posted on May 1, 2011 in News, Youth

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I woke ON my first morning in Mulanje to the blasting of country and gospel music. The flats where I am staying are for the single nursing and clinician residents — a bunch of 20 – somethings living in one place. Everyone knows what everyone is doing at all times, there is zero privacy (thank goodness I grew up in a big family and am used to this) and it’s just a big party. We all have our doors open in the evenings and greet each other as we pass by.

During my first two weeks here, I had no running water. I had to walk down the road to a manual water pump and stand in line with a group of Malawian women. When I tried to walk away with my water they all laughed at me because I couldn’t carry it on my head. I was so grateful when my water was finally fixed.

posted on September 1, 2010 in Youth

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I had been joyfully co-leading youth ministry in Kitchener, Ont., with my wife, when the unexpected happened. I began to feel that God was leading me away from my comfortable place to head out into something new, unknown, and perhaps even chaotic — to spearhead youth ministry with another congregation. I was terrified to leave the church that I had grown up in, where we had seen substantial growth with a spiritually committed group of young people who made doing youth ministry every week a joy. But the feeling was undeniable — I was being called away. This other congregation had not been able to get youth ministry off the ground the way they had wanted to. Their youth ministry was in need of an overhaul.

I remembered a book I read many years earlier, If You Want to Walk on Water You’ve Got to Get Out of the Boat. It was time for a leap of faith. I trusted that God had another special plan in store for all of us.

When I took the charge at St. Andrew’s, Guelph, Ont., it was difficult, at first, to plan any kind of programming with the sporadic attendance of less than five kids. The expectations were high — and my past experience so different. I realized programming wouldn’t be the starting block, so I got to work simply getting to know the kids and their families. In the meantime, I started to read up on how to get youth ministry off the ground. I picked up a book called Sustainable Youth Ministry. The author, Mark DeVries, goes into detail about the “roller-coaster” trend churches fall into with hiring youth leaders: the new “superstar” leader is tasked with the overwhelming mission of resurrecting the ministry — but generally with a limited (or nonexistent) volunteer base, and limited resources. The result: leader burn out. In less than two years the church is seeking a new youth leader and the cycle starts again. Dismounting this “roller coaster” involves crafting a vision for youth ministry created and endorsed by the church, empowering volunteers, and an appropriate budget to make youth ministry sustainable. I was hooked!

I passed the book on to others, starting the process of creating sustainable youth ministry. We formed a group (comprised of youth, volunteers, parents, session members, and the minister) to craft a vision for youth ministry, complete with a mission statement, values and achievable long-term goals (with yearly benchmarks). Volunteers were called and equipped as they found their place in youth ministry. Programs began to spring up that were in line with our values and goals. Attendance stabilized, and grew! The ministry began to unfold naturally.

While youth ministry is crazy and fun, there is an unshakable sense of shared purpose and vision in our ministry. Since beginning this process, our numbers have tripled, our programs have increased and more importantly we now have about a dozen committed volunteers.

Being called out of my comfort zone changed my life. It has been a great discovery about the nature of chaos in ministry, and the importance of creating sustainable foundations. More importantly, it was a moment of personal growth in faith. I love leading youth ministry, and am grateful for the community of faith in Guelph. It has been a life-changing experience I will never regret. I hope God finds no reluctance in me the next time I am invited to step out of the boat!

St. Andrew’s, Guelph, will be hosting the Shift Youth Ministry Leadership Conference on September 17-18, 2010. This conference is an excellent and affordable way for you to empower your volunteers and youth ministry professionals. The plenary speaker will be Mark DeVries. For more information please visit our website at experienceshift.ca or call 519-822-4772.

posted on September 1, 2009 in Youth

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I pray that out of his glorious riches he may strengthen you with power through his Spirit in your inner being, so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith. And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, may have power, together with all the saints, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ —Ephesians 3:16-18

Photos by Connie Purvis, Alex Luyckx and James McFarlane

Three Years of Wonder
Reflections on Canada Youth, past and present.
by Tajali Hall

Rooted
A theological perspective.
by Jeffrey R. Crawford

Allusions, codes, secrets
blogging at canada youth 2009.

Taking A Gamble
And keeping our promises.
by Derek Macleod

Showing Value
It’s not about showing off.
by Heather Paton

Now What?
You’re back; you’re pumped; now what should you do?
by Reuben St. Louis

Christine Walsh

Christina Gillard

posted on September 1, 2009 in Youth

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As I walked in to worship three years ago, all I could feel was excitement and anticipation for what was to come over the next five days. Then more than 500 youth started to sing, the cross at centre stage was illuminated, and my emotions changed instantly. I have had some wonderful spiritual experiences at Christian youth and leadership conferences throughout my life, but I can honestly say that I had never had the blessing of a single moment—of faith, of humility, of peace—like I experienced at worship that night. It was the spiritual encounter that would set the tone for the rest of my CY06 experience—and for the next several years of my life.

