Tuesday, February 19, 2013

2013 Spring IL/WI District Youth Retreat – The Book of Face; the Newest Testament

When:  April 19-21, 2013

Who: Everyone currently in 9th through 12th grades during the 2011-2012 school year. Friends and advisors are welcome.

Where: Rockford Church of the Brethren

Sessions: What does it mean to be a Christian youth in a social media world? What does the Bible say about how we communicate with each other?

Service Project:
The service project will include the opportunity to do some painting.

Cost:
$40 for youth – no charge for advisors. Make checks payable to “Illinois/Wisconsin District Youth”

What to Bring:
Bible, Games, Sleeping Bag, Snacks to share, Towel, and Work clothes.
 

Registration Deadline: April 5th, 2013 {Click for Registration Form )

Monday, February 18, 2013

2014 National Youth Conference Theme

Breaking news from the National Youth Cabinet! The theme for National Youth Conference 2014 is “Called by Christ, blessed for the journey together,” based on Ephesians 4:1-6.

2013 Annual Conference Senior High Activities

Saturday, June 29—9:00 to 10:15 PM
Get ready to greet old friends and meet some new peeps! Bring your energy to play some four-square, make friendship bracelets, and participate in other, fun, get-to-know-you activities.

Sunday, June 30—11:00 AM to 5:00 PM
What a day! After worship it starts with bowling at Strike City Bowling followed by our group having a guided tour of the NFL Panthers Stadium! This facility seats over 73 thousand people and is an open-air, natural grass stadium.

Sunday, June 30—7:00 to 10:00 PM
For Sunday evening we'll groove at our own, private Mutual Kumquat concert! This talented band is made up of musicians that sing about peace, justice, and...squash!

Monday, July 1—8:30 AM to 4:45 PM
Following a time of devotions and games we'll hear from David Radcliff of New Community Project who will challenge us about our actions and the world around us. He will accompany us on our trip to the Trout Unlimited service project where we'll help with river clean up. WEAR OLD CLOTHES! We'll also hear from local officials on how they maintain the river, what laws there are for littering, and how they deal with companies dumping illegal waste. We'll grab a bag lunch then spend the afternoon at the nearby aquatic center for some swimming and water sports. Bring a one-piece/modest bathing suit!

Monday, July 1—9:00 to 10:15 PM
Do you like to travel, meet and help new people, and serve God at the same time? After worship we'll have a fun, interactive time learning about Brethren Volunteer Service and Workcamps from Emily Tyler.

Tuesday, July 2—8:30 AM to 4:45 PM
Hang out, get focused with devotions, play some games, then head to the NASCAR Hall of Fame for a tour and lunch. Lots to do there: race simulators to give you a race day experience (minus the danger!), iconic classic cars, a real-life pit crew challenge, and more. In the afternoon we'll from Brethren Colleges and Brethren Benefit Trust.

Tuesday, July 2—9:00 to 10:15 PM
And later after worship we'll kick back and sing with Virginia and David Meadows, music leaders from the 2010 National Youth Conference!


Registration Information:
  • All children participating in age-group activities must also be registered for Annual Conference.
  • A Medical/Permission form must be filled out for each child participating in age-group activities.
  • Register for Annual Conference and age-group activities at www.brethren.org/ac.
Registration Fees:
  • Advance Registration
    • All days activities — $85.00
    • Sunday only — $45.00
    • Monday only — $25.00
    • Tuesday only — $40.00
  • Onsite Registration
    • All days activities — $100.00
    • Daily fees increase — $10.00/day.

