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eNews | ||
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May 10th, 2006 |
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Editor: Steve Stofflet |
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In This Issue:
Reminders:
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Special Announcements:
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One of the positions is a CIT (counselor in training) mentor.
We are looking for 2 men over the age of 21 (and up to ???) (women CIT mentors are already in place)
It’s a one-week volunteer position.
Why would you do this, you ask?
Kris Forsyth, the former Director of Gordonwood Camp (the Diocese of Michigan camp), current Diocesan of Eastern Michigan Youth Coordinator and also St. Christopher’s Episcopal Church Director of Religious Education, and American Camping Association “Visitor”, will be the CIT director this year. Not only will she be training the CITs, she will also be training the adult CIT mentors so they can take over the program and also use it in their own parishes, youth groups, and Dioceses. This is a FREE week of training for the mentors from one of the most highly recognized leaders in youth and camp ministries in Michigan. Just think of all the skills you can gain and bring home to your own ministries.
The week of camp runs from August 13-19, with staff training beginning on August 12.We have two opportunities for male cabin staff.
- The first being a male cabin counselor for junior camp (grades 3-8) – cabin to be determined. This person must be over the age of 18 and out of high school and this is also a one-week volunteer position.
Why would you partake in this opportunity?
A Christian camp is one of the most influential weeks in the life of a young person, and you will have the time to help shape that for the young people in Episcopal church. You will serve with a co-counselor in a cabin of up to 10 senior high youth. Your responsibilities will be for the care of the young men (all activities are taken care of by the program staff with you serving as a participant in the activities and a mentor for the young men).
The week of camp runs from August 13-19, with staff training beginning on August 12
- The other opportunity is a male cabin counselor for senior camp. This person also must be over the age of 21 and is also a one-week volunteer position.
Why would you partake in this opportunity?
A Christian camp is one of the most influential weeks in the life of a young person, and you will have the time to help shape that for the young people in Episcopal church. You will serve with a co-counselor in a cabin of up to 10 senior high youth. Your responsibilities will be for the care of the young men (all activities are taken care of by the program staff with you serving as a participant in the activities and a mentor for the young men).
The week of camp runs from August 6-12, with staff training beginning on August 5
Pumpkin Patch Guide (for both weeks)
We are looking for a woman or two to serve as the Pumpkin Patch Guide. This person must be over the age of 18 and out of high school and is a one-week volunteer position.
What is the Pumpkin Patch? This is a cabin of staff children – from age 3 and up. There will be one adult for every 3 children (almost all girls, which is why we prefer a woman), and many other staff available to help with care and feeding.
You will be able to work with program staff to coordinate activities such as arts & crafts, swimming & sandcastle building, book reading and movies. Parents also help with showering and bed-time. If you have pumpkin-age children of your own and are wondering how you can be a part of camp, this is a wonderful opportunity!
Benefits for all positions include:
- Room & board for the camp session (& between the camp sessions if you are serving both weeks)
- CPR & First Aid by the American Red Cross
- Camp ministry, youth ministry & children’s ministry training
- Two hours off each day (use the time to refresh yourself with a trip to the River Stop Café in beautiful downtown Newaygo, a hike in the many walking trails, or take a nap)
- Child care provided for the camp session (seriously, yes – if you have a child or children not of camping age, we have a program for you – The Pumpkin Patch is the cabin of staff kids. They have qualified counselors, just like the campers. They have activities, chaplain’s time, and participate in meals and the Eucharist with the rest of the camp.) And thanks to a generous grant from the Bishop Whittemore Foundation, we are able to offer this free of charge to all staff members.
- Financial assistance for children of camper age (ok, this is actually available to everyone!)
- Travel expense assistance may be available if needed
If you answered: “Yes Gennie, this is the coolest thing ever and I would love to serve in one of these positions,” you can download an application here
If you answered: “Gennie, this sounds like a wonderful opportunity, but I can’t serve this year,” please keep this in mind for another year.
If you would not like to serve this year, but would like to send your children, other relatives or a young person from your parish, you can also find the camper registration form hereIf you answered: “Gennie, I’m from another Diocese, why would I want to send people to your camp?” just think of the new ideas people would be able to pick up here and share with you – or all the fresh perspectives we’d be able to gain from people from other places.
Please fill out all forms completely and mail to our NEW ADDRESS:
Episcopal Youth Camp
Diocese of Western Michigan
5220 Lover’s Lane, LL 100
Portage, MI 49002
Thank you for your time!
