How would you define, or better yet how do you define to young people or peers what it means to be an Episcopalian? It can often be difficult because we can at times seem very different from one another. Here is a video that does a pretty good job of giving some definition of what it means to be an Episconinja!
Tuesday, October 20, 2009
Tuesday, September 29, 2009
At the Core
“Helping Youth Encounter God & Connect with the Gospel”
On four separate occasions, in the month of October, youth from across the diocese will gather for discussion, prayer, service to others and personal development. All of these gathers have at their core the mission stated above. At times many people may wonder how youth ministry differs from many of the various activities that we see our young people participating in. Parents may even wonder why it is important to encourage their children to participate in youth ministry, especially when they are already involved in sports, theatre, music, education, scouting and even service programs. Often these are the very activities that we see taking place in parish and diocesan youth ministry programs. So what is the difference?
Youth ministry is different than all of these programs, because it has at its core a distinct mission: to help youth encounter God and connect with the Gospel of Christ. Thus youth ministry is shaped by an understanding of God and how God is known and experienced by young people. Young people know and experience God in three primary ways: through relationships, through “mountaintop experiences” and through moments of presence.
The activities we see happening in our youth programs are facilitating r
elationship building, encouraging participation in retreats, camps, missions and pilgrimages, and helping our young people to know God in moments of beauty and quiet. These programs may look like fun and games but the fact of the matter is they are helping our young people develop lifelong connection to God, the Gospel and our church.
Let us continue in together to encourage youth, parents and other adults to be active participants in ministry to, with and for youth. You can find more information on the updated youth page on diopa.org, which now includes online registration.
Youth ministry is more than just another activity and it is never too late to get involved!
On four separate occasions, in the month of October, youth from across the diocese will gather for discussion, prayer, service to others and personal development. All of these gathers have at their core the mission stated above. At times many people may wonder how youth ministry differs from many of the various activities that we see our young people participating in. Parents may even wonder why it is important to encourage their children to participate in youth ministry, especially when they are already involved in sports, theatre, music, education, scouting and even service programs. Often these are the very activities that we see taking place in parish and diocesan youth ministry programs. So what is the difference?
Youth ministry is different than all of these programs, because it has at its core a distinct mission: to help youth encounter God and connect with the Gospel of Christ. Thus youth ministry is shaped by an understanding of God and how God is known and experienced by young people. Young people know and experience God in three primary ways: through relationships, through “mountaintop experiences” and through moments of presence.
The activities we see happening in our youth programs are facilitating r
elationship building, encouraging participation in retreats, camps, missions and pilgrimages, and helping our young people to know God in moments of beauty and quiet. These programs may look like fun and games but the fact of the matter is they are helping our young people develop lifelong connection to God, the Gospel and our church.Let us continue in together to encourage youth, parents and other adults to be active participants in ministry to, with and for youth. You can find more information on the updated youth page on diopa.org, which now includes online registration.
Youth ministry is more than just another activity and it is never too late to get involved!
Friday, September 18, 2009
Helping Youth Experience God and Connect with the Gospel
The Youth Ministry Office is here to serve you! Whether you are a veteran in Youth Ministry, just getting started, a parent or a youth looking to get more involved, there is something for everyone. The mission for Youth Ministry in the Diocese of Pennsylvania is simply to “Help Youth Experience God and Connect with the Gospel.” This mission guides the programming throughout our many events and activities, and is the basis for our involvement with the broader Episcopal Church, through provincial events and programs held by the international church. It is the firm belief that the lives of our youth are transformed through experiencing God and connecting with the message of Love and Hope in the Gospel, which serve as the foundation from which support is offered to adult Youth Ministers and parents within our diocese.
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