church is you...


 



YOUTH Confirmation information!

Youth will be considered for confirmation provided they meet the following requirements:

1)  Have an 80% attendance rate in Youth @ The CENTER activities and meetings (or 80% participation in Choristers) in 2009 - 2010.

2)  Be between 13 and 18 years of age.  (13 year olds must have the approval of Julie Ross or Kathy Bozzuti-Jones.)

3)  All youth, including Choristers, must attend the YOUTH CONFIRMATION CLASSES on the following dates:  February 14, February 21, February 28, March 7, March 14, April 11 from 10:00 a.m. – 10:50 a.m. in the Youth Room. (All Youth @ The CENTER will also attend, regardless of Confirmation eligibility.)

4)  Be present for confirmation on April 18.

TOPICS WILL INCLUDE:

February 14 -- Sacraments and Religious Literacy

February 21 -- Holy Eucharist and Religious terminology

February 28 -- The Gospels and their Writers

March 7 -- Spirituality and Life in God

March 14 -- Living the Faith (Conscience, Morals and Ethics)

April 11 -- Final review with a member of the Clergy

All youth are welcome to attend!!

Come if you know you want to be confirmed.
Come if you've been confirmed and want a refresher.
Come if you're not sure about being confirmed.
Come if you're too young this year but would like to see what it's all about. 

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A Look Back at 2009:

Youth @ The Center helped make Christmas Miracles a success!

WRAP...


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and WRAP SOME MORE...

A favorite program we do here at St. Bart's is called, "STUMP THE CLERGY. "Word is: this game can get pretty intense. Although Rev. Sanders looks confident here after a recent bout, she had only high praise for her challengers!

QUESTIONS ABOUT Youth Group (Youth@theCenter)?email Julie Ross.

Are you in 6th – 12th grade? Or are you the parent of a youth in those grades? Then this information is for you!

The best way to describe Youth @ The CENTER is to list some of the things we’ve done this past year. So take a deep breath and read this awesome list!

In-service: Youth are called to serve as Acolytes and Lectors at the 9:00 service. They also participate in Bake Sales which not only provide the parishioners with tasty snacks, they also fund Youth @ The CENTER trips. Youth assist with Blessing of the Animals and other special services throughout the year. Every year, Youth design and build a Labyrinth for parishioners and others to walk during the Lenten season.

Community Service: This year special guests provided Youth with information on Cluster Bombs and Child Soldiers. Youth participated in a “Red Hand Day” event to collect red hand prints and protest the use of children as soldiers in wars around the world. Youth delegates went to the UN to present the red hand prints and met Ban Ki-Moon. Youth help with Ecclesia – an outreach program that feeds the homeless and provides a special Eucharist in Madison Square Park. Youth wrap gifts for the LIFE Center as part of St. Bart’s “Miracle on 50th Street” at Christmas time.

“Fishbowl” is a special Youth Bible Study that encourages youth to get to know the bible and its contents. “Stump the Clergy” – several times a year, clergy attend our meetings and attempt to answer any question youth members come up with. “Can of Worms” is a game of Ethics designed to engage youth in thought-provoking moral dilemmas. Annual Youth Confirmation Class – Youth wishing to be confirmed are provided with appropriate biblical and spiritual instruction.

Just plain fun: And of course, no description would be complete without saying how much fun we have together playing games like “Halloween Madness,” “Ball of String,” “Bananaman,” “Either/Or,” “Name Six,” “Top This!” and “Apples to Apples” among others! (Don’t know any of these games? Better come to Youth @ The CENTER to find out!) Finally, we also went to Six Flags this year (partially funded by our bake sales!)

photo captions from top: Palm Sunday 2009; Secretary General Ban Ki-moon allows a photo with Youth @ The Center on Red Hand Day at the UN; Stump The Clergy with Vicar Buddy Stallings; Six Flags Trip.

Who are your Illustrious Leaders?
Julie Ross is a professional parenting expert who has owned her own business, Parenting Horizons, since 1988. She teaches parents and teachers the skills they need to successfully raise or work with children of all ages. Her most recent book on parenting is entitled “How To Hug A Porcupine: Negotiating the Prickly Points of the Tween Years.”

Steve Ross is not only the beloved husband of Julie and father to their two children (one in college, one in High School) but he is also an award-winning illustrator! He’s published two graphic novels based on biblical text: “Marked” is based on the Gospel according to Mark and “Blinded” tells the story of Paul.

Directions to the Vestry Room:
Stand in the church facing the high altar. To your right is the pulpit. To the right of the pulpit are some curtains. Go through the curtains and you'll find yourself in a hallway facing two wooden doors. The Center in the Vestry Room is the second door on your right, through those wooden doors.