RESET Retreat at Cross Roads.
Happy New Year!
Diocesan Youth Ministers meeting and Leadership cohort meeting notes:
November meeting - We thank St John’s in Ramsey for the hospitality – what a beautiful new building they have! Thanks Megan for hosting. Our work included sharing good practice; discussing thoughts around Confirmation, and future planning of events. We are exploring the idea of regional events that will be available to those who may not have a critical mass to launch a Mission Trip – or similar event. Several good ideas are already forthcoming including the possibility of a KICK _OFF for Confirmation classes retreat in the fall at Crossroads. To bond, share ideas and events, and plan together. In early spring we will be working on a Diocesan calendar for the fall and spring of 2019. If you have ideas of “OPEN” events – or are willing to collaborate to offer some, please let us know.
Our December 21 youth and children’s educators meeting was held at Grace Church Rutherford. Thanks to Donna Caputo for arranging hospitality. We shared our Advent and Christmas activities with youth and took a look ahead at what is coming next year. Here’s a quick digest of the great youth events and happenings that are going on and contacts if you are interested in getting these ideas going where you are:
Santa’s Breakfast – St Luke’s Montclair – Contact Kathy De Walt
Special Needs Youth Monthly Meeting – St Luke’s Montclair – Contact -Kathy De Walt
International Dinner – Celebrating Black History– Grace, Rutherford - Contact -Donna Caputo
Hiking group – St Michaels’ Wayne – Contact Michael Boudoin
NightWatch at St. John the Divine - Calvary , Summit – Contact – Nate Huddleston
Spanish Mission Pilgrimage – June 21-29 – Christ Church Short Hills, Contact – Chris Whitaker.
Mission Trip to Houston – Calvary, Summit and St Paul’s, Chatham – contact Nate Huddleston
PLEASE let us know at the Diocese if you have activities that are open to everyone or ideas to share – this will really help churches who don’t have many youth to get connected.
Confirmation Retreats – planning is well underway and registration is now LIVE. Please note you need to register and pay the nominal charge of $30 online (scholarship available if needed – please contact sclarke@dioceseofnewark.org). Participants need to bring the SIGNED receipt email to the event.
The planning group have changed the format this year (as an experiment) to a one-day event held on Saturday February 24, March 3, and March 24, 9:00 am – 5:30pm, at a variety of locations. Confirmation groups are able to choose which is best for them – although they will be capped at 60 at each venue.
Crossroads RESET meeting and retreat: December 1 - 3
Seven of us took advantage of the warmth of the fire at Crossroads, to share thoughts and ideas with other youth leaders from The Diocese of Newark, and the New Jersey Synod of the Lutheran church. On Saturday, Myra Gaynes took us through a really helpful workshop, exploring how we can RESET our youth experiences and offerings. It was four hours of really good, thoughtful work and we ended with a plan that should give us a lot to chew on for the next few months.
THIS WEEKEND - January 5-6 – YOUNG ADULT RETREAT at Crossroads Retreat Center – contact www.crossroadsretreat.com for details.
YOUth at Convention(s):
This year we will have a large Youth emphasis at Convention. We have ten youth delegates representing the ten districts across the Diocese. They have full voting rights and voice. These same delegates will be seated for the Special Election Convention of our New Bishop on May 19, 2018.
YOUTH MINISTERS VOTECH at CONVENTION SATURDAY January 27 at the HILTON PARSIPPANY.
We are offering a Youth workshop for youth leaders – YOU – at the convention. This will be on Saturday morning, facilitated by Chris Whitaker and will include opportunities to hear the Bishop’s address and Lunch. A nominal cost of $25 will be to cover costs. PLEASE COME TO THIS IF YOU CAN – show support for the youth and signal our commitment to youth in the coming year.
SAVE the DATES
“HAPPENING” in collaboration with The Diocese of New Jersey – Murray Grove Retreat Center - April 27-28, 2018 – PLEASE let me know if you or any of your group would like to go. Students must be High School age.
In the early part of next year, we will be calling for YOUTH (high school) to attend the GENERAL CONVENTION in Austin, Texas – the dates we will be there are JULY 4 through JULY 14th. There will be opportunities to visit the convention hearings, meet with our elected deputation and also mingle with the youth from the Diocese of New Jersey. I am looking for adult chaperones to accompany the group. Please let me know if you are interested in going.
Our NEXT meeting is – Thursday January 18, at 6:45pm at St Alban’s, Oakland.
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