High School Gathering!

As you're filling your calendar with activities this fall, don't forget the
OLYO High School Gathering
November 11-13
Camp Cascade - Lyons, Oregon
We'll talk about BREAKING BARRIERS with our speaker and musician AGAPE*! He'll be joined as well but fantastic musician Rachel Kurtz! They're joining us for the weekend as a special stop on the Citizens with the Saints Tour!
"For [Jesus] himself is our peace, who has made the two one and destroyed the barrier, the dividing wall of hostility." Ephesians 2:14

Look for the registration forms in the "Documents" tab on the front page for the OLYO Group at Soul Cafe http://www.soulcafe.org/group/olyo

FIND US HERE...

Hello everyone! If you haven't checked out SoulCafe yet... you should!

For the next few months we'll be posting information simultaneously on both this blog and our group on SoulCafe, with the goal being eventually to take up permanent residence on SoulCafe.

Find us at http://www.soulcafe.org/group/olyo

Convo Schedule

Oregon Lutheran Youth Organization - Convo

FRIDAY, JUNE 3
12:30pm Registration Opens Bloch
1:00 Opening Worship Ballroom (w/SA)
3:15 Intro to the Weekend Suite
4:00 Churchwide Presentation Ballroom (w/SA)
4:45 Roundtable Discussions Various Locations
6:00 Dinner Suite
7:15 Shane Claiborne Presentation Ballroom (w/SA)
8:30 Dessert and Vespers Ballroom (w/SA)
9:30 Group Fellowship Time Bloch/Suite
11:00 Devotion Suite
11:30pm In Room and Quiet In (own) Rooms

SATURDAY, JUNE 4
7:30am Breakfast Available Suite
8:30 Morning Prayer and Shane Claiborne Ballroom (w/SA)
9:30 Break/Free Time (including lunch)
10:00  Optional Workshop (Panel Discussion- Ballroom)
11:00  Optional Workshop (see schedule)
Noon Lunch and Free Time (Interviews)
2:00 OLYO Business
Elections
Guests and Conversations
6:00 Get ready for Banquet
6:45 Meet before Banquet Bloch/
7:00 Banquet Ballroom (w/SA)
9:00 Fellowship Time Bloch/Suite/Pool
11:00 Devotions Suite
11:30pm In Room and Quiet In (own) Rooms

SUNDAY, JUNE 5
7:30am Breakfast, Pack-up Suite/Rooms
9:00 Installation of Officers/OLYO Report Ballroom (w/SA)
10:00 Final meeting together Suite
10:30 Closing Worship Synod Assembly

Things to keep in mind:

o   First and foremost: We are here as representatives of our youth groups, congregations, the Oregon Synod, and the whole Body of Christ. We should act in a way that reflects that, by

o   respecting other hotel guests

o   respecting the process and activities that will take place this weekend

o   respecting hotel property, and that of others

o   participating with your best efforts

o   keeping a positive attitude (attitude is everything!)

o   Be flexible

o   When leaving the hotel, stay in groups of 3 or more

o   Rooms: We have plenty of space to hang out, so it probably isn’t necessary to hang out in guest rooms. However, if it’s necessary to be in a room other than your own, groups of 3.

o   Be IN YOUR ROOM after devotions, if you need snacks, sodas, etc, do it before Midnight

o   Basically it’s about common sense, you’re here as a leader, and by being here (and signing the covenant) you agree to be held to a higher standard.

o   If you have questions or concerns, please don’t hesitate to ask! (Lisa’s Cell: 503-481-7966)

Leadership Training School

Technically this is an Oregon Synod Event, but many of the folks you've seen and met at OLYO events will be there! So we thought we'd make the info available!!

These links will get you the documents you want!:
Registration Forms
Informational Flyer (same info as printed below)

Youth who are entering or leaving grades 9-12 are  invited to the Oregon Synod’s Leadership Training School at Menucha Retreat and Conference Center in the beautiful Columbia River Gorge.

June 22-24th

Menucha Retreat Center

38711 E Historic Columbia River Hwy

Corbett, OR

Cost $100

We’ll spend 3 days and 2 nights as a community, living, exploring, discussing, cooking, eating, and celebrating together.

