Episcopal Diocese of Georgia Youth Ministry

Register Now for Acolyte Festival

On July 24, 2019, in Uncategorized, by Diocesan Staff

Learn Something New at This Year’s Festival

Acolytes from across the Diocese will gather at the Church of the Good Shepherd, Augusta for the Acolyte Festival on Saturday, August 24 through services on Sunday, August 25. The time together will be framed by formation, music, and play. A highlight this year will be Acolyte Lead Training and workshops for Acolyte Masters presented by Roger Speer, Good Shepherd’s Director of Student Ministries and the co-author and illustrator of “I Serve at God’s Altar,” the new Acolyte Training manual by Church Publishing. Participating churches will each receive a copy of “I serve at God’s Altar” for their libraries.

There will be multiple workshops led by local leaders for acolytes of every age from grade three through 12. Workshops take place Saturday in the early afternoon and include instructions on how to swing a thurible, how to serve at the altar, what all the different vestments are and mean, and lots more! A highlight will be a late afternoon fun activity, and joining the Church of the Good Shepherd’s worship service on Sunday, August 25.

Participants arrive on Saturday morning, August 24 from 9-10:30 AM. Bring your vestments for Sunday and a congregational banner for Sunday’s festival procession. Come prepared to sleep on the floor Saturday night by bringing a camp mattress or an inflatable mattress, sleeping bag, toiletries, and clothes to change into for Sunday morning.

Congregations who send a group of acolytes also register and send adults who are willing to engage with the activities and with the acolytes throughout the weekend!

Please contact Canon Joshua Varner at jvarner@gaepiscopal.org for more information, or to request scholarship assistance. Click this link to register now at http://bit.ly/AcFest2019

New Beginnings #54 Coming Up in March!

On February 14, 2019, in Youth Event, by Diocesan Staff

New Beginnings #54, a retreat for youth in grades 7-9, takes place March 22-24! Youth people from across the Diocese will gather at Honey Creek for a time of worship, reflection, joy, and laughter. New Beginnings is primarily led by high school youth whose experiences at New Beginnings, at Happening, and at other youth events have led them to want to offer their experiences of unconditional love to younger teenagers.

How might this discovery happen?

Through making new friends and sharing with old ones, through singing, skits, talks given by teens, videos, games, worship, and conversation with each other! You are encouraged to bring friends from your church and an adult who will stay through the weekend. Everyone will take an active part in the program. You can go to New Beginnings as many times as you’d like…as long as you’re in grades 7-9. We know once you go, you will want to go back.

All youth in grades 7-9 are encouraged to register with friends from your church! Financial Aid is available. For information about financial aid, please contact our Canon Missioner for Children & Youth, the Rev. Joshua Varner at jvarner@gaepiscopal.org. For all other questions, please contact New Beginnings Coordinator Allen Lamb at allen.lamb.1980@gmail.com.

Participant registration is now open!

Click here to register!

Early registration (lower cost!) lasts through March 8.

Summer Mission Trip Deadline Approaching

On January 30, 2019, in Uncategorized, by Diocesan Staff

Sign Up Deadline: February 11, 2019

There are less than two weeks left to sign up for our Diocesan Youth Mission Trip! This year we will be going to Appalachian Mountains for a week of service in partnership with the Appalachia Service Project (ASP)! ASP was founded in 1969 and works with families in Central Appalachia to make homes warmer, safer, and drier. Each summer they host groups in different locations in Tennessee, North Carolina, West Virginia, and Kentucky. Our group will stay with other groups at one of ASP’s Summer Centers and will go out to work on homes in the area. Whether you have never worked with your hands, or you regularly work on house projects, this trip will provide work that you can do that will make an ongoing difference in the lives of people you meet and in your own life as well.

Trip Date: July 13-20, 2019 and Required retreat: April 5-7, 2019 (at Honey Creek)
Cost: $900 (includes everything except personal expenses)
For: Youth who have finished grades 8-12 by summer 2019
Sign Up Deadline: February 11, 2019
Sign Up Link: http://bit.ly/2019MissionTrip

To sign up, please follow the link above and pay at least the initial $250 deposit. Additional information will be needed later. If you choose to pay in installments they are due February 15, April 5, and June 1. Please contact Joshua at jvarner@gaepiscopal.org with your questions about the trip and about scholarship assistance.

