Princeton University Summer Journalism Program: Do you know any rising 12th-graders (that is, current 11th-graders) who are from low-income families and have an interest in journalism? Tell them to apply for this ten-day summer program at Princeton University! Cost: Free. Registration deadline: Friday, February 20, 2009.

Events for Youth

Shebang!, February 13 – 16, 2009, John Day United Methodist Church, 126 NW Canton Street, John Day: Know any students in grades 6-12 who live in Eastern Oregon? Alert them to this great Methodist youth event! It’s sponsored by the Central District Youth Ministries Council of the UMC (Oregon-Idaho Conference), and it’ll be a long weekend of fun, music, worship, and community. To register, please visit http://dymco.org/noreg.html. Cost: $50 for youth, $20 for adult chaperones.

Teens Encounter Christ, February 20 – 22, 2009, Christ Church, 1060 Chandler Road, Lake Oswego: TEC is an amazing weekend for high-school youth, led by high-school youth. Sponsored by Christ Church, but open to teens in grades 9-12 from all over the diocese! For more information, please contact Sara Sather, Christ Church Youth Minister, at (503) 636-5618 x164 or ssather@ccparish.org. To register online or download a printed registration form, please visit www.ccparish.org. Cost: $60.

Events & Trainings for Youth Leaders

Kaleo, Saturday, February 7, 2009, 8:30 am – 4:00 pm, George Fox University, 414 N. Meridian Street, Newberg: GFU holds this youth-ministry summit every year, but this year, the keynoter will be Shane Claiborne — author of The Irresistible Revolution and Jesus for President, and hero of the emerging church. Cost: $32 before 2/5/09 (that’s TODAY!), $37 at the door.

Portland Youth Worker Luncheon, Thursday, February 19, 2009, 11:30 am – 1:30 pm, Sunset Presbyterian Church, 14986 NW Cornell Road, Portland: This ecumenical gathering, sponsored by the Portland Youth Foundation, is for youth ministers from across the Portland area. Meet others from your neighborhood who share your dreams and mission! Cost: Free, but you MUST register by sending your name and church/ministry role to Mike Higgs: mikehiggs@integrity.com.

Ministering to Youth in a Multicultural Church, Saturday, February 21, 2009, 9:00 am – 4:00 pm, St. Luke Catholic Church, 417 Harrison Street, Woodburn: This workshop, sponsored by the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Portland, will explore cultural diversity in the church context and offer practical steps for youth outreach in multicultural congregations – especially the all-important problem of integrating youth from different language and cultural backgrounds. Cost: $30.

Be a Camp Staffer!

Each summer, Camp Magruder (Rockaway, OR) and Suttle Lake Camp (Sisters, OR) hire a small staff to support the volunteers who come to run various camps. Summer staff run challenge courses, lifeguard, start campfires, lead hikes, and much more! All staff are paid and receive free room and board. If you are over age 18 and want to spend an amazing summer at camp, please inquire at program@campmagruder.org or suttle@gocamping.org.

Church Visibility Grants

Could your church be more visible? The Church Growth & Development Commission is giving grants of up to $500 for congregational visibility projects – that means signage, direct mailings, advertising, Web design, an alternative service, or anything else that puts your church on more people’s radar! To apply, please visit http://www.diocese-oregon.org/cggrant2.htm. Applications are due on Thursday, February 26, 2009.

Camp Presentations

Would you like Beth Dieker, diocesan director of outdoor ministries, to give a presentation about camp in your church on a Sunday morning? Her calendar is filling up fast, but she’s still available to present on May 31, or she can come visit you in the middle of the week. To set up a visit from Beth, e-mail her at bethd@diocese-oregon.org.

Resource Spotlight

Featured item from the diocesan resource room: Conversations to Go: The Game That Has Everyone Talking, by Moonjar. This is a great little box (shaped like a take-out food container) of conversation starters: “If your story could appear in any newspaper or magazine, which one would you choose to see it in?” “What one thing do you think about most often?” “What subject do you least like talking about?” Excellent for an icebreaker with kids (or adults!) of any age. To borrow this game, To borrow this book, contact Stephanie Wight, diocesan Resource Coordinator, at resource@diocese-oregon.org; to see other products from Moonjar, visit www.moonjar.com.

Have a great week!

The Youth Ministries Commission has a new Web site! Please visit us at http://oregonyouth.wordpress.com to learn more about upcoming events, meet the members of the YMC, and find all kinds of tools under the “Resources” tab.

