Week 3b (Abandonment cont.) and 4 (World Beneath)

My Sunday group finished week 3 this week, and spent a good deal of time talking about issues of suffering. We recognized that there are those youth who suffer in extreme/visible ways, but there are also youth suffering silently under various burdens and feeling quite alone. We also noted that many of the fears and sufferings faced by youth also stay with many people as adults.

One of the best insights was that our own youth recognized adults as being more confident and having identity. We noted that this confidence doesn't come from being an adult necessarily but from our faith, and that they can have such confidence even now.

(Note: my group will be starting week 4 - World Beneath, this coming Sunday but we are technically into our 5th week)

Week 3 - Abandonment

Well, my group this Sunday just finished week 2, so we are probably behind the rest of you. Also, Harriet had no one this Sunday and joined our group. Among the best insights this week was that we might be right about what youth need, but the best way to find out is to ask and be patient for the answer. This also came together for us with our action plan. We decided to help with the OC this Sat (Feb 21) and get involved in a project that would get our youth involved in caring for the property, and paying them (meaning the PYRO account) instead of a landscaping business. I also told the group that I would hold them accountable to this promise.

In discussing the frightening things we found that we were afraid of being irrelevant and of really devoting chunks of our lives to another individual. These are great insights for us to be aware of as we make action plans. In terms of relevancy we found that being present and open-eared is more important than being cool or interesting. In terms of the second fear, we decided boundaries will need to be established in order for us to be more effective. We didn't decide on these boundaries as of yet.

I look forward to hearing from you.

Week 2 - Close Encounters

This was a very productive week. We spent a large amount of time just talking about Psalm 71, and how the Psalmist goes back and forth between crying out to God and praising Him. We noted particularly some of his harsh words against his enemies and pointed out that justice is still important for us even as we turn the other cheek. By asking God to destroy our enemies we are seeking for Him to be judge rather than becoming vigilantes. All this related to youth in that we can teach each other and our own youth to turn to God in all these things, bullying, unjust teachers, etc. The Psalmist is genuine in a way that younger people can relate to.

We went on to discuss the question about what is different for youth today and came away with lots of different insights. Among these is the idea that kids do have some advantages, but also tons of disadvantages. Among these technology has created opportunity for good and for ill in their lives. In general, we found that we did not entirely agree with the sentiment that kids are just more spoiled.

We did not get into the following questions and decided to start the next session by making a decision for some action as a group. I am eager to see if everyone else got farther than we did on the questions.

Week 1 Notes

I am posting some of the highlights from our study on Sunday. Please comment with your own so we will have a base to start from when we meet Saturday.

From Vicar Ryan's Sunday Group:
We learned the need to let go of hurts and to forgive even when it's not reciprocated. Also, seek to understand where the other person is coming from. Learn to communicate. Be willing to make the first move in reconciling after conflict. Identify the difference between resolution and reconciliation.

In terms of becoming missionaries, we learned to seek counsel and have a sense of adventure. It is important to be connected to a motivated /unified group. Be a Christian witness through a life of example, humility and strength (we noted that strength doesn't always mean putting the best face on things, but is defined often by leaning on Jesus).

Some specific needs we noted are:
1. Lack of communication within community at large, to know what services/events are happening.
2. After school needs for children and parents
3. Education (broad), anything from financial decision making, to world events
4. We also recognized spiritual needs, but noted that as a church we need to be up front with which need we are addressing. In other words, if we are seeking to help you with finances this isn't some trick to get you to join our church. Our witness comes through personal interaction, both in our daily lives and in organized service to community.

(One note that came up for me following this first day was the issue of being a neighbor or living in our community. We may choose, time permitting, to take up the issue of vocation more deliberately. It may also come up within a few weeks, but I wanted to make note of this so I wouldn't forget).

I look forward to your posts...

Welcome Vision Study Leaders

This blog has been created by Ryan for the Vision Study leaders to post their notes from each week's study. I will post Week 1 and then each of you can post your own by clicking on the word "comment" at the bottom of the text. You can post as Anonymous and then write your name at the bottom of your reply. If you have questions please call me or e-mail me. The point of this is for us to share resources before we meet on Saturdays to discuss. Thanks for leading and enjoy the sharing.