Youth E-Chat: May 12, 2020
Dear Friends,

A couple weeks ago I participated in the Princeton Theological Seminary Institute for Youth Ministry’s “Digital Forum on Youth Ministry". One of the questions posed to Kenda Creasy Dean was how to be creative in these times. Kenda responded with how any time she starts a new project – baking, crafting, writing – she first clears the table. Part of the creative process is making space for new things to happen.

How are you clearing your table for ministry these days? How are you stopping to make space for new things to happen? How are you listening to youth, parents, and your congregation as they live into this new reality? How are you defining your “why” for ministry in your congregation and framing your plans around that? How are you paying attention to what we are learning, and what that means for ministry as we move forward?

That’s what we’ll be doing on Thursday for the “ Reframing Youth Ministry ” event. I believe this is a time to clear the table and take advantage of the opportunity we have to reimagine ministry for the church as it is now and will be down the road. None of us have the answers for what the impact of COVID-19 means for youth ministry. That’s why we need each other more than ever. I may be the one starting the conversation, but the wisdom will come from all of you as you move into breakout rooms to wonder with each other how we can clear the table for the new ways God is calling us to be in ministry with youth and families.

If you’re looking for a step-by-step guide to ministry for this fall, this event is not for you. But if you want to wrestle with where God is calling us in new ways to nurture faith in young people and how we might get there…I hope you join us!

This event is free, but you must register by May 12 (TODAY!) to receive the link to join the Zoom meeting. Click here to register.

Together in Christ,
Catherine Anderson
Coordinator of Youth Ministry
COVID-19 Resource Updates
New this week:
  • Tiger McLuen and "Youth Ministry Consultants" videos on leading through COVID-19

New this week:

Online Network Meetings
(For Volunteers, Paid Youth Directors, Pastors...YOU!)

​Ministry has changed drastically, and the work you are doing to support youth and families is critical. These weekly network meetings are an opportunity to 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, 10am, through May 28.

We will not be meeting this week due to the Reframing Youth Ministry event (see below). We hope to see you there!

You can also access the weekly link on the Faith Formation Resources in Response to COVID-19 page.

If these times don't work for you and you would like to check in with someone, please  email Catherine  or call 218-724-4424, ext 124. You are not alone as we navigate these challenging days!
Upcoming Events for Adult Leaders
May 14: Reframing Youth Ministry After COVID19
9am – Noon, Zoom, FREE
Registration deadline is May 12
Join faith formation leaders from across the synod for a conversation on what we have learned from doing ministry during COVID-19, and how our experiences might shape faith formation in the coming months and years. This event is free and will be held via Zoom.  The schedule includes large group presentation and small group discussion in breakout rooms. Registration is required to participate. You will receive a confirmation email with the Zoom login information and event details shortly after registration.

Peer Ministry Leadership Online Training Opportunities:

May 19: LSS Benefit for Youth
11:45am - 12:30pm, Livestream
This annual fundraising event highlights the obstacles young Minnesotans face and the ways in which LSS, together with all of us, helps map a route to their success. The goal of this event is to raise financial support for LSS. You are able to designate donations to LSS in your community. It is also a helpful event to learn more about their resources and stories! Click here for more information and to register! You can list Catherine Anderson as your table captain.
Mental Health Moment
Joy Hensel, Project Coordinator for the NE MN Synod Mental Health Initiative and team members will be sharing thoughts with you each week to encourage, educate, resource and support you as you walk with the anxiety, fear, and grief of youth and adults, and care for yourselves.
Additional videos are available at www.nemnsynod.org/mhcovid19 .
May is Mental Health Awareness Month!


Youth MOVE MN is a program of the Minnesota Association for Children's Mental Health (MACMH), and the local chapter of Youth MOVE National. Their resource page recognizes that during this time it can be hard for teens and adolescents to get help and support in situations where resources are limited, and hope that this page can offer direction for where to find support.

Weekly Youth E-Chat
While we learn to live with and respond to COVID-19 in our homes and congregations, I will be sending out Youth E-Chat every Tuesday morning with updates and resources for you to use in your congregations. If you have anyone in your congregation who would like to be added to this e-newsletter (it is a different database than our synod's Online Reflections/Announcements), please have them sign up here. You can also find previous Youth E-Chats on the Faith Formation Resources for COVID-19 web page.
Catherine Anderson | Coordinator of Youth Ministry | NE MN Synod, ELCA Catherine.Anderson@nemnsynod.org | 218-724-4424