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Clover Youth News
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Q UOTE OF THE MONTH:
"A Mighty Fortress is our God, a trusty shield and
weapon;
He helps us free from every need That hath us now
o'er-taken."
(Martin Luther)
THIS MONTH @ thESource
. . . "LIFE AFTER YOUTH GROUP" . . .
Feature articles: "Before You Go" by DCE Tommy Moll and
"Where are you going?" by DCE Heath Lewis. With a new Bible study,
"When I Grow Up: Preparing for the Future while Living in the Present"
by DCE Emily Norman and a new Apologia talk sheet on Vocation, by
seminarian Chris Mizel. Check this and regular features at
www.youthESource.com <http://www.youthesource.com/>
.
REGISTRATION IS OPEN ONLINE FOR
"YOUTH MINISTRY 2009"
January 9-11, 2009
Check the Web site:
http://www.lcms.org/pages/default.asp?NavID=13712 A
conference brochure has been sent to all LCMS congregations.
Search Institute is releasing a major new study on adolescent
spirituality in fall 2008. In an age of "spiritual diversity"
where everyone's "religion" is accepted and tolerated, how do Lutherans
respond and provide appropriate "catechesis" to our youth and young
adults? Make plans to attend. The conference will again take
place in Houston at the J.W. Marriott (Galleria) at a rate of $99 per
night, single, double, triple or quad. Room reservations can be made at
1-800-228-9290 or online at www.jwmarriotthouston.com <http://www.jwmarriotthouston.com/>
. Housing cutoff date is December 27, 2008.
NATIONAL LUTHERAN YOUTH WORKERS CONFERENCE 2009
Make plans now to join fellow youth workers in New
Orleans, July 16-19, 2009. National is a great event for learning
and training, for spiritual renewal, for networking with fellow youth
workers, to celebrate who we are in Lutheran Youth Ministry and, in
2009, to become acquainted with the city that will host the 2010
National LCMS Youth Gathering. Web site and online registration
available soon.
NATIONAL LCMS YOUTH GATHERING
Check out the latest development for the 2010 Youth
Gathering by going to the Web site:
www.lcmsgathering.com <http://www.lcmsgathering.com/>
. Among other things, you can find links to information about how
New Orleans fared through hurricane Gustav.
SERVANT EVENTS 2009
Site locations are going up on the Web. Check the
youth ministry Web site.
http://www.lcms.org/ca/dcs/SERVevents/sehome.asp
LUTHERAN YOUTH FELLOWSHIP HANDBOOK
HAS TONS OF PRACTICAL INFORMATION FOR
ORGANIZING A YOUTH GROUP
Check out the revised Handbook written and edited by
Terry Dittmer. It can be yours for a $25.00 donation to "Lutheran
Youth Fellowship." Call us: 1-800-248-1930, ext. 1155. Email
us:
youth.ministry@lcms.org <mailto:youth.ministry@lcms.org>
. Or send us your check at LYF, 1333 South Kirkwood Road, St.
Louis, MO 63122.
DISCOVERY BIBLE STUDY
is now available for downloading from the DCS Online
store. Each DBS set includes 63 Bible studies for every Sunday in
the church year and major festivals. There are nine sets
available, three each on Old Testament lessons, New Testament lessons
and Gospel lessons. Check out the store at
http://www.lcms.org/ca/dcs/dcsstore/default.asp
TEENS AND TRENDS
RISING COSTS HIT TEENAGERS HARD
. . . Adults aren't the only ones feeling the affects of the economy. So
are teenagers. Many are changing their lifestyle choices to save money.
Since food and gas for the car are the two main spending items for
teenagers, many have stopped driving their cars, are taking the bus, and
are eating out less. According to a Teenage Research Unlimited survey,
teenagers said high gas prices were a major concern for them. Even
younger teenagers who didn't have a license yet said the high price of
gas was hurting them because their parents couldn't afford to buy them
the things they usually did in the past (Detroit News, June 18, 2008).
THE SCARIEST PART OF HALLOWEEN: SKIMPY
COSTUMES . . . Costumes that guys wear often
frighten people because of their violent, gory nature, but now many
parents are becoming concerned about the girl's costumes as well. Yes,
there are still princess and witch costumes, but those are becoming more
"sexy" featuring bare midriffs, halter-tops, miniskirts, and other
"revealing" aspects. "Halloween has become just an excuse for little
girls to dress like sluts," says Celia Rivenbark in Newsweek magazine
(Newsweek, November 5, 2007).
MOTIVATING TEENAGERS TO GET GOOD GRADES
. . . How do you encourage teenagers to get good
grades in school? Apparently many school districts are offering cash and
other incentives. In Atlanta, students can earn $8 an hour to attend a
15-week "Learn and Earn" after-school study program. In New York City,
kids can win as much as $500 for improving their test scores. Some are
lauding the programs, while others point to the dangers, saying that it
may help in the short term, but not in the long term (USA Today, January
28, 2008).
FINAL THOUGHTS
Does it make any difference that you are Lutheran? In
today's world, our teens would, if they are honest, probably say that it
doesn't make much difference to them. I would hope that it was
different. I wish I could tell you that from our confessional,
Lutheran position, our teens are totally on board. But it is far
more likely that a teen would tell you that it doesn't make any
difference whether you are Lutheran, Baptist, Catholic or go to a
non-denominational church. In fact, many would even include
non-Christian religions in that "it doesn't make a difference" column.
On the 2007 Lutheran Youth Fellowship Youth Poll, 17% of our teens said
"all religions are pretty much the same" and 52% said all Christian
denominations should be free to worship at each other's churches.
That is the message of the secular world we live in - that we are all
pretty much the same. And our youth seem to be falling into line
with the world.
I got to thinking about these things this month because it is October
and we celebrate the Reformation on the 31st. Luther boldly
declared to the world what we believe about God, His grace through Jesus
Christ, and His plan for life and living. We give thanks that God
has claimed us by the power of the Holy Spirit through the waters of
baptism and we celebrate God's love and forgiveness in the Lord's
Supper.
I believe we will also be challenged in the next few months with the
release of the Search Institute study of adolescent spirituality.
In this spiritually diverse age, our youth are challenged to deal with
the question, "Does it make any difference what you believe." We
would say "Yes," of course. But we have our work cut out for us as
we strive to train our young people in what we believe and why it is
important. Perhaps it is time for us to rediscover what it means to be
Lutheran, to give thanks to God for our Lutheran heritage and to
redouble our efforts to live, teach and confess the faith we have in
Christ, to celebrate the "Mighty Fortress" that our God is.
This month I pray you a Power-filled and Hope-full Reformation
Celebration!
-tkd |