Events & Trainings for Youth Leaders

Kaleo, Saturday, February 7, 2009, 8:30 am – 4:00 pm, George FoxUniversity, 414 N. Meridian Street, Newberg: GFU holds this youth-ministry summit every year, but this year, the keynoter will be Shane Claiborne — author of The Irresistible Revolution and Jesus for President, and hero of the emerging church. Cost: $32 before 2/5/09, $37 at the door.

Portland Youth Worker Luncheon, Thursday, February 19, 2009, 11:30 am – 1:30 pm, Sunset Presbyterian Church, 14986 NW Cornell Road, Portland: This ecumenical gathering, sponsored by the Portland Youth Foundation, is for youth ministers from across the Portland area. Meet others from your neighborhood who share your dreams and mission! Cost: Free, but you MUST register by sending your name and church/ministry role to Mike Higgs: mikehiggs@integrity.com.

Ministering to Youth in a Multicultural Church, Saturday, February 21, 2009, 9:00 am – 4:00 pm, St. Luke Catholic Church, 417 Harrison Street, Woodburn: This workshop, sponsored by the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Portland, will explore cultural diversity in the church context and offer practical steps for youth outreach in multicultural congregations – especially the all-important problem of integrating youth from different language and cultural backgrounds. Cost: $30.

Job Opening

Ss. Peter & Paul Episcopal Church, on the east side of Portland, seeks a part-time administrative assistant. Responsibilities include preparation of parish publications, correspondence, database management, filing, and acting as first point of contact for visitors and parishioners in person, by phone and e-mail.  A complete job description is available on Craigslist.

Camp Presentations

Would you like Beth Dieker, diocesan director of outdoor ministries, to give a presentation about camp in your church on a Sunday morning? Her calendar is filling up fast, but she’s still available to present on February 1, March 1, and May 31, or she can come visit you in the middle of the week. To set up a visit from Beth, e-mail her at bethd@diocese-oregon.org.

Resource Spotlight

Featured item from the diocesan resource room: My Faith, My Life: A Teen’s Guide to the Episcopal Church, by Jenifer Gamber. In a fun, easy-to-read format, Gamber explores everything from church history to liturgy to the meaning of sacraments. It’s a great book for any Episcopal teen … or any adult who works with them! To borrow this book, contact Stephanie Wight, diocesan resource coordinator, at resource@diocese-oregon.org; to learn more about Gamber’s work, visit www.myfaithmylife.org.

Have a wonderful week!

I rather like the “sending sporadic flurries of mass e-mails” style of doing things, but I’m sure you will not be angry if I tell you that I’m testing out a brave new model called the “newsletter.” So keep an eye on your inbox for regular installments of YMC Update.

Visit our new Web site!

The Youth Ministries Commission has a new Web site! Please visit us at http://oregonyouth.wordpress.com to learn more about upcoming events, meet the members of the YMC, and find all kinds of tools under the “Resources” tab.

Trainings for Youth Leaders

There are two great trainings coming up for youth leaders:

Leadapalooza!, Monday, January 19, 2009, 9:00 am – 4:00 pm, Morningside United Methodist Church, Salem: An event for everyone who works with children, youth, and camp, sponsored by our Episcopal-Methodist camp partnership. Don’t miss this opportunity for workshops on games, small groups, crisis intervention, and more! Infant/Child CPR and Safeguarding God’s Children training will also be offered. Cost: $10.

Kaleo, Saturday, February 7, 2009, 8:30 – 4:00 pm, George Fox University: GFU holds this youth-ministry summit every year, but this year, the keynoter will be Shane Claiborne — author of The Irresistible Revolution and Jesus for President, and hero of the emerging church. Cost: $27 before 1/15/09, $32 before 2/5/09, $37 at the door.

Camp Magruder Job Closes Tomorrow!

Camp Magruder is still looking for the perfect Program Services Director — but the deadline for applying is tomorrow, so get that résumé in! Click here for the complete job description.

Resource Spotlight

Each week, this newsletter will show off one cool item you can borrow (free!) from the diocesan resource library … and this week, it is:

Contemplative Youth Ministry, by Mark Yaconelli. It’s hard to say enough wonderful things about this book. Instead of pitching a frenzied list of games, volunteer-recruitment tips, and ways to make youth group more fun, Yaconelli invites readers to see teenagers as people capable of deep spirituality and insight — and youth work as a vocation where relationships matter more than water-balloon fights. To borrow this book, contact Stephanie Wight, diocesan resource coordinator, at resource@diocese-oregon.org; to learn more about Yaconelli’s work, visit the Web site of the Youth Ministry and Spirituality Project.

Have a wonderful week, all …

Cat