid on a home or workplace. This guide assists the creation of an immigration raid family plan for your family or for another family in your congregation or community.

2.) A guide for educators and school support staff published by the American Federation of Teachers

This is a longer document that includes tools and resources to help protect and prepare youth and families. It tells you how to defend the rights of undocumented students. Church members may know about the 2011 policy memo that says ICE agents should refrain from conducting enforcement activities in churches. This is the basis of the so called, "sanctuary movement." You should know that schools, hospitals, and public demonstrations are also protected spaces according to this memo.

3.) A sample school board resolution defending access to education for every child.

This is for parishes who are considering lobbying their local school boards and committees to establish their schools as safe zones.

4. Ten myths about immigration.  

Misperceptions about immigration and immigrants are common. Here are a few of the most frequently spread misconceptions, along with information to help your students separate fact from fiction. Useful for discussion and advocacy.

5.) Supporting young people from immigrant families.

In addition to a catalog of resources and information, the Teaching Tolerance website includes a host of lesson plans for a range of ages on immigration, changing demographics, and social justice. While they are designed originally for classrooms, most are easily adapted for a Sunday School or youth group event or series.