2013 Annual Conference Junior High Activities

Saturday, June 29—9:00 to 10:15 PM
  • Connect with old friends!Meet up with friends from around the country from past conferences.
  • Make new friends!Find out who's new and make a new friend!
  • Converse—"Move in Our Midst"Discuss the conference theme and go over plans of all the fun stuff we'll do this week.
  • Group games!Get your game on!
Sunday, June 30—11:00 AM to 5:00 PM
  • Carolina Panther's Stadium!
    We'll have a backstage pass to tour the stadium and check out the field of this NFL team.
  • Bowling at Strike City Lanes!
    We'll have lunch and bowl at this local spot. Show off your skills on the lanes!
Sunday, June 30—7:00 to 10:00 PM
  • Mutual Kumquat Concert!
    Join with the senior highs to hear one of Brethren youth's favorite bands in concert just for us. They mix a strong, positive message of love, peace, and social justice with an eclectic sound influenced by soul, pop, bluegrass, and world music. We're sure Christ will be present—even singing and dancing in our midst!
Monday, July 1—8:30 AM to 4:45 PM
  • New Community Project!We meet with David Radcliff to find out about how to incorporate sustainability in our lives, as well as service to creation and to others.
  • Service Project!We'll go down by the riverside in Charlotte to help with river clean up and meet with officials from the Rocky River chapter of Trout Unlimited. We'll learn about how pollution is having an impact on local watersheds. Their group is working all over the US to help conserve, protect, and restore North America's coldwater fisheries.
  • Swim!After all our hard work we'll cool down in a local pool. Bring your swimsuit!
Monday, July 1—9:00 to 10:15 PM
  • Service Information!In the evening we'll hear all about Brethren Volunteer Service, Brethren Disaster Ministries, and Church of the Brethren Workcamps. Emily Tyler will help us explore what it means to live a life of service and what our denomination offers.
Tuesday, July 2—8:30 AM to 4:45 PM
  • NASCAR!
    Charlotte is the home to the NASCAR Hall of Fame (which is right across the street from the convention center!)  We'll have an opportunity to do fun activities like drive in a racing simulator, do a pit crew challenge, video games, call a race, and lots more!
  • Converse—COBCOA!
    Hear from the Church of the Brethren colleges as they do a fun, interactive presentation with lots of good stuff.
  • Money!
    The Brethren Benefit Trust will talk to us about how we can spend, give, and save our money in a faithful way.
Tuesday, July 2—9:00 to 10:15 PM
  • Music!
    In the evening we'll have music by Virginia and David Meadows, who led music at the National Youth Conference in 2010! We'll wrap up the week with closing reflections about how God has moved with us and what that means as we move forward into our summer.

Registration Information:
  • All children participating in age-group activities must also be registered for Annual Conference.
  • A Medical/Permission form must be filled out for each child participating in age-group activities.
  • Register for Annual Conference and age-group activities at www.brethren.org/ac.
Registration Fees:
  • Advance Registration
    • All days activities — $85.00
    • Sunday only — $45.00
    • Monday only — $25.00
    • Tuesday only — $40.00
  • Onsite Registration
    • All days activities — $100.00
    • Daily fees increase — $10.00/day.

2013 Annual Conference Young Adult Activities

Saturday, June 29—9:00 PM
An evening with Mark Yaconelli! Join with other young adults to have a conversation with Mark before we hear him on Sunday. Bring your questions!

Sunday, June 30—10:00 PM
Game night! The Living Faith Church of the Brethren will be hosting us and bringing along some of their favorite games. Feel free to bring your own, as well. Dutch Blitz anyone?

Monday Morning, July 1—7:30 AM
Breakfast at Amelie's French Bakery Petite (buy your own). Amelie's was recommended to me several times as a must visit in Charlotte. We'll meet there for breakfast or coffee to get ready for the rest of the day. Bonus: Check out the cool video, recipes, and social media information on their website! www.ameliesfrenchbakery.com

Monday Morning, July 1—10:30 AM to 12:00 Noon
Service Project at the Charlotte Rescue Mission.

Monday Evening, July 1—10:00 PM
An evening with On Earth Peace. Join us for an opportunity to pray for peace in our world, community, and homes. We'll explore scripture and learn something about engaging in the work of peace-building as we worship together.

Tuesday Morning, July 2—10:30 AM to 12:00 Noon
Service Project at the Charlotte Rescue Mission.

Tuesday Evening, July 2—9:30 PM
Fellowship and walk to Yoforia to enjoy their premium frozen yogurt with your choice of toppings (buy your own). You'll never know its not ice cream! We'll debrief Conference together during this time.

All events are free, unless otherwise noted.

Applications invited for seed grants for ecumenical young adult projects

The New Fire Task Force, in partnership with the Ecumenical Young Adult Ministries Team (EYAMT),invites and encourages young adults to apply for seed grants in the amount of up to $500 to support local ecumenical young adult-initiated projects.

The New Fire Network is a network of young adult Christians who are connecting and organizing young adult ecumenical leadership to re-invigorate and re-envision cooperative Christian community.

Through the Seed Grant Program, New Fire seeks to support ecumenical projects that connect young adult people to an experience of Christian unity in a concrete and meaningful way.

The New Fire Grant Program aims to break down divisions among those aged 18-35 years; renew the relationship between the church and young adults; and equip young adults to be agents of love, justice, and peace.

The Grant Program also intends to facilitate capacity-building opportunities for young adults in order to expand their knowledge and skills so that they can better serve the churches and the ecumenical movement. New Fire will give priority to projects that incorporate local, national, and regional cooperation and networking between young adults in the ecumenical movement in order to build community and solidarity.

Interested applicants can find a link to the application here, or should email newfireyoungadults@gmail.com for a copy of the application.

Applications are due no later than February 28, 2013, and can be submitted to the New Fire Task Force at newfireyoungadults@gmail.com .