Questions we’ll be focusing on:

· How do I find my strengths? How do I use them?

· What does it really mean to be a leader?

· Do you hear me? (Why effective communication is more than what you say.)

· How can young people serve as leaders in environments that are made up mostly of adults?

We’ll also spend time in conversation about what it means to be a young person of faith in Oregon, and the challenges and opportunities for young people in the Oregon Synod.

Return the registration form to Lisa Gray by June 15th.

Forms may be mailed or emailed :

190 SW 3rd Ave, Canby, OR 97013

zoaryouth@canby.com

Call or email with questions (503-266-4061)

Please make checks payable to: Oregon Synod

YOUTH CONVO

Every congregation in Oregon is encouraged to send two high-school youth to the Oregon Lutheran Youth Organization (OLYO) Convo.

 JUNE 3-5th - Hilton Hotel - Eugene, Oregon

Youth Convo happens concurrently with the Oregon Synod Assembly. It is a great opportunity to come together with youth from around the state, for fun and fellowship. We will be participating in intergenerational conversation and  and opportunity to dream together about current events and the role that young people can and do play in the life of the church. We’ll be doing leadership development and electing next year’s OLYO Board officers. We will also have plenty of time for games and other fun activities.

Register now!

The cost is $130

Registrations must be received by May 20th

For registration forms  and more information visit:

Helpful Information:

Registration Forms

OLYO Board Officer Descriptions

OLYO Office Application

If you have any questions, please contact Lisa Gray (OLYO Advisor) at 503-266-4061 or zoaryouth@canby.com

Important Pre-event Information

OLYO Middle School Gathering – 2011

UBUNTU!

(This is schedule is subject to change, we appreciate your flexibility!)
SATURDAY

10am- Arrive/Register

10:30am- Icebreakers/Adult Orientation

11:00- Opening Session

12:30pm-Lunch

1:30pm-  Go Serve

3:30pm – Small Group Fun

4:30 pm – Session 2

5:45pm- Dinner

6:45-  PLAY!

8:00pm – Session 3

9:00pm – Variety show and Snack

10:15pm- Church Time

10:30pm- Devotion

11:00pm- Get ready for bed

11:30pm Lights Out

SUNDAY

7:15am- Get up, Pack up, Clean up

7:45am-- Breakfast

8:30am- Worship

A note about our Service project:

Our time of service will require traveling by car. We would like to know who will have transportation available to them during the event, and who might need help getting their group from place to place. If you will need rides, or if you will have a vehicle and may have extra space in that vehicle please let Lisa Gray know. (We’ll follow up at the adult leader’s orientation Saturday morning) For our Service project we will be working with the St. Vincent de Paul Society. We will have a variety of projects so participants should come prepared for outdoor work (long pants, jackets, closed toe shoes, etc) It may be helpful to bring a pair of work gloves if you have them.

VARIETY SHOW-

Please remember that there is a variety show and encourage your kids to come prepared to share their talent, big or small! You may plan on sharing a skit as a group! Last year the talent show was a big hit. We had everything from an improvised piano piece, to slapstick comedy. We encourage the adults and leaders to preview the talent (ensure jokes are appropriate, etc). Adults are welcome to participate as well! J

Payments and papers-

Checks should be made payable to the Oregon Synod (it’s ok if it says OLYO, it’ll go through just fine). If you’ve not sent your papers yet, please hang on to them. We need to have the medical forms on file at the event itself and if it’s mailed now it may not reach us in time. However we do need the names/gender of all participants, in order to complete our registration.

Allergies and Special food/physical needs-

If anyone (students or leaders) in your group has any known food allergies, special food needs (including vegetarian/vegan) or special physical considerations please let Lisa know ASAP

Where to go:

EMMAUS LUTHERAN CHURCH

1250 W. 18th Ave

Eugene, Oregon 97402

Directions from I-5

·         Take exit 194B to merge onto OR-126 Wtoward Eugene/I-105 W

·         Continue onto I-105 W                                                    

·         Continue onto Jefferson St                                             

·         Turn right at W 11th Ave                                                

·         Turn left at Polk St                                                          

·         Cross 18^th, church is immediately on the left.