Canada Youth is unique in that it transforms a university campus into one big church. Because the conference track participants are required to stay on campus at all times during the event, CY becomes very much like its own society, with no influence from the outside world. It is very easy to feel a sense of fellowship—to forge and maintain deeply personal relationships with other youth there. It has been three years since I last attended CY, but I still talk to several of the people from my small group at CY06, and it was with great excitement that we even planned a mini-reunion of our 2006 group to occur this year at CY09. Even more important than the relationships built with people, however, was my relationship with God, which was strengthened greatly through CY. I came home with renewed faith and a heart full of love for my Lord and Saviour like I had never experienced before.

The effects of Canada Youth did not end for me when I returned home. A group of eight of us from various congregations throughout Calgary decided we wanted to take what we’d learned at CY and serve others in some form of ministry. With that goal in mind, we formed the youth worship band Blind Vision. For the next two years we played at churches and special events throughout Calgary and the surrounding area, including the Week of Prayer for Christian Unity, and our presbytery’s annual fall youth retreat.

Many people have heard that Canada Youth is a time of fun, laughter and friendship for young people from Presbyterian churches across the country. What they may not realize, however, is that it can also be one of the most powerful spiritual experiences of a youth’s life.

To the youth and young adults who have come home fresh from a “mountaintop” experience at CY09: don’t let that energy for God fade just because the event is over. Share that passion with your congregations, whether it is through a photo slideshow, a worship band, a youth service, or any other creative outlet that comes to mind.

posted on September 1, 2009 in Youth

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Young people are searching for identity, belonging and relationships; however, for the most part, they seem not to be doing this searching in the context of community that we commonly call “church.” Or at least not “church” as we know it. Therefore, in response to this challenge, the Canada Youth 2009 theme of Rooted emerged, both as a concept that could help us claim our faith in God, exploring the roots of who we are, and as a concept that could move our faith and the church forward. A young person’s ability to seek understanding about life in Christ and their journey with God was a fundamental principle throughout the week. The sense that God had laid a claim upon our lives: our living, our moving, our being and even our dying, was a drastically important reality for the participants who function in a strange world that is ever-morphing and changing, hour to hour, minute to minute and second to second.

The theme Rooted allowed us to think about faith in this current context, and what the future of faith might look like, strengthened by our understanding of the ways in which we have been rooted and grounded in love. The daily themes that we journeyed through during our time together in community were as follows:

We began with God who created the world and humanity in love and called them “good.” Believing that we are rooted in the Creator, we explored the initiative that God takes to be with us and for us from the beginning. Unpacking the stories of the creation of the world and humanity, we wrestled to understand what it means to be formed from the dust of the earth in a garden and named children of God. We were challenged to understand both who and whose we are.

Life is a journey with many twists and turns, some that shock and confuse us. Despite our best efforts to live up to the high calling of God in Christ Jesus, we often fall short and feel distant from God. At times we find ourselves and our communities Up-Rooted and we are left feeling separated from each other and from God. We sought to confront the realities of the world in which we live, a world that groans and yearns ever more frequently and loudly for re-creation.

Despite our moments of feeling out of place and separated from the Creator, God is at work. We explored the story of Mary, who finds herself weeping many tears and speaking with a gardener, who is God. We celebrated God’s work of love through Christ, who breaks into human history and transforms a tree of death into a Tree of Life. We celebrated the power that God, as Redeemer, has to transform, not only humanity, but also the whole created order.

Claiming the life and hope that we find in the resurrection, we are Re-Rooted. We shared in the reality that we are called and gifted to be the faithful community of believers. We explored what it means to be the church and how this affects and shapes our daily life and faith. What does it mean to be the family of God in our current world? How do we live a life of authentic faith amidst deep questions and doubts? Who are we called to be as the church?

In order to celebrate our calling to act as the church in the world, we are charged to Branch Out. We attempted to explore the realities of a God who creates a new heaven and a new earth; making all things new. Indeed the end is only the beginning of God’s work, so we are called to go forth out into the world to share that good news!

What an exciting journey we embarked upon as the people of God! As we celebrated the roots of our history, tended to the garden in the present and planted the seeds of hope for the future, we are thankful that we have a God who journeys with us. We are confident that God is still walking in the gardens of life and know that God “is able to accomplish abundantly far more than all we can ask or imagine.” Thanks be to God!

posted on September 1, 2009 in Youth

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Sarah Travis

Dustyn Frankcom

In the beginning, we travelled by bus for three hours singing the same five praise songs over and over again the entire ride. By the end of a road trip like that, you’re singing Days Of Elijah in your sleep … and tapping your feet … and the bruises from clapping your hands so long are still throbbing to the beat.

