The digital story of the Nativity

Have you seen the Digital Story of the Nativity? What a clever idea. It conveys the Christmas story using technology any young person will appreciate.

A blessed Christmas season to you and yours, from everyone on the Southwestern Conference Youth Ministry Team. Thank you for all you do on behalf of young people in your families, communities, and churches!

Conference Youth lend a hand

Southwestern Conference Youth came together the weekend before last to assist Joint Neighborhood Project at Santa's Secret Shoppe. Youth from Bethel Lutheran, First Lutheran, and Saint Timothy's helped young children from the neighborhood shop for gifts for significant adults in their lives. As the video demonstrates, we had a blast! Afterwards we shared table fellowship, meditated on scripture, and processed the experience of serving in this capacity.


Try our video maker at Animoto.

There are more events in the pipeline where youth can have fun, lend a hand, and grow in faith in Jesus. Keep checking this website for details.

By the way, if you know of any young people or caring adults interested in putting on events and advocating for young people in our conference, we will be holding our next Conference Youth Planning Team meeting on Saturday, January 7 at 9 am at First Lutheran Church, 120 Chandler Street in Jamestown. We'd love to get your input!

How to have great discussions over the holidays

Kara Powell at Fuller Youth Institute shares how a grandmother is making the time to connect with her grandchildren over the holiday break. Read about it here.

Jingle 'n' Mingle this Thursday!

3rd Annual Jingle 'n' Mingle
Thursday, Dec. 22  6 pm – 10 pm
Wal-Mart in Lakewood



Make your own slideshow with music at Animoto.

This is one of our most popular Shared Lutheran Youth Ministry (SLYM) events! We'll meet at Wal-Mart to "bellring" for Salvation Army winter relief efforts. Every donation we receive will help people right here in our community. The Salvation Army has not yet made its goal, so YOU can make a big difference!

Come out and ring a bell! If you sing, or cheer, or play an instrument please do so! (One year I had a teen show up wearing antlers and a blinking nose--he got a lot of attention and raised a lot of funds to help people.)

Then we'll head over to Applebees at 9pm to celebrate a successful third year of SLYM. Applebees has arranged a special menu, which includes munchie, soft drink, and tip for $8.50.

Remember to dress warm! Call Ian at 720-8584 if you have any questions. Parents are welcome, too!

Christmas conversation starters

Gotta love the Christmas season... Over the next 10 days there will be many opportunities for all ages to gather together. When you're enjoying fellowship at church or spending some time around the dinner table, please consider having some caring conversations with young people. EveryDay has made available a free download of 36 conversation starters for your Christmas gathering. Wouldn't it be great to put these at every table during your church dinners?

Pizza on earth, good will towards men?

My wife, Tara, was leading a group of youngsters in a lesson about the famous passage in the Gospel of Luke, "Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men." She worked her way around the circle of kindergartners and first graders and asked, "How can you be a peacemaker?"

She got a wonderful variety of responses from the children, such as "no hitting my brother" and "sharing my toys." One little boy gave a rather unusual answer to her question, though. He simply replied, "Make a pizza."

My wife and the other children were puzzled by his answer. So my wife asked him how making a pizza could help him be a peacemaker.

"Well easy," he said, "pizza makers always make pizza."

After chuckling at his misunderstanding of peacemaker as pizza maker, my wife affirmed that making someone a pizza would be a great idea—especially if he spelled out the words I LOVE YOU in pepperoni. All the kids shouted "yeah" and the lesson continued without further incident. My wife says she'll never again be able to sing "It Came Upon the Midnight Clear" without picturing a pizza pie, though!

I like to think the little tyke was on to something. If we can't experience and model peace around our own dinner table, where can we?

Cyber-bullying resources

The Center for First Third Ministry suggests some good resources regarding cyber-bullying. Read the post here.

Give the gift of LCLC this Christmas

If the pressure of finding the "right" gifts for your loved ones has you frustrated, consider giving the gift of Lake Chautauqua Lutheran Center this Christmas.

A gift of LCLC is one that will last a lifetime.  Whether at a weekend retreat or week-long summer camp program, LCLC provides opportunities for spiritual growth, renewal, and Christ-centered community in the wonder of God's creation.

