Bishop's Beach Party with Youth on January 21st

[From Ellyn Siftar, Youth and Young Adult Missioner]

Happy New Year from the Diocese of Bethlehem!  I pray that your Christmas and Epiphany were filled with the Holy Spirit.   I am writing to invite you and your youth to celebrate a beach party with the Bishop, your friends and neighbors in the diocese on Saturday, January 21^st.  This is a very special event with a great band, games and activities, time to chill and hang out with friends, dinner and ending with worship.   It will be held at the Cathedral Church of the Nativity in Bethlehem.   Doors will open at 3:00 pm, program begins at 4, and youth should be picked up by 9 pm that evening.  I know that this is late in the evening, so if you are coming from the north, please let me know if you’d like to stay overnight at the Cathedral (we have room for up to 15), have breakfast together and then join them for church in the morning.  Parents can then pick you up by noon.         
The event is open for youth in grades 6- 12.  The cost is $20.00 per person; this covers the cost of a T-shirt and dinner.  Reduced group rates ARE available, as space permits.  Registration is now open on http://www.diobeth.org/Ministries/Youth/youth.html and is filling up fast!!  In order to be registered for the event, please also fill in the Diocesan Medical Release form and Youth Covenant.

If you have any questions or concerns please contact me directly at esiftardiobeth.org or 610-751-3931. 

Blessings,

Ellyn Siftar
Missioner for Youth and Young Adult Ministries
Episcopal Diocese of Bethlehem

Diocesan Life for September 2011

Download the September issue of Diocesan Life as a .pdf
Download September2011_DiocesanLife_SMALL (3.3 MB file)

Diocesan Life for July/August 2011

 

You can download the .pdf version here as well: Download July-August2011_DiocesanLife_SMALL

Bishop's Day Pilgrimage with Youth

Bishop's Bakery and Open Mic Night

[From Kim Rowles, Youth Ministry Coordinator] The 2010 Bishop's Day with Youth. Friday January 29 to Saturday January 30 at Good Shepherd Scranton. All-Night. Open Mic Night. Local Christian Worship/Praise Band. Midnight Eucharist. No Lights Out. Doors Open at 6:30 pm. Open Mic from 7- 9 sign up for 10-minute slots; play your own music, cover songs (church appropriate no profane language or sexually explicit lyrics), read your own poetry, perform a dance routine, or a skit from your favorite comedy show. Band is on from 9:30 - 10:30. Eucharist from 11- 12. Games and Activities in the main hall for the remainder of the night, through the morning. Baked goods, coffee and snacks will be provided as well as breakfast on Saturday morning. Pick up at 9 am on Saturday. More information will be available online at www.diobeth.org/ministries/youth/ministries.

Xtreme Faith Stories shared at Bishop's Day

By Rev. Canon Anne E. Kitch

A large group of children sat on the floor in matching T-shirts, with which they were newly adorned, attention riveted on the figure of Moses. This great hero of the faith stood among them telling his life story, a story of Xtreme faith. OK, so actually it was Father Joe De Acetis. Nevertheless, the children, ages ranging from seven to eleven, were enthralled by the telling.

After all, it is an exciting story: the burning bush, the plagues, the Passover, and finally the great escape through the parted waters of the Red Sea. For some of the children gathered, this was all quite familiar. Others heard aspects of this great hero’s life of faith for the first time.

The EXODUS GAMES: Exteme Faith Stories

Spend the Day with the Bishop! Can you cross the Red Sea or still a storm? Get ready for some awesome fun this summer with Bishop Jack: hear and tell some stories, share Eucharist, and enjoy being together. Parents are welcome to enjoy the day with their children. For more information contact Anne Kitch, [email protected] Sponsored by AWE Children’s Ministries, Episcopal Diocese of Bethlehem. The date is August 15th, at Cathedral Church of the Nativity, 321 Wyandotte St., Bethlehem, PA 18015 from 9:30 A.M. to 2:30 P.M. Please register online at www.diobeth.org. Cost is $5.00 per person with family discounts available.  Download 09BpDayPoster

Bishop's Day with Youth in NYC –– Jan. 30-31

Updated January 8, 2009
Some 85 persons have registered for Bishop's Day with Youth. Registrations are closed.

November 5, 2008
For 6-12 graders. Nightwatch, a program of the Cathedral of St. John the Divine, NYC. Singing, games, exploration of the cathedral, time with Bishop Paul, a chance to be with other diocesan youth, a candlelight meditation and midnight Eucharist. Lunch on Saturday at Dave & Buster's Arcade in NYC. Reduced cost of $20 per person is Bishop Paul's gift to youth. The cost includes the Nightwatch program, lodging, charter bus and Saturday lunch. Download more info below.

Download bishops_day_with_youth_2009.doc

Download bishops_day_with_youth_2009.pdf

Nightwatch! -- Bishop's Day with Youth -- Jan. 25-26 -- In NYC

For 6-12 graders. An overnight of fun, discovery and worship at Nightwatch, a program of the Cathedral of St. John the Divine which includes singing, games, exploration of the beautifully restored historic cathedral, time with Bishop Paul, a chance to be with other diocesan youth and to meet youth from other places and different denominations, and a candlelight meditation and midnight Eucharist. And on Saturday, we’ll have lunch in Times Square at the Hard Rock Café.

Download more information below.

Download bishops_day_with_youth.Jan 25-26, 2008.pdf

Snowtubing, time with Bishop Paul and a U2 Eucharist

On January 27, 7^th to 12^th graders from around the Diocese of Bethlehem participated in Bishop’s Day with Youth at Camelback Mountain and Christ Church, Stroudsburg. Download the story by teen participant Sophie Riemenschneider and see a few photos from the day. “Three cheers for those who developed the youth day,” wrote Canon Charles Cesaretti. “This was the first time that youth from St. Paul's, Montrose, have participated in a diocesan event, and they had a wonderful time. They were all aglow on Sunday [the day after the January 27 event], especially about the worship service. Kudos to Demery and all who planned the event, and worked hard to make it a success.  It was a winner. There is no joy like a group of teens excited and energized about a church event.  Count us in for the next event.”

Bishop's Day with Adults: Living an Everyday Faith

The Diocese of Bethlehem will sponsor a Bishop's Day with people from across our diocese at the Fatima Renewal Center in Dalton (near Scranton) on July 1. We will have the chance to participate in some presentations on several aspects of finding God in our daily lives: praying with music, the visual arts, and othe aids to deepening our relationship with God. There will be time for solitude and for fellowship, both spiritual nourishment and a bit of comfort food, quiet walks in the woods and bocce ball. It's a day of holy leisure for the whole diocese. Contact Barb Gessner, [email protected], 570-421-5925, at St. Stephen's, Wilkes-Barre, or Peter Pearson, [email protected], 412-848-2642, at St. Philip's, New Hope, for details. Download a schedule and a registration form below.

Download bishops_day_with_adults.pdf