December 2021 Newsletter
Applications due this Thursday, 12/23!!
Applications and nominations are now open for high school students who want to participate in the General Convention Official Youth Presence at the Episcopal Church's 80th General Convention to be held Thursday, July 6 through Friday, July 14, 2022 at The Baltimore Convention Center, Baltimore, Maryland.
 
Every three years, young people in The Episcopal Church have an extraordinary opportunity as members of the Official Youth Presence to experience General Convention many lifelong Episcopalians will never while meeting and working with others across the church. Under the current Rules of Order of the House of Deputies, members of the "OYP" are granted seat and voice in that house. No more than two high school youth from each of The Episcopal Church’s nine provinces may be selected.

Deadline for applications and nominations
is this Thursday, December 23, 2021. 
 
 
Questions about the application process and nominations should be directed to Bronwyn Skov, bskov@episcopalchurch.org.
Opening on Bishops' Staff
Missioner for Youth and
Young Adult Ministries

In our new diocesan mission strategy, we reassert in these tumultuous times that “As a people of hope, we come together to find the way forward.” We see ourselves as disciples of Jesus, seekers of justice and protectors of creation. We know that to succeed, we will need to more fully engage the unique brand of enthusiasm, honesty and energy of our youth and young adults.

The Missioner for Youth and Young Adult Ministries is charged with encouraging, applauding and challenging the church to embrace creative and robust ministry both for and with youth and young adults, both in our worshiping communities and in the life of the diocese as a whole.

See the job posting for details.

On the Horizon
Spring 2022 Retreats!

Your diocesan youth council is hard at work developing two retreats for the spring of 2022:

March 18-20, 2022: The Human in All of Us
Middle and High School Weekend

April 1-2, 2022: Pre-confirmation Retreat
(with optional overnight Saturday night)

Both of these are currently planned at the Barbara C. Harris Camp and Conference Center in Greenfield, NH. We hope that by then, we will all feel safer about staying in cabins, singing together, eating together, and simply being together.

More on both of these events as details develop.
Resources for Youth Ministry
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Invitation to Breathe

This month, no curriculum suggestions. No web resources on prayer, or games or mental health support for teens. The resources being suggested at this holy moment are a poem and a video. The poem, an advent offering from your missioner. The video, a three-hour recording of forest sounds compiled by The Guild of Ambience.

These are offered as possible tools to help you take a moment--or an hour--for yourself. Use either one, or both, or neither of these, but please, find some time to settle into Mary's loving arms.

See and smell that stable and recognize your part in the great pageant of Incarnation.

Take a few moments, or an hour, to breathe.

Exhale the silliness of "not enough" thinking. Inhale God's gratitude to you for accepting the call to do holy work. Exhale the world's limitations. Inhale the Spirit's infinite possibilities.
Advent 2021: In the Beginning, Again
by H. Mark Smith

The deepest, darkest indigo night sky
never shrouds the one bright star.
Praise be for that one star
who foretells the Dawn.
Dawn, the Creator’s gift, is on Her way,
Offering Her invitation to begin again, again.
 
What a blessing, needing to begin again.
 
My falling short is proof of my attempt.
My shortsightedness, an invitation
to see through others’ eyes.
Me as part of we requires my need,
beckoning others’ gifts to shine.
My darkness, fears, and stumbles
open me to the holy light and strength
of the other, 
Creating space for I-Am-What-I-Will-Be.
 
Again. And again. And again.
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