November 21, 2011

Dear Friends,

While we in Maine are greeting the chill of November and coming Advent Season, it is also time to look ahead. For, you see, this letter is accompanying our documentation for National Youth Event 2012! For more information and registration forms click here

I am please to tell you that Rev. Kate Dalton from the Yarmouth Church and Bill Walsh from the Hampden Church will be our group leaders this summer. We are looking forward to this opportunity for our young people to gather with over 3000 young people from across our country (ages 13-18) to experience worship, workshops, faith, fun, service and fellowship.

In these changing and challenging times, experiencing church alive and vital is what it is all about, and also what our churches need to hear about through the voices and experiences related by our young people. Enclosed are the first set of materials which will enable registration to begin for Maine. We are registering as a Maine Delegation, and we will be traveling in concert with delegates from the other 6 New England Conferences.

As you can see, our travels are being coordinated with two opportunities, an Express Bus for those of us with tight calendars, and a Service Bus, for those who have a couple extra days to add to this event.

We hope you will think about this event, the amazing experience it will provide for our young people, and the enriching translation of this experience which will be possible for our churches. Now is the time for registration, and saving a place. It is also the time for congregations to get behind their young people – offering support and encouragement of all sorts as they seek to raise funds for this experience.

Now is the time to begin. You will be hearing more as we schedule group meetings. The calendar for preparatory events will follow soon.

Happy Thanksgiving!

Susie Craig, Kate Dalton, and Bill Walsh