In the beginning the Lord said, “Let there be light.” But when I got to Brock University and approached the room I had been told was the place to worship, I was positive I was in the wrong place. Purple and blue light was streaming into the hall. I could hear music and noise.—Christina Gillard

★ ★ ★

Just as the doors to worship were supposed to open, one of the leaders popped his head out into the crowd that had gathered. And he said it would be another 15 minutes, disappointing the crowd. It was getting really hot in that area by this point. But then, through the dull roar of various conversations came the sounds of a familiar song. Someone had started singing a praise song. Soon other voices started joining in, and then almost everyone close to the doors was singing. Impromptu worship is often the best kind: unplanned, Spirit-led, good.—Alex Luyckx

“When you look up at the sky tonight and see a star explode, remember that all that matter doesn’t just cease to exist,” said Rev. Derek Macleod. “All the blood and matter that makes you up used to be a star. Did you know that? Maybe that’s why our hearts bound when we look up at the sky.

“So CY09, tonight look up at the stars. Look in the mirror. Look at someone new. And not this week, but in the weeks to come, look at someone you hate. And make a bold statement of faith: ‘It is good.’”­­—Connie Purvis

★ ★ ★

Tuesday we found our small groups, and asked each other questions, played name games, and discussed how we felt about last night’s service. We also discussed the aspect of “the Beginning” but sadly many of the questions were answered with silence. A few others and I tried to get some conversation going, and failed, and quickly gave up. (No one wants to seem like the over eager go-getter.)—Christina

★ ★ ★

Jess Powers, in her drama last night asked us, do you know where you came from? Do you know where you are going? There is no map of life for us to follow, we blindly look toward the future, praying, hoping and trying for good things. Do we ever really know what path of life we will walk down? Will it be a leisurely stroll, or a quick paced race? Only time will tell, and our faith will guide us.—Leila Paugh

★ ★ ★

Everywhere there is an allusion, a code, a secret to be found. Songs about heartbreak aren’t just songs, they are the pain. A song about secrets isn’t just a song, it’s a secret unto itself. It showed that many of the things we fear are the same as those of the person sitting next to us. We all fear failure because it is inevitable. We fear disappointing our parents because we all have a deep desire to make them proud. The biggest secret of all is that none of us are alone.—Christina

★ ★ ★

Brenden Sheratt

“I have seen the risen Lord.” A powerful statement from Sarah Travis as she boldly stood at the front of worship and told us her heartbreaking story. Her son Sam died on his third birthday after three liver transplants. And when she questioned God heading home after Sam’s death, God told her, “I too have lost a son.” Her story then turned empowering.

Sarah focused on what to do next. The family decided to donate to a hospital in Jobat, India, where the need is great. She turned tragedy into beauty. I have seen the risen Lord. I see his work through Sarah.—Leila

★ ★ ★

Sarah Travis came up to me at lunch today and asked me, with a joking smile on her face, what’s the deal with me Twittering during her sermon? I told her I thought it brought people from around the world into her sermon. She smiled and said to keep doing it.­—Brenden Sherratt

★ ★ ★

Today was a sad day, but also a happy day. Sad, because everyone had to leave their newly-found friends. Happy because they have the chance to keep in touch with them via e-mail and/or phone and/or Facebook.—Dustyn Frankcom

★ ★ ★

CY had its ups, its downs, its turn-arounds, but I will not forget the lessons it has taught me. To love. And to inspire, and to grow through the roots in my Lord and my Saviour. Praise my God because I know now that through Him I can be the change I wish to see in the world. And through His love, we are all able.

So I say farewell to CY.

In hopes that I can reach the next rung, and grow a new branch. At CY12.—Christina

All of these blogs can be found here

A tweet from the service: There is nothing we can do to make God love us more or less … We don’t have to do anything to keep His love … It just is. ­—Brenden

posted on September 1, 2009 in Blogs, Youth

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posted on September 1, 2009 in Youth

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“We are fools for Christ,” Paul writes to the community in Corinth, which I understand as a reference to the leaps of faith we are called to take and the risks we are asked to make when following Christ and loving others in His name. This great gamble is especially evident in our ministry with youth.

It starts at the font (as all things do in this Christian life of ours) when the child is brought to the family tub to be washed and welcomed. Every baptismal liturgy contains what is referred to us as the Declaration and Welcome which will either be a passage from scripture: “See what love God has given us that we should be called children of God; and that is what we are,” (1 John 3:1); or words inspired by scripture: “According to Christ’s appointment this child is now called to confess the faith of Christ crucified and risen and to remain his faithful servant all the days of their life.”

Those are quite the expectations to have for someone usually still in diapers. Doesn’t it strike you as a rather audacious act for us, frail flesh that we all are, to say to a young brother or sister in Christ: God loves you and child, you belong to God through Christ and are a member of Christ’s church and from this day forward there will always be a place for you in this family, regardless of your state or condition? What standards! I guess God will let just about anybody in.

And have you ever heard anyone say no, when the minister asks the congregation, “As members of the church of Jesus Christ do you promise to guide and nurture this child by word and deed, with love and in prayer, encouraging her to follow the way of Christ?” Has anyone ever interrupted the proceedings to have their dissent recorded? (This is a rhetorical question, by the way, as I don’t want anyone to write in to say they have heard of this because that would be utterly depressing and worthy of rebuke.) I have never heard it happen.

