Episcopal Diocese of Georgia Youth Ministry

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.

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.

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.

Sign up now for Hometown Missions 2018!

Grades 6-12 (plus dedicated adults!)

June 1-3, 2018, 2018

Hosted by the Augusta Convocation

Cost: $115 before May 15, $125 after May 15

(Register before May 15 and save $10!)

During Hometown Missions, we reach out in love and service to the world. Some of our work will take place on an international level, and some will happen on a local level. On Friday night the group will gather at the Church of the Good Shepherd, Augusta, for a meal-packing event in partnership with Rise Against Hunger, an international hunger relief organization. During that event we plan to pack 15,000 meals, at a cost of only 29 cents per meal! Then on Saturday, participants will divide into small groups to take on local projects in the Augusta area. Some of these projects will involve working with local organizations, and others will involve service for individual members of different Augusta Convocations.

On Saturday night we will take time to play, relax, and worship together, while also processing the experiences of the past two days. Then on Sunday the group will worship at Good Shepherd before finishing with lunch and dismissal into the world!

This event will offer service hour opportunities for those who need those hours for their schools. Come and join us, offer your gifts to the world, and fulfill a school requirement as well!

Register online at http://bit.ly/HometownMissions2018. The cost is $115 before May 15, and $125 after that date. Sign up early and save $10! Please contact Canon Joshua Varner at jvarner@gaepiscopal.org with any questions or to discuss scholarship opportunities.

Join us at New Beginnings #52, March 9-11, 2018 at Honey Creek. The total cost for the weekend is $115, and Financial Aid is available. Participant registration is now open!

Register Now for New Beginnings #52!

New Beginnings is a weekend retreat for teenagers in grades 7-9 led by a team of mostly teenagers, with a few adults, and two clergy who serve as spiritual directors. The weekend takes participants through a discovery about ourselves, our friends, our families, our faith, and how to live out our faith in our daily lives.

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 Maggie Bloodworth at mabloodworth3@gmail.com.

Participant registration is now open!

Click here or visit http://bit.ly/NB52SignUp to register!

Join us at New Beginnings #51, December 8-10, 2017 at Honey Creek. The total cost for the weekend is $115, and Financial Aid is available. Participant registration is now open!

Register Now for New Beginnings #51!

New Beginnings is a weekend retreat for teenagers in grades 7-9 led by a team of mostly teenagers, with a few adults, and two clergy who serve as spiritual directors. The weekend takes participants through a discovery about ourselves, our friends, our families, our faith, and how to live out our faith in our daily lives.

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 Maggie Bloodworth at mabloodworth3@gmail.com.

Participant registration is now open!

Click here or visit http://bit.ly/NB51SignUp to register!