Share one of the following programs with someone you love this Christmas:

• Senior High Winter Retreat (January 6-8, 2012)             
• Women's Hobby Weekend (February 24-26, 2012)
• 4th-8th Grade Winter Retreat (March 2-4, 2012) 
• A Week of Summer Camp (July 1-August 10, 2012)

For more information or to pay in advance and receive a gift certificate for your gift, please call the office at 716-386-4125.  

Regarding Summer Camp: Pay in full for a program next summer by 12/31/11 and you need only pay the 2011 rate.

May God bless you abundantly this Advent and Christmas season!

Southwest Conference Youth Ministries News for December

The vision of Southwest Conference Youth Ministries is that "every ELCA congregation in the Southwest Conference will collaborate together to benefit our youth, sharing knowledge and resources, using best practices." A word about collaboration… Sometimes opportunities cross our desk and we think, "Not another thing to do!" But the kinds of collaboration we're talking about are things that can save churches time and effort in ministering to youth.

Last month, Saint Timothy's saw young people from the Shared Lutheran Youth Ministry at its overnighter. Bethel (Jamestown) hosted the band Captive Free and saw youth from First and St. Timothy's in attendance, too. The first Conference Youth Ministries Team meeting was held to plan events and support each other. Each one of these events was better because churches "widened the circle" to include others. The events were more fun for the youth, and easier for the adults to pull off because of collaboration.

Get involved: Joint Neighborhood Project is doing something special for children and their families--and they need the help of Lutheran Youth to make it happen! At Santa’s Secret Shoppe, children from low-income families will “shop” for donated gifts for parents and other significant adults in their lives. Lutheran Youth in grades 7 and up are needed to accompany children through the shoppe, help them select gifts, and wrap presents. It is a practical way to demonstrate the love of Jesus around the conference. And it’s pretty fun, too! The Conference Youth Ministry Team will show you what to do, plus spring for pizza afterwards! It's happening Saturday, December 10 from 8:30 am - 1 pm at Immanuel Lutheran Church, 556 East Second St., Jamestown. Please RSVP to Ian.

Get inspired: We had 94 hits the first month to our new website—a promising start. We're committed to making it the "go to" place to keep informed about the many exciting events for youth happening around the conference, like Youth Quake and the Senior High Winter Retreat at LCLC. Browse a large selection of theologically sound and research based topics, too. Check it out at: http://younglutherans.blogspot.com/

November 2011 minutes for Southwestern Conference Youth Ministries Team Meeting

Southwestern Conference Youth Ministries Team Meeting
Nov. 19, 9 am @ First Lutheran Church
Meeting minutes

Present: Ian Eastman (SW Conference), Tara Eastman (First), Ann McKillip (St. Tim's), Jason Wood (St. Tim's)
Regrets: Mike Felsman (Tri-Church), Jennifer Spacht (Bethel)

Devotional... Ian opened with a devotional from 1 Samuel 3... The group discussed how we, like Eli, can help "the Samuels" in our lives listen and respond to God.

Mission... We discussed changes to the Conference Youth Ministries Team. In the past, we defined ourselves as a committee that put on 3 annual events. Now we are setting our sights higher--on fostering a more "faith asset-rich" culture for youth around the conference on many different levels.

(For more information about "faith assets" please check out Luther Seminary's Exemplary Youth Ministry website: http://exemplarym.wordpress.com/about/ or get a copy of the book "The Spirit and Culture of Youth Ministry.")

Fostering assets in our churches...

There is no such thing as a magic bullet in ministry. There is not one person or event in isolation that will foster Mature Christian Youth. We brainstormed all the ways churches can foster young people:

Youth ministries - provide opportunity for fellowship, service, and spiritual growth. When done right they can engage youth and help them discern their purpose and a voice in the church.

Churches - How would our churches look if everyone looked at themselves as youth ministers? Other adults can learn youth's names and say hello, pray for youth, and engage them in ministries. Youth can participate in worship, Christian Ed... What would it look like if youth were included as decision makers on councils and committees?

The Conference Youth Ministries Team can provide a 4 session workshop on being an "authentic, available, and affirming" adult. This is suitable for Sunday School classes or a one day workshop. Interested churches can contact Ian for details.

Families - Martin Luther wrote that parents are called to be "the bishops, apostles, and priests of their own homes." There is a great opportunity to help parents foster faith formation in the home. Vibrant Faith and Faith Inkubators are two Lutheran sources of materials.