Yet, this fall, someone is going to stand in front of your congregation and say, “Well everybody, we are still short of church school teachers and our youth group is fundraising again so they can go to P.Y.P.S. and please note that all future youth group events will be held in the basement so they don’t again spill chips on the fellowship hall carpet.”

But didn’t we make promises? Didn’t we all promise to love and encourage one another? Didn’t we promise to rip up the flowerbed and build a basketball court if that meant young people might hang around a little more and feel that they had a place at church? Didn’t we promise to at least get to know their names? Didn’t we promise to look out for them and provide the best possible home for them so that they might grow in faith, hope and love? Didn’t we promise to try and do our best for them? Think of how important this is. Where else will our youth learn to sing? Serve? Listen? Share? Forgive? Where else will they learn how to pray? Where else will they hear our sacred story? The church community is one of those rare places in society now where they are not asked to be consumers. (“Burning but not consumed” would be a bad pun but a good theological point here.)

What a special place the church can be for youth. Yes, it is a gamble as we don’t know what will happen, or if it will matter to them or anyone that we take our responsibilities seriously and joyously, but it is a bet we ought to be willing to make.

Imagine the possibilities! Every child of God is priceless. Do the spiritual math: if your church school has 20 youth, 10 youth, one youth—you have an abundance of stories, ideas, dreams, faith, questions and talent. You also have countless opportunities to nurture and challenge them, learn and grow with them, guide and encourage them by what you do and by who you are. You can bless the youth in your life and make a difference to them. Just ask Russell, Jim, Birch, Graham, Harold and Pat, elders and teachers in my home church who were more than patient and faithful with at least one of their charges.

This summer the Canada Youth event was a great way for our church to make good on its baptismal promises. Now we as congregations and families pick up that burden again and delight to raise our youth in the knowledge that God’s world is still good and that they are valued members of it.

posted on September 1, 2009 in Youth

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Jasmine Chung, guest from Taiwan

As culture at large shifts away from Christendom, an event like Canada Youth is energizing and inspiring for all who are a part of it. It emanates the light of the present through compelling worship and fun activities. It establishes hope for the future through community outreach and connections with passionate people of faith. And its biblical and theological roots keep us connected to our Presbyterian heritage.

What a wonderful opportunity for international visitors to experience one of the biggest parties in our church! Hosting international guests isn’t just a way to show off how much fun we can have together or how lively our youth are. It’s an important statement about our values. By hosting global guests, we show that we’re not only dedicated to sending people to help in our partner countries, but to bringing people to help us as well. We show that we value intercultural dialogue. We also demonstrate our belief in ecumenism and mutuality. New things will be offered and learned from both our international and Canadian participants.

Though we cannot guarantee what our guests from Taiwan, India, and Hungary took away from the conference, we can hope that they experienced hospitality, Presbyterian passion for community and Canadian kindness. We can continue to do our best to be open to their insights and value their presence so we can all feel included in the body of Christ.

posted on September 1, 2009 in Youth

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There was amazing energy, lively music and enthusiasm about life, church and God at Canada Youth 2009. It was a proverbial mountain top experience. But, eventually, you have to go home.

So … how do you take that experience back with you? How do you spread its message?

Share the Story
There are literally hundreds of funny anecdotes, spiritual moments and heart-changing stories that youth experience at CY. And Sunday morning is a great time to hear them. Why not share a story each week for a month? Better yet, invite a few folks from your church to a local coffee shop and let them listen for how God weaved through a week at CY and continues to be present in your lives. Jesus loved to share truth through stories. I wonder what truth you have to share?

Stay Connected
You know all those friends you met at CY? When was the last time you talked to them? They are as close as a click on your Facebook page. Why not tell them that you’re thinking of them and you haven’t forgotten to pray for the craziness in their life? It’s those connections that will sustain you through the desert times in your faith journey. And don’t forget about all those people you met from your local area. Wouldn’t it be great to get a few youth groups together and reminisce? You could sing a few choruses of those songs you’ve had stuck in your head all summer and talk about doing a mission trip together in 2010. Don’t let the community that formed at CY fade into nothing.

Start Something New
Maybe you’re hyped to try out some of the drama and music you saw in worship. Or maybe you picked up a book in the Book Room that you want everyone in your church to read. Or maybe one of the speakers inspired you to change the direction of your youth ministry. What are you waiting for? Talk to your minister, Christian education director or youth leader and get started! CY is meant to inspire action when you get home. Don’t think you are doomed to the same-old-same-old.

Support the Youth
Congregations who sent participants, I hope you have been able to give your folks a warm welcome home. You can help enable your youth so that this experience isn’t just for them, but becomes part of the congregation as a whole. We truly recognize that CY is only a week; real spiritual growth happens in a congregation that loves their youth and leaders, listens to them and supports them.

God bless as you strive to keep the CY energy alive in your home churches!

posted on June 1, 2009 in Youth

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An infected person with a glowing green hand touches others who then contract glowing green hands, and who each pass along the glowing green infection to another and then another. This is often how we believe suffering operates. We implicitly assume it’s passed on like an infection, like the green hand.

