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February 2012
"Whats-UP@NFCLYO" Newsletter now available
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Youth ministry customized for Niagara and Orleans counties
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NFC Youth Ministry Network
Adult youth worker peer support...click here for info
LCLC:
our partner in ministry providing year-round outdoor ministry programs and
camps
2012 ELCA Youth Gathering
Local info: click here
Planning on attending the 2012 ELCA Youth Gathering in New Orleans? You've come to the right place! In addition to info you will be able to find on the ELCA Gathering website, you'll find info local to our area here in WNY. We'll let you know who is planning on going, where to find info, pre-event training events, and any other info that is important for you to get the most out of this Gathering.
The Basics
Local Updates
Connect Online
Get Prepared
Gathering Timeline
Questions? Who to Contact
The Event: 2012 ELCA Youth Gathering
The Setting: Louisiana Superdome and surrounding areas and communities, New Orleans, LA
The time: July 18-22, 2012
Who can go?: Youth who will be entering 9-12 grades, and those just graduated from high school at the time of the gathering (current 8-12 graders) and adult advisors (21+, 1 adult per 10 youth minimum)
What is it all about: It's a triennial (every third year) gathering of well over 30,000 youth and adults from across the country of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America. It is easily the largest gathering of ELCA members period. It gathers youth in a large-scale event to worship, hear inspiring speakers, top-tier music, and more. It sends those youth out to serve in the community, learn how to make a difference in social justice issues, and equips them to take their learning and experience back home to continue the ministry beyond just reporting back the next Sunday at church.
Why go: this is an investment in the lives of youth...to immerse them in a ministry that's more than just gathering tens of thousands of youth for 5 days in the summer. This is an investment in raising people of God who are going to go back and care for others, and maybe even become future leaders in the church. All of that...and it's one amazing time!!!
Cost: we estimate that with travel, food, lodging and the Gathering program, it will cost in the area of $1,200-$1,400 per person to go to this Gathering.
Holy crap! It sounds great, but...: Committing to this gathering is a HUGE deal, no doubt. But look at this as an investment in the lives of youth, and all of a sudden it becomes clear that this commitment could be worth the investment. Many groups that go plan well over a year in advance, fundraise their hearts out, and make this a major part of their overall church's ministry. There are also a limited number of scholarships being made available by the ELCA...see the timeline below.
Registration is now open!!!
Time to register your church group for the
Gathering. It’s all done online, but there are blank forms you can download online now to pass out to those
going so you can collect information. Details on
www.elca.org/gathering!
All financial aid and adult volunteer
applications are full.
If you got in late, you’re on a wait list. Financial aid (if
you get it) will appear on your church’s online account when you go to
register.
Travel
After doing some research, we determined that churches should
plan their own travel since costs wouldn’t go down much, and group
preferences would prevent any Synod-level travel arrangements.
However, check with local groups going as some are already planning
travel and would love others to come along!
Synod Gathering T-shirt Design Contest
Challenge your group to submit a design for an Upstate NY Synod
t-shirt we can all wear at the Gathering! Designs should incorporate
some Upstate NY element, play on the 2012 Gathering theme and be able
to printed in a single color. Submit entries by December 31, 2011 to:
2012 Gathering T-shirt designs, 55 Pleasant Ave., Lancaster, NY 14086 or
to rick@nfclyo.org. Be sure
to include your contact information and a description of your design.
The winning design will be picked after New Year’s, and order info will
follow soon after.
Click here for the 2012 ELCA Youth Gathering official website.
Be sure to get connected to these Facebook groups to keep up on the latest info, connect with others going, and more:
For everyone (youth and adult): Upstate NY Synod
National Youth Gathering 2012 Attendees
For adult youth workers: Upstate NY Synod National Youth Gathering
(Adult Youth Leaders)
If you're on Twitter, connect at http://twitter.com/elcayouth.
The ELCA has rolled out the "Practice Discipleship: The ELCA Youth Ministry Training Project"! This project comes in three seminars, and a series of online webinars geared towards equipping adult youth leaders for ministering with youth in today's society. It's also great preparation for the Youth Gathering, as that event is built on this project. The 2011 and 2012 Spring Youth Leader Training and Webinar series are free. The Fall Youth Leader Training at LCLC does have an overnight cost, but will be well worth it as it's also a youth leaders retreat too. See the Gathering Timeline below or the NFC Youth Ministry Network page for when each piece of this program is happening.
This is a listing of important dates to keep in mind as we approach the time of the 2012 Gathering:
| DATE | REGISTRATION DATES | PREPARATION & TRAINING DATES |
| October 9, 2011 | Gathering registration opened on the ELCA Gathering website | |
| October 16, 2011 | Youth Leader Training Webinar #3 debuts | |
| October 28-29, 2011 | Fall Youth Leader Training and Retreat at Lake Chautauqua Lutheran Center (tentative) | |
| November 20, 2011 | Youth Leader Training Webinar #4 debuts | |
| December 4, 2011 | Youth Leader Training Webinar #5 debuts | |
| December 18, 2011 | Youth Leader Training Webinar #6 debuts | |
| January 2012 | Monthly "Getting Ready" curriculum debuts online | |
| January 8, 2012 | Youth Leader Training Webinar #7 debuts | |
| January 22, 2012 | Youth Leader Training Webinars repeat...details on dates coming soon... | |
| February 2012 | Registered Congregations begin receiving housing assignments, uploaded into the group's account | |
| February 8-12, 2012 | ELCA Youth Ministry Network Extravaganza in New Orleans, LA | |
| March 18, 2012 | Congregations can print and send their rooming list to their hotel with the appropriate deposit | |
| Spring 2012 | Spring 2012 Youth
Leader Training (details coming soon) |
|
| May 26, 2012 | Paid in Full Deadline - Congregations must complete all payments for their Gathering registration and hotel (note: there will be no onsite payment option in 2012) | |
| July 16-18, 2012 | Multicultural Youth Leadership Event and Definitely Abled Youth Leadership Event - $150 registration fee includes housing and meals for these events (info coming soon) | |
| July 18-22, 2012 | ELCA 2012 Youth Gathering | |
Our Synod has two people to contact with any questions about the Gathering:
Synod Coach: Pastor Justin Johnson
PJ can help with questions regarding Training materials.
Email: sttimpastor@yahoo.com
Phone: (585) 243-4490
Synod Coordinator: Rick Mollenkopf-Grill
MG is the person to go to with registration, logistical and any
other concerns related to getting your church up and ready to go.
Email: rick@nfclyo.org
Phone: (716) 465-1321
Questions? Comments? Email the web servant.