Winter Youth Retreat

On November 30, 2018, in Uncategorized, by Diocesan Staff

The morning light through the Altar at Honey Creek

Grades 6-12 at Honey Creek

January 11-13, 2019

Register now at http://bit.ly/2019WinterYouth

Jesus said to his disciples, “Come away by yourselves and rest a while” (Mark 6:31). Between exams, the holidays, travel, and all the other things that December brings, January is often a time when we truly need a time of rest. Come to Honey Creek to relax, to tell stories, to gather around the fire, and to experience the Light coming into the world.

This retreat, coordinated by the Rev. Amy Bradley, of St. Augustine’s, Augusta, and Canon Joshua Varner, will offer time to relax, time to tell and listen to stories, and time to play together. The retreat is for grades 6-12. The cost is $115 (after January 4 cost is $125). Contact your priest and/or our Canon Missioner for Children and Youth, the Rev. Canon Joshua Varner for scholarship assistance: jvarner@gaepiscopal.org

Youth Presence at Diocesan Convention, November 9-10, 2018

On August 31, 2018, in Youth Event, by Diocesan Staff

The 197th Convention of the Episcopal Diocese of Georgia

Join us November 9-10, 2018 in Albany!

Register for the Full Convention at http://bit.ly/2018ConventionYouth

or

Register for the Lock-in Only at http://bit.ly/2018ConventionLockIn

Youth in grades 6-12 are encouraged to come and be part of the 197th Annual Convention of the Diocese of Georgia! Youth can arrive either on Friday morning, November 9, and work with the Convention throughout the day, or arrive for the Convention Eucharist on Friday afternoon. Friday night there will be a lock-in hosted by St. John’s & St. Mark’s, Albany, and the youth will lead worship on Saturday morning at Convention!

Cost for those who are working the Convention on Friday is $10! Cost for those who come for the Eucharist and Lock-In only is $30 per person.

For more information, read the full information sheet!

Please contact the Rev. Joshua Varner, Canon Missioner for Children and Youth, with questions about the Youth Presence at Convention at jvarner@gaepiscopal.org.

Acolyte Festival 2018: The Liturgical Journey

On July 11, 2018, in Youth Event, by Diocesan Staff

Acolytes Gather for the Procession at the Festival!

Acolyte Festival 2018

August 11-12, 2018

St. Anne’s Episcopal Church, Tifton GA

Grades 3-12

Cost: $50 ($60 after August 1)

Acolytes! Come join us in Tifton for the Acolyte Festival at St. Anne’s Episcopal Church on Saturday and Sunday, August 11-12! Our time together will be framed by worship, music, and play, and we hope everyone can come.

Arrive on Saturday morning, August 11 between 9:00 and 9:30 a.m. Bring your vestments for Sunday and a congregational banner for Sunday’s festival procession. Come prepared to sleep on the floor Saturday night by bringing a camp mattress or an inflatable mattress, sleeping bag, toiletries, and clothes to change into for Sunday morning. We will be offering multiple different training opportunities for Acolytes of every age from Grade 3 through Grade 12. Those breakout sessions will take place during Saturday morning and early afternoon. They will include instructions on how to swing a thurible, how to serve at the Altar, what all the different vestments are and mean, and lots more! Saturday late afternoon will be a fun activity, and we will join in St. Anne’s Sunday worship service on Sunday August 12.

Register now at http://bit.ly/AcolyteFestival2018. We do ask that Congregations who send a group of Acolytes also register and send adults who are willing to engage with the activities and with the Acolytes throughout the weekend!

Please contact Canon Joshua Varner at jvarner@gaepiscopal.org with your questions, or to request Scholarship. As always, the Diocese is committed to ensuring that no one is unable to attend a Diocesan Youth Event because of cost.