Visibility - We can highlight stories about our youth and the "faith asset framework" in our newsletters. We can acknowledge youth in sermon illustrations and prayers. (The team is going to work on some suggested prayers to submit for worship around the conference.)

Youth Ministers, Sunday School teachers, Confirmation teachers - We can lean on each other for support and ideas about "what's working", we can learn about best practices, we can help each other clarify roles. We can open events to other churches.

Upcoming Events...

Santa's Secret Shoppe
Saturday, December 10 8:30 am - 1 pm
Immanuel Lutheran Church, 556 East Second St., Jamestown
Ian has submitted promotional material about this around the conference.

We talked about the 3 events that we will put on in 2012. We want to maintain a balance of fun, service, and spiritual growth.

Jason suggested bringing in a band for a weekend retreat like Captive Free. Tangled Blue and Lost & Found were also suggested.

We also talked about doing a laser tag/games event at the Gateway center in February. The Gateway could be an ideal location because human services agencies are located on the same site.

Bethel Jamestown has a good thing going with Captive Free. St. Tim's periodically does overnighters. SLYM does a lot of service projects in the community. LCLC has some great retreats. Might we do a schedule to space these things out and provide maximum cooperation and publicity?

Tasks...

Ann will get us a contact with St. Mark's.
Jason will check on the costs and schedule of Youth Encounter. We want to stay clear of November, as Bethel Jamestown already hosts them annually at this time.
Tara will check on the availability of the Gateway Center.
Ian will circulate a schedule of the upcoming conference youth meetings. He will write a draft of prayers regarding youth.

(Note: The Southwestern Conference Youth Ministries Team is open to young people in grades 9 - 12, plus interested adults. Please circulate these minutes to youth, Sunday School teachers, Christian Ed committees, etc.)

Shared Lutheran Youth Ministry in December 2011

The Shared Lutheran Youth Ministry is on the move throughout the month of December. We will deliver cards to residents of Lutheran Social Services, organize gifts for the Salvation Army, and do our 3rd annual "Jingle & Mingle" event at Wal-Mart and Applebees. We will also participate in Santa's Secret Shoppe with other youth from throughout the conference. If you know of young people who may benefit, please send 'em our way!

For more details about SLYM, and our December schedule, please check out the newsletter in the link below:

Open publication - Free publishing - More jamestown

Follow the Star this Advent!

I awoke this morning to the sounds of a singing elf this morning on my clock radio. This was a very strange way to be awakened, especially after the long Thanksgiving break. It made me think about all the different ways the media and the culture portrays the next few weeks to Christmas. There is going to be a lot of silliness (like the singing elf) and messages to buy, buy, buy.

Outside of worship services it seems like we'll have to intentionally cultivate some space for the message of Advent. I wanted to let you know about a resource that can help: Following the Star seeks to provide a safe and meaningful devotional place for youth and young adults during Advent. Writers this year focus on those who followed God in the days and years leading up to Jesus' birth. Check it out--and by all means pass it along to your friends! Here's the link.

Thanks to our friends at The Institute for Youth Ministry at Princeton Theological Seminary for letting us know about this nifty resource.

Black Friday or Advent?

Thanksgiving Day. Usually the dinner dishes aren't even dry before the conversation switches from "count your blessings" to iPods and DVDs. A few years back my friend John and I decided to do something about it. We passed on shopping that day and rang bells for the Salvation Army instead.

We were happy to invest a day off for that fine organization—especially later in the day when we met another friend at a busy shopping center. We quickly noticed how frantic everyone suddenly seemed. It was all smiles earlier in the day as people fished out some change to contribute to people they might never know. Nobody was smiling as they streamed out of the store carrying bags of gifts. Earlier in the day, a nice postal worker took time out of his busy day to bring out some cups of hot chocolate for my friend and I (we were as cold as we looked). But there was no time to spare in a parking lot on Black Friday. We watched one car repeatedly get cut off as it tried to exit the parking lot. There were lots of car horns and even some yelling.

I am not against shopping and think it is important that we frequent our local merchants during the holiday. But I think we need to be conscious about how we celebrate the holidays:

• When we forget that buying gifts for our loved ones is a privilege not everyone can enjoy.
• When we dread holiday get togethers as just another obligation on an overloaded calendar, rather than a time to enjoy each other's company.
• When we are so fixed on the next bargain that we can't share some courtesy with the people around us. 

