Angie's Youth and Young Adult Ministry Blog

The Numbers Game

My friend and colleague Molly Hagkull wrote an article for Plymouth's upcoming youth newsletter. I think that this is such a good reminder about what ministry is (and isn't) that I decided to run pieces of her article here. Thanks, Molly, for all you do.

It's not about numbers. There are a lot of results in life measures with numbers: SAT scores, cholesterol, credit scroes, driving tests. Numbers give us something concrete to hold on to. They allow us to make comparisons, set goals, track our progress. It's hard to argue with numbers.

But this is not about numbers.

This past summer, a group of adults met to read a book about high school youth ministry and to discuss its implications for Plymouth. A few big ideas stuck out. First, that youth do not need to be ministered to as much as they need to be doing ministry. Second, that God speaks to us through relationships, and our youth program should be built on relationship-building. And third, that this ministry-doing and relationship-building are not solely in the name of fun, or in the name of community service, but in the name of Jesus Christ...

...It's not about numbers. It's about the transforming power of our still-speaking God. Numbers fail us when trying to measure hearts and souls. If you want to see the results of Plymouth's youth ministry, attend an event. Watch, listen, and witness the Spirit moving in our midst. Then pray. Pray that God would continue to stir hearts, hands, and minds to do God's creative work in, among, and through the youth of Plymouth Church. Amen!

Twas the Night (or weeks) Before Christmas

The Plymouth UCC staff got together last night for our annual Christmas party. There was the usual exchange of silly gifts and a great dinner. There was also a lot of laughter and some downright silliness. There was singing and dancing and storytelling, too. What a great group of people! What a great event! Check out the photos posted in the 'photo' section of the blog.

Merry Christmas!

The Fifth

You can take the fifth, plead the fifth, play a fifth, drink a fifth (not recommended, though), and even listen to Beethoven's Fifth.

You can also read about, change your life because of, improve your relationships, and make the world a better place by using Peter Senge's "Fifth Discipline"--a study on systems change. Although I'd read snippets of the book before, I listened to the first half of the book on my iPod last night while driving to and from my daughter's softball game. I was so engrossed in the book that I almost drove past the exit on the highway--it really is that good.

The basic premise? We are not individuals in this world, working alone, independent, disconnected from others. Everything we do impacts lots of other things and lots of other people. Decisions we make, things we say, actions we take--like the ripple effect in a pond.

That's a very, very, very abbreviated (and not even a complete) snapshot of where the book begins. It then goes on to talk about learning and growing, owning and sharing vision, learning to work together, strengthening trust and relationships, and practice...practice...practice.

Good read. I'll hopefully finish it tonight, on the road to another ballgame.

Out With the Old, In With the New

The transitions are starting: committees and board at Plymouth are wrapping up their year, new members are joining the teams and 'old' members are either retiring from service or becoming new again by joining up with another group. So right now is a time of reflection: what have we done this year? And it's a time for hopes and dreams: what do we hope to do in the next year?

So, in that spirit--where are you? What have you done so far this year? What is it you hope to do the rest of the year?

As for me: I acquired a 'glow' while on sabbatical. That's what I've done so far. I hope to hang on to it, too. Centeredness. Peace. Rooted in faith. Contentment.

Everything else? Just details...

That's what it's all about...

Ministry sometimes feels like doing the hokey-pokey: you put your right foot in, take it back out, put it back in and shake, shake, shake and then you do the hokey-pokey and turn yourself about...and things turn out OK.

That's what happened this weekend. All year long, it has felt like we've been dancing in circles, throwing things in, taking them out, shaking things up...for what? To give kids a home and relationships. To let them know they are loved. To help them grow in faith.

31 8th grade confirmation students joined the church yesterday, professed their faith and took their vows. They spoke about the great two years they've had in confirmation and shared that they want to keep going in high school: small groups, service projects, fun. It was awesome. That was at the first service.

At the second service, the Junior Matins (9th and 10th grade) choir performed their 'home concert'--they led worship in song and story, sharing their feelings about being a part of the choir, about taking their ministry on the road to share with folks in Kansas City, and about what it means to be a part of Plymouth church leading worship each week. Amazing.

"That's what it's all about". Keep dancing!

Confirmation Retreat 2006

Our end-of-the-year confirmation retreat has come and gone...and it was great! Lots of memories. Little sleep. Skits. Worship. Singing. Learning about ourselves. Learning about God. Making decisions whether or not to be confirmed into the church. Laughter. Tears. Late nights around a bonfire. Early mornings overlooking the lake. Friends. Food. Good times.

