In the Lutheran church, we have been in the business of ministering to junior high youth for generations. We call it “confirmation,” and we do a pretty credible job. So much so that recent estimates indicate that about 67% of baptized Lutherans stay active through the eighth grade. Still, there’s a lot more to junior high ministry than just catechism.

The Lower Susquehanna Synod Office for Youth Ministry sponsors an annual event for junior high youth in grades 6-8 and their advisors called Alive, Alive. Held in September, this event draws over 350 participants into community to discuss their faith, worship, and play together. Unfortunately, due to the overwhelming response to this event, and the size limitations of our retreat site, the event registration fills rapidly. Registration forms are sent to congregations in early March and again in April and June.

The 2006 event welcomed Hugues Bastien, Director of Institution Univers, a Christian school in Haiti. The school has been the one of the focuses of a new service ministry partnership between the Office for Youth Ministry, our synod LYO Board and three international service ministry sites. Youth built homes from cardboard to give them a living example of what it is like for some of their peers in Haiti. But beyond just ministry with others in foreign lands we talked about how we serve our neighbors, families and congregations right where we live.

The event was highlighted by some traditional events like worship at Upper Temple, a Saturday night dance, lots of games and fellowship, plus music by Jimmy Muratore who had us all dancing in the aisles. You can look forward to many of these same activities, all the cool people and a new theme, “Live Love,” at the 2007 event. Registrations have been sent to congregations, but you can download the form at the Registrations Page on this site.

Next Alive, Alive event: September 19 –21, 2008 at Camp Nawakwa



Synod Lutheran Youth Organization (LYO) Board Wants Youth!

The Lower Susquehanna Synod Lutheran Youth Organization (LSSLYO) Board is searching for youth representatives from each of the 14 conferences in the synod. Youth in grades eight and higher are eligible to serve as LSSLYO Board reps. The meetings are held monthly during the school year at the synod offices in Harrisburg.

Ministries of the LSSLYO include the Change for Change Stewardship Initiative for youth and serving as pages for the annual Synod Assembly in June. Board representatives are also invited to serve on planning teams for all of the synod-sponsored youth events. Finally, the LSSLYO Board representatives are responsible for helping to communicate with their conference congregations and for helping to formulate and live out the mission for youth in this synod.

Interested youth should contact the Director for Youth Ministry, Charlie Roberts for more information or to volunteer to serve.


Other links include:

The Lower Susquehanna Synod Office for Youth Ministry Youth Calendar
Lutheran Camping Corporation at www.lutherancamping.org
Harrisburg Area Confirmation Camp at www.confirmationcamp.org