A Chat with Chelsy
Hi friends!
Welcome to the very first edition of the Episcopal Diocese of Long Island Youth & Young Adult E-News!
One of the things I've loved most about stepping into this role is getting to see all the different ways youth and young adult ministry is happening across our Diocese. There are amazing things happening in big congregations and small ones, in youth rooms and coffee shops, at camp, around dinner tables, and everywhere in between.
But sometimes we don't know what the people three towns over are doing.
So, I'm hoping this little E-News can help change that.
Each month, we'll share what's happening across the Diocese, celebrate ministry happening in our congregations, point you toward resources you can actually use, share opportunities and diocesan partnership perks, and hopefully give us a little encouragement along the way.
Think of this as a shared bulletin board for youth and young adult ministry across Long Island.
And because this is meant to be ours, not just mine, I'm always looking for things to include. Have an upcoming event? Found a great resource? Have a ministry win? Send it my way!
Let's get started.
Finally, if you’d like to stop receiving these emails, no hard feelings! Click unsubscribe at the bottom of this email and select the mailings you’d like to continue receiving emails from.
– Chels ✌️
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💭 The BLT: Blessed Little Thought
Every good ministry newsletter needs a little theology.
The BLT (Blessed Little Thought) will be a short reflection from me, or from someone else in our diocesan ministry community, offering a little encouragement, perspective, or something to chew on.
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This Month's BLT: You Are Not Alone
For our inaugural issue, we are starting with something simple: We don’t do this work alone. Children, Youth, Young Adult, Camp, and Campus Ministry can sometimes feel like a solitary vocation. You’re usually the one planning the youth trips, the coffee bible studies, writing the curriculum, recruiting volunteers, and wondering if anyone even read the event description.
But there are folks all over this Diocese doing this same holy, complicated, ridiculous, joyful work. We hope this E-News can be a small reminder of that!
| | | | What's happening across the Diocese? Here's your monthly roundup of upcoming youth and young adult events, gatherings, retreats, service opportunities, and more. | | | |
Wisdom in the Room
Saturday, November 7 · 9:30 am to 3 pm
St. Francis, North Bellmore
Calling all Children, Youth, and Young Adult Coordinators/Directors/Ministers/Volunteers!! Join us for a day of resource sharing, fellowship, and practical training for ministry leaders of churches of all sizes across the Diocese of Long Island. Whether you’re new to ministry or a seasoned leader, this event will provide tools, inspiration, and opportunities to connect with peers.
Register Here →
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Young Adult Christmas Mixer
Friday, December 4 • 6 pm to 9 pm
Zion Church, Douglaston
Come celebrate Christmas with young adults from across the Diocese! Meet our new Bishop, make some new friends, and enjoy an evening of food, drinks, and conversation as we begin a new chapter in young adult ministry across the Diocese.
Register Here →
| | | Have something coming up at your church? Send it our way! | |
🌱Ministry Wins!
There is a LOT of ministry happening across Long Island, and I want us to know about it.
This is a place to celebrate the people and congregations doing creative, faithful, sometimes wonderfully weird ministry with young people.
It doesn't have to be a huge program or a giant event. Maybe you had three teenagers show up and had a really meaningful conversation. Maybe your young adults finally got together for dinner. Maybe your confirmation class tried something new.
Those stories count, too.
| | | | Each month, we'll share a handful of resources that might make your ministry a little easier, more creative, or more thoughtful; from curriculum and activities to books, podcasts, prayers, websites, and seasonal resources. | | Have a resource you love? Send it our way! | | |
Looking for your next ministry opportunity? Know someone who is?
We'll use this space to share relevant youth ministry, young adult ministry, camp, internship, formation, and other ministry opportunities.
Have an opening you'd like to share? Send it along!
Submit an Opportunity →
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Ministry Perks
Being part of the Diocese occasionally comes with some good stuff!
This is where we'll share discounts, special offers, free resources, and other goodies available through our diocesan partnerships.
This Month's Perk: StoryMakers NYC - Sunday School + Teen Materials
As part of our diocesan partnership with StoryMakers, congregations in the Diocese of Long Island can receive 50% off of Subscriptions. Check them out!
Enter this code at Checkout → LIMATCH26-PLUS
Learn More →
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📣 Have Something to Share?
This newsletter will only work if we make it together.
Send your:
- Upcoming youth or young adult events
- Job postings
- Ministry resources
- Curriculum recommendations
- Volunteer opportunities
- Ministry wins
- Things you've tried that worked
- Things you've learned along the way
Basically, if you think “Hey, someone else doing youth and young adult ministry might want to know about this,” send it to Chelsy.
Submission deadline for the December edition: November 25th
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See you in December!
Thanks for reading the very first Youth & Young Adult E-News.
My hope is that this becomes a small but useful part of our shared life as a Diocese. A place to find ideas, celebrate one another, discover what's happening, and occasionally remember that we're not doing this work alone.
Until next time,
Chels✌️
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