The path to adulthood looks much different than it did a few decades ago. And this shift has serious implications for youth ministry and how we navigate the realities of adolescent culture and the call of discipleship.
That’s why we’re excited to co-sponsor the one-day Extended Adolescence Symposium, featuring a dialogue (and probably some debate!) between Dr. Robert Epstein and Dr. Jeffrey Arnett. Dr. Epstein and Dr. Arnett come from distinctly different perspectives on the challenges and opportunities of this shift in adolescence, and facilitator Dr. Kara Powell will help us consider what it means for people in ministry. The event is being put on by The Youth Cartel, and it all goes down Monday, November 21, in Atlanta (after the National Youth Workers Convention).
Do you want to join us?
Since sparkhouse is one of the event sponsors, we have one (1) ticket to give away (worth $100). Two ways to enter:
Leave a comment explaining why you want to go to the Symposium.
Mention this giveaway on Facebook or Twitter, and then leave a comment on this blog post to let us know you did.
*Please note: The contest has been extended! Comments must be posted by 11:59 pm CST on Thursday, November 10. We’ll randomly draw one (1) winner and post about it on Friday, November 11. This giveaway is for the tickets only—you are responsible for your own transportation and lodging.
Are you gearing up for any fall events? We sure are! With the San Diego National Youth Workers Convention just 10 days away, the sparkhouse team is packing up and heading west. And we’re really looking forward to spending time meeting with youth workers from around the country!
Can’t make it to San Diego, but are venturing to the second National Youth Workers Convention in Atlanta this November? We’ll be there, too! With the promise of great sessions and speakers, and opportunities to connect with God (and each other!), both are bound to be incredible weekends. We’re going to have a booth set up with all sorts of re:form goodies and some great giveaways. You’ll definitely want to stop by.
For those of you on the East Coast, we’ll also be at the Momentum Youth Conference in Hickory, North Carolina later this week. We hope to see you at one of the youth events this fall. Whether you’re headed to San Diego, Hickory, or Atlanta, be sure to find us and say hi!
Not able to make it? No problem! Follow along with re:form on Facebook and Twitter to catch all the latest event updates.
Back in June we wrote about The Art of Curating Worship conference in Pasadena, California. This event provided musicians, poets, visual artists, and worship leaders with the opportunity to learn, experience, and collaborate with some of the most innovative practioners in worship curation today. For those of you who were unable to attend our west coast conference, we have great news! From September 12-14, we’re hosting another event – in Chicago!
This time featuring Mark Pierson, Jodi-Renee Adams, Ted Lyddon Hatten, and Troy Bronsink, participants can expect to:
Collaborate with others to gain hands-on experience with worship curation.
Learn the language of worship curation through the guidence of our event mentors.
Discover new ways to foster your congregation’s gifts, skills, and passions to enhance your local worship.
Leave with the tools and inspiration to curate worship in your local context.
You can register online. All those involved or interested in designing, preparing, and creating worship are welcome. We look forward to seeing you in Chicago!
Last week, a fan on ReNew’s Facebook page shared a really great DIY project. For those of you getting ready for VBS, take a peak at the innovative name tags one congregation created for ReNew. The best part? They’re upcycled from a birch log!
To make your own, cut thin slices off the end of a narrow log. Use a hole puncher or scissors to make small holes along the top. Find a fun yarn that will be sturdy enough to withstand several days of activity. Enjoy!
Has your congregation gotten creative with decorations or crafts for ReNew? Share your ideas with us! We’d love to hear how everything is going.
When was the last time you attended summer camp? Odds are it’s been too long! In just two weeks, JoPa Productions, headed by Doug Pagitt (pastor, radio host, and author of the Inventive Ageseries) and Tony Jones (author, theologian, adjunct professor, and re:form contributor) are presenting the first ever Social Phonics Summer Camp for those interested in learning more about the ever-evolving world of social media. Since 2009, Doug and Tony have traveled the U.S. consulting and speaking at day-long boot camps, but this summer camp provides the opportunity to dive even deeper into Facebook, Twitter, blogging, and much more.
As their website explains, “In a fun, relaxed, summer camp environment, we’ll spend an entire day embellishing your Facebook page; we’ll delve more deeply into free broadcast media — both audio and video; we’ll tutor you in blogging; we’ll make sure that your Google listing is optimized; and we’ll do some serious tweeting!  Guest speakers will teach about writing compelling copy for your website and maintaining privacy online.  Plus, our certified Social Phonics Coaches will be your camp counselors all week, giving you one-on-one attention.”
Think this is exactly what you need to jump-start your social media savvy? After three days at this camp, you’ll leave with tips, pointers, and hands-on experience that will help both you and your organization. Plus, nothing says summer camp like a trip to Minnesota! You can register here.
