To the Messiah's Youth Community,
As I wrote to you all some time ago: The old liturgical calendar is rolling to an end. Each year, as we get closer to Advent, I’m reminded that I have another chance to get it right, to prepare my heart for Jesus' birthday and to better integrate my faith, my work and my family. For Thanksgiving, Advent, Christmas and even the New Year celebration are times when we have clear permission to be with our kids, our extended and our church families.
At Messiah we want our ministries to children and youth to support families and the parental role of nurturing Messiah’s kids in the Christian faith. As we move into the holy-holiday season we want to be sensitive and supportive of our families' need for time together, all the while providing ministry that prepares our children for Christmas. As you’ll see in the calendar there are some old standards and a few new events:
For all ages: The Hanging of the Greens and Salad and Dessert Potluck on Dec. 23rd. Youth and adults can beautify the church for Christmastide with a Children’s Activity in the Undercroft for the little ones. Older kids (grades 3-5) will also rehearse for the Interactive Nativity Pageant. And don’t forget the Family Christmas Eve Service with Interactive Nativity for children of all ages, 4:00 p.m. on Christmas Eve.
For Youth: Our annual Christmas-Adventure Party: Dec. 7th, our Youthnite Christmas Service Project (Cards & Cookies for Messiah Shut-ins: Dec. 5th &12th), and our annual Advent Play on Dec. 9th. We’ll also add one new opportunity, by serving at the Annual Christmas Party for the families served by Episcopal Community Services, Saturday, December 15, 2007 St. Mark's Episcopal Cathedral.
Dave
Tuesday, November 27, 2007
Thursday, November 8, 2007
Wednesday Night UPDATE
Hey Youths!
Everyone remembers this month's topic, riiiiiiiiight? SPIRITUAL GIFTS! As we've done these past couple of Wednesday nights, we must remember to take time and look at what spiritual gifts we have and how we can use them to honor God. We also have to remember that each of us have gifts that are vital to the church, we are all an important part of the body of Christ! We looked this week about where in the Bible it talks about this, so let's all remember to live out I Corinthians 12:
There are different kinds of gifts, but the same Spirit. There are different kinds of service, but the same Lord. There are different kinds of working, but the same God works all of them in all men.
Now to each one the manifestation of the Spirit is given for the common good. To one there is given through the Spirit the message of wisdom, to another the message of knowledge by means of the same Spirit, to another faith by the same Spirit, to another gifts of healing by that one Spirit, to another miraculous powers, to another prophecy, to another distinguishing between spirits, to another speaking in different kinds of tongues, and to still another the interpretation of tongues. All these are the work of one and the same Spirit, and he gives them to each one, just as he determines
The body is a unit, though it is made up of many parts; and though all its parts are many, they form one body. So it is with Christ. For we were all baptized by one Spirit into one body—whether Jews or Greeks, slave or free—and we were all given the one Spirit to drink
Now the body is not made up of one part but of many. If the foot should say, "Because I am not a hand, I do not belong to the body," it would not for that reason cease to be part of the body. And if the ear should say, "Because I am not an eye, I do not belong to the body," it would not for that reason cease to be part of the body. If the whole body were an eye, where would the sense of hearing be? If the whole body were an ear, where would the sense of smell be? But in fact God has arranged the parts in the body, every one of them, just as he wanted them to be. If they were all one part, where would the body be? As it is, there are many parts, but one body.
The eye cannot say to the hand, "I don't need you!" And the head cannot say to the feet, "I don't need you!" On the contrary, those parts of the body that seem to be weaker are indispensable, and the parts that we think are less honorable we treat with special honor. And the parts that are unpresentable are treated with special modesty, while our presentable parts need no special treatment. But God has combined the members of the body and has given greater honor to the parts that lacked it, so that there should be no division in the body, but that its parts should have equal concern for each other. If one part suffers, every part suffers with it; if one part is honored, every part rejoices with it.
- I Corinthians 12:4-26
Everyone remembers this month's topic, riiiiiiiiight? SPIRITUAL GIFTS! As we've done these past couple of Wednesday nights, we must remember to take time and look at what spiritual gifts we have and how we can use them to honor God. We also have to remember that each of us have gifts that are vital to the church, we are all an important part of the body of Christ! We looked this week about where in the Bible it talks about this, so let's all remember to live out I Corinthians 12:
There are different kinds of gifts, but the same Spirit. There are different kinds of service, but the same Lord. There are different kinds of working, but the same God works all of them in all men.
