"We are pressed on every side by troubles, but we are not crushed.
We are perplexed, but not driven to despair.
We are hunted down, but never abandoned by God.
We get knocked down, but we are not destroyed."
2 Corinthians 4:8-9 (NLT)
Dear Friends,
I was in New York City shortly after 9/11, working with Lutheran Disaster Response. After a couple days, my colleague turned to me at a restaurant and said, “Do you hear the song they keep playing?” I couldn’t tell you the name of the band or all the lyrics, but the chorus will forever be stuck in my head:
“I get knocked down, but I get up again,
You are never gonna keep me down.”
Over and over, everywhere we went, the song was playing. You get why. New Yorkers needed the reminder that their very real pain and grief was not the whole story.
That memory came back to me as I was thinking about this fall. Like you, I am so hopeful for the ministry we have been planning with and for youth in the coming months. And like you, I am watching closely the Delta variant and the impact it will have on our plans. It could be that our plans are knocked down yet again this year. But our plans and programs are not the whole story of what God is up to in the lives of young people and their families. At the heart of what you do, you are a DJ playing the song of God’s love for youth so that it is forever stuck in their heads. And because of that, they can get up again...no matter what knocks them down...nothing can keep them down!
May the song of God’s love, God’s hope, God’s resilience, and God’s strength be stuck in your head as you walk with youth and their families this year!
Together in Christ,
Catherine Anderson
Synod Minister for Discipleship and Christian Community
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Growing Young Book Study
First Thursdays, beginning October 7
Online, 10:30am - Noon
Join Catherine Anderson in a monthly book study to discuss the 6 Core Commitments from Growing Young research and how to integrate them in your ministry. This book study is free, but you must register to get the link.
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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. Each session is limited to 10 participants. Pre-work is required to participate, and will be shared with you after you register. |
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Extravaganza!
February 11-14, 2021
Minneapolis and Online!
Join youth and family ministry leaders from across the ELCA for continuing education, networking and renewal! You will learn from one of 7 Learning Tracks, dig deeper in workshops, and be resources from 70+ exhibitors!
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Fall Theological Conference - Online
September 27, 2021
Explore season of grief and gratitude with the Rev. Dr. Kathyrn Schifferdecker. Open to rostered ministers, SAMs and CYF leaders. Register here. |
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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. Register now - classes begin in October! |
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Synod Journey to the ELCA Youth Gathering |
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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!
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Registration for the Synod Journey: October 18 - 29, 2021
The Synod Journey is a year-long faith formation and leadership development opportunity, that culminates with an 8-day trip to Duluth/Superior for servant events, learning, worship and community building before we travel on to Minneapolis for the ELCA Youth Gathering! This year the Synod Journey is open to youth in grades 8-12 and their Adult Leaders. Registration will open October 18, and close October 29 or when the event fills...whichever comes first. Registration worksheets will be available September 15 to help you collect the information needed for the online registration. Please remember - if you are registering for the Synod Journey, do NOT register for the ELCA Youth Gathering! Your Synod Journey registration will take care of both!
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!
Adult Leader Trainings
Trained and equipped leaders make all the difference in the faith formation of young people. The Synod Journey offers a fall and spring training that includes leadership development, faith formation and details for the Synod Journey and ELCA Youth Gathering. These trainings are required for Adult Leaders participating in the Synod Journey - but all adults are invited to attend, whether or not your are attending the Synod Journey!
Please note that the Fall Training dates take place BEFORE registration! Choose one training to attend:
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Sunday, Oct. 10, 2:00-4:30pm, Zion Lutheran Church in Cloquet
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Sunday, Oct. 17, 2:00-4:30pm, Lord of Life Lutheran Church in Baxter
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Monday, October 18, 6:00-8:30pm, on Zoom
It is our hope to hold the in-person trainings as planned. If needed, we will keep all dates listed and move the trainings to Zoom. We ask that you register for these free trainings to help us plan and so you can be notified if we need to change to an online format. Assuming we are able to meet in-person, we expect Adult Leaders to make every effort to attend an in-person training. The Zoom option is for those who have conflicts with both in-person option.
Extravaganza Scholarships!
One of the best ways to equip yourself for the Synod Journey and ELCA Youth Gathering is to attend the 2022 Extravaganza. This event offers Learning Tracks and workshops that will equip you for your role, provide opportunities to meet with Gathering staff and leaders, and network you with leaders from across the ELCA. To help you get there, the NE MN Synod is offering 15, $200 scholarships for Adult Leaders who will be participating in the Synod Journey AND attend the Onsite Extravaganza. Apply by September 30. You will be notified by October 5 so you can register for the Extravaganza by the Early Bird deadline.
More information on the Synod Journey:
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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! |
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November 19-20 or 20-21, 2021*
Grades 6-9
This high energy event includes large group assemblies with a speaker, smaller group learning, hotel life, worship and more! The Middle School Gathering will focus on the Lord's Prayer this year and explore how prayer connects us to God and each other. After a year of disconnection, we will be reminded that God is always with us, always listening to us, always loving us, always understanding us, always forgiving us…even when we might not feel like God is.
Registration opens October 1*. Registration worksheets and forms are now available at www.nemnsynod.org/MSG.
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*A Note on COVID-19
We continue to monitor COVID-19 and its potential impact on the Middle School Gathering. While we are hopeful to gather in-person, we are also mindful of what it means to gather with a large group from a wide geographic area at this time, especially for those who are not yet eligible to be vaccinated.
The LYO Planning Team will meet the end of September to discuss the feasibility of holding an in-person Middle School Gathering and alternatives if we are not able to do so, and update you before registration opens on October 1. As you continue to promote this event, please be sure to read the additional note on COVID-19 at www.nemnsynod.org.MSG and watch this page for further updates.
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Youth Ministry Network Meetings |
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All adults who work with youth are invited and encouraged to attend youth workers network meetings! Network meetings are typically informal gatherings for mutual support, networking, learning and resourcing for ministry. Expect laughter, inspiration, new ideas and holy conversation. We are better when we do ministry together!
First Thursdays,, 10:30am - Noon: Growing Young Book Study
Beginning October 7, On Zoom.
Free, but must register to receive the link.
Second Thursdays, 10am: Duluth Area Network Meeting
September 9: Jay Cooke State Park
Meet behind the River Inn Shelter, at picnic tables by the river (head towards the Swinging Bridge, don't cross it but turn right and go down the path to find the group.) Contact Deb Westerberg for more information.
Third Thursdays, 10:30am: Online Network Meeting
Fourth Thursdays, 10:00am: Brainerd Area Network Meeting
(Northern Caribou, next to Grizzly's)
on youth ministry networks in our synod!
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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.
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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.
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Catherine Anderson | Coordinator of Youth Ministry | NE MN Synod, ELCA Catherine.Anderson@nemnsynod.org | 218-724-4424 |
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