My hope and prayer is that we would experience a little less Black Friday and a little more of God's peace this Advent season.

(Oh, and by the way: It's not too late to register for Lake Chautauqua Lutheran Center's 4th - 9th grade Advent Retreat, happening the weekend of December 2.)

Happy Thanksgiving

"O Lord, everybody's home,
eating, drinking,
breathing in the Lord.
Now rejoice: the family's all together."

---A traditional grace from Celtic Daily Prayer

Happy Thanksgiving from the Southwestern Conference Youth Ministries Team!

Want to be an elf for a day?

Santa's Secret Shoppe
Saturday, December 10 8:30 am - 1 pm
Immanuel Lutheran Church, 556 East Second St., Jamestown

Joint Neighborhood Project is doing something special for children and their families--and they need the help of Lutheran Youth to make it happen!

At Santaʼs Secret Shoppe, children from low-income families will “shop” for donated gifts for parents and other significant adults in their lives.

Lutheran Youth in grades 7 and up are needed to accompany children through the shoppe, help them select gifts, and wrap presents. It is a practical way to demonstrate the love of Jesus around the conference. And itʼs pretty fun, too!

The Conference Youth Ministry Team will show you what to do, plus spring for pizza afterwards! RSVP to Ian at (716) 720-8584 or ifeastman@yahoo.com.

I received a note today from Barb Hungerford, executive director of Joint Neighborhood Project. In addition to volunteers, JNP is also looking for some donations for Santa's Secret Shoppe:

• Donations of new or gently used gifts for men and women:
• Suggestions for women include dish towels, wallets, purses, perfume, jewelry, notepaper, slippers, nick nacks, bath products, and fleece blankets.
• Suggestions for men include sports related gifts, small tool sets, calculators, flashlights, snacks (soda, chips, nuts, etc.), new socks, pen sets, automotive items, and flip flops.
• Donations of Christmas cookies, wrapping paper, tape, gift bags, and gift boxes.
• Contributions are welcomed so that we can buy gifts that kids will purchase for their parents.

So there are a few ways youth and churches can help out with this event.

Southwest Conference Youth Ministries Team forming

I was blessed to be part of two special events for youth last weekend: an overnighter at Saint Timothy's and the Captive Free concert at Bethel (Jamestown). What made them so special? First of all, both were very well organized, and second, both events were open to other churches in the conference. As a result, youth from SLYM and First Lutheran took part along with young people from Saint Timothy's and Bethel. The youth enjoyed spending time with peers from other churches and I can personally attest as a youth worker how much I enjoyed bringing youth to some ready-made events. (And I will return the favor, too.) There are truly some wonderful opportunities happening for fellowship, sharing, and learning.

Speaking of which, the new Conference Youth Ministry Team is forming--and we want YOU to be a part of it!


It is for young people in grades 9 – 12 and caring adults, too. We're getting together this Saturday, November 19 from 9:00am - 11 am at First Lutheran Church, 120 Chandler St., Jamestown, to get acquainted and get input into what kind of events we'll put on over the next few months. Come check it out and decide if you want to share your gifts as part of the team!

Your voice matters--and we're a group that can make it happen.

Contact Ian Eastman if you have any questions: (716) 720-8584 or ifeastman@yahoo.com.

P.S. By the way--please pass along this invite if you know of a young person or adult who wants to be a part of some exciting ministry in the conference!

Life support

Two are better than one,
because they have a good return for their labor:
If either of them falls down,
one can help the other up.
But pity anyone who falls
and has no one to help them up.
Also, if two lie down together, they will keep warm.
But how can one keep warm alone?
Though one may be overpowered,
two can defend themselves.
A cord of three strands is not quickly broken.
-- Ecclesiastes 4:9-12 (NIV)

"Who is your support system?" was the question put to us late in the week during continuing education at Princeton Theological Seminary. The nature of ministry (as in any helping profession) can be isolating some times. It is common to get so focused on helping others that we neglect to help ourselves sometimes. Appropriate work/life balance, regular rest and recreation, and nurturing relationships all make a big difference. We know that in a time of great crisis and tragedy one of the greatest predictors of recovery is the number of good quality relationships one has. Friends help us bounce back.