Youth ministry has historically been constructed around fun and entertainment, assuming we need these things to get young people to come and participate. If they come and participate we can get them to become members of the church, to have faith, to be responsible, that is, to do what we want them to do. In youth ministry we have often seen our relationships as tools for positive influence. But this may prevent us from being with adolescents in their raw human existence, in the midst of their suffering for an identity, in the midst of suffering broken families, disappointment and fear. We might assume, because youth ministry has tried to be an influential commercial for Christian faith, that any suffering from one will infect the group. In other words: Don’t have the depressed kid come on the trip or she’ll infect the group with her suffering. Don’t ask him about the divorce of his parents because what then would I say? Don’t put two and two together that your most committed leader may be the victim of abuse because that may remind you of your own past.

Too often relational youth ministry avoids suffering, and therefore lacks the boldness and bravery to enter into the full humanity of adolescents. But suffering doesn’t work like the glowing green hand of infection. When suffering is shared, often its power to strangle is broken. Things may remain painful and difficult, but when we’re no longer alone, suffering feels (and is) no longer life-threatening. The power of suffering to determine our destiny is broken when suffering is shared in relationship. We may then argue that the heart of relational youth ministry is actually shared suffering.

posted on September 1, 2008 in Features, Youth

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posted on March 1, 2008 in Youth

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Radical disciples. Counter-cultural prophets. Teenagers.

posted on September 1, 2007 in Features, Youth

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It's no secret that churches are getting older. Churches all over our country have seen a drop in attendance of younger families and youth. Calvin, Kitchener, (my church) is no different. For years we have had a stable, but ever-growing-older congregation. Although Calvin operates the Children's Arts Program (a children's and youth music theatre summer camp), a breakfast program for the school across the street and a youth group; none of these programs have really kept youth and young families coming back to the church. For me, there was something missing that I could not quite put my finger on, and although they were trying many things, I didn't feel as connected with the church as I could be.
That all changed when I helped with a youth-led service, where I announced that a PYPS weekend was coming up and that if anyone was interested they should come and talk to me. I didn't really expect any newcomers to take interest, but I thought I would give it a try. Sure enough, no one asked me about the retreat and I kind of left it at that.

PYPS leadership retreat

The next Sunday was something entirely different. after church, during our coffee hour, an older gentleman came up to me and said, “Brenden, tell me about PYPS.” I joked that he was a little old to be going to the retreat. He probed further and asked how the response to my announcement had gone over with the youth and if anyone new was coming, to which the answers were no. It would just be my family and my girlfriend going. He wasn't satisfied with the answer I gave him.

He asked why others were not going. I said, “Well, money and the uncertainty of a new event.” He excused himself to go talk to his wife and another member of the church. A little later, he called me over to them and told me that the church was willing to cover the cost of any youth who would be willing to come and that the church would pay for a van (providing transportation), which a church member would drive for safety. I had to take a step back, because I was not expecting that at all! That afternoon, I called around to all our youth in the church and had many answer “yes” and even more answer with “maybe.” When I talked to many of the youth, they were more than surprised with the offer of full payment and transportation provided by my church. Still more people offered to help drive and baby-sit younger kids that some of the youth were responsible for. I was not amazed by the amount of money that was being donated to us; I was amazed by the amount of support that was given to us from my church. Churches always try to support their youth, but often we don't see it.
I challenge churches to take a stand and make sure that you are supporting your youth. It doesn't always take a donation of money but it can be something as easy as asking us how we are doing in school or coming to one of our events. Some churches have devoted themselves to their youth by appointing an elder just for youth and young families. If that doesn't show support I don't know what does. This older gentleman has done that for our church, he has said I want to support youth and I know my church wants to so let's get the ball rolling. There are people all over the country like this man, who care about the youth of their church. All they need to do is stand up for the youth and show that the church supports them in what ever they do. Anyone interested in standing up?

posted on September 1, 2007 in Features, Youth

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Connie Purvis

Photography by Alex Luyckx

This is our last year in Presbyterian Young People's Society. And now we are approaching the edge of a void with some trepidation. Behind us is a veritable army of friends, memories, laughter, prayer and passion for peer-oriented ministry. Somewhere in our distant church future may be session meetings, budgets, and AGMs. And the void we approach as we leave a decade of peer service in the Synod of Central, Northeastern Ontario and Bermuda PYPS is where our church loses many of its 20- and 30-somethings.
For the past decade we have both been greatly involved in the ministry of our synod-wide youth organization. We have run events, planned worships, retreats, budgeted, organized finances, marketed and advertised our ministry and have grown and learned from others we have worked with. We consider ourselves to be qualified, experienced individuals with a strong background in peer ministry and event planning and organization. Our home church, like many Presbyterian churches, doesn't seem to have a place for us. We are approaching the void.

