The Episcopal Church of the AScension Youth l Montgomery, AL

Biannual Youth Newsletter II www.coascensionyouth.weebly.com

The Joshua Juice

Dear Ascension Family,

Spring 2014

A Letter from the Director of Spiritual Formation for Children and Youth

Photo Highlights from this Fall with the Ascension Youth

Top left: EYC Kick-off Sunday was a messy obstacle course extravaganza! Bottom left: Alice and Kohner hold on to the horse at the Per Blessing. Bottom middle: Holly and Mary Jane helped buy gifts for the annual Milton Lewis Angel Tree Gift Drive. Bottom middle: Katter played Mary in the annual Christmas Pageant this year. She is pictured with William Nishibun, who played Jesus. Bottom right: Thomas and Virginia Reed are pictured in their Christmas Pageant attire. Thomas played Joseph and Virignia Reed played the Speaker Angel.

I hope you all have had a peaceful and joyful Christmas. I wanted to take a few words to express my joy and excitement as I begin this new role at the Ascension. One thing Ive come to learn in my time serving our church is that those who love her love her passionately. And our church is not the building or walls or staff, but the people who worship here. It is out of this love that Ive answered Yes! to the call to start this new position as Director for Spiritual Formation of Children and Youth. I am glad for your support and love during this time of transition for our parish; in the transition between me and Holly and in the search for our next rector. Please know I would love to hear from you anytime! My e-mail and phone numbers are in the contact portion of Joshua Juice. With Gratefulness, Tiffany Nishibun

Youth Formation
The E.Y.C. will meet the third Sunday of every month unless otherwise noted. E.Y.C. will start at 5 p.m. for worship in the Chancel and move to the Joshua House for dinner, program and games. Pick-up will be around 7-7:30 p.m. In addition to our regular E.Y.C. meetings, we also meet occasionally at different parishioners homes. These gatherings give us an opportunity to experience intergenerational ministry and fellowship in a comfortable environment. The format for these gatherings are usually, games and fellowship, food, and a short devotional or worship provided by the host family. A.H.Y.G. meets from 5-7 p.m. at specified homes. With all the busy-ness and technology in our lives we rarely make time to relax and listen for the still small voice that is God. At Unplugged we will be intentionally listening for just that. Come relax in Gods presence every Sunday morning at 9:15 a.m. in the old Cubscout Room, 4th floor.

Episcopal Youth Community [E.Y.C.]

At-Home Youth Group [AHYG]

Coffice is a midweek gathering at Cafe Louisa for free coffee, snacks and fellowship with local Episcopal youth and youth ministers. No need to warn anyone, just show up and hang-out anytime between 3:30-5 p.m. every Wednesday! Youth confirmation is off to a great start for our small, but wonderful group of 7th graders. Confirmands and parents, please make note of the scheduled Confirmation classes and the end of the year Confirmation retreat. Wednesday evening Bible studies will be held at Holly Bauers house, 1429 Gilmer Avenue, beginning at 8 p.m. for any female youth in grades 7-12. We will start by studying a couple good girls of the Bible, Ruth and Esther. Each participant should bring a sturdy Bible that they can mark in, their Bible Study book (you can purchase from Holly), and a writing utensil. Feel free to invite friends!

Coffee House + Office Hours = [Coffice]

Confirmation

Girls Only Bible Study

Sunday School- Unplugged.

The Episcopal Church of the Ascension, Youth l 315 Clanton Avenue l Montgomery, AL 36104 l (334) 263-5529

The Episcopal Church of the Ascensions Youth Community Announcements

The Episcopal Church of the Ascensions Youth Community Special Events January Events
EYC Day Trip: Auburn vs. Missouri Basketball Event Auburn Basketball Arena Saturday, January 11, 11 a.m.- 5 p.m. SIFAT Retreat April 5-6, 2014

April Events

Host Families Needed for At-Home Youth Group

We are in need of host families for the 2014 Spring AHYG. Host families are responsible for providing a gathering space, a meal and some sort of devotion and/or worship for youth in grades 7-12. The event is held from 5-7 p.m. on a date chosen by the host family. If you are interested in hosting one of these low-key events, please go to the following link: www.signupgenius.com/ go/70A0F4CAFAA2EAB9-athome2. Or follow the link provided on the youth website!

E.Y.C.
Church of the Ascensions Episcopal Youth Community meets in a variety of ways, but once a month we meet in the Joshua House for an evening of worship, fun and games. A different parish ministry hosts EYC each month providing the meal and telling us more about their ministry and what they do for the parish. We conclude the evening with games and fellowship.

We will meet at Ascension at 11 a.m. to caravan over to the Auburn basketball arena for the Auburn vs. Missouri basketball game. You will need to bring $25 for your ticket and lunch on the way. There are only 16 spots, so you will need to contact Holly to reserve yours.

Open Dates: January 12, January 26, February 2, February 23, March 9, April 6, and May 4.

(meeting the 4th Sunday in April due to Easter)

Dates February 16, 5-7 p.m. March 16, 5-7 p.m. April 27, 5-7 p.m.

