Awesome, just awesome !

The Provincial Youth Council and Chaplains hosted their 2009 Consultation in Johannesburg last week. What a great success with everybody making a tremendous contribution to the discussions and outcomes. And what a wide range of topics that were discussed !

We will be posting elements of our discussions and decisions from time to time. So, please visit frequently for updates and pictures.

For now : here are the delegates for 2009 :

What is the maximum age considered for youth?

Each Parish or Diocese have at some stage considered or even implemented an age limit for youth. Please complete our survey in the left hand column and tell us what you think the cut off age should be for youth. Thank you.

PYC and YOUTH CHAPLAINS CONSULTATION - 2009

IMPORTANT ANNOUNCEMENT : The next Provincial Youth Council (PYC) and Chaplains Consultation will take place from 17th to 21st June 2009 at St Benedicts Retreat Centre in Rosettenville. The Diocessan Chaplains will meet from 16h00 on the 17th June to 11h00 on the 19th June. Thereafter they will join the PYC Consultation starting at 13h00 on the 19th June through to 13h00 on 21st June.

The Consultation will include a combination of business meetings, information sharing opportunities, skills training and team building.

Who is invited? Three persons are invited from each Diocese and must include the Diocesan Co-ordinator, Youth Chaplain and one other.

Accommodation, meals, airport/bus terminus shuttling and all other materials will be supplied. Representatives must just find their way to Johannesburg to a convenient pick-up point.

All Dioceses must contact the Provincial Youth Co-ordinator (anglicanyouthsa@gmail.com or 083-4614949) before 31st March 2009 with the names and contact details of their 3 representatives. Diocesan Offices are requested to help in this regard.

HEARTLINE LAUNCHES : ‘HOPEVILLE’ - VALUES IN ACTION

On March the 3rd, 2009, the new HEARTLINES series – ‘HOPEVILLE’ – will be screened on SABC at 19h30 for six weeks. During this time, we’re encouraging all South Africans (and all Anglicans) to use this opportunity to ‘DO’ what we believe in, and not just to talk about it. Because, values not lived out, are in fact not really values at all.

Although the six week focus is specifically on youth, any form of action that allows us to live out values such as compassion, service, courage, or responsibility is encouraged. And not just for the six weeks – we’re praying that Christians will take the lead in living Godly values on an ongoing basis.

More information and free workbooks can be obtained from HEARTLINES at 011-7712540, info@heartlines.org.za or by visiting their web site at www.heartlines.org.za.

PYC endorses this excellent programme and hopes that ALL Anglican families will participate in some way.

HOW KNOWLEDGABLE ARE YOU AS AN ANGLICAN?

Where would you find the Chancel, Porch, Nave, Sedilia and Credence Table?

Who wears a Zucchetto, Biretta, Chasuble, Maniple, Amice, Cope, Rochet and Stole?

Where would you see a Burse, Corporal, Ciborium, Paten, Purificator, Missal and Lavabo Bowl?

OK, your 30 minutes are up.

You can read about this and EVERYTHING else you need to know about understanding Anglicanism in a wonderful handbook written by Canon, The Revd Father R Roy Snyman entitled “Travelling along the Anglican way”. The history and formation of the Anglican Church is also outlined and meanings are given for all our symbols and practices.

Simplistically explained and well illustrated, this is a MUST handbook for all Anglicans and I would strongly recommend it for young people as well (especially those in Confirmation and Bible/Catechism Classes).

Copies (at R60.00 each) can be obtained from the Secretary of the Publications Committee on 011-8365825, fax: 011-8365782 or email publish@anglicanchurchsa.org.za.

For your thoughts

It was James Baldwin who wrote : "Children have never been good at listening to their elders, but they have never failed to imitate them."

This is a challenging thought. Why is this the case? What obligation does this place on the parents? What can they do differently that will cause children to listen?

Comments from both parents and children are welcome.

Blessings

Are there new or better ways of ministering to the Youth?

Currently, there are various (traditional) ways of providing ministry to the young people in our church viz. Friday Night Youth Club/Fellowship, Servers Guild, Happenings, Sunday School, Lads/Girls Brigade, Choir, Youth Alpha, participating in worship services, etc.

Whilst these organisations are providing good opportunities for young people to participate in the church, do they holistically provide sufficient spiritual development for a young person to "mature" as a Christian and to become actively involved in the Church and beyond as a life long vocation (and that does not only mean in full time ordained ministry)?

OR, must we provide additional or different activities/events/environments for greater maturity in Christ to take place? If so, what would you suggest? We are looking for ways to develop young people so that they will remain involved in the life of the church.

What would you suggest?