Friends who became family,
As I wrap up my time at the synod office, I leave you in good hands. Carissa Abraham will be moving into the realm of Children, Youth, and Family and will be your cheerleader in the synod office. I'm focused on ending well and I want you to know that Carissa has my trust and I trust that you will look to her to be about the work of faith formation for those in the first third of life. She will do things differently and that's how things are suppose to be. She's your advocate and I'm hers. Boundaries mean I will always refer you to Carissa as she moves into this role. I'm cheering for her and hope you will roll out the warmest of welcomes to her in this new adventure. You've got this and you are loved.
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Deacon Tammy Jones West
NC Synod, ELCA
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(CLICK PHOTO TO JOIN ZOOM)
Children, Youth & Family Ministry Leader Check-Ins
Wednesday, February 23 @ 3:00p
Join Tammy and Carissa in February to check-in & hear updates from one another!
Wednesday, March 23 @ 3:00p
Join Carissa in March to check-in and discuss what is needed for ministry now.
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(CLICK PHOTO TO REGISTER)
2021-22 NC Synod Virtual Confirmation Series
Sunday, February 20
4:00 - 5:15 pm EST
Sunday, March 20
Church Seasons with the Rev. Will Rose
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(CLICK PHOTO TO REGISTER)
The Extravaganza (aka 'The E!') is the ELCA Youth Ministry Network’s annual
ministry conference for adults who work with children, youth and family ministry.
Register by January 30 for the 2022 E! taking place onsite & online on February 11-14.
Click here for current status of Minneapolis COVID-19 requirements; updated 1/20/22.
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(CLICK PHOTO FOR EVENT PAGE)
ELCA Youth Gathering: What's New?
Registration is paused due to the latest COVID-19 surge and recent changes in Gathering leadership. The leadership team is currently evaluating and discerning the most faithful next steps for the 2022 Gathering, MYLE and the tAble. Stay tuned for updates.
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(CLICK PHOTO FOR EVENT PAGE)
2022 LYO Assembly Update
This month the LYO Board made the difficult decision to cancel the annual LYO Assembly. As a result, the 2022Tell It! Contest has been canceled, as well.
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SOME ADDITIONAL CONTEXT
This LYO Board began meeting in July 2021 before any COVID-19 variants came on the scene. At that time, it seemed as though we had gotten past the worst of the pandemic and may actually have a chance to gather in-person for the kind of LYO experience we have all come to know and love. Looking back, we definitely let our guards down and got our hopes up! After the delta variant came and went in the Fall, it seemed as though we would still be able to gather for a “normal” LYO event—with COVID-19 safety protocols in place, of course. However, the current rise of the omicron variant this Winter has disrupted those plans in the eleventh hour. While we had every hope and intention of holding an event of some kind this year, we trust that we have been and continue to guided by the Spirit in our decision-making process.
My hope is that, as we all process and share this news with leadership teams and youth groups, we would hold each other and this board in our hearts and prayers. This board has been discussing potential alternative plans all along the way and deliberated for about 7 hours over this final decision alone. It’s been a long road full of hard, holy conversations – which I’m sure you’re familiar with as leaders, yourselves. You all are in my prayers as you continue to face uncertainty and make risk assessments for the umpteenth time with your event planning.
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LYO RESOURCES COMING SOON
Take heart, though! This board doesn’t want to leave you empty-handed! This Spring, we’ll be sharing the resources that we’ve already developed for LYO along with some new ideas for you to use with your youth groups. Stay tuned for details and updates to the LYO Assembly page.
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In addition, we’d like to gift you with a senior blessing and blessing stones to use to send off your seniors like we usually do at LYO. The senior blessing was one of the most special parts of LYO to this board, so they wanted to encourage those celebrations to still happen in some way, if possible. Please complete this survey to request a senior blessing and blessing stones for your Class of 2022 graduates.
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I am so grateful for you and welcome you to email me (Carissa) with any questions or to be in conversation around this decision as it's helpful for your context. May you continue to be blessed with an abundance of patience, grace and wisdom in your ministries!
Grace and peace,
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Carissa Abraham
NC Synod, ELCA
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(CLICK PHOTO FOR WEBSITE)
HealingWorks Counseling PLLC
After serving in congregations for 14 years, Co-Founder Alex English knows well the great joys and deep sorrows that can accompany religious vocation. With his recent departure from professional ministry in NC, Alex would like to offer his services to the church in a new way and will offer a discount for services to pastors, youth workers or other ministry staff who are considering therapy. Email Alex for details.
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How do you share the deep mysteries of Lent, Easter, and Resurrection with children?
Parents, guardians, teachers, and ministers will find dozens of fun and easy practices for celebrating the Easter season with our kids. The practices and seasonal prayers are grouped into chapters titled Ash Wednesday, Symbols, Lenten Prayers, Lenten Refraining, Lenten Acts of Service, Holy Week, Easter Vigil and Easter Day, and the Season of Resurrection. Smith also offers theological notes guiding parents on addressing the violence of the crucifixion & the meaning of Jesus’ death.
(CLICK PHOTO TO ORDER)
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CURATED RESOURCES FOR LENT
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ELCA Faith Formation
Visit ministrylinks.online where they "offer curated Christian faith formation resources, so you don't have to scour the internet yourself."
(CLICK PHOTO FOR WEBSITE)
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(CLICK PHOTO FOR NEWSLETTER)
Take a breath; now let's plan for Lent
Find a curated list of Lent resources in this Christian Formation & Discipleship Newsletter
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February 2022
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February 1 = YAGM Application Deadline
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February 2 = YDS Event: Connecting & Integrating Children’s & Youth Ministry Across the Church, 12-1:30p
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February 11-14 = Extravaganza 2022: Online or Onsite in Minneapolis, MN
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February 20 = Synod Confirmation 4:00-5:30p (4 of 5)
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February 23 = CYF Ministry Leader Check-In 3:00-4:00p
March 2022
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March 20 = Synod Confirmation 4:00-5:30p (5 of 5)
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March 23 = CYF Ministry Leader Check-In 3:00-4:00p
June 2022
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June 2-4 = NC Synod Gathering at Lenoir-Rhyne University in Hickory
July 2022
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July 21-24 = MYLE and tAble in Minneapolis, MN
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July 24-28 = ELCA Youth Gathering in Minneapolis, MN
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