Awards decisions will be announced by March 31, 2013. The coordinators of projects that are awarded a seed grant will be required to sign a covenant agreement, complete their proposed project and submit a written report to New Fire no later than June 30, 2013 to help with our end of year reporting.

FOR launches Young, Pacifist & Proud

FOR launches Young, Pacifist & ProudThis weekend, February 15 - 18, 2013, thirteen youth from across the nation will bring their vision, enthusiasm, skills, and stories to the first gathering of Young Pacifist and Proud – A Radical Interfaith Revisioning of the World.  Young , Pacifist and Proud (YPP) is a FOR initiative lead by Rabbi Lynn Gottlieb, Shauen Pearce, Aisha Nawab, and Marie Benner-Rhodes that will bring young people together to strengthen nonviolent, multi-faith, multi-cultural, and arts of resistance organizing. Together, the youth and facilitators will learn about the challenges and opportunities occurring in spiritual and faith-based communities working for economic, racial, gender, and environmental justice, and consider how to partner with each other in the creation of a better world.

FOR believes that our strongest resource for resisting and dismantling US militarism, climate change, and other forms of systemic violence is our youth. Our future rests with the creativity, wisdom, and passion of young activist organizers. YPP will provide an opportunity for young people from a wide range of communities to gather in a supportive environment that encourages creative collaboration and honors communal and faith-based resources.

Marie Rhoades, Kay Guyer & Jonathan Ulrich will be representing the Church of the Brethren at this exciting event.

Thursday, February 07, 2013

Youth Peace Travel Team named for 2013.

2013 Youth Peace Travel TeamThe Church of the Brethren’s Youth Peace Travel Team for 2013 has been announced: Jacob Crouse, Heather Gentry, and Amanda McLearn-Montz.

Composed of Ministry Summer Service interns between the ages of 19 and 22, the team is sponsored by the church’s Outdoor Ministries Association, Youth and Young Adult Ministries, Advocacy and Peace Witness Ministry, and On Earth Peace. The group gives peace programs at a variety of camps and conferences over the summer including the Annual Conference of the Church of the Brethren. The first Youth Peace Travel Team was formed in the summer of 1991, and since that year a team has been fielded every summer.

Jacob Crouse, from Warrensburg, Mo., is a member of Warrensburg Church of the Brethren and Missouri and Arkansas District. He is majoring in Music Technology and minoring in Spanish at the University of Central Missouri. “I've had the good fortune of attending many Brethren camps, conferences, and churches,” he writes in a personal bio prepared for the Youth and Young Adult Ministries office. “This summer, I will finally be able to visit some of them again and see new places while meeting many people and sharing with them a message of peace!”

Heather Gentry, from Hinton, Va., is a member of Mount Bethel Church of the Brethren and Shenandoah District and counts Brethren Woods as her “home camp.” She attends Bridgewater (Va.) College where she is studying Family and Consumer Sciences as well as Elementary and ESL Education. She write, “I look forward to seeing new camps, meeting new people, and seeing what God is doing and how we can be a part of it.”

Amanda McLearn-Montz, from Ankeny, Iowa, is a member of Panther Creek Church of the Brethren and Northern Plains District. Currently, she attends Tulane University in New Orleans, where she is majoring in Public Health, minoring in Spanish, and is a pre-med student. “I went to Camp Emmaus as a camper and served on Camp Pine Lake's summer staff last summer,” she write. “I can't wait to come back to camp and share my love of peace and God with teens and kids!”

As the team spends time with junior and senior high youth this summer at camps across the denomination, they will teach about peace, justice, and reconciliation, all core values throughout the Church of the Brethren’s 300-plus year history. Follow the ministry of the 2013 Youth Peace Travel Team by visiting www.brethren.org/youthpeacetravelteam.

Source: 2/7/2013 Newsline

“Peace First Prize” for Youth Peacemakers

A “Peace First Prize” for youth peacemakers has been announced by the Clinton Global Initiative (CGI) and by Peace First, a new national nonprofit “that teaches peacemaking skills to young people and empowers them to become engaged leaders in their communities,” according to a release. Youth winners of the prize will be age 8-22 and will receive a $50,000 fellowship over two years to further their peacemaking work. Said Peace First co-founder and president Eric D. Dawson, “The Peace First Prize signals a new era of peacemaking--one where young people are finally recognized for their important contributions and solutions to injustices they see around them on a daily basis.” Peace First partner organizations include 4-H, Big Brothers Big Sisters, Boys and Girls Clubs of America, Girl Scouts, Teach for America, the American Association of School Administrators, and American Federation of Teachers, among others. Prize Fellows will be chosen and announced in September. For more information visit www.peacefirst.org.

Source: 2/7/2013 Newsline