Youth and Young Adult Discipleship

SEPA Youth provides opportunities for spiritual growth and equips congregations to strengthen their ministry with and for youth. Our mission is to share the word of God’s saving grace to all youth and deepen their walk of discipleship.

Contact

Youth Ministry at SEPA
Assistant to the Bishop for Youth and Young Adult Discipleship
Phone: 267.323.3762

News & Events

We have two important deadlines coming up on April 15!

ELCA Youth Gathering: deadline for new registrations; deadline to pay for registrations/hotel rooms

More info: https://www.elca.church/gathering/attend/congregations

Also, the congregation application to participate in the ELCA Formation Co-op also has a deadline is April 15

About the Formation Co-Op (elcaymnet.org)

EVENTS:

Sunday, April 14

3pm – Group flight meeting – those traveling July 13-20 who still need flights

4pm – An Evening with Joe Davis and Dave Scherer (AGAPE) fundraiser to benefit the SEPA Synod Youth Scholarship Fund

Location: Trinity, Lansdale (poster attached)

Tickets:

https://www.eventbrite.com/e/agape-concert-to-benefit-youth-ministry-scholarships-tickets-858929229447

April 28, 2024

3:30pm – MYLE pre-trip meeting

5:00 – 7:00pm – ELCA Youth Gathering pre-trip meeting

Location: St. Luke’s, Devon

May 3-4 – Synod Assembly

We are in need of youth and young adult volunteers. To see a full list of volunteer roles:

https://ministrylink.org/2024-synod-assembly/assembly-volunteers/

May 9 – Lutheran Day in the Capitol (Harrisburg)

Please see attached poster/insert

If you have youth or young adults who would like to attend, please contact Pr. Skyle ()

May 31 – Lutheran Night at the Phillies

6:40pm – Phils vs. St. Louis Cardinals

Tickets: https://www.mlb.com/phillies/tickets/specials/lutheran

Want to tailgate before the game? Contact

July 13 – 16

MYLE and tAble pre-Gathering Events

July 16 – 20

ELCA Youth Gathering

Please contact me with any questions at 484.716.5032 or .

Working and Growing at ASP

A team of 16 youth, young adults, from six SEPA congregations spent the 4th of July week with the Appalachian Service Project in Kentucky, insulating and replacing the rusted tin roof and siding on a trailer and addition.

The ASP crew included folks from St John’s, Blue Bell; Christ Lutheran, Kulpsville/Harleysville; Trinity, Havertown; St Peter’s, North Wales; St Mark, Conshohocke;n and Trinity, Lansdale.

Here’s a glimpse into the project from the team’s perspective.

ELCA Vocational Fellowship for Young Adults

The ELCA Young Adult Vocational Fellowship offers young adults an opportunity to discover their calling while gaining valuable professional experience. In partnership with ELCA affiliated ministries, participants are equipped to explore their faith and vocational aspirations, all while receiving support from a network of peers and experienced ELCA coaches. The program is designed to prepare communities and ministry organizations to welcome new, young, and diverse leaders. Fellows receive competitive compensation and benefits, including access to mental health resources, relocation assistance, coaching, and a small group cohort.

The program has partnered with several sites for the 2023-2024 year, including The Dwelling, All Places Together, National Lutheran Communities & Services, Together Lab, Rainbow Trail Lutheran Camp, The Hunger Advocacy Fellow Program, Building Resilient Communities with the ELCA Churchwide Organization, Pine Ridge Reconciliation Center, the Minneapolis Area Synod, and Capital University. This program embodies the ELCA’s commitment to empowering young adults and building a brighter tomorrow. For more information about the program and these partner sites, please visit http://www.elca.org/Vocational-Fellowship.

Extravaganza 2024 – January 18-21

The ELCA Network for Children, Youth and Family Ministry will hold the 2024 Extravaganza January 18-21 in-person and online. Save the date and watch the network website for new information.

In a broken and hurting world, we are called to discern God’s dreams and visions; as we seek to follow Jesus, we will be equipped by the Holy Spirit to make those dreams a reality for the children, youth and families we serve.

Throughout the scriptures we read of those who had dreams, or who interpreted the dreams of promise, warning and possibility. Why has the church stopped giving attention to our dreams?

A dream is almost always about the future. It is almost always about a possibility. It is almost always about what “could be”– for the faith of our young people, our congregations, and the work of God in the world? Extravaganza 2024 will explore these questions. And we will look to discover the role that those who work in faith formation with young people play in discerning God’s dreams and visions for the world, and how we can make those a reality in the places we live and serve.

Updated: Dec. 15, 2023

The Southeastern Pennsylvania Synod, ELCA is a Reconciling in Christ synod.

We, the Southeastern Pennsylvania Synod of the ELCA, rooted in Jesus’ gospel of liberation, unconditional love, and hospitality, welcome all into fellowship and community. This welcome includes those who have traditionally been marginalized in society inclusive of all sexual orientations, gender identities and expressions, racial and ethnic backgrounds, physical and mental abilities, and stations in life. As God’s beloved, we are guided by the Holy Spirit, committed to the work of racial equity, and called to the pursuit of justice throughout our communities. We encourage all of our congregations to engage in this work of the gospel, creating safe spaces for all people to bravely be their full selves. We celebrate and affirm all of God’s children just as they are with all of their differences and gifts.