Jane Rouhinen & Amanda Brown

We are career starters, we are young adults, we are university graduates, newly married couples, and future-oriented individuals. We are motivated, dedicated and passionate. And there does not seem to be a place for us in our churches. Churches are focused on maintaining the large, influential groups. Young adults often feel dismissed — whether that be the intention or not — at least for a few years, until we have aged sufficiently to be taken seriously, or until we have children in the Sunday school and have a “right” to speak to church issues. We find ourselves feeling frustrated, voiceless and oftentimes ignored.

Sarah Backa

It sometimes seems that years of attending, planning, organizing and leading a synod-wide ministry count for nothing when we return to our home churches. The frustration of starting all over, of having to prove ourselves forces many of us to simply leave the church. and with the change in family planning, the focus on “career first,” and the pressure of the outside world and workplace, the time between leaving the church after youth group and coming back with small children is ever widening.

A college and careers group was attempted within our home congregation. It went well at first, but quietly faded into fewer meetings, and fewer members. We wondered if it was the group itself. The consensus was that it was not, but that many of us didn't feel comfortable being a part of that group while not feeling a part of the congregation. So what are we doing wrong?

Cleveland Stevens, Lin-See Wallace & Steph VonFarra

Patricia Browne & Brenden Sherratt

As youth and young adults we need to take responsibility for the lack of our peers in our congregations! Many young adults, ourselves included, have spent a long time putting the responsibility on our churches, on our elders, or the ministries available. As we leave PYPS and youth group and approach the void, we realize that we are the only ones who are truly responsible for filling that void. We've just spent a decade in peer-for-peer ministry, and now we're faced with starting all over. But at least this time, with PYPS behind us, we're equipped. We're prepared. We have the skills, the passion, and we recognize the need. So let's step up, young adults, let's make our voice known, and create a place by ourselves, for ourselves. and maybe — if we do it right — our peers will follow.

posted on September 1, 2007 in Features, Youth

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Rosemary Brett

I have spent several months trying to write down something that captures the Presbyterian Young People’s Society in words. At last I have come to a decision: I can’t do it. It just isn’t possible. Not if I want to express it properly, anyway. I could tell you, “Youth between the ages of 15 and 25 meet three times a year.” I could say, “We worship in new ways.” I could add mission projects, or discussion groups, or guest speakers, but those things are just what we do. I want to tell you what PYPS is.

To that end, I have constructed a list. Or, at least, I will have constructed it as soon as I’ve finished writing this. I have a feeling it is going to be sort of unusual, a little random and possibly a bit confusing. That’s ok. At first glance, PYPS seems to be those things, too.

So here goes.

PYPS is…

Erin Woods and Courtney Love

God: But not Stand-in-the-choir-and-chant-Hallelujah God. Rather, Jump-up-and-down-and-scream-yourself-hoarse-because-he’s-awesome God.

People: Young people. New people. Strangers, friends, mentors, crazy people of the loveable type.

Singing: New songs, old songs, praise songs, songs invented on the spur of the moment.

Food: Well, we can’t forget that, can we? Good food, hot food, messy food eaten without utensils…

Laughing: Laughing in play, in discussions, in meetings, in worship – yes! – in worship, too.

Challenges: Don’t worry — I don’t mean challenges challenges. I mean, “Who can run this course and eat that food the fastest?” “Which team will invent the most creative superhero dressed up in these random items?” “Who will make the strongest newspaper armour?” “Who can collectively get the fewest hours of sleep throughout the entire weekend?” That last challenge, by the way, is not formal. PYPS does not condone, take responsibility for, etc., etc. But, you know, who needs sleep when you’re having fun?

Itoro Udoh-Orok

Travel: Ok, here’s the thing. our particular synod is the Synod of Central, Northeastern Ontario and Bermuda. We’ve travelled all around Ontario, but now we want to go to Bermuda … But someone always thinks it’s a bad idea. Still, we’ve gotten to know every corner of our part of Ontario through PYPS.

Silliness: Oh, yes, there is silliness. Sometimes I think that’s what really holds us together. Giggling when the president makes jokes while reading the rules aloud. Grinning and groaning at old jokes from previous weekends that just keep coming back. Laughing uproariously at the skits and songs performed at PYPS talent shows. Just plain, healthy, silly fun.

Church: But fun church. Fast songs with words that mean something to our generation. Slow songs that come from our hearts. Drums and guitars to mix things up. theme addresses on topics chosen by youth. Prayer in new ways. Church that is God-centered and youth-directed. Fun church.

Learning: Again, fun learning. about the church, about our world, about ourselves.

And that is what PYPS is. To a point. Actually, I could say more. A lot more. But I won’t. You’ll get bored. So I’m going to stop talking now. Really, I am. I mean it. Good bye.

posted on September 1, 2007 in Youth

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Rev. Ian Fraser and St. Columba's youngest elder, Neil George.

