Text Box: Dear Friends: A well known verse for Youth Ministry states, “Let no one despise your youth, but set the believers an example in speech and conduct, in love, in faith, in purity.” This exhortation from 1 Timothy 4:12 calls upon the youthful listener to not give reason for any adult to give a blanket statement about “those youth” as being anything less that faith-filled followers of Christ. Youth are invited to go beyond being a sometimes negative image that adults have of being trouble or naive in life and faith. In fact, the passage calls upon youth to be leaders in the community as examples of what it means to be a faith-filled follower. Yet, we can ask how youth get to such a place in their faith-lives. The Youth Ministry of our congregation and the greater church is one essential avenue. This seems to be an appropriate time, being in my tenth summer of youth ministry at First Lutheran Church, to discuss the greater picture of this ministry that is so well supported by the congregation. While, traditionally, summer is often seen as slower time in the life of a youth, Youth Ministry in our congregation does not slow down, but picks up pace. There is something for every middle and senior high student every week, beyond worship and the education hour. Most weeks include at least an event on Mid-FLY Wednesday and FLY High Thursday. Vacation Bible School, summer camp or the road trip become opportunities for the youth to live by faith and serve others for the whole week. Take a gander at the list of happenings on the FLYpaper, elsewhere in this newsletter and see that Youth Ministry gives opportunity for service, learning, worship experiences, and just plain fun times to be together with Christ. The events and activities do not make Youth Ministry. This is a transitional time in adolescent growth. As children transition to adulthood, Youth Ministry is a place to spread one’s wings and try out what it means to live by faith. Confirmation and faith training are just the beginning. Everything from conversations in the FLYroom to trips to the regional and national youth gatherings are places to try out what students have seen and learned and heard about God at work in their lives. Church provides a soft and safe place to fail and find forgiveness. Church is holy ground to sing and soar and succeed. This is no solo trip. Friends are so essential to most youth. Friends come and go. Relationships change and flow. Classmates stir laughter, heartache and drama. “How many friends do you have on Facebook?” Youth Ministry becomes a community of peers with the shared story of Jesus Christ, The love of Christ is the tie that binds. The congregation becomes the “village raising the child” with intergenerational caring conversations among authentic, available, and affirming adults. It takes the whole congregation to do Youth Ministry. Household Ministry is not replaced by Youth Ministry like programmatic segments of a life plan for Christians. Parents, grandparents, uncles, aunts, siblings and the rest of the family are still the first place where faith is caught. Several hours of Youth Ministry a week can not replace the many hours of caring conversations, devotions, rituals and traditions, and service in a household that build the foundation of what will become an adult evangelist for Christ. Youth Ministry works in partnership with the ministry of the home in that transitional adolescent time of finding differentiation and self identity. Parents should not give up their children for the church to raise in that “difficult age” nor should the Youth Ministry steal away the congregation’s teens to become the newest wave of servants for the work of the church. We must continue to seek old and new ways to piece together congregational ministry, Household Ministry, and Youth Ministry in a great quilt covering the call of God to raise people of faith. The vast support of youth in this congregation has been amazing. $15,000 or 1.8% of the budget is dedicated to Youth Ministry. Although my job description for Youth Ministry has moved from 80% of my time to 40% with the addition of facilities management responsibilities, this congregation dedicates the time and expense of an ordained pastor in guiding the ministry for teens. In the past year the congregation and community have been gracious supporters of the two youth fund-raisers—the offering at the Ryssby Candlelight Services and the Easter Breakfast. Youth are encouraged and affirmed in taking part in all aspects of the ministry, even including the sharing of the congregation’s financial secretary position, this year. I ask for your continued support and prayers for all the daughters and sons of the congregation. The greatest gift of God in Youth Ministry at First Lutheran Church is the youth, themselves. It is an extreme honor and privilege to serve along side of the amazing and faith-filled youth of this congregation. I give thanks to God for each of them, regularly. Yes, the summer will be very busy with a host of activities for soon to be seventh graders to graduated high school seniors. The joy of the summer will not be in the activities, but in the praying, singing, laughing, talking to, sharing Christ with, and traveling off with the teens of the congregation. Look for and rejoice in the examples “in speech and conduct, in love, in faith, in purity” from the youth. <>< God's peace + Pastor Paul ><> Text Box: Volume 53, Number 7 Text Box: From the desk of Pastor Paul Text Box: July 2010

First Reminder

Mailed June 14, 2010

Rooted first in

worship, learning and

hospitality,

we are sent forth in the power of the Holy Spirit, to

witness to Christ and to serve others, both in our households and in the wider community.

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