Welcome to the YOUTH MINISTRY E--BULLETIN (September 2003), a monthly email newsletter from the Youth Ministry Office of the LCMS Board for District and Congregational Services providing current information on youth events and resources in the LCMS as well as various and sundry items of interest to youth and youth workers in The Lutheran Church – Missouri Synod. Terry Dittmer, Editor

SHOW YOUNG PEOPLE THAT YOU CARE . . . Give them opportunities to take leadership roles and when they lead, follow . . . Notice when they are absent and follow up on them . . . Call them just to say hello . . . Hide surprises for them to find . . . Give them space when they need it.

LCMS YOUTH MINISTRY NEWS, EVENTS AND RESOURCES

CONGRATULATIONS TO MARK KIESSLING AND BETH TIMM, married on Saturday, August 30, at the LCMS International Center. It's been a long time since we had a staff wedding. Mark serves as the Program Manager of the 2004 National Youth Gathering. Mark also continues as a student at Concordia Seminary. Beth is an early childhood educator at St. John Lutheran Church, Ellisville, MO

NO MORE BUTTERFLIES . . . Introduced in the last bulletin, the new Youth Ministry logo is a hit. If you want a downloadable version, check the youth ministry Web site: dcs.lcms.org/youth

NATIONAL GATHERING REGISTRATION OPENS OCTOBER 22 . . . We are anticipating record numbers and filling to capacity as we prepare for the opening of Gathering registration, October 22. The Gathering has a long history of filling available space within a few days . . . . Congregations have received the Registration materials and can submit materials to the LCMS Youth Ministry Office postmarked no earlier than October 22, 2003. The online registration process can be used starting September 15. The priority window for Gathering Registration remains open from October 22 through November 5, 2003 and congregations are encouraged to submit their materials during this time. When registration fills to capacity, remaining groups are provided the option of being placed on a waiting list. The Gathering will admit participants on a space available basis until March 1, 2004.

The Gathering is intended for high school youth ages 15-19. In an effort to accommodate as many youth as possible into the National LCMS Gathering, age requirements are established and carefully followed by the national office. “This can be a challenging process to explain to leaders hoping to take preteens or young adults to the Gathering,” according to Gretchen Jameson, Communications Manager. “Given the overwhelming popularity of the Gathering among the youth of the church, however, such requirements are important. The ideal is that each LCMS high school youth have at least one opportunity to attend the National Youth Gathering during his or her high school experience.” Congregations with youth who do not meet these age requirements are reminded that younger teens will have an opportunity to attend the 2007 Gathering, while young adults (ages 19-24) can apply to serve as part of the Young Adult Volunteer Corps.

Congregations can learn more about the 2004 National LCMS Youth Gathering by visiting the Gathering Web site found at nyg.lcms.org or by contacting LCMS Youth Ministry at 800.248.1930 x.1155.

JOSEPH'S COAT - If you would like to be a part of supporting the ongoing efforts of LCMS Youth Ministry, Joseph's Coat is a means to that end. For all intents and purposes, LCMS Youth Ministry is now self-supporting. That means, however, that we need to maintain that support. Interested? Email us (youth.ministry@lcms.org) and ask for a JC brochure. It will explain everything you need to know. Inspiration for the name: the Old Testament story of Joseph. You should see our logo! Gifts are tax deductible.

NEW YMO RESOURCE TO GO LIVE . . . We expect our new "thESource" to be available online in October. The October bulletin will feature all the particulars as to how to access it.

CHECK THIS OUT - DEVOTIONS NEEDED! thESource will be online and free to people all around the world covering a large range of topics, resources and tools in youth ministry. As a part of “thESource” daily youth devotions will be offered . . . . . We need devotions! If you write, have written or know someone who can write devotions please share them with us. If your devotion is used you will get 10 bucks. Share the encouraging words of the Gospel with people all around the world. We especially welcome devotions written by teens. So youth workers send in your stuff and get your kids to write devotions and submit them. What a great way to get your kids in the Word and help them to find a way to share their creative juices and spiritual insight with the larger church!

Format: (*) 81/2 x 11 (MS Word Format if possible); (*) 250 words or less; (*) Headline/Title; (*) 12 point, Times New Roman; (*) Include scripture reference; (*) 2-3 sentence prayer; (*) 2 reflection questions (on devotion or scripture used); (*) Please write these with youth in mind for use; (*) NIV translation; (*) Positive Gospel focused, Jesus-driven; (*) Include author’s name, address, city, state, home church and social security # for payment; (*) $10 per devotion that is used; (*) Open for general topics, seasonal topics are welcome . . . . .Please send all submissions via email to Thad Warren at twarren@csp.edu. Please put Devotion in the subject line. We need these ASAP as we go online this fall!

DISTRICT STUFF . . . UNIQUE EVENTS . . .

IOWA EAST . . 5th-6th Grade Gathering, themed "Imagine That. . ." based on Isaiah 43:18-19, October 3-4 at Camp Io-Dis-E-CA. Just $10 per person. Contact: Renee Moravec (319) 373-7008.

IOWA WEST . . . For youth leaders, training event, September 27-28. Theme "Beautiful Feet" based on Isaiah 52:7, presented by the District Youth Committee. . . . AND . . . Junior High Youth Gathering at the Marriott Hotel in Des Moines, October 18-19. Theme: "Lord, Teach Us to Pray" focusing on Luke ll:1.