It was an interesting exercise, because really, I don't think I've ever made a list of friends and family. Why would I? Relationships just happen, right? I guess the point of the assignment was to think out how intentionally I carved out time and space in my life for people that matter. Not being a social butterfly, I was happy to note that I have a diverse group of supportive friends. I had spent time recently with many on the list. Others, I was sad to realize, I haven't kept in touch with as diligently as I should.

One of my classmates mused aloud, "Who are the people who will be at my funeral?" The words turned out to be somewhat prophetic as I returned home shortly after my brother's death. In my case, many dear friends were there at my brother's funeral to help and show support.

So who is your support group? Who are you supporting? It's worth thinking about. You don't need to be an EMT to offer "life support."

On sharing the gospel

Jim Kast-Keat has such an important reminder for those who minister to youth:

"While I might remember the things I teach...my students will remember the person who taught it. They will remember me long after they remember the words I said. The gospel can never be contained by the words I say but by the trust-centered faith I show my students."

There is much more worth reading and pondering in his article at Immerse Journal. Read it here.

Two great events for youth happening this week!

I don't need to tell you that youth ministry can take a lot of time and effort. So I'd like to remind you about 2 events coming up this week that can save you both. Best of all, these events are happening right here in the Southwestern Conference.

#1. The Youth Group at St. Timothy's Lutheran Church has a Lock-In coming up this Friday, Nov. 11. Details here.

#2. Bethel Lutheran Church (Jamestown) is hosting Captive Free, a contemporary Christian band, this Saturday, Nov. 12. Details here.

It's not too late to involve your youth... These are both ready-made events for churches to collaborate on. It's this kind of cooperation that will benefit youth from throughout the Southwest Conference! And make the lives of caring adults easier by saving us time and effort!

P.S. Remember LCLC's Advent Retreat is coming up next month. Details here.

Middle School on This American Life

It's Saturday morning and I'm easing into my weekend by catching up on podcasts as I cook breakfast. PRI's This American Life offers a fascinating look into the middle school experience. Insightful and worth a listen, but hurry, because I don't think the online link will be up for long.

SLYM Food Drive for Joint Neighborhood Project

The 2nd annual Shared Lutheran Youth Ministry Food Drive for Joint Neighborhood Project is going on through Nov. 9. You can make a donation in the collection boxes this Sunday at Bethel Lutheran Church, First Lutheran Church, Holy Trinity Lutheran Church, and Immanuel Lutheran Church. On Thursday evening, Nov. 10, the youth group will gather at JNP to fill the pantry with the all food we've collected! Helping the community can be a lot of fun, as the video below demonstrates!

November Youth News from around the conference

The vision of Southwest Conference Youth Ministries is that "every ELCA congregation in the Southwest Conference will collaborate together to benefit our youth, sharing knowledge and resources, using best practices." 

Get involved: The Southwest Conference Youth Ministries Planning Team is forming. It is for young people in grades 9 – 12 and caring adults, too. We're getting together at First Lutheran in Jamestown on Saturday, November 19 at 9am to get acquainted and get input into what kind of events we'll put on over the next few months. Come check it out and decide if you want to share your gifts as part of the team!

Get resources: Have you heard about the Practice Discipleship project? It's an online series of trainings being put on by the ELCA Youth Ministry Network and the ELCA Youth Gathering. The webinars are intended to "equip adults to do excellent ministry with young people." Authentically Lutheran and eminently practical, these twice-monthly trainings are of interest to youth workers, Sunday School teachers, and chaperones to next summer's Youth Gathering. And did we mention they're FREE? Sign up at: http://www.elcaymnet.org/ELCATrainingOverview

Get inspired: Our new conference youth website is live! Always know about the many exciting events happening around the conference, like the upcoming Captive Free concert at Bethel (Jamestown), lock-in at St. Timothy's, and the new Advent Retreat at LCLC. Browse a large selection of theologically sound and research based topics, too. Check it out at: http://younglutherans.blogspot.com/

Contact: Ian Eastman, Southwest Conference Youth Ministries Coordinator

Phone: 720-8584, Email: ifeastman@yahoo.com

Look what's happening during November at SLYM

The Shared Lutheran Youth Ministry is a youth group for grades 5 - 12 that meets in the Jamestown, NY area. It is a cooperative effort of Bethel Lutheran Church, First Lutheran Church, Holy Trinity Lutheran Church, Immanuel Lutheran Church, and GA Family Services. If you know of a young person who would benefit from its mixture of faith formation, recreation, and service learning, please send them along!