Fans of re:form, rejoice! Coming this August, we’re rolling out a brand new resource from the creative teams that brought you re:form and re:form Traditions. . . re:form Ancestors! This youth Bible study explores the ancestors of our faith by exposing the real, unpolished and unexpected personalities of Old Testament Bible characters.
From Adam and Eve (the lovable screw-ups)Â to Daniel (the invincible visionary), this fifteen course Bible study is bound to spur great conversation. Our hope is that youth will discover similarities between themselves and the many unlikely people selected by God to do extraordinary things. To see a full list of the characters included in re:form Ancestors Old Testament, head to our Facebook page. Take a moment to watch a preview video from the lesson “Moses: the Frustrated Leader.” And be sure to let us know what you think!
And coming May 2012 – re:form Ancestors New Testament. Stay tuned for more!
In just two weeks members of the sparkhouse team will be traveling to a farm outside Pittsboro, North Carolina to participate in the inaugural Wild Goose Festival. This innovative family-friendly gathering, based on the U.K’s successful Greenbelt Festival, is bringing together people interested in learning more about the intersection of justice, spirituality, music, and art. We couldn’t be more excited! As their site says, ” Wild Goose Festival offers a truly remarkable lineup of musicians, artists, speakers, performers and events . . . we’re seeking to nurture a space that is both entertaining and transformational.”
Just as many attendees have mentioned on Facebook and Twitter, we too are looking forward to learning, conversing, and working with enthusiastic participants and contributors throughout our three days in North Carolina. We will be representing both sparkhouse and Clayfire, our brand new worship design platform that will be available this August. Look for bright orange t-shirts and smiling faces. We hope to see you there!
Follow @Clayfire and #wildgoosefest as we embark on this adventure to Wild Goose Festival!
In March, the re:form Ancestors Dream Team – youth leaders, pastors, and theologians from all over the country – gathered for a two day Creative Jam, full of collaboration, imagination, and inventiveness. Rev. Melissa Cooper spoke with us about working on this brand new curriculum and that its innovative look at Old and New Testament characters will “allow high schoolers to be able to wrestle with the Bible and for that to be OK is going to be huge in their spiritual development. In the end, they’re going to come out owning their faith.”
Some of you may remember hearing about the Art of Curating Worship event we hosted in Minneapolis last June. Presenters Mark Pierson, Jodi-Renee Adams, and Eric Herron focused on exploring, deepening, and reimaging worship throughout the one-day event.
This year, we’re presenting the Art of Curating conference, an interactive, experiential three-day event in which participants will learn and practice the art of worship curation. The conference will be held at Fuller Seminary in Pasadena, California from June 29 – July 1 (visit our registration page for schedule highlights).
Once again featuring Mark, Jodi-Renee, and Eric (along with fellow curators Todd Fadel and Ted Lyddon Hatten), participants will be mentored by five of the most innovative and seasoned practioners in worship curation today.
You can expect to:
Collaborate with teams of musicians, poets, visual artists and others to gain hands-on experience with worship curation.
Learn the language of worship curation from experts in the field.
Laugh, sing, laugh, draw, laugh, write, and make art. And laugh.
Discover how your gifts, skills, and passions can enhance your local worship.
Leave with the tools and inspiration to curate worship in your local context.
You can register online. Early bird discounts are available through June 6. All attendees will receive a complimentary copy of Mark Pierson’s groundbreaking book, The Art of Curating Worship, prior to the event.
All those involved or interested in designing, preparing, and creating worship are welcome. We look forward to seeing you in Pasadena!
During VBS, kids will plant ReNew seed packs as a reminder of God’s renewing love. Each ReNew Bible Book comes with a set of seed packs, providing kids with tomato, basil, onion, oregano, and pepper seeds to grow their very own pizza garden.
With so many fun ways to get seeds growing, we started brainstorming a list of creative (and low budget!) ways for your VBS kids explore the Parable of the Sower as they watch their seedlings sprout.
Start collecting toilet paper rolls. Kids can begin growing seeds in them during VBS, then bring the rolls home to place outside or in larger pots. And the best part is you can plant the whole thing – it’ll break down in the soil! Here is a great tutorial on how to make these simple, practical seed starters.
We recently heard from a church who used ReNew last summer, and aquired egg cartons from congregants to grow their ReNew seed packs. Kids planted a seed a day, then brought their carton home at the end of the week.
No need to throw away egg shells; turn them into tiny seed starters. Crack open eggs for a scrambled treat, then carefully wash out the remaining shells. This is another great way to use biodegradable products for planting! Here are some step-by-step instructions.
Has your church found creative ways to plant your ReNew seed packs? If so, take some pictures and upload them to ReNew’s Facebook page. We’d love to see what’s sprouting at your place of worship.
*Please note: The contest has been extended! Comments must be posted by 11:59 pm CST on Thursday, November 10. We’ll randomly draw one (1) winner and post about it on Friday, November 11. This giveaway is for the tickets only—you are responsible for your own transportation and lodging.
