"Trust in the LORD with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths"
Proverbs 3:5-6
Tragedy in Boston
A Resource Packet for Youth Workers
Youth Directors Release Resources in the Wake of Recent Tragedies
The National Youth Directors of several different Orthodox Jurisdictions, together with the Orthodox Christian Fellowship have collaborated to offer several resources for Clergy and Lay people to help minister to our youth and young adults in light of the recent public violence in and around Boston.
The resource packet contains a cover letter from several youth directors, three reflections on the attacks by adults, ten tips for speaking to your youth groups and church school classes about public violence, and a ten suggested steps for equipping your youth group or OCF chapter to respond to these tragedies. Additionally, the Orthodox Church in America has made available its online study guide "A Christian Response to Terrorism" (link: http://oca.org/the-hub/make-the-evil-good/o-lord-make-the-evil-be-good-a-discussion-guide-on-the-christian-response-t ). This study guide, originally compiled after the terrorist attacks on September 11, 2001, provides prayers, scriptural references, and discussion questions to use with youth and young adults.
In addition to the Orthodox Church in America, these materials have been provided by collaboration between the Antiochian Orthodox Archdiocese of North America, the Ukrainian Church of the USA, Bulgarian Eastern Orthodox Diocese of the USA, Canada & Australia.
Our prayers go out to all those physically, emotionally and spiritually affected by this tragic events.
Yours in Christ,
V. Rev. Dr. Joseph F. Purpura, Chairman
Department of Youth and Parish Ministry
Antiochian Orthodox Christian Archdiocese of North America
Here is an article on Teen Dating that I thought would be of interest to teens and to parents.
Early dating, worse results
From the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, I’m Ira Dreyfuss with HHS HealthBeat.
Dating in middle school may be not so much fun in the long run.
A study indicates kids who date in middle school have worse study skills, more substance abuse and more likelihood to drop out of high school than kids who don’t date. Researcher Pamela Orpinas of the University of Georgia saw that in seven years of data on 624 northeast Georgia students, starting in sixth grade.
Orpinas advises parents to keep their lines of communication open to kids:
“Tell your children that dating is not a rite of passage. Many kids do not date in middle school. They can wait. Wait a little bit; wait until high school.”
The study in the Journal of Research on Adolescence was supported by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
Learn more at healthfinder.gov.
HHS HealthBeat is a production of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. I’m Ira Dreyfuss.
Last revised: April 15, 2013
Teen SOYO Halifax Nova Scotia
March 2013
The parish of Saint
Antonios church in Halifax Nova Scotia was blessed to have Fr. Joseph Purpura
join them for a weekend full of inspiration, motivation and faith.
On
Friday, March 8th, Fr. Joseph met with the parents of the youth
in the community and informed them about issues that have become a serious
problem within society. This includes sex, drugs and alcohol. Sadly, these
common activities observed within society, also affect the children in the
Orthodox Church.
Awareness
to these issues was extremely important, as many parents were not updated with
the latest science about the harm that results from the use of alcohol and drug
substances. In addition, parents were mostly shocked to learn about the affect
Argileh has. This traditional smoking instrument is very common in Arab homes,
and many children are observed using it as a pass-time activity. Observing the
statistics collected from youth in our Archdiocese was especially shocking to
the parents, as most of the time they are oblivious to the fact this is
actually happening to their children.
The
discussions continued the following day where the youth of the community had a
workshop with Fr. Joseph. Approximately 40 teenagers attended the
workshop, where the main themes included purity, chastity and virginity. Throughout
the workshop, the teens engaged and asked several questions regarding the
church’s view on societal issues.
The
information presented to both the youth and the parents during Fr. Joseph
Purpura's visit was enlightening and educational for all. Through informing
both the youth and the parents with new information, as well as the
consequences which result from these non-Christian actions, it has sparked the
community of St. Antonios to make changes and protect their youth, for they are
the next generation.
-
St. Antonios Teen SOYO, Halifax, NS
2013 Diocesan SOYO Nomination forms are now available here
2013 Francis Maria Scholarship Application Now Available on our Scholarship Page
2013 SOYO Special Olympics Coach Application now available here
Music Recommendation
Recently Released CD of Kerygma Music is now available online
"Heartfelt" and "personal" often describes this uplifting and ground breaking music. Based in the experience of Eastern Orthodox Christianity KERYGMA touched the heart of a generation. This digital release is for them, and the hearts of their children.
http://www.cdbaby.com/cd/kerygma2
Featured Singers:
Rick Michaels
(Bishop ANTHONY of the Diocese of Toledo and the Midwest)
Patrick Kinder
(Fr Patrick Kinder, Spiritual Advisor of SOYO for the Diocese of the Midwest
and Alan Shanbour
(Fr Michael Shanbour)
Free Learning and Opportunities for Youth from Microsoft Corporation
Opportunities for Youth of all ages 6 through Young Adults to Learn Skills - go here
Free Programing Software for Youth go here
Save the Date!
The Orthodox Camping and Youth Worker Conference
Endorsed by the Assembly of Canonical Orthodox Bishops of North and Central America
will take place January 24-26, 2013 in Austin Texas
This conference is open to all parish youth directors, SOYO Advisors, youth workers and anyone else working with youth in their diocese or parish.
Starting a SOYO and other Essentials
Interested in starting a SOYO in your parish or in need of materials to grow your SOYO. This document How to Start a SOYO and other Essentials is for you.
Step 1. Read through this document
Step 2. Read through this website to better understand the programs of SOYO
Step 3. Read through your Diocesan SOYO Webpage and or FaceBook Pages.
Step 3. Talk to your Parish Priest
Step 4: Talk to the Teens and Parents in your parish
Step 4. Contact your Diocesan and or NAC SOYO Officers and or the Department of Youth Ministry and ask for their help, guidance and calendar of upcoming events.
Special Olympics Awareness DayPackets have been sent to all parishes for Special Olympics Awareness Day, which is the third Sunday of October each year - this year Sunday October 21, 2012.
Please channel your SOYO Special Olympics Contributions through your Parish SOYO. Each donor will receive an icon bookmark of St Herman from SOYO as a thank you for your generosity.
Each Parish is asked to send in the money they collect on the 21st by the end of October to:
NAC SOYO Special Olympics
Department of Youth and Parish Ministries
PO Box 389
Westwood MA 02090
Checks should be made payable to "NAC SOYO Special Olympics"
Our 2012 Goal is to raise $52,000 for the one week SOYO Special Olympics Program to be held August 2013.
Time to start Studying for the 2013 Bible Bowl - The Gospel of Mark!
Online Study Guide along with Practice Questions are available at http://www.OrthodoxYouth.org
More information on the Festivals is available at: www.antiochian.org/Festivals