Here is a link to the November 2011 schedule for SLYM:

Open publication - Free publishing - More lutheran

Lock-in at St. Tim's!

The Youth Group at St. Timothy's Lutheran Church has a Lock-In coming up--and they are inviting other churches around the Southwestern Conference to take part!

Youth Lock-in
St. Timothy's Lutheran Church
3748  Route 430, Bemus Point, NY   14712
Begins: Friday, Nov. 11 at 7pm
Ends: Saturday, Nov. 12 at 8am

Ann McKillip, youth director, says: "The event is for 7th grade and up. The evening will include a variety of things like worship and music, games, movies & Bible studies. Bring pillows and sleeping bags, too.  St. Tim's is providing pizza on Friday night and breakfast the next morning."

Ann asks that any youth groups attending bring an adult to help supervise and some snacks and drinks to share. Please let her know by November 9 if your youth group is planning on coming and how many youth to plan for.  You can email Ann here or call her at 716-664-5529.

This Lock-In, along with the Captive Free concert at Bethel, are both ready-made events for churches to collaborate. It's this kind of cooperation that will benefit youth from throughout the Southwest Conference!

Hot, cool & just right

We knew something was up when Eli, my five-year old nephew, wanted his hair combed by Nigel, my fourteen-year old son. Grooming and appearance had never been a priority for Eli before, outside of Halloween, but there he was holding out a comb in the midst of getting ready for day camp.  "Make sure you comb mine just like you comb your hair," said Eli. "I want it to look good for the ladies." This caused a lot of laughter before he was off to Chapman Dam.

Great-grandma was waiting for him when he got back. Over an afternoon snack, she asked him how he enjoyed camp. Eli said, "I had fun in the sand and in the water. Oh, and I asked a girl to marry me." When asked why he wanted to get married, he got a broad grin and answered, "I like everything about her—even her brother!" Great-grandma asked him how the girl responded to his proposal. Eli was disappointed that she didn't reply to him. So, he said, "I told her she was hot." (He heard it on a TV show and thought it sounded good.)

When Great-grandma regained her composure, she patiently explained to him that maybe a better place to start would be to tell her that he thought she was nice or fun. Telling a person they are "hot" or commenting on their appearance can put them on the spot and embarrass them. Maybe he should just say tomorrow that he wanted to be friends. I haven't received a wedding invitation from Eli, so I assume that he took his grandma's advice.

A few days later we noticed something different was up with Eli. A generally affectionate kid, we were used to being greeted with a friendly hug when we saw him. The girls in the family would even get a peck on the cheek. But he started sidestepping people and announcing, "I don't do hugs anymore." Turns out that he heard that from a "cool older kid" and he wanted to be "cool like him." Great-grandma brought some wise advice once again during snack time. She explained to him that cool people are comfortable being themselves, not trying to be someone else—so a cool person would never be embarrassed showing affection to the people he loved. So Eli decided he was cool right then and there and the hugs resumed.

A really satisfying part of my work at my day job--Family Services of Warren County--is working with men who batter and otherwise abuse their partners. Many of the men are resistant to the group at the beginning, but talking about a better way to have relationships gradually transforms their thinking. I can't tell you how many times over the last five years that men have told me, "I wish I would have learned this stuff in school." I suggest that learning about relationships can start even earlier than that, and in fact already does: right in our homes. Kids learn the good, the bad, and the ugly about how people treat each other by watching us adults!

There's also some important un-learning that can go on in the home, too, as demonstrated by Eli and his Great-grandma. Messages and values portrayed on TV and in pop culture can be engaged critically, like when grandma and Eli had a conversation about the "she was hot" comment. This same kind of conversation can happen about role models and peers, too. Come to think about it, Eli has a pretty good role model in his Great-grandma. She has a 70-year head start in relating to people and won't steer him wrong!

Get your Bon-Ton Coupon Book Now

This in from Tara Eastman, Youth & Family Director at First Lutheran:

In July 2012, twelve youth and five adults will be traveling to the Youth Gathering in New Orleans. Fundraisers will be our main resource in achieving the goal of making this trip.

Until November 10th, First Lutheran and Holy Trinity will be selling coupon books for Bon-Ton "Community Days" for $5.00 each. These coupon books are worth up to $200.00 at Bon-Ton during their holiday kick-off sale on November 11th and 12th. The $5.00 donation will fully go to our cause to raise funds for this upcoming summer mission trip. We currently need help selling coupon books in the store on Nov. 4th from 6-8pm, and Nov. 5th 10am-noon. If you would like to help volunteer on these days or assist in selling booklets, please call 664-4601 or 969-3950.

