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NYE

Youth @ General Synod!
June 24 - 30, 2009

Grand Rapids, Michigan
Details Here!

Come to GS and Immerse Yourself In…
     Faith
     Service
     Friendship
     Justice
     Compassion
     Worship
     Adventure

What is General Synod?

General Synod, which meets every two years, is a gathering of people delegated by our 38 Conferences to represent the United Church of Christ and to address important matters relating to the church. General Synod participants also include visitors from UCC churches; local, conference and national UCC staff; representatives from many diverse UCC institutions, agencies and ministries; and friends and colleagues from other faith traditions.

General Synod is a time for all who gather to worship together, build friendships, share and celebrate our varied ministries, and recognize our relationships in the ecumenical and world community. General Synod delegates meet to address important business matters, which includes approving a budget for the mission of the church at the national setting, electing the Collegium of Officers, and voting on Pronouncements, Resolutions and Proposals for Action (specific proposals for how our church can respond to significant issues facing our congregations, communities, nation and world).

Looking Back... at the National Youth Event

The NYE Theme Song sheet music is downloadable for youth groups and worship! Many thanks to NYE House Band members Jennifer Alston and Rodney Milton for composing the song.

Check out the NYE Photo Gallery from the 2008 National Youth Event, held at the University of Tennessee in Knoxville.

Read and share the Crossroads NYE Newsletter, created youth in Maren Tirabassi's NYE workshop, Living the Life, Writing the New-zletter. Many thanks to the youth who contributed to this endeavor and to Maren for her guidance and support!

Title: "In Our Own Words: Youth Speak Out About Living the Life"

12 for $8 or $.75 per copy
Item Number: ECE102

For assistance, please phone customer service at 1-800-537-3394
or email orders@unitedchurchpress.com

Over 2900 Participants come to Knoxville for the 2008 National Youth Event

The 2008 National Youth Event kicked off on Thursday, July 24 with a welcome party of inflatable jumping and water games, swimming and recreational sports, movies, bowling, pool and board games, campus tours, a DJ on Presidential Courtyard along with free hot dogs and "not dogs". After Canadian band Starfield rocked Thompson-Boling Arena with a pre-event concert in the early evening, the NYE House Band guided us into worship with the rousing NYE theme song "Living the Life" as hundreds of youth processed across the stage with banners from their respective church, Association and Conference groups. Youth and young adults lead worship as liturgists.

Global Missions Intern Krista Johnson offered a compelling sermon that included faith reflections on her internship and life in Jerusalem as well as encouragement for the youth of our denomination. "I hope for peace with justice and security for Palestinians and Israelis," said Johnson. "I hope for an end to the violence, an end to the occupation and a future that will be better for Israeli and Palestinian children. I hope. And I may be in Indianapolis or I may be in Jerusalem. I may be in Bethlehem or I may be in Knoxville but I will continue to work toward that goal. In the mean time, I am honored to be in community with you all, as young people of the United Church of Christ, as you discover what it is that you hope for, what God is calling you to do and be, and to learn to live inside that hope…We stand up proudly together as young people with a passionate, creative commitment to making this world a better place despite the drone of the world that this cannot be done. We can be people of hope. With God's help we can change this world… and start living the Life that God calls us to."