Wondering Holy Youth Newsletter

Wondering Holy Youth

Please find the most recent issue of Wondering Holy Youth - an online magazine publication written by a group of youth in the United Church of Canada. You can find a copy here, and if you like it, subscribe to receive it directly to your email inbox!

Click here for the PDF newsletter: why-winter-2010

Funding Sources

Here are a list of funding sources and the links where to find them for individual Youth and Young Adults to attend events, for youth groups and churches who need help funding a new project, and even for Adults who are engaged in continuing education for youth ministry. For further help please contact Sandra at the Conference office.

1. Learning Fund for Leaders: The aim of the Learning Fund for Leaders is to assist the applicant in accordance with the following specific guidelines. It is anticipated that the applicant and her/his congregation/ institution will participate in the cost of each life long learning application for funds. For application forms visit the Saskatchewan Conference website (under Resources, Funding, & Saskatchewan).

2. The Vision Fund: The purpose of this National Fund is to provide financial support for programs in Youth and Young Adult Ministries in The United Church of Canada. For more information follow this link to the National United Church website.

3. Agatha Kaasa Bursary Fund: The Agatha Kaasa Bursary Fund supports:  lay leadership training and education, continuing education within the church, projects or events that promote education, mission, outreach, spiritual nurture, and ecumenical and interfaith dialogue, locally or abroad. Any woman who is part of The United Church of Canada and is not in paid accountable ministry is welcome to apply is welcome to apply.

4. Generosity for Mission Fund: As part of the increased attention being given to Stewardship (including financial stewardship) in The United Church of Canada, we invite proposals which relate to any or all of the following criteria . . .

1. To provide stewardship education so that stewardship issues are more intentionally integrated into the life and work of congregations, presbyteries, etc. e.g.: to create active stewardship committees, encourage more stewardship activities, sermons, etc.

2. To increase the use of stewardship resources across the church in order to raise a greater awareness of and commitment to stewardship as a way of life.

3. To raise the profile of the Mission and Service Fund.

For application forms visit the Saskatchewan Conference website (under Resources, Funding, & Saskatchewan).

Online Links

So here are some fantabulous links that we, the creators of the YAYA webpage, want you to know about. Check them out and see what we are talking about:

• United Church of Canada Youth and Young Adult Ministries
  www.united-church.ca/en/allages/youth

• Wonder Cafe is ”the home of open-minded discussion and exploration of spiritual topics, moral issues and life’s big questions.”  
  www.wondercafe.ca

• Campus Ministry at the U of S
  www.usask.ca/uscm/whoweare/

• Calling Lakes Centre “is a fully accredited educational centre of The United Church of Canada which nurtures growth in individuals, congregations and communities through programs, retreats and hospitality.”
  www.callinglakes.ca

• Kairos 2008 is a triannual event planned for young adults 18 - 30 yrs.
  www.kairos2008.ca

• Affirm United “is an organization of people of all sexual orientations and gender identites within the United Church of Canada .”
  www.affirmunited.ca

• For web links to United Church Camps in Saskatchewan Conference please visit the United Church Camping website:
  www.uccancamping.org

• The United Church Observer is a magazine for people interested in “Faith, Ethics, Justice and Living.” It’s monthly issues contain a wide range of interesting articles pertaining to United Church people and beyond - including interesting topics for Youth and Young Adults.  A yearly subscription is only $14!!!  For information about what’s in this month Observer Magazine or how to subscribe visit:
  www.ucobserver.org

• For information about justice initiatives supprted by the United Church of Canada and how you can make a difference check out:
  www.united-church.ca/justice

• Kairos is a Canadian Ecumenical Justice organization. “Faithful action for Justice.”
  www.kairoscanada.org

A Few Book Recommendations for Youth Ministry

600 Blessings and Prayers from around the world.
Compiled by Geoffrey Duncan. Published by Twenty-Third Publications, 2005.

The Godbearing Life: The Art of Soul Tending for Youth Ministry.
By Kenda Creasy Dean and Ron Foster. Published by Upper Room Books, 1998.

Way to Live: Christian Practices for Teens.
Edited by Dorothy C. Bass and Don C. Richter. Published by Upper Room Books, 2002.
* Comes with a free leaders guide that can be downloaded from their website.

Practicing Our Faith: A Way of Life for a Searching People.
Edited by Dorothy C. Bass. Published by Jossey-Bass, 1997.
* Comes with a free leaders guide that can be downloaded from their website.

Mission Trips That Matter: Embodied Faith for the Sake of the World.
By Don C. Richter. Published by Upper Room Books, 2008.

Family-Based Youth Ministry: Revised and Expanded.
By Mark DeVries. Published by Intervarsity Press, 2004.

Youth Ministry in the 21st Century: The encyclopedia of practical ideas.
Edited by Rick Lawrence. Published by Group, 2006.

Keeping the Sabbath Wholly.
By Marva J. Dawn. Published by W. B. Eerdmans Publishing Company, 1989.

Arts and the Spirit: The Role of Art in Faith Formation.
Edited by Mary Anne MacFarlane and E. Ann Fleming. Published by United Church Publishing House, 2007.

50 Ways to Pray: Practices from Many Traditions and Times.
By Teresa A. Blythe. Published by Abingdon Press, 2006.

More Voices.
United Church Publishing House and Wood Lake Publishing, 2007.

The Revised and Expanded Book of Raccoon Circles: A Facilitator’s Guide to Building Unity, Community, Connection and Teamwork Through Active Learning.
By Dr. Jim Cain and Dr. Tom Smith.  Published by Kendall/Hunt, 2007.

The Complete Ropes Course Manual.
By, Rohnke, Wall, Tait, Rogers and Cornerstone Designs, Inc. Published by Kendall/Hunt Publishing Company, 2003.

The Best-Ever Games for Youth Ministry.
By Les Christie. Published by Group, 2005.

Entertainment

Have you seen any good movies lately? Do you know of any good shows?

Send us your reviews or entertainment dates (maybe YAYAC’s very own Miller brothers would like to plug their band here) and we will get them posted for all our other fans to see.

Seek Justice

By being aware of Social Justice issues we can make choices that will create positive change in our local communities and even on a global scale.

We are called to seek justice.

The good news is there are lots of ways to create positive social change and you don’t need to reinvent the wheel to do it. Get involved with an organization that is already working toward a justice issue that you are passionate about (your local congregation is a great place to start!); Talk to your friends about things you can do in your local community; Use your voice and stand up for what you believe in. There is cause for hope!

Check it out!

Here are a few places where you can find out how to work toward positive social change:

Measure your Ecological Footprint? www.earthday.net/footprint/index.asp#

(After you find out your Footprint size, sing a few verses of “Take Off Your Shoes”). If you want to know where to find this song email us.

Saskatchewan Council for International Cooperation (SCIC): Working together for a better world - ebeat.sasktelwebhosting.com

Saskatchewan Public Interest Research Group (SPIRG) - www.myspace.com/spirg

SCM Canada is a student-led, ecumenical social justice movement, building local communities where political action and spirituality can flourish. - www.scmcanada.org

Briarpatch Magazine - www.briarpatchmagazine.com

New Internationalist Magazine - www.newint.org

Greenpeace Canada - www.greenpeace.ca

Fair Trade - www.transfair.ca

Kairos: Canadian Ecumenical Justice Initiatives - www.kairoscanada.org

Is there a link you would like us to share on this page? Please let us know!

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