Youth Ministry News
Welcome to the Youth Ministry page!
Dear Friends in Youth Ministry:
Five Oaks is pleased to offer Youth Ministry learning opportunities through the Neos program. Designed to enrich, develop, engage and celebrate, Five Oaks invites your participation. You will find below more information about the Neos Youth Ministry Certificate Program, Neos Youth Ministry Apprenticeship Program, upcoming Neos events and recommended resources.
Update from the last Neos program
Almost thirty participated in Wired Worship, April 16 – 18 2004. A special thanks to Ruth Noble (Neos Planning Team), Emily Woods (Neos planning team), Rob Shearer (guest leader), and the musical talents of Rae Perigoe, Myles Casey-Nester, Matt McIlravey, Trevor Walker and Jordan Winters. This program offered participants the opportunity to experience "wired worship", participate in hands-on workshops and take the first ever Neos road trip to Wellington Square United Church in Burlington.
Update on the Neos Apprenticeship Program
Five Oaks is pleased to have Ian Blackport, Sarah Covey, Luiggi Jimenez, and Laura Stoss in the first year of the Neos Apprenticeship Program.
Beyond Bowling: Faith Development with Youth
Fri. October 22 - Sun. October 24
How can youth programs live beyond bowling, pizza, games, basketball? Learn ways for youth and leaders to share in the Christian tradition and develop spiritual practices. Learn theories of faith formation in youth and adults.
Leadership: Neos planning team
Starts: 7:30 pm on Friday; ends after lunch Sunday at 1:00 pm
Cost: $175
This program is subsidized by the Ellis Youth Initiatives Grant by an estimated $50. per participant.
Mark your calendars! Upcoming Neos Programs
Upcoming Neos dates: October 22 - 24 2004, January 21 - 23 2005, April 8 - 10 2005, October 21 - 21 2005, January 20 - 22 2006, and April 21 - 23 2006. (These dates might change. As the dates approach, please check the Five Oaks program brochure and this website.)
Neos planning team
The Neos planning team plans and gives leadership at the weekend Neos programs, as well as gives oversight direction. The team currently includes Andrea Caughill, Spence Edwards, Ruth Noble, Kim Shantz, Grant Kerr and Dave Le Grand. Past members include Debra Brown, Maja Hipkin, Jennifer Mountain, Emily Woods and Kenji Marui. Five Oaks thanks the dedicated commitment of these volunteers.
Neos recommended books
The below books are recommended by the Neos planning team and are available at the Grand River Bookstore and Video Library. You can contact Jackie Childerhose, Manager, at avel_booksandvideos@on.aibn.com
Blessing New Voices: Prayers of Young People and Worship Resources for Youth Ministry. By Maren C. Tirabassi.
Listening for the Soul: Pastoral Care and Spiritual Direction. By Jean Stairs.
Making Worship Real. By Aimee Wallis Buchanan, Bill Buchanan, and Jodi B. Martin.
Out of on the Edge: A wake up call for Church Leaders on the Edge of the Media Reformation. By Michael Slaughter.
Post-Modern Pilgrims. By Leonard Sweet.
Teaming Up: Shared Leadership in Youth Ministry. By Ginny Ward Holderness.
The Godbearing Life: The Act of Soul Tending for Youth Ministry. By Kenda Creasy Dean and Ron Foster.
Ways to Live: Christian Practices for Teens. Edited by Dorothy C. Bass and Don C. Richter.
Youth Spirit 2: Program Ideas for Youth Groups. Edited by Cheryl Perry.
Neos recommended youth ministry programs
There are many other opportunities for youth ministry learning. The below programs are recommended by the Neos planning team.
Princeton Theological Seminary has two annual forums on youth ministry. The forums include lectures, seminars, electives, round tables and optional interest groups. Register early for the 2004 forums! For more information, check out the website: www.ptsem.edu/iym
Naramata and Tamamagouche Centres, fellow United Church Education and Retreat Centres, have annual Youth Ministry Institutes. Naramata is located in British Columbia and Tatamagouche in Nova Scotia. For more information, check out their websites: www.naramatacentre.net and www.tatacentre.ca.
Remind me again, what is Neos?
“Neos" is a Greek word meaning young or youth.
What are the goals of the Neos program?
To enrich participants through sharing, worship and community.
To develop a supportive network.
To engage participants in relevant and practical education.
To celebrate and energize intentional youth ministry.
What is the Mission Statement of the Neos program?
God calls us to live in community
to celebrate our diverse gifts,
to care for each other,
to learn from each other, and to live faithfully from one generation to the next.
Those engaged in youth ministry
are called to encounters with youth,
to connect with their stories, issues and struggles,
to encourage a deepening of faith and spirituality,
and to respond with integrity to the world around them.
What is the Neos Youth Ministry Certificate Program?
Neos is a Youth Ministry Certificate program for those working with youth – or considering it. Every fall, winter and spring, there will be a Neos program. To obtain the Certificate, one needs to complete six Neos programs. Two of the programs, “Beyond Bowling: Faith Development with Youth" and “Nuts & Bolts of Youth Ministry" are compulsory and held bi-annually each fall. Over two years, the four other “choice" programs will focus on worship, leadership, outreach and current issues. Neos programs are open to all – one does not need to be a part of the Certificate program to participate. This program is possible through a generous bequest from Frank Ellis and the dedicated work of a volunteer planning team. Neos is a pilot project until 2006.
What is the Neos Apprenticeship Program?
The Neos Apprenticeship Program is an opportunity to learn and develop youth ministry skills at Five Oaks. The Apprenticeship Program is a "hands on" training program that involves planning and giving leadership at four Five Oaks youth programs and participating in one Neos program. The Apprenticeship Program can be completed in four to ten months. An Apprentice needs to be a minimum of 16 years of age and have prior leadership experience at a minimum of one Five Oaks children, youth or family program. Five Oaks invites new applicants to apply August 15. For more information and an application form, e-mail fun@fiveoaks.on.ca
I look forward to meeting you at Five Oaks soon.
Yours in Youth Ministry,
Andrea Buttars
Children, Youth and Family Program Co-ordinator
fun@fiveoaks.on.ca