WHAT TO BRING:

v  Sleeping bags and pillows. We’ll be sleeping on the floor at the church.

v  Clothes (remember a set of work clothes for the service project, including a pair of sensible close-toed shoes)

v  Bible

v  Talent show props/costumes/material

v  Personal medication and toiletries (chaperone for each group should be aware of the medication needs of the students, and supervise the storage and administration of meds)

v  A sense of fun and adventure!

v  Rules about cell phones/music players/personal electronics:

o   Whether or not they are allowed to bring them is up to each church/leader.

o   During group times (which is most of the time) personal electronics are not to be used.

o   OLYO and Atonement Lutheran Church can not be responsible for lost or stolen items.

OLYO Middle School Rally

I AM WHO I AM, BECAUSE OF WHO WE ALL ARE

Join us this March 5-6 for the Middle School Rally.


We'll be hosted by Emmaus Lutheran Church in Eugene, Oregon.


Registration starts at 10am Saturday morning, and because we pack our time full of fun, we encourage everyone to arrive between 10 and 10:30am. If you're coming from a distance we can help you find churches in the area, or along the way that would be willing to host your group Friday night.


We'll end our time together with worship on Sunday morning.

REGISTRATION IS DUE FEBRUARY 23rd

Check back here for more information and tentative schedule!

Click here for Flier

Click here for Registration Forms

What is OLYO? (and some other questions)

What is OLYO?

OLYO stands for Oregon Lutheran Youth Organization and it is part of the ELCA’s nationwide Lutheran Youth Organization (LYO). Each of the ELCA's 65 synods are asked/expected to implement and support a model of peer leadership, the idea being that each synod would have an entity similar to our OLYO Board that would help to engage, lead, and empower the Lutheran youth of that state. But OLYO is NOT just students in leadership. Every young person who is part of an ELCA congregation in Oregon is part of OLYO. 

What's so special about the OLYO events?

The OLYO events are specially planned and organized to include lots of fun fellowship time so that youth from all over Oregon can get to know one another and find mutual encouragement. Each event includes time for games, discussion around engaging subject matter, worship, and usually an opportunity for service. Another very unique aspect of the OLYO gatherings is that they are planned and led BY youth FOR youth. An OLYO event is both an opportunity for those in leadership (the OLYO Officers) to exercise and expand gifts for leadership, as well as an opportunity for the youth at the gathering to experience peer ministry, and hopefully be inspired to find ways to exercise their own gifts for leadership and ministry at the event and after!

What is the OLYO Board?

The OLYO Board provides leadership for the larger OLYO body. There are eight OLYO Officers elected each year at the Convo that happens concurrently with Oregon Synod Assembly. The role of the OLYO Board is to plan and provide leadership for the High School Gathering (in the Fall), the Middle School Rally (in the Spring) and the help plan the Convo. OLYO Officers also try to connect with as many congregations and individual students as possible. This year's OLYO Board is:

Hayden Smothers - President

Alex Horsey- Vice President

Katie Shearer - Communications Coordinator

Shelby Van Leuven - Secretary

Brandie Melhorn - Representative to Synod Council
Tyler Tompkins - Co-Inclusive Ministry Advocate
Natalie Carlisle- Co-Inclusive Ministry Advocate

Torri Grose- Member-at-Large

Isabella Kenny - Member-at-Large

How can I be a part of OLYO?

All youth in ELCA congregations, all over Oregon ARE part of OLYO. We hope that as many of these youth as possible will join us in gathering together at our various events throughout the year.

How can I be a part of the OLYO Board?

Each candidate must meet the following criteria:

o       Be an active member of an ELCA congregation

o       Be in grades 9-11 at time of election (in some cases 8th graders can be considered for a position)

o       Submit a completed Officer Application

o       Give a two-minute presentation to the youth assembly at Convo 

o       An interview with OLYO Adult Advisor(s), prior to election

o       Provide a reference (preferably from Pastor or Youth Leader).