Neil George is a remarkable young man. At the age of 16, this Honour Roll student who recently graduated from Lindsay Place High School, Pointe-Claire, Que., has already proven that one person, who is determined and passionate, can have an impact on the world. In addition to his love of snowboarding, golf and baseball, he spends a lot of time raising money. Two years ago, Neil's passionate journey was launched into high gear as an apt extension of participation in his home congregation's (St. Columba by-the-Lake, Montreal) mentoring program, which paired an adult from the congregation with one of our six teens preparing to join the church. A few group get-togethers were interspersed with outings organized by each dyad. As discussions based on the Gospel of Luke led to casual outings or coffees at Chapters, mentors and teens alike experienced an awareness of not only the challenges faced by different generations, but the shared awareness of the spiritual paths each are traveling. The experience culminated with a weekend retreat at Mount Tremblant, where meals, hikes, and worship led to discussions linked to spirituality and what it means to join the church.
Following his participation in the program, Neil became the youngest elder in the history of St. Columba. The session, and the congregation as a whole, was seeking to be inclusive and to engage our youth in interesting and challenging ways, and Neil fit the vision to a “T.” As is his fashion, Neil adds a new dimension to the session. He asks questions that many elders would not, and his ability to challenge the adults' way of doing things is a breath of fresh air.
Two years ago, Neil was inspired by the words of Rev. Ian Fraser, who had travelled to Malawi with a delegation from national offices. His slide show and talks highlighted the immense problems faced by Africans suffering from HIV/AIDS. Also, Neil and his mother Doreen attended a speech by Steven Lewis where the audience was challenged to give help — now. This prompted Neil to report that he “didn't understand why people weren't helping.” Neil saw the “desperate need in the people's faces.” He felt that he could do something to make a difference. Neil speaks of his personal journey as he relates to God. Therefore, the comfortable and familiar surroundings of St. Columba seemed the place to start. With Fraser's encouragement, Neil began to draw up the plans necessary to raise more than an astounding $10,000 for the Towards a World Without AIDS campaign of Presbyterian World Service and Development. More specifically, St. Columba has been supporting totS, an AIDS prevention program run by Dr. Rick Allen for the Presbyterian Church of East Africa in Kenya.
First on his agenda was a Mums for Moms in Malawi. St. Columbans bought potted mums which were displayed in the sanctuary. Then at the end of the service, the purchasers took them home. Each mum contained a message providing more information about the TOTS program. The profit of more than $600 served to launch his zealous plan. Next a car wash was held at St. Columba. Several youths and Neil's dad, Dave, washed over 20 cars and raised a few more hundred dollars. A harvest dinner furthered this good start. Other teens from Neil's mentoring class joined him and Catherine Notley to cook and serve seven turkeys, loads of mashed potatoes, gravy, lots of vegetables and homemade pies. At this event more than $1,200 was raised. Encouraged by this success, Neil worked out a deal with a local nightclub, that he and his friends would get professional talent to donate their time, and Neil would guarantee the crowd. Monies from ticket sales would go to the fund. The evening was a huge success, as not only did the 200-plus crowd have fun enjoying the talents of Guffman Five and Dawn Tyler Watson, but the ticket sales added another $6,500 to the cause.
The spring of 2007 brought with it another Mums for Moms campaign. The beautiful flowers helped to remind the congregation of the continuing plight of those in the throes of AIDS. Neil's ideas abound: fashion shows, golf tournaments, more dinners and car washes. the sky is the limit for this teen.
Neil has graduated from high school and now heads off to Dawson College to study social science and math. He plans to pursue his interests in cooking and business and looks forward to a future where his passionate response to the greater need of others continues. His desire is to visit Africa, to witness the situations, see what good is being done, and in true “Neil fashion” discover how he can help and play a role in easing the suffering of others.
We need to celebrate the good deeds of our teenagers; not so hard to do when Neil George is in charge of the plan!

posted on September 1, 2007 in Features, Youth

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Morrah Cameron

Photography by Alex Luyckx

Arms nailed down
Are you telling me something?
Eyes turned out
Are you looking for someone?

Jars of Clay say it so beautifully in their song “Liquid” which appears on their self-titled album. So the question is: if Christ is telling us something — what is it?

And are we listening?

For the past three years I’ve attended Oakville’s Catholic Youth Organization’s Way of the Cross. Youth from the Catholic parishes of the city, along with a few scattered from the other denominations, make their way solemnly from downtown Oakville, Ont., to the outskirts of the city stopping along the way to enact the Stations of the Cross. But is this message lost in today’s society? We are being constantly bombarded by the media. No longer is it just print ads in the newspapers, commercials on television or radio. Billboards in bright flashing colours and large screen TVs glow long into the night distracting drivers inching their way along in rush hour traffic on clogged highways. Just take a walk along Yonge Street in Toronto and they will be there as well, similar to Times Square in New York City. Ads on websites, text message ads from your cell phone provider, and telemarketers calling to your home.

Andie Pees & Patricia Browne

Lin-See Wallace

Sean Fraser & Michael Watt

Can we actually hear what Christ is trying to tell us?

