Another edition of the Children, Youth, and Young Adult Intersection went out to subscribers on October 1. Did you miss it? Subscribe today to connect to all things about our ministries with ages K-35 year olds. Read this month’s issue.
Is there another way to re-frame our view of the other, our congregation, youth group, person in the opposite political party, or reading of the biblical text? Our culture is caught up in 2 dimensional thinking, governing, religious ritual, and survival mode. The characteristics of our current politics is evidence that we’ve become more transactional and less transformational since 2000. There are some simple ‘right and wrong’ actions in our culture, but followers of Jesus are called to live in the messy balancing act of ‘love your neighbor as yourself.’ That’s the kin-dom of God in our midst and not yet fully known. Some days we are better at recognizing the kin-dom than others. There is so much noise competing for our eyes, hands, and thought. It seems to me we need 3-dimensional thinking that speaks a vision of tomorrow together, AND solves a few of the bigger problems of ‘Now.’ Maybe that means seeing the ripples.
The ripples
Every decision we make changes things. The people we befriend, the examples we set, the problems we solve…
Sometimes, if we’re lucky, we get to glimpse those ripples as we stand at the crossroads. Instead of merely addressing the urgency of now, we can take a moment to focus on how a quiet insight, overlooked volunteer work, or a particularly welcome helping hand moves so many people forward. For generations.
How did you get to where you are? Who is going to go even further because of you?
Thank you for passing it forward.
When you think about how you participate in your youth group, congregation, school, or community who is going to go even further because of the kin-dom ripples you’ve allowed to act upon you; and those ripples you’ve begun?
Keep on being a blessing Disciples.
Planning for our Summer Camp program has already begun! There are many pieces to fit together to make the summer camp season a success. The Region does not own a camp and conference facility so a part of the puzzle is securing dates at the sites that the Region uses to host our program. The Summer Ministry Team is excited to announce the dates for summer camp.
Chi Rho Camp @ Oakridge Camp & Conference
June 5-9
Junior Camp @ Central Christian Camp
June 19-23
Discovery Camp @ Central Christian Camp
June 23-25
CYF Conference @ Central Christian Camp
June 26-30
Grand Camp @ Camp Christian
July 17-21
Our partners in ministry at Texoma Christian Camp are also ready to announce 2017 Summer Camp dates.
Texoma Camp Week
June 15-22
Water Weekend @ Texoma Camp
July 28-30
Visit the Families and Youth webpage to connect with our program ministries. ‘Like’ the Region’s Facebook Page
Camp Directors will be announced by December 1.
Mission work is local and global. And maybe, it’s not so much mission as much as helping a neighbor in need. Disciples are known for lending a hand in our local communities and in far off places too.
First Christian Church in El Reno is helping a local resident with some needed home repair and painting. Pastor Tara Dew took a few photos of the beginning work of scraping the house.
First Christian Church in Tulsa celebrated the installation of Rev. Susan Payne during worship on Sunday, September 11. She joins the staff to serve as Minister of Administration. Rev. Michael Davison, Associate Regional Minister, led the covenant of installation liturgy for the congregation and staff.
Rev. Payne joins Associate Ministers Rev. Cassie Sexton-Riggs and Rev. Joshua Toulouse alongside Sr. Minister Rev. Michael Riggs in serving the congregation and downtown Tulsa.
The latest edition of the CYYA Intersection went out on September 1. Each month this publication is sent out to those interested in connecting to this shared ministry for K-35 year olds. The CYYA Intersection tells Disciples stories and provide resources for those that work and service this missional age group in our congregations.
If you would like to receive this monthly publication, use the ‘subscribe’ link in the top left of the window when you read the CYYA Intersection. Click here to read the latest edition.
Each month the Northwest Area ministers and congregations receive a short newsletter emailed with news and information. Click here to read the Northwest Area Synopsis.
Do you subscribe to the Children, Youth, and Young Adult Intersection? Each month a short eNews is emailed to the Region’s email list from our Mailchimp program. Not a subscriber? No problem. Click here to read the latest issue.
IAS is a study trip experience for CYF age youth in grades 11-12. This trip has become very popular in the past
5 years, and usually sells out the day registration opens. Amazing! The Registration Link will open at 9am on Monday, August 1. Yes, that is tomorrow.
Visit the Event Registration webpage and scroll down the page to find the link for Oklahoma registration.
IAS 2017 is limited to 25 youth that will be accompanied by 5-6 adults that serve as conversation partners, guides, and co-learners about the study topic.
Last week the summer camp season began with Heifer Week. Rev. Paul Ragle (FCC Stroud) led the group this year. Youth in grades 7-10 along with three adults spent time learning about how citizens of other countries live, by living and working in similar conditions.
This week Kairos Campers (grades 4-8) are enjoying the balmy summer heat at Camp Christian. Rev. Will Smith (FCC Wagoner) and Rev. Cassie Sexton-Riggs (FCC Tulsa) are directing this week. Please keep Kairos Camp youth and the adult volunteers in your prayers.
This Friday, Discovery Camp @ Central Christian Camp begins for its weekend run and on June 20, Junior Camp begins. The week of June 27 is the last week of summer camp. Chi Rho Camp @ Oakridge Camp will begin and CYF Conference @ Central Christian Camp will begin.
Visit the Families and Youth page to connect to all the opportunities and stories about the Region’s programatic ministry with Children and Youth.