Amazing trip to Youth@Synod

Recently arriving back to Massachusetts from 7 days in Grand Rapids, MI I thought I'd post a few thoughts.

The MACUCC took a delegation of 45 youth and adult leaders to the Youth at Synod program as pasrt of the biennial General Synod business meeting. Lots of ohotos and highlights can be found through the website at www.ucc.org

Coordinated by Rev. Kelly Burd, the Interim Minister for Youth & YA Ministries based in Cleveland the event was filled with worship, workshops, music, dancing, singing, resourcing, learning, and service to the wider community, as we all "immersed ourselves".

I am thankful for the National setting running this pilot program, for my conference-level colleagues from across the denomination for participating, for local church pastors and adult leaders being with and sending forth youth to attend.

And, most importantly, I am thankful for the youth - for sharing their gifts and talents, for being open to the experience, for learning about the UCC and living into those beliefs, for being faithful and compassionate, for their optimism and their eyerolling, for their leadership. Thank you one and all!

Blessings, Kris

How to leave a comment

Some housekeeping details -

Once you're on the econnections blog, if you want to post a comment...and we hope that you will so we can have ongoing dialogue around youth ministry...go to the bottom of whichever post you'd like to comment on and click on the "# comment". This will pop up a new screen where you can read comments already posted and add your own. (The # will show how many comments have already been left).

Peace, hope, and joy to you this Advent season!
-Kris

econnections just went out

Good morning -

econnections was distributed via email this morning, so I hope some of you have found your way to our new blog. We look forward to reading your "I believe" statements about youth ministry and to starting new posts and adding info in the days ahead.

Hope lyrics by Jonny Baker and Jon Birch (from the Spirit Draw Near cd)
When the night is at its darkest
Appears the morning star
A promise of the coming dawn
Dreamers of the future
living against the odds
Bring newness to a weary land

Seeds of hope
Seeds of hope
Dare to sow seeds of hope

Peace, Kris

I believe...

I recently came up with some ideas on what "I believe" in relation to Youth & Young Adult Ministry. I would like to extend an invitation to you to add your own statements as well. Let's start a conversation!


I believe…

In the power of Youth and Young Adults to make a difference.

I believe…

In the responsibility of our communities to give them space to find their voices.

I believe…

In the responsibility of those in power to include a wide array of diversity at the table – ages, opinions, beliefs, abilities, and more.

I believe…

In the power of showing by example.

I believe…

That Youth and Young Adults are our present and that the future belongs to all of us.

I believe…

That the church is a multi-generational community and that every age co-hort can learn from and teach to each other.

I believe…
That we need to put as much time and money and energy into these age groups and those who work most closely with them as they deserve. They cannot flourish without resources.

I believe…
That we have an ever-present and ever-loving God in whom all things are possible.

I believe…
That you must pave the way for a foundation before you build the house. In other words…
they will not come until you build it. And if you don’t build it, they might never come.

I believe…
That many of us in ministry – clergy and lay leaders amongst us – had foundational experiences as young people and that we have left these experiences up to others outside our denomination and outside church as a whole to make the space and time for these formative experiences.

I believe…
That we can change the future by concentrating on the present.

I believe…
That we have failed a generation of Youth & Young Adults by not witnessing with them that experiences in the model of Jesus can change their worldviews and their lives.

I believe…
In an age of online communication and virtual reality that people of all ages are craving face to face community and that the church is perfectly situated to be where they turn.

I believe…

That no one thing is the solution.