Now to each one the manifestation of the Spirit is given for the common good. To one there is given through the Spirit the message of wisdom, to another the message of knowledge by means of the same Spirit, to another faith by the same Spirit, to another gifts of healing by that one Spirit, to another miraculous powers, to another prophecy, to another distinguishing between spirits, to another speaking in different kinds of tongues, and to still another the interpretation of tongues. All these are the work of one and the same Spirit, and he gives them to each one, just as he determines
The body is a unit, though it is made up of many parts; and though all its parts are many, they form one body. So it is with Christ. For we were all baptized by one Spirit into one body—whether Jews or Greeks, slave or free—and we were all given the one Spirit to drink
Now the body is not made up of one part but of many. If the foot should say, "Because I am not a hand, I do not belong to the body," it would not for that reason cease to be part of the body. And if the ear should say, "Because I am not an eye, I do not belong to the body," it would not for that reason cease to be part of the body. If the whole body were an eye, where would the sense of hearing be? If the whole body were an ear, where would the sense of smell be? But in fact God has arranged the parts in the body, every one of them, just as he wanted them to be. If they were all one part, where would the body be? As it is, there are many parts, but one body.
The eye cannot say to the hand, "I don't need you!" And the head cannot say to the feet, "I don't need you!" On the contrary, those parts of the body that seem to be weaker are indispensable, and the parts that we think are less honorable we treat with special honor. And the parts that are unpresentable are treated with special modesty, while our presentable parts need no special treatment. But God has combined the members of the body and has given greater honor to the parts that lacked it, so that there should be no division in the body, but that its parts should have equal concern for each other. If one part suffers, every part suffers with it; if one part is honored, every part rejoices with it.
- I Corinthians 12:4-26
Friday, November 2, 2007
November Youth Update
Dear Messiah's Youth Community (Students, Parents and Leaders),
Before I offer a few thoughts, a quick note to let you know there is still room for those who want to stay and play Romans & Christians after the All Saint's Fest. Please reply to this e-mail (or post a comment) to let me know your interest, and fill out a form and pay $10 on Saturday. Now to those thoughts:
As you are no doubt aware I am in the midst of my diaconal work, which, if all goes as planned, will lead to my ordination to the priesthood on December 20. My work as a Deacon is to represent the work of Episcopal Community Services to the youth ministries of the Region 7 Episcopal Churches. What that means is that I attend Diocesan and Regional events (Clergy Conference, the MDG Summit, Region meetings, Diocesan Convention and St. Paul Teens Encounter Christ) and that I visit youth groups and Sunday School classes. In part I am also creating a network for youth ministries that, I trust, bears fruit beyond December.
To that end I am working toward a multi-purpose event, hosted by Messiah, that pulls all the above together. We will host an U2charist here on Nov. 30. According to Episcopalians for Global Reconciliation: “A U2charist is an Episcopal Eucharist service that features the music of the rock band U2 and a message about God's call to eradicate global poverty. The U2charist is a great opportunity to reach out to the people in your congregation and larger community, especially young people. The music and message of the U2Charist is about global reconciliation, biblical justice for the poor and oppressed, and the importance of caring for your neighbor.”
Youth from other Episcopal Churches will be invited, with the admission price of a winter hat or mittens for the children served by Episcopal Community Services. An offering will also be taken for our Haiti Partnership. The event is not just for youth; the whole community is invited!
Dave
Be sure to check our calendar for the latest upcoming events.
Before I offer a few thoughts, a quick note to let you know there is still room for those who want to stay and play Romans & Christians after the All Saint's Fest. Please reply to this e-mail (or post a comment) to let me know your interest, and fill out a form and pay $10 on Saturday. Now to those thoughts:
As you are no doubt aware I am in the midst of my diaconal work, which, if all goes as planned, will lead to my ordination to the priesthood on December 20. My work as a Deacon is to represent the work of Episcopal Community Services to the youth ministries of the Region 7 Episcopal Churches. What that means is that I attend Diocesan and Regional events (Clergy Conference, the MDG Summit, Region meetings, Diocesan Convention and St. Paul Teens Encounter Christ) and that I visit youth groups and Sunday School classes. In part I am also creating a network for youth ministries that, I trust, bears fruit beyond December.
To that end I am working toward a multi-purpose event, hosted by Messiah, that pulls all the above together. We will host an U2charist here on Nov. 30. According to Episcopalians for Global Reconciliation: “A U2charist is an Episcopal Eucharist service that features the music of the rock band U2 and a message about God's call to eradicate global poverty. The U2charist is a great opportunity to reach out to the people in your congregation and larger community, especially young people. The music and message of the U2Charist is about global reconciliation, biblical justice for the poor and oppressed, and the importance of caring for your neighbor.”
Youth from other Episcopal Churches will be invited, with the admission price of a winter hat or mittens for the children served by Episcopal Community Services. An offering will also be taken for our Haiti Partnership. The event is not just for youth; the whole community is invited!
Dave
Be sure to check our calendar for the latest upcoming events.
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