Thank you for your support of this life-changing ministry and mission experience for our youth!

4 Easy Steps to Ensure Teens Can't Stand You

Autumn is a time of new beginnings and experiences for young people. Maybe you're done got yourself roped into helping out with teenagers--teaching Sunday School, organizing youth group, or leading a choir. Here's a sure-fire way to make sure that no one ever asks you to invest this kind of time and effort in youth again. I call it:

4 EASY STEPS TO ENSURE TEENS CAN'T STAND YOU

# 1. Prejudge them by the clothes they wear, where they live, and their family history. Repeating the mantra "the apple doesn't fall far from the tree" ensures that you'll always know what to expect out of each teen right from the get go. Assume that kids from good homes never have real problems and that kids from bad ones are nothing but problems.

#2. Rib, cajole and tease them about every awkward step they take. There's a lot of literature out there about the profound changes a teen experiences on the journey from childhood to fully functioning adult, but who really reads that stuff? Poking fun at the teen drama puts youth back in their place and lets you have some peace and quiet. Demeaning nicknames do the trick, too.

#3. Keep them as passive as possible. Youth get too out of control otherwise. You're the grownup--that means you're the one with the knowledge and experience. Always tell them what to do, never show them what to do. And for goodness sake, don't ever let them experiment or try to learn something on their own!

#4. Assume that youth are only interested in sleeping in, eating pizza, and texting. If you have high expectations for young people, you'll only be disappointed.

These four easy steps, applied consistently, will ensure that teenagers will be groaning when they see you coming in no time. Heck, they may even hate you! Of course, you could--#1) get to know them personally  #2) reassure them that they're normal  #3) help them learn what they're good at  &  #4) show them that they can make a difference in this community--but then they may begin to like you and maybe even ask you to help out again next year!

Really listen

Last week I reviewed Jim Hancock's How to Volunteer Like a Pro. I wanted to include this poem from his book, but didn't have the space. I think it has a lot to say to about relationships to parents, volunteers, and anyone who works with youth:

Listen

You wanna know how I'm doing?

Don't ask.

Seriously.

Don't ask if you're not ready to listen.

Don't say, "How you doin'?"

I'll just say, "Fine."

It's the answer I'm trained to give

––whether it's true or not.

A shallow answer

to a shallow question.

Most people don't really wanna know;

they assume I know they're just being polite.

I don't think that's polite at all.

Short questions get short answers.

You wanna know how I'm doing?

Ask what I've been up to;

what I'm working on;

what's up with my family.

If you're asking me (and I sensed you were),

most of the best questions don't have question marks:

"Tell me about your sister."

"I'd like to hear about your job."

"Tell me how you felt."

"Tell me what you mean."

"I'd like to know more about that."

You wanna know how I feel when

You ask questions that way?

I feel included.

I feel cared for.

I feel like I belong.

Please…

if you already know the answer,

it's not really a question, is it…

––it's a test.

Please don't do that to me.

(I hate tests.)

Don't make me look foolish.

Don't trick me.

Don't use me to

make a point.

If you're serious,

ask what I think,

ask how I feel,

ask an honest question,

and wait for my honest answer.

Learn from silence.

If I don't answer right away

––if the silence goes on too long—

ask what that means.

Maybe I'm embarrassed.

Maybe I didn't understand the question.

(Maybe you weren't clear.)

Maybe I'm thinking (and wouldn't that be nice).

You wanna know how I'm doing?

Sometimes I'm sad

because life is confusing

and painful,

and we both know

there's nothing you can do to fix that.

It's okay. I'll be fine…truly.

That doesn’t mean I don't want you to check.

Give me a chance to tell you when I'm fine,

and maybe I'll tell you when I'm not.

Don't take my first response

at face value.

Listen with your eyes:

Do I look like I'm doing all right?

Listen with your heart: Do you believe my answer?

With the very best motives

––sometimes with the worst––

I'm capable of every kind of deceit.

Just like you.

Don't ask me to do what you won't.

If you wanna know my story,

tell me yours.

Let me know I'm safe––

let me know you're not perfect either.

