Youth E-Chat: August 3, 2021
Dear Friends,
 
If you read yesterday’s Online Reflections, you heard me share about Ezekiel and the valley of the dry bones and how we are called to prophesy – to share God’s love story with young people so they can be connected to God and to each other.
 
Connection will be a theme you hear a lot this year. We will focus on it for all our synod youth ministry events. Why? We are designed to be connected. At LYO Leadership Camp this summer we used carabiners to represent how when we use our gifts to connect to God and each other, Christ is present. Every time we experienced connection we would add a carabiner to a board. Last week as we finished the online LYO Leadership Camp, one of the participants looked at the board and thought it looked more like a dove than a cross. How true! The Spirit is unleashed to blow in new and abundant ways when we use our gifts to connect to God and each other!
 
When we left camp, I had each of the LYO take a carabiner off the board as a reminder how we are connected even when we are apart. And you know what? The board was still abundantly full. When we dare to risk standing in the valley of the dry bones to prophesy hope and love to a disconnected generation…God multiplies what we bring.
 
I invite you to hold that image this year. We know planning and returning to ministry this fall isn’t going to be easy. Covid variants, parent and youth hesitation to gather in-person, anger that we aren’t doing enough in-person, young people who aren’t eligible to get vaccinated and the impact of 18+ months of disruption mean the path forward isn’t necessarily clear. But regardless of what comes, God is still at work in and through you, multiplying your ministry in ways you can’t even imagine. You are enough because your God is abundantly more than enough!

Together in Christ,
Catherine Anderson
Synod Minister for Discipleship and Christian Community
Youth E-Chat will be sent the first Tuesday of the month through the summer. You can always find NE MN Synod youth ministry events and resources at www.nemnsynod.org/youth.

Fall Youth Ministry Resource Packet
The Fall Packet with NE MN Synod event information for the coming year will mailed to congregations later today. But you don't have to wait for the Pony Express to find you or your church!


Planning
Veterans to our synod will notice that not all details and forms for our upcoming events have been posted yet. The new LYO Leadership Initiative and the impact of COVID-19 has disrupted our typical planning processes and timelines. The links above and corresponding websites on our synod have enough information to promote the events with your young people. Registration worksheets and further details will be posted early September.

COVID-19 and Synod Events
Synod youth ministry events are weeks and months from now, and it is impossible to know what impact the variants will have at the time registration and events take place. As of right now, we are hopeful to hold in-person events and the promotion will use that language. We will continue to monitor COVID-19 and its variants, and make decisions based on local and CDC guidelines that are in the best interest of participants. Congregations, youth and parents will need to make their own determination of their comfort in gathering in-person if we meet. Please take time to read the note on COVID-19 included in the Resource Packet and at www.nemnsynod.org/youth and have conversations with your families as you discern which events to attend.
Synod Journey to the ELCA Youth Gathering:
REGISTRATION PACKET!
NE MN Synod Journey Registration Packet
You are invited to join the NE MN Synod for a year long journey to learn and live into how
we are deeply rooted
to be CONNECTED
to a boundless
God beyond measure!
Download the Synod Journey Registration Packet at www.nemnsynod.org/SynodJourney!
Information Webinar
If you missed the Information Webinar on the Synod Journey and ELCA Youth Gathering, visit www.nemnsynod.org/SynodJourney for the recording and links to resources that were shared!

More information on the Synod Journey:
ELCA Youth Gathering
Financial Assistance: Applications Now Open!
The Gathering offers financial assistance for youth participants on a first come, first served basis. Apply early - these scholarships go quickly! For those attending the Synod Journey, scholarships will be applied to your Synod Journey registration fee.

Getting Ready Materials Now Available!
The Gathering provides resources to prepare your group for the themes and discussions that will be part of the ELCA Youth Gathering experience. There are 10 sessions, to offer a monthly Bible study beginning in September and ending in June. Other time frame options are also shared. If you are attending the Synod Journey, we will also prepare short resources you may use as a supplement or instead of these resources.

Registration Webinar: August 19
If you are NOT attending the Synod Journey, you are encouraged to attend the ELCA Youth Gathering Registration Webinar on August 19 or view on demand at a later date. The Gathering will be utilizing a new registration system this year - learn all the details!

