wfn.org | Youth At UCC Synod to Do Service, Justice and have fun

[Worldwide Faith News <wfn@igc.org>]

Youth @ General Synod event: Service, justice and fun

> Written by Gregg Brekke
> May 12, 2009

Over 150 youth have registered for the Youth @ General Synod event to
be held June 24-30 in conjunction with the UCC's General Synod in
Grand Rapids, Mich.

The program for high school students (grades 9 ? 12) combines General
Synod events with three days of service projects, evening programs,
social opportunities and after hours activities.

"It's a great chance for youth to learn about and participate in the
wider church and to grow in faith, service and friendship with their
peers in the UCC," says the Rev. Kelly Burd, the UCC's interim
minister for youth and young adults. "Since financial and
transportation considerations force many youth groups to choose
between a mission/service trip and wider church gathering each summer,
we are offering a General Synod program that includes mission/service
experience."

Service projects scheduled for Thursday, Friday and Monday will
include direct service work such as tutoring and serving food along
with ministry support activities like stocking food pantries, painting
and cleaning.

Youth will be housed, fed, and the majority of Youth @ General
Assembly activities will take place, at Aquinas College, just minutes
from DeVos Center and downtown Grand Rapids. In addition to service
projects, and Saturday and Sunday spent with the main General Synod,
an afterhours activity Friday, June 26, will feature a youth "mock
Synod" with 2005 General Synod moderator Eric C. Smith.

Although registration has closed for the weeklong Youth @ General
Synod event, all youth are invited to join in the afterhours
activities scheduled from 9:30-11:00pm Friday through Tuesday
evenings. Please contact the Rev. Kelly Burd (burdk@ucc.org or
216/736-3871) for additional information.

The UCC's Youth and Young Adult Ministries issued the following
tentative schedule:

Wednesday, June 24

1:00-9:00pm ? Registrant check-in at Aquinas College
7:30-9:30pm ? Welcome activities
9:30-10:45pm ? Afterhours activities / Games and Arts
11:45pm ? Lights Out

Thursday, June 25

7:30am-Noon ? Breakfast and service projects
1:00-7:00pm ? Recreation ? t-shirt design and dinner
7:30-9:30pm ? Concert and "Just Neighbors" with Thom Chu
9:30-10:45pm ? Afterhours activities / games and arts
11:45pm ? Lights Out

Friday, June 26

7:30am-Noon ? Breakfast and service projects
1:00-7:00pm ? Free time and dinner
7:30-9:30pm ? Opening worship at General Synod
9:30-10:45pm ? Afterhours "mock Synod"
11:45pm ? Lights Out

> Saturday, June 27
> 6:30am - Breakfast
> 7:30am ? Depart for River City Saturday
> 9:00pm ? Jason & Demarco concert
> 10:45pm ? Depart for Aquinas College
> 11:45pm ? Lights Out

> Sunday, June 28
> 6:30am - Breakfast
> 7:30am ? Depart for General Synod ? Sacred Conversations
> Afternoon ? Community worship
> 7:30-10:30pm ? Committees ? youth attend
> 10:45pm ? Depart for Aquinas College
> 11:45pm ? Lights Out

Monday, June 29

7:30am-12:30pm ? Breakfast and service projects
1:30-3:15pm ? Youth program @ GS: Service and Justice
3:30pm ? Depart for Aquinas College
7:30-10:30pm ? Plenary 3 @ GS and evening prayers ? youth attend
10:45pm ? Depart for Aquinas College
11:45pm ? Lights Out

> Tuesday, June 30
> 6:30am - Breakfast
> 7:45am ? Depart for General Synod: Plenary 4
> Noon ? Lunch
> 2:30-5:00pm ? Plenary 5 @ GS
> 7:30-9:30pm ? Closing Worship @ GS
> 10:45pm ? Depart for Aquinas College
> 11:45pm ? Lights Out