Take care and God bless,
Gennie
...........................................................
Genevieve Callard
~Assistant to the Bishop for Children, Youth, and Young Adult Ministries
Episcopal Diocese of Western Michigan (269) 381-2710
Sudan is a large country in northern Africa near Egypt, Ethiopia and Chad. The Muslim Sudanese Government and Janjaweed Army in northern Sudan had been attacking the Christians in southern Sudan for their oil interests, but through the influence of the United States legislature, they agreed to a peace treaty. Now the Sudanese government is attacking the region of Darfur in western Sudan, which is home to a different Muslim ethnicity.In our own diocese, we have a church in Grand Rapids that has become home to a Sudanese church. Many Sudanese “lost boys” who escaped from their warring country to the United States settled in Grand Rapids. Their stories include watching their villages attacked, their families killed and fighting in the Southern People’s Liberation Army against the government. Fighting was their only chance for survival.
Currently there are refugee camps set up for those in Darfur fleeing their homes, but many of them are unsafe. The African Union has sent in troops but managed to secure only a few camps. This is a great humanitarian crisis.When the previous peace treaty was formed between the northern Muslim Sudan and the southern Christian Sudan our Congress had a great influence in creating and enacting the agreement. Now we wish to have a similar impact in the current situation between the government and Darfur.
Please call your congressman [Carl Levin 1-202-224-6221, Debbie Stabenow 1-202-224-4822] on May 16, 2006 so that he or she is flooded with calls at that time and is forced to hear about the conflict and realize the magnitude of the situation and the concern of his or her constituents. Please help.
PS: Since completing this project there has been some progress for peace. One of the rebel factions has signed a peace agreement, but others are still holding out. We still need your help.
Saturday, May 13
Ariane Lydon to perform at St. Barnabas in Portage
St. Barnabas Episcopal Church -
929 E. Centre - Portage, MI www.stbarn.org
(click on their address for a map)
Home Phone_______________________ E-Mail____________________________
Leadership positions currently held
Parish____________________________________________________
Deanery__________________________________________________
Diocese___________________________________________________
Submit registrations to : EDWM A-R Team c/o Pat Baxter
E-Mail: pntb@comcast.net
Fax: 616-365-0927
Spring Assembly and Labyrinth Walk at the Cathedral in Portage (directions below)
Brown Bag Lunch – Please Remember To Bring Your Own Drinks
Muffins, coffee & tea will be available upon arrival in the morning.
An ice chest will be available to keep your drinks cold.
ALL WOMEN ARE WELCOME
(you do not need to be a Daughter of the King, or even Episcopalian, to attend)
NEW YORK- Trinity Church-St. Paul’s parish in Manhattan will present a live online telecast on Ascension Day, Thursday, May 25, 2006 exploring the increasing interest within Christianity to build inclusive and progressive faith-based communities.
Here Comes Everybody!: Christian Communities That Work is for lay and clergy leaders who want to learn how to re-build their faith community through the renewal of basic practices of hospitality, discernment of the church’s calling, personal testimony, observing the Sabbath, and constructive, open conversation.
Some might find it surprising that “emergent churches” are forming because people feel called to form communities without a creed, doctrine, biblical orthodoxy, or even the structure of a denomination. They simply feel called to share a spiritual journey in a dynamic Christian community. This program will show how they are doing it.
This telecast will bring together three prominent advocates for reimagined discipleship including Diana Butler Bass, a senior researcher at Virginia Theological Seminary and director of the Project on Congregations of Intentional Practice; the Very Reverend Alan Jones, dean of Grace Cathedral in San Francisco; and Brian D. McLaren, founder of Cedar Ridge Community Church, an innovative, nondenominational church in the Baltimore-Washington, D.C. area.
Here Comes Everybody!: Christian Communities That Work will be telecast live at www.Trinitywallstreet.org from 8:00 p.m. to 10:00 p.m. (EST) and will include an in-depth interview with each guest, and a panel discussion with telephone and email Q&A from viewers. Following the live telecast, the program will be available for viewing online and by ordering DVDs through www.TrinityWallStreet.org.
This will be our 11th Benedictine Experience at the very lovely House of Prayer. Several participants have returned year after year, and they requested a Benedictine Experience for alumni or for those who have had some exposure to the Rule of St. Benedict. The format will remain the same but the lecturers will be invited to speak beyond the basics. However, we would like to emphasize that past participation is not a requirement. All are welcome who wish to come and enter into a simple rule of life, which supports their witness to Christ at home, work and church.
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