The Advent season begins this Sunday, December 1st.  The Regional Youth Council invites you to journey through Advent with them.  They created an Advent devotional using the traditional themes of Advent, Hope, Peace, Joy, and Love and responded to a question for each week.

• How or where are you finding hope in difficult and uncertain times?

• With the busy holiday season and the stresses of everyday life, how or where are you experiencing peace?

• How or where are you experiencing joy even when facing trials or challenges?

• Focusing on love as a verb, how will you demonstrate Jesus-like love during Advent?

• How or where are you experiencing light as we celebrate the birth of Jesus this year? How are you called to be light in your communities?

This devotional is written for youth and adults. The RYC has offered their experiences and thoughts as an entry point for Advent. They pray that your experience of Advent and Christmas will inspire, inform, empower, and equip you to love and serve like Jesus in the coming year.

Click here to download your PDF copy today as you prepare to watch for a star, listen for the chorus, and travel with the shepherds to go and see.

May God bless you and keep you.
May the light of the star illumine your path.
May the spirit of Christmas be birthed within you anew.
Remember and light the path for another.

The Regional Youth Council (RYC) serves on behalf of Oklahoma Disciples’ children and youth. As the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) in Oklahoma evolves and adapts to address the issues and definition of community of our time, the RYC represents the best of lessons from the past, is active in the present, imagines a future for the Church’s youth and children’s ministry, and sets a path toward that future. RYC members serve a two-year term and often a third year.  They represent congregations that are active in Regional life through their participation in camp, retreats, leadership, and giving to the Disciples Mission Fund and other special day offerings.

Derek, Leah Grace, Jonah, and Luke are returning to RYC. Darby, Tabitha, and Brooke are beginning their first year on RYC.  They applied to serve this spring and their applications were affirmed by RYC graduating seniors and adult sponsors in May. RYC applications are available from February 1 to April 15 each year.  RYC members are installed at CYF Conference.

RYC is guided by several adults who volunteer alongside these young leaders.
RYC Sponsors: Eula, Shannon, Tara, and Michael.

Derek
Crown Heights Christian Church
Oklahoma City

I am a senior at Piedmont High School. I play the clarinet in the Pride of Piedmont marching band. This is my last year as a member of RYC. I will be 18 on October 9th. I have my own car. This summer I went to South Padre Island for vacation. My things to do for fun this summer were go bowling, swimming, playing video games, and just relaxing.   

Jonah
First Christian Church
El Reno

I’m a junior at El Reno High and play baseball. I love getting involved by serving in my community with the Blessing Baskets organization. I also love spending time with my family and my two dogs. RYC has given me many opportunities to serve as a leader and have fun with the rest of the Oklahoma Region.

Leah Grace
Forest Park Christian Church
Tulsa

I’m a senior this year and I’m so glad to be a part of Regional Youth Council! This is my second year on Regional Youth Council. I’m also a section leader for my school’s marching band. RYC really gave me an opportunity to learn and showcase leadership skills that can help me in all settings, and I’m so excited for this year!

Luke
First Christian Church
Duncan

I am a Senior at Empire City Public Schools.  I joined the Regional Youth Council in 2023.  I’ve attended church camps since I was 7 years old.  I love science fiction, my dog, and showing goats. I’m a Junior Deacon at First Christian Church, Duncan, OK.   I would be happy to talk with you about Star Wars, video games, and movie trivia. In my spare time I enjoy playing video games, draw pictures, play with my dog, care for the farm animals and annoying my younger sister.  Regional Youth Council is awesome!

Brooke
Central Christian Church
Enid

Church camp is one of my favorite things and I look forward to every summer. I love it and cannot wait for next year to see my friends from all over the State again. I’m a sophomore at Enid High School. I love singing and I am a part of my high school’s concert choir. Most of my time is spent watching sports because I am an athletic trainer for all athletics at Enid High School. In my free time I do arts, crafts, read at times, and like every other teenager sit on my phone. I look forward  to serving on Regional Youth Council this year.

First Year Member of RYC.

Darby
Crown Heights Christian Church
Oklahoma City

I am a sophomore at Piedmont high school and play flute in the band, the Pride of Piedmont.  I played softball for ten years before I hung up my cleats to focus completely on music.  I have a dog named Jewel and she has an Instagram account that I run! In my free time I like to paint, draw, or watch videos on my phone. My favorite food is grilled salmon and I will eat it anywhere I can. 

First Year Member of RYC

Tabitha
Harvard Ave. Christian Church
Tulsa

I attend Harvard Avenue Christian Church in Tulsa, Oklahoma. I am 16 years old, and a rising junior at Booker T Washington High School. I am a member of the BTW swim team, National Honor Society, and the Teen Advisory Board for the
Laboratory for the Adolescent Brain. I enjoy reading, writing, and working with my Youth Group.

First Year Member of RYC.