When Elijah was looking to hear a word from God did he hear it in the loud noises of the storm? No. He heard it in a small still voice. Are we drowning this out by allowing ourselves to get distracted by the loud noises of our modern society? Is this just another scheme of the devil’s to keep us from hearing or spreading Christ’s message? The youth of today are especially prone to this distraction, as we are one of the most highly targeted brackets of advertisers.

The trouble is that the world is telling youth one thing and the Bible is teaching the complete opposite. The world tells us that we have to get there on our own, that money is power, and if we seek out power, we won’t have any more problems. Weakness is scorned and violence should be repaid with violence. Christ, on the other hand, teaches self-sacrifice. To be willing to humble ourselves, to be a servant and follow his example. To be willing to even die for another person. To turn the other cheek and forgive those who hurt us rather than seek our own vengeance.

This is the main problem that I see facing PYPS and the Church in general. So should we change the message? Should we gloss over the parts that aren’t “in tune” with the world? No! The message must remain intact and unaltered — the Bible tells us so — but maybe a change in approach is required. Maybe we need to find ways to counter the attraction of the world.

Tabitha Clark, Jono Lee & Kelly Saunders

posted on September 1, 2007 in Youth

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What does it mean to be a Presbyterian? I've had that question in my head for a while now. A little over a year ago I researched a thesis for sociology class at school: Christian teens are less likely to engage in at-risk behaviour. It was an interesting project, and the presentation went well, but things always get a little harder when the teacher asks, “Does anyone have any questions for Erin?”

posted on September 1, 2007 in Features, Youth

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Photography by Alex Luyckx

As I stood in the bow of my boat and looked wideeyed towards the land of Real Life, it left me breathless. I had heard of this world for a long time and its shadow had loomed over me throughout my undergraduate years and high school activities. But now it was within sight, yet still felt so far away, and it rose darkly through a thick mist which obscured its features.
Doubtless you have heard rumours about Real Life; its reputation inevitably precedes it. the land is a dangerous, worrisome place full of career paths, bills, taxes, car insurance, house insurance, life insurance, mortgages, downsizing and (perhaps most terrible for all of us who pursue higher education when its shores first come into view) student loan repayments. Yet it has its wonders too, or so I'm told, although many of them seem to be less certain than their unpleasant counterparts. Marriage and parenthood, in particular, seem to occupy some grey area between wonder and worry, but often they are lumped in with the former which is encouraging to all who seek such experiences.

Kelly Saunders & Jono Lee

The land itself is governed by a benevolent King who, despite his genuine desire to bring help and not harm (Jer. 29:11), has a penchant for surprises (Matt 24:36; Mark 13:32; Luke 17:26) and counterintuitive ways of enacting his will (see entire Bible). His methods prove somewhat problematic for the citizens of His Kingdom and, indeed, they are a source of frustration for newcomers to Real Life. Fortunately, such newcomers soon realize that the King of Real Life is the same enigmatic King who has governed them since birth. This is a consolation to most, but it does not diminish questions about what the strange new land has in store for its denizens.

Keegan Smith

As I planned for my eventual trip to this mythic land I was often advised to stock up on credentials. These, it seems, are like gold in Real Life. It is not enough for my generation of explorers to have a degree in their pocket and the world at their feet. Rather, one must have a degree, an impressive resume and plenty of extracurricular activities. one must plan ahead. Indeed, fellow adventurers, such advice is warranted as these credentials are most useful when navigating the treacherous terrain of Real Life.
As I worked towards my eventual voyage, I often exhausted myself with many involvements. Classes, essays, a part-time job, a place on the editorial board of an undergraduate journal, a vice-presidency of a campus club, membership in various other clubs, a role on the executive of the Presbyterian Young People's Society …. I never had time for rest, it seemed, and still I looked for things which might look good on a resume or an application for graduate school. And the risk I ran (indeed, the risk I still run, as there is still a year between my boat and that mist-covered shore) was to focus forever on the future and forget where I was and what I was doing. I was doing things for the credentials they would give me, not for their own sake. And in doing so, I fear I have missed a wonderful part of the journey. My activities became chores, not involvements which excited me and brought out my creativity. And the loss of creativity is a great loss indeed. And so, fellow explorers, may I offer another piece of advice. Plan for your arrival, but do not miss the journey, for by looking ever ahead much beauty passes us by unawares.

Patricia & Ryan Browne

I shall leave you with a last rumour, interesting and unverified by myself. Apparently, somewhere in Real Life flows a river around an island called Some Day. This mythic shore is captured wonderfully by L. M. Montgomery, and as I have seen only glimpses of the place she writes of, I shall say little of it here. Apparently it is a beautiful, enchanting place, and I would very much like to see it. But the path is elusive, or so I have read, and thus if anyone knows the way, I ask that you tell it to me. For, despite my journeys thus far, I mistrust my sense of direction. I fear I always will. Perhaps, as I travel Real Life in the years to come, I will spy that isle — if only at a distance — for I have yet to meet one who has reached its shores. ¦