MISSOURI . . . District Single Adult Fall Retreat, Heit's Point, October 3-5. Theme: "Out of His Glorious Riches - Faith" based on Ephesians 3:16-19. Registration is $95 per person. . . . AND . . . Fall Junior High Retreat, October 17-19, Camp Windermere. Registration is $95 per person.

WYOMING . . . Youth Breakaway Weekend, October 31-November 2 at St. Andrew's Lutheran Church and Campus Center in Laramie. Topic: "The Great Music Debate: What Exactly is God-Pleasing Music?" Registration is $35 per person. Contact Rev. Marcus Zill at pastor@standrewslcms.org

(Districts: Send us your stuff. We want to list your events and resources. We will also post your events on the LCMS Youth Ministry Calendar on our web site and will post them as soon as we receive notice. Thanks for helping us out!)

OTHER EVENTS AND RESOURCES

COLLEGE FAIRS . . . It's that time again and Lutheran Colleges are on the road and visiting a city near you. Looking for a great college with solid Lutheran roots? This is the place to go. To check their schedule, go to www.lutherancolleges.org. Lutheran College fairs are sponsored in part by Thrivent Financial for Lutherans.

GROUNDING ASSET BUILDING IN LUTHERAN FAITH: An invitation to Reflection and Dialogue . . . an excellent resource from Search Institute and Thrivent predecessor, Lutheran Brotherhood, is available to you free. Drop us an email with your snail mail address and we'll send you a copy. This piece puts the assets into a faith context for congregational application.

SEE YOU AT THE POLE day, for those who keep track (and many Lutheran High Schools do) mark September 17, 2003 on your calendar. Theme is "Consumed" focusing on I Kings 18:36-39.

2003 HEALTHY COMMUNITIES + HEALTHY YOUTH, a conference sponsored by Search Institute focused on the 40 developmental assets, takes place October 23-25 in San Jose, CA. The theme is "Unleashing the Power of Diversity." HCHY is a great way to learn about asset development in youth settings including in the church. Outstanding speakers and presentations will challenge the participant to think in new ways. The LCMS Youth Ministry Office has been working with Search Institute over the last ten years to interpret the assets for the religious community. Thrivent Financial for Lutherans is a major corporate supporter of Search Institute and the HCHY conference. If you are interested, check out their web site: search-institute.org/hchy/hchy2003 . Early registration and discounted fee until September 15. If you are LCMS and planning on attending HCHY, let the YMO office know. We'd like to gather the Lutheran community together at the conference.

WHEAT RIDGE MINISTRIES announces the availability of their 2003 Special Anniversary Edition of the Wheat Ridge Christmas Seals. Funds received from the seals help to fund a variety of health and healing ministries around the world. Many youth groups have a long-standing tradition of coordinating an effort in their congregation to support these important ministries. For more information and to order seals for your church call 1-800-762-6748 or on line at www.wheatridge.org

TEENS AND TRENDS

BACK-TO-SCHOOL SHOPPING . . . The new trend in back-to-school shopping? Young people going without their parents. Even children as young as 8 are doing so because many parents are strapped for time. Even Visa has introduced a prepaid, pink credit card that can be used by young people of any age. With the average family spending $450.76 for back-to-school supplies and clothes, retailers are finding themselves catering more to young people than to the parents because of this new trend of young people shopping in peer groups rather than with Mom and Dad. (USA Today, August 11, 2003)

BIBLE HERO BOBBLEHEADS . . . Teenagers who collect sport figure bobbleheads can now add some of
their favorite Bible heroes. The Isaac Brothers (at ww.issacbros.com) have released three Bible Bobbleheads: Noah, Samson, and Moses. Noah holds a dove and an umbrella while Samson wears a workout suit that says "God's Gym." (By the way, did you know you can get Martin and Katie Luther bobble heads from Concordia Publishing House?)

TEENS MORE LIKELY TO BE OVERWEIGHT . . . Since 1976, the percentage of American young people who are overweight has steadily grown. Only 6 percent of young people ages 6 to 18 were obese
in 1976 to 1980. That percentage rose to 11 percent in 1994 and has now jumped to 15 percent most recently. "The continued increase in overweight among America¹s children demands attention and calls for action," says Dr. Edward J. Sondik, Director of the National Center for Health Statistics. For more information on this seventh annual monitoring report America's Children: Key National Indicators of Well-Being 2003 at childstats.gov .

FINAL THOUGHT . . HAPPY NEW YEAR! This is the time of year many commercial entities specifically market to young people in a major way. Back to school is really the beginning of the "year" for most children and youth. Everything starts up including church youth programs and community programs. What kind of "new year" resolutions will you make? To daily pray for the young people in your congregation? To offer a word of encouragement to every child and youth you encounter? To affirm the excellent effort they make in a given area? To be an advocate for youth among less informed adults? These kinds of resolutions are worth keeping no matter what time of the year it is.
(TKD)

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The DCS Youth Ministry Office regularly reviews events, resources, program and information from a variety of non-LCMS sources for the purpose of informing and resourcing our readers. In citing any of these, the YMO does not mean to imply an endorsement of the entire editorial or theological opinion of the source organization. Bulletin readers are advised to use their discretion in the use of these materials or participation in their events.

LCMS Youth Ministry Web site: dcs.lcms.org/youth
National Youth Gathering Web site: nyg.lcms.org
Youth Ministry Office: 1-800-248-1930, ext. 1155
Email: youth.ministry@lcms.org
LCMS Web site: www.lcms.org

	This Edition of "Youth Ministry Bulletin" e-News is provided by: District and Congregational Services
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