When I believe that,

I'll talk your ear off.

Taken from How to Volunteer Like a Pro by Jim Hancock. Copyright © 2009 by Jim Hancock. Used by permission of Zondervan, www.zondervan.com.

Captive Free in concert

An event for the young perople in grades 4-12 is being sponsored by Bethel Lutheran Church in Jamestown. Captive Free, a relational music ministry team sponsored by Youth Encounter, will present an evening of experiential worship on Saturday, November 12, at 7pm. Bring a friend and join us for this faith-encouraging program of music and personal sharing. Captive Free ministers in churches, schools, assisted living homes, detention centers, and Christian youth conferences across the country.

Bethel is inviting all the other churches in the Southwest Conference to take part. A free-will offering will be collected--personal care items or gas cards for the band are appreciated, too. Jennifer Spacht at Bethel says "It would be a BIG help if attending churches brought some goodies for each event. Pop or Juice, cups, small snack size plates and napkins, and a few small snack-type dishes or bagged treats (chips, etc.) to pass would be great! As the event gets closer, please let me know how many you expect to attend from your church, just so I get a rough number."

Bethel Lutheran Church is located at 904 West 3rd Street in Jamestown.

New Advent Retreat being offered at LCLC

Lake Chautauqua Lutheran Center is offering something new for campers in 4th – 9th grade! From LCLC Executive Director Lee Lindeman: "Can’t wait for the March Winter Retreat to get back to LCLC? Do you enjoy the seasons of Advent and Christmas? What better way to combine all that you love about LCLC with the excitement of this special time of the church year."

The LCLC Advent Retreat, December 2-4, includes:

• Advent Bible Studies and Worship
• Reconnecting with old camp friends and making new ones
• Campfires, Advent Crafts, Cookie Decorating
• Christmas Carols
• Games and Hikes
• Great Food and Snacks

The retreat begins with registration at 7:00 p.m. Friday night and ends at 11:00 a.m. Sunday. Cost is $85/person (includes a $10 non-refundable deposit) for programming, great meals, delicious snacks, and lodging. Registration deadline is November 28, 2011.

In the hustle and bustle towards Christmas, we often seem to experience more "Black Friday" than Advent awareness. This looks to be a promising new tradition that may help reverse that trend. For more information or to register, check out the LCLC website.

How to Volunteer like a Pro

A volunteer at Shared Lutheran Youth Ministry once told me, "I didn't know what the kids would make of me. I wasn't sure if we would have anything in common." I have heard many potential volunteers for youth verbalize the same thing over the years. They worry that they aren't cool enough or are out of touch with the latest technology and trends.

A long time ago I realized that an adult can never be as cool or trendy as a teenager, so there's no point in trying. But we can be present and attentive to youth and be genuinely interested in their lives. One of the best volunteers I ever had simply greeted young people when they showed up to group. He became one of the most beloved members of the youth program, with kids opening up about how they were doing at school and home.

In the past, the elders of the community were revered for their knowledge. The technology of modern times often has inverted the ages, with younger people demonstrating the greatest knowledge. But life is more than the latest gadget—there is still a whole host of wisdom and experience that adults have to share with youth. There are many wonderful initiatives serving youth throughout the conference that would benefit from the interest and attention of some adults. Don’t serve as you can’t—serve as you can!

"Amateurs do what they do because they love it," writes Jim Hancock in his book How to Volunteer Like a Pro: An Amateur's Guide for Working with Teenagers. "Amateurs are responsible for Wikepedia, Linux, and Firefox; amateurs conduct search-and-rescue operations and knock down structural fires in small towns; Olympic-class athletes—most of them—are amateurs. That's the sense in which I think of volunteer youth workers as amateurs, and in that sense the title 'amateur youth worker' is in no way second-class."

A rural conference like ours really owes a debt of gratitude to the many volunteers who benefit youth with their time and expertise. Often they have to learn as they go and training opportunities aren't always plentiful. A great place to start expanding their knowledge base is this book. Jim Hancock, its author, benefits the reader with anecdotes from his two decades experience in youth ministry. His writing is accessible and to-the-point.

From relating to kids and families, to organizing events, to emergency situations like hospital visits and bereavement, How to Volunteer Like a Pro is a concise guide to a number of topics. I recommend this resource for youth workers and Sunday school volunteers. I always try to get a copy in the hands of my volunteers at SLYM!