Dear Friends,
Yesterday was “World Teacher Day” and I paused to give thanks for each of you, and how you invest your lives in teaching faith to youth and adults. As you walk with youth and families, bringing hope to dry and weary bones…may you remember that YOU are deeply rooted in a boundless God beyond measure. And be reassured that YOU are…
Created by an ever-present, loving God,
Deeply rooted in Christ Jesus,
Equipped to be resilient amidst change,
Grounded in community,
Nourished by the living God,
Free to struggle, grow and expand,
Compelled to reach out in response,
Renewed in hope each day.
Amen!
Together in Christ,
Catherine Anderson
Coordinator of Youth Ministry
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We Provide FREE Resources -
You Lead the Event!
The LYO Board will be providing free resources to equip adult leaders to put on your own Middle School Gathering this fall!
Start planning now how you might use these resources that will help your young people dig into the Apostle's Creed. Resources will include:
- Games and Activities to build relationships
- Video of Keynote Speaker Joe Davis
- Faith Talks by LYO Board Members
- 7 Learning Clusters (20-30 minute workshops with activities and discussion questions to learn more about the Apostle's Creed)
- Family Time Discussion Guide
- Personal Time with God Guide
- Closing Worship
Make it an event and order shirts for your group by October 15!
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Resources will be posted November 1, 2020.
More information at:
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Synod Journey Curriculum
Session One: "I AM" and Session Two: "Created by an Every-Present, Loving God" are now available! You are invited to use this curriculum with all ages, from middle school youth to adults. You can use the curriculum in it entirety, or select helpful sections. Make it your own, and deeply root your congregation in a boundless God beyond measure as you explore who we are and whose we are as we face seasons of change!
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Monthly Gatherings for Faith Formation Leaders
Thursday, October 22, 10:30am - Noon
Sunday, October 25, 7:00-8:30pm
Monthly gatherings are a time for adult leaders (volunteers, youth directors, pastors) to ground themselves in scripture and community. You don't need to be using the Synod Journey curriculum in your congregation to participate. Come, fill your cup, deepen your roots and be encouraged by your boundless God.
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Camp SJ
Next summer if it is safe to gather we will hold "Camp SJ" for youth currently in grades 8-12 and their adult leaders. This will be a 3-day experience filled with worship, relationship building, leadership development, Bible study, games and more! For those who wish to stay for the full week, each camp will offer program options to stay for an additional fee. There will be 2 steps to register for Camp SJ:
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Group Intent Registration will take place November 1-20. The non-refundable deposit* will hold spots for the estimated number of youth and adults you indicate in the registration. You are not obligated to fill all spots indicated. Group Registration information will be posted October 1.
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Individual Participant Registration will take place beginning February 1, 2021. At this time you will pay a $50-non-refundable deposit per participant (including adult leaders).
(*Deposits will be returned if we should cancel due to COVID-19.)
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Native American Sunday:
October 11, 2020
A pre-recorded worship service will be available, along with a bulletin, audio files, and video clips of the welcome, the sermon, and a message from Bishop-elect Amy Odgren detailing the Synod's relationship to Together Here Ministries, and more! Use for worship…and during confirmation, youth group or other gatherings with young people!
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Next Faithful Move for Church Leaders:
Tools for Talking about Race and Culture in the Church
This 8-week cohort based program provides resources to approach interculturality and anti-racism with a developmental framework. Participants will receive intercultural development tools and resources, as well as being connected to a community of practice to unpack difficult questions such as:
- How do we move from shame and guilt to effective allyship?
- How do we get out of our heads and into our bodies in our anti-racism work?
The course meets every Monday (Oct 12-Nov 30) from 6:30pm-8:30pm.
Cost: $268 ($250+$18 admin fee with 20% going to Rescue, Release Restore, an empowerment camp for youth of color). For those truly unable to pay, please email us and we will work something out on a case by case basis.
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Next Faithful Move Youth Worship/Confirmation
WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 7, 7 PM – 8 PM
You and your young people are invited to participate in a special event that is part of the Anti-Racism Summit sponsored by the Eastern North Dakota Endowment Fund and Northwestern Minnesota’s Commission on Racial Equity and Justice. This event would be a great event to use as your Confirmation class or Youth Group on October 7th. It is free for all congregations; it will be premiered on both Synod’s Facebook pages at 7:00 using Vimeo.
Music will be led by Tyra Dennis, the leader of the House Band at the 2018 ELCA Youth Gathering in Houston. Poet Joe Davis and Hip-Hop Worship Leader David Scherer (AGAPE*) will lead us in a powerful night of music, poetry, and storytelling that will explore issues of race and faith. How do we live together in God's beloved community? This is something that Joe and Dave model with their ministry. Come ready to be inspired to worship God and to dismantle racism in Jesus' name.
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Featured Mental Health Resources this Week:
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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 meet every Thursday, 10:30am-11:30am on Zoom.
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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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