Check out the photos in the photo album!

Marriage Prep

I have five weddings coming up in the next few months. As a part of pre-marital counseling, I encourage couples to read, "The Hard Questions: 100 Essential Questions to Ask Before You Say 'I Do'" by Susan Piver. If you are married--or thinking about getting married--see how you and your significant other answer these questions. The answers might surprise you!

1. How much money do we earn together? Now? In five years? Who is responsible for which portion? Now? In five years?

2. How much money is in our checking account(s) right now?

3. What kinds of purchases must be jointly decided upon?

4. If one of us doesn't want to work, under what circumstances (if any) would that be OK?

5. When, if ever, do we want to retire? How would we like to spend our time after retirement?

6. Am I affectionate enough with my partner?

7. What if one of us is attracted to someone else?

8. Who is responsible for cooking? Grocery shopping? Cleaning up after cooking?

9. Are each of us happy with the other's approach to health? Does one have habits or tendencies that concern the other (i.e.: smoking, excessive dieting, poor health, etc.)?

10. If we have children, what kind of relationship do we hope our parents will have to their grandchildren? How much time will they spend together?

11. What holidays and events do we feel are important to spend with our family of origin? Do we have special celebration? If so, what is involved and where are celebrations held?

12. Will we have children together?

13. Will we raise our children with any particular religious or spiritual beliefs? If so, how will we do this? Will we give our children a religious education or expect them to participate in religious rituals? What will we teach our children about big issues such as God? Birth? Suffering? Death?

14. Do we share a religion? Do we share a spiritual practice?

15. Will we be buried? Where? If not, what do we want to have happen to our bodies?

Buy the book to read the other 85 questions. It's worth it.

I'm Back in the Saddle Again

What a week! Meditation and yoga in the morning. Meditation and yoga in the afternoon. Evenings of chanting or talking. Lots of good food. More importantly, lots of great rest and reconnection. Whew!

And now I'm back at work, back at Plymouth, back with the confirmation guides (a meeting this morning to plan retreat and the Sunrise Service), back in worship, back to youth ministry (bowling tonight--yeah!), and back to business...but it won't be business as usual.

If sabbatical has taught me anything, it is that life is too short to try and cram everything in. Sounds backwards, huh? Usually we act as though life is so short that we need to try and rush, rush, rush and do, do, do...and when we do that we get stressed, stressed, stressed and can't focus on what is right in front of our noses: God, friends, community and joyful abundance.

So it's time to focus in on what's important and let go of what isn't important. Slow down. Breathe. Pay attention. Focus.

It's good to be back.

Just to be is a blessing.

Here's the thought for today: "What message have you for young people?" asked Carl Stern of NBC in concluding a television interview with Rabbi Abraham Joshua Heschel shortly before his death. Rabbi Heschel replied: "...let them remember that there is a meaning beyond absurdity. Let them be sure that every deed counts, that every word has power, and that we all can do our share to redeem the world in spite of all absurdities and all frustrations and all disappointments. And, above all, let them remember...to build a life as if it were a work of art."

Just to be is a blessing. Just to live is holy.

(from The Godbearing Life by Kenda Creasy Dean).

Brains, Stepping Stones and St. Louis

I'm back home after a quick trip to St. Louis. I drove down Monday to meet with David Greenhaw, president of Eden Seminary, to talk about brain research, theological studies, and how I might tie the two together. That's what I'd planned to talk about, anyway. What we ended up discussing was the Stepping Stones program and how it has the potential to not only change families but entire congregations as well. We talked about families sitting down to pray together, children who feel safe talking to their parents about tough issues, the ability for moms and dads to share their faith with their children and children to share their faith with their parents. It was a great conversation that gave me hope and renewed my sense of passion for this important ministry.

After that, I had fun saying 'hi' to some old friends that I'd lost touch with. Lots of fun.

Tuesday, I met with Karen Tye--a professor at Eden who takes brain research and techniques seriously. We had an interesting conversation about how the church really operates as one big brain: full of information, wired to do things in the most effective and wonderful ways, but often stuck in a rut because it chooses to use familiar pathways and known methods.

I drove home Tuesday night, a little more recharged and a little more ready to go back to work. A little more, that is. Still two weeks to go...