Youth E-Chat: July 28, 2020
Dear Friends,

Have you noticed yourself looking for dates on articles and blogs when you click on links? Things change so quickly, that I find myself dismissing anything that is more than two weeks old. That’s how I feel about planning for this fall. Normally this week I would be scrambling to get all of our events and registration online for the coming year. But this year planning is so different, because we know in two weeks…everything could change.
 
With that in mind, synod youth ministry teams and I are reimagining what we offer for synod youth ministry this fall to best support and equip you in ministry as we walk through this year. This E-Chat shares some of what we will offer so you can incorporate our resources as you begin planning for fall. Two key words define the planning we have been doing:
 
Pivot: Faith formation events will still be offered, but their structure has changed to ensure we can still provide resources no matter what changes in the days to come.
 
Nimble: Leadership development events will all be held online via Zoom, and will be scheduled on a month to month basis so we can best address needs that arise. Timely resources will be provided on the website.
 
There has been so much change in just a matter of months. We know it will continue. And yet I have great hope for this fall and coming year. I am excited how the Holy Spirit is calling us to new places and new ways of doing ministry. I am encouraged by the imagination of ministry leaders who are trying holy experiments that will outlive this pandemic. I am inspired by the depth of faith I see in each of you, and your persistent passion to pass that on to youth and adults.
 
Thank you for all you are doing. I pray the events and resources we offer this year might support and equip you as you navigate ministry in the months to come. You are in my prayers!

Together in Christ,
Catherine Anderson
Coordinator of Youth Ministry
The NEW Synod Journey
This year, we invite you and your congregation to be deeply rooted in faith. The new Synod Journey will help you explore your identity in Christ and equip you to live your faith as you encounter changing seasons of life. 

Resources include:
  • Free discussion guides to use with youth and adults
  • Monthly meetings for ministry leaders
  • Camp SJ for grades 8-12

Click here to download the Synod Journey Info Pack sent to congregations this week.

More information at:
Middle School Gathering
The Middle School Gathering will be offered as a pre-recorded “event” that congregations can offer online or in-person if it is safe to meet. Resources will include videos and scripted documents that will be easy for anyone to lead (including your middle schoolers!)
 
What possibilities does this open up?
  • Offer a one-day event or use the resources over several weeks as part of confirmation or youth group...
  • Partner online or in-person (if safe) with other youth groups...
  • Meeting online means smaller youth groups can instantly become larger to build relationships beyond their church building...
  • Dates can now be flexible to work with the schedule of your youth and community...

The pre-recorded Middle School Gathering resources are FREE and will be available November 1, 2020.

Learn more at:
Cardia Deo
Cardia Deo Logo
February 20-21, 2020
Big Sandy Camp

At this time we are tentatively planning to hold Cardia Deo in-person and will make a final decision in November. We are considering alternatives if it is not safe to meet in-person.

Watch for more information at:
Adult Training
All leadership development for adult leaders will be held online this fall via Zoom. Because things change so quickly, we will offer events and resources as needed throughout the year in response to short and long term needs. Some areas of training/conversations you can expect:
  • Brainstorming Conversations: There is a lot of wisdom among the leaders of our synod. Sometimes the best training is talking with each other on specific topics.
  • Mental Health Initiative: Online workshops and more discussion guides.
  • Racial Justice: The Together Here and Anti-Racism Teams will provide online workshops to help us address our own implicit bias, and how to talk about racism and racial justice with young people.

 Watch for Adult Training opportunities at:


Upcoming Events:

August 4: 1:30-2:30pm
Brainstorming Conversation: Faith Formation Boxes
A few of the Synod Youth Leaders are planning to use Family Faith Formation (Faith at Home) boxes for Sunday School aged kids this fall. Let's share some collective brain power! We will be sharing ideas for how to create faith formation resources that can be delivered monthly to families. 

August 13: 1:00-2:30pm
How to Talk about Racial Justice and Racism with Youth
Part One: Equipping Leaders to Step Into Racial Justice Conversations
The death of George Floyd opened our eyes in new ways to broken systems and painful realities of persons of color in our country...and in our church. This two part series led by the Anti-Racism and Together Here teams will equip leaders to talk about racial justice with young people. Part One will first help us do our own soul searching as we take a look at ourselves and our own implicit bias - a necessary step before we begin conversations with young people. We will then do theological work around the systems of white supremacy and structural racism that marginalize people of color.
Additional Websites to Watch
In addition to the websites listed above, timely resources for faith formation and leadership development with youth and adults will continue to be posted at the websites below:

Resources for COVID-19:

Faith Formation and Leadership Development:
Prayer Resources
As we prepare for decisions on school plans for the fall
Governor Walz and the MN Department of Educations is expected to announce on Thursday the plans for school this fall. We know the anticipation of what will happen with school is causing great anxiety for students, parents, teachers and school staff. Youth ministry leaders have put together these prayer resources to help all of us surround these decisions and their impact on families and school staff in prayer in the coming days, weeks and months.
Praying with Words
You are invited to pray for the diverse concerns students, families, leadership and staff carry into this fall.

Praying with Ritual
You are invited to use this ritual prayer with your child, grandchild, and children you care for as you prepare for and respond to the decisions on how school will be offered this fall.

Praying with Images
You are invited to pray with these images of empty school spaces as we prepare for and respond to the decisions on how school will be offered this fall.

All prayer resources are available at www.nemnsynod.org/faithformationcovid .
ELCA Youth Gathering Update
Update regarding the 2021 ELCA Youth Gathering (July 22, 2020)
After much prayer and consideration, we have decided to postpone next summer’s ELCA Youth Gathering to 2022 due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
 
The 2022 ELCA Youth Gathering will be held July 24-28, 2022, in Minneapolis, with the two pre-events, the Multicultural Youth Leadership Event (MYLE) and the tAble, scheduled for July 21-24, 2022. 
 
We give thanks for your prayers and patience as we have worked through the details with our partners in Minneapolis and across the country. We hope that by postponing the Gathering for a year, individuals and congregations will feel more comfortable and prepared to attend the Gathering in 2022. 
 
We will be updating our website and social media as more details become available.
 
We look forward to seeing you and experiencing the boundlessness of God in Minneapolis in 2022!
 
#ELCAYG2022

Online Network Meetings
​Join youth ministry leaders from across the synod to network, learn from each other, support each other, share ideas and resources, pray and laugh together. We are better together!

Check-In meetings will be every Thursday, 10:30am , through August 27.

Login information for Network Meetings (new, permanent link):

You can also access the weekly link on the Faith Formation Resources in Response to COVID-19 page.
Catherine Anderson | Coordinator of Youth Ministry | NE MN Synod, ELCA Catherine.Anderson@nemnsynod.org | 218-724-4424