Ascension Ski Trip Beech Mountain, NC January 17-20, 2014

SIFAT (Servants in Faith and Technology), a nonprofit Christian organization, provides training in community development in hard places in our world. Christian leaders learn self-help skills for basic human needs including physical and spiritual needs, social and economic. SIFAT raises awareness of needs and global issues, providing opportunities for people to get involved personally, both to learn from and to serve alongside those with scarce resources.- sifat.org. Each year during the Spring, Church of the Ascension youth spend 1-2 nights at SIFAT learning about and experiencing global poverty. More details about this event and the cost associated will be provided closer to the date.

February Events
Happening #64- Staff Overnight Ascension- Joshua House February 15-16, 2014 Diocesan Convention Youth Lock-in St. Lukes Episcopal Church, Birmingham February 21-22, 2014

End of Year Party: May 11, 5-7 p.m.

Shower Volunteers Needed for Happening #64

There will be a variety of ways in which we will need your help to pull off Happening #64 at Church of the Ascension, but one of our greatest needs are shower volunteers. We will need at least 25-30 homes to provide showers for the participants and staff of our youth Happening Weekend As a shower volunteer you are in charge of picking up 3-4 male or female youth at 6:45 a.m. on Saturday and Sunday morning. You will take them to your house for showers then return them to the church no later than 9:00 a.m. Laura Woerner has kindly volunteered to coordinate showers for the weekend, so she will be your contact person if you are interested in serving in this way. Please email her at lae1984@gmail.com expressing your interest and whether you would prefer to provide showers for males or females.

Confirmation Class Schedule

Read chapters 4 and 5, and complete corresponding worksheet. Read chapters 6 and 7, and complete corresponding worksheet. Read chapters 8 and 9, and complete corresponding worksheet

January 26, 4 p.m. in the Joshua House

February 23, 4 p.m. in the Joshua House March 16, 4 p.m. in the Joshua House April 13, 4 p.m. in the Joshua House

To promote a stronger youth presence at the big peoples convention, the Diocesan Youth Department is hosting their second annual Youth Lock-in in conjunction with the Diocesan Convention. The whole event is just under 24 hours and packs a boatload of fun into that short amount of time. More details will be provided closer to the event.

Youth Directors from all over the diocese have been working hard to put together an event geared toward the important ministry of acolytes. This year we are re-launching the Acolyte Festival where acolytes from all over the diocese can gather for a day of fun and community. More details will be posted on the website as they become available.

Acolyte Festival Cathedral Church of the Advent, Birmingham April 26, 2014

May Events
Confirmation Retreat Joshua House May 3-4, 2014

This class is for review. Please bring materials.

Happening is a spiritual retreat for youth in grades 10-12 put on by their peers, also in grades 10-12. This Spring, Ascension is hosting the event. To learn more and to register, please check out the website, www.happeninginal.webs.com.

Happening #64 Church of the Ascension, Montgomery February 28-March 2, 2014

This overnight event will be similar to a youth Discovery Weekend. Confirmed youth will led the confirmands in this overnight experience. This will be the culminating event for the Confirmands to make their choice about continuing with Confirmation this year or waiting for a later date. While the event will hit on important topics, there will be just as much time for FUN!

Confirmation Retreat: May 3-4, 2014 Confirmation Sunday: May 25, 2014

March Events
Shrove Tuesday Pancake Supper Ascension Hall March 4, 2014 Two Seatings: 5:00 p.m./6:00 p.m.

Ascensions Youth Sunday May 11, 2014 Youth End of Year Party May 11, 2014 Confirmation Sunday May 25, 2014

District Day EYC

This is a new event that the local Episcopal youth directors are developing. The idea is that in addition to our parish EYCs we should be taking advantage of our incredible ministry opportunities as a larger Episcopal community. For now we will have district wide EYC events once every other month beginning in February. Depending on how they go, we may shoot to increase to once a month. More details will be posted on the youth webpage as they become available.

Girls Only Bible Study!

Open to all girls in grades 7-12 every Wednesday night at Hollys house, 1429 Gilmer Avenue, from 8-9 p.m.! We will begin by studying two good girls of the Bible, Ruth and Esther. A Bible study book is available for purchase through Holly. Please bring a Bible and your Bible study book. Friends are always welcome!

Each year the youth are in charge of planning and carrying out this event. It is always a great success and brings a decent donation to the youth budget. The easiest way to handle the sign-ups seems to be the online sign-up form. Please be on the look-out for this in your weekly youth email.

Dates February 9, 5-7 p.m. at St. Johns April 13, 5-7 p.m. at Church of the Ascension June 8, 5-7 p.m. at Holy Comforter

Rites of Spring is an event hosted by the Diocesan Youth Department at Camp McDowell for high school youth in grades 9-12. The upcoming youth department is elected at this event so all youth interested in running should attend. Of course, even if you dont want to run, it is impoartant for you to attend so that you can vote on the youth you want representing you.

Rites of Spring Camp McDowell March 28-30, 2014

Director of Spiritual Formation for Children and Youth

Tiffany Nishibun (c) 334.717.7025 (w) 334.263.5529 (e) tiffany@coascension.org

(334)263-5529

The Episcopal Church of the Ascension, Youth

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w w w.coascensionyouth.weebly.com

315 Clanton Avenue, M ontgomer y, AL 36104

Contact Information

315 Clanton Avenue Montgomery, AL 36104 (334) 263-5529

The Episcopal Church of the Ascension

Tiffany Nishibun

(c) 334.717.7025 (w) 334.263.5529 (e) tiffany@coascension.org

Director of Spiritual Formation for Children and Youth

www.coascensionyouth.weebly.com

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