And remember: If you plan to attend the Synod Journey, do NOT register for the ELCA Youth Gathering! We will take care of that for you!
2021-2022 Synod Events for Youth!
Click on the links below for more details! Keep checking back as more information is added.

Middle School Gathering: November 19-20 OR 20-21, 2021
 
Cardia Deo: March 4-6, 2022
 
Synod Journey to the ELCA Youth Gathering: July 21-28, 2022
Adult Leader Trainings
Extravaganza!
February 11-14, 2021
Minneapolis and Online!
Continuing education, networking, resources and renewal with children, youth and family (CYF) leaders from across the ELCA!
Mental Health First Aid Training
Online, 8am - 3pm: Sept. 30, Oct. 8 OR Oct. 16
Free for NE MN Synod Ministry Leaders and Volunteers
Learn to identify, understand and respond to signs and symptoms of a mental health or substance use challenge in adults ages 18 and over. Joy Hensel (MA, LADC, ADC-MN) will lead these training sessions.
Fall Theological Conference
September 26-28, 2021
Explore season of grief and gratitude with the Rev. Dr. Kathyrn Schifferdecker. Open to rostered ministers, SAMs and CYF leaders.
Growing Young Book Study
First Thursday, beginning October 7
Online, 10:30am - Noon
Join Catherine Anderson for a monthly book study on the 6 Core Commitments from Growing Young, and how to integrate them in your ministry.
Lay Leader Network Yearly Intensive Series
This series is designed to give adult students opportunity to grow in their faith for the purposes of personal spiritual development, biblical and theological learning and enhancing missional leadership.
Learn more about all these opportunities at www.nemnsynod.org/AdultTraining
Youth Ministry Positions
Director of Youth and Family Ministry
Bethlehem Lutheran Church, Two Harbors, MN
Part-Time (20 hours per week)
The Director of Youth and Family coordinates our core programs of Sunday School and Confirmation, leads the High School Youth Group, and organizes other activities to help children and youth love and grow in the way of Jesus. The Director is supported by our team of Sunday School teachers, the Youth and Family Ministry Board, member volunteers, and our pastor. Bethlehem is a Pastoral sized church, with a long history of loving the children and youth God has put in our midst. We are located on the North Shore within sight of Lake Superior.

Candidates will ideally have a degree in Youth and Family ministries or a related field, experience in youth ministries, a solid knowledge of the Lutheran tradition as expressed by the ELCA, a willingness to share their faith with students and parents and strong organization and communication skills.

A full job description can be found at http://blcth.com/youth-family/
To apply please email resume and cover letter to info@blcth.com
Youth and Family Minister: Full-Time
First Lutheran Church, Little Falls, MN
 
The Youth and Family Minister of First Lutheran Church will develop, carry out and support the ministries of faith formation of youth and families to live a life centered in Christ. These ministries will include planning activities for children and families that integrate faith and life, deepen biblical understanding, and respond to the spiritual and social needs of youth, children and families. The Youth and Family ministry is to, for, and with all the members of First Lutheran Church and the wider community.
 
Click here to view full job description. To apply, submit a cover letter and resume to pastorbeth@flclittlefalls.org
Network Meetings for Faith Formation Leaders
Every Thursday, 10:30am-11:30am
For Volunteers, Paid Youth Directors, Pastors

Network meetings are a time to resource and support each other in ministry. No registration required.

Network meetings will continue through the summer on a weekly basis. Through August, the Zoom link will open for the first person to arrive and the meeting might not be monitored by Catherine. Consider it an open space...much like meeting at a coffee shop! Some weeks may have few (or no!) people attend...some may have a full "table!"

We expect Network Meetings to resume in person and online in September. Visit www.nemnsynod.org/ymnetwork to find a meeting near you or online!

Login information: 
Meeting ID: 854 1177 6494
Passcode: 543063​
To join by phone: 312-626-6799
Catherine Anderson | Coordinator of Youth Ministry | NE MN Synod, ELCA Catherine.Anderson@nemnsynod.org | 218-724-4424