Snow is falling (and staying depending on what area of Quebec or Ontario you’re living in). Retailers have already set up their Christmas decorations. How is your youth group preparing for advent? Some considerations: What transitions are worth keeping? Contrarily, what traditions should be adapted into something different? What expressions of Advent would speak to your neighbourhood? How would the message of Jesus resonate with your community? What media would
After the long weekend (the unofficial start of summer), the school year is almost done. Many youth ministries begin to wind down. It’s time to finish the year well. CELEBRATE: Spend some time recounting the blessings that God’s brought the last few months. Have a special time of prayer. Like so many Baptists before us, celebrate with food. “Praise God from whom all blessings flow!” DEBRIEF: Take time to debrief
Can you believe that Labour Day is only two weeks away? For some of you have been able to slow down the last few weeks. Others have been on the go at a high gear. So before the “new year” starts after Labour Day, take a look at the following (not completely exhaustive) checklist for your consideration: Have you taken time to rest and breathe, even for at least one
The last three months have been a big push of deadlines, from the CB Youth and Family Forum to the re-release of Faith Formation 2.0 to the launch of our new theme and ministry resource guide and the soon-to-be-released 2016/17 Rerooted curriculum. As these deadlines pass, more are coming, but with a change of pace. For me (Alvin), the next few weeks will be filled with speaking engagements (including Week
As Advent approaches, I usually hear from our youth leaders this is one of the busiest times of year. (For us at CBOQ Youth, it's actually a slower time because no one really needs us.) While celebrations and other activities take time and energy to plan, I wonder if it becomes over-programmed. For instance, ask yourself some of these questions: As you enter December, do you feel more strained or
