Church of Our Saviour affirms the particular gifts that young people offer to the church as full ministers in Christ. From Samuel to Mary to Jesus himself, the Bible tells us the unique role young people have in our redemption.  Today, God continues to call young people to an adventure of the spirit. Our mission at Our Saviour parish is to accompany our youth on this spiritual adventure, helping them to encounter Christ and to discover their gifts as God's people. The church in turn is ready to receive the inspiration and leadership young people can provide.

We welcome all young people in grades 6 - 12 to join us.

In the Quest our goal is to explore the basic teachings of Christianity, its place among youths 130x120 world religions, and God's call to service. The classes use age-appropriate curricular resources and incorporate Bible study, discussions, and games/activities. Our program is divided into three courses:

> seeking Christ in myself,
> seeking Christ in light of other faiths,
> seeking Christ in my neighbor.

Our young people engage in a spiritual quest for Jesus and his relevance to their lives and to the world.

 

Diocesan 2011 Calendar For Youth

 The Episcopal Diocese of Los Angeles has organized enriching events for the diocesan youth and their families.  I would like to encourage the youth of our church to participate in these events, and to get to know the youth, youth leaders, and the bishops of our diocese.

 

The upcoming events are as follows:

 March 11th : Youth and Youth Leaders Event: Kaleidoscope Workshop

 June 24th : Youth Leaders Retreat 

 July 16th  : Youth and Family Event (Life Size "Clue" game with our Bishops)

 July 31st -August 12th : High School Youth, Hands in Healing Youth Pilgrimage.

This is an excellent opportunity for youth ages 14-17 to visit the holy sites in Jerusalem, Bethlehem, and Nazareth this summer and to spend some time praying, reflecting, and having conversations at these sites. The Church of Our Saviour would like to encourage our youth to prayerfully consider availing this opportunity.

 Deb Neal and Chris Tumilty (Diocese Youth Missioner) would love to come speak to our congregation to talk about this event and uplift our youth's participation.

 

December 2nd –3rd : Youth Event, Diocesan Convention


Youth Pilgrimage to the Holy Land

Youth Pilgrimage, for youth (ages 14 and up), will travel to the Holy Land under the auspices of the Diocese of Los Angeles' Hands in Healing Initiative.
Cost per person is approximately $3200, which includes air travel, accommodations, meals, entry fees, etc. A $500 deposit is required to hold a place.

Youth will spend time focusing on the ministry of Jesus, and in Nazareth, they will contemplate the role of Mary, the mother of Jesus. They will  walk the stations of the cross through the old city of Jerusalem - the Via Dolorosa - culminating with a visit to the Church of the Holy Sepulcher. They will visit with the young people of St. Paul's Episcopal Church in Shafa Arma, which has a sister parish relationship with Church of Our Saviour, San Gabriel.

The pilgrimage will include daily worship, led by the pilgrims, and is intended as a time of personal reflection, spiritual growth, and  leadership enhancement.

"We expect this journey into the Holy Land to have a profound effect on the faith of each person who travels with us," says Deb Neal.

 Information/Registration:

Episcopal Diocese of LA: Deb Neal or Chris Tumilty, 213.482.2040
The Church of Our Saviour: Rev. Khusnud Azariah, Associate, Youth Ministries, 626-282-5147 ext. 22, or Jerry Allen: Coordinator, Christian Education, 909-991-8021

 

 

The first course explores basic questions about Christian faith such as:
  • Who is Jesus?
  • What is the Bible about and how do I read it?
  • Why pray?
  • Why should I go to church?
  • How do I live as a Christian?
Together, we explore who Jesus is and seek him in our lives and in the church.
In Matthew 25:31-46, Jesus calls his followers to serve the "least of these" in the world. He teaches us that in serving others in need, we are serving Jesus himself. The third part of our program aims at following this call by organizing service projects that meet the needs of the wider community. The youth have the opportunity to identify an area of need in the local community, organize and implement a service project, and reflect on what they learned about Christ's call to serve.
The second course looks at Christianity in the context of other major religious traditions. Examining  Christianity in relation to other religions helps young people to clarify the unique history, values, and practices that make up our identity as Christians.

Studying other religions also helps us all to dispel stereotypes and to approach religious differences with competence and respect. As we explore the historical background and beliefs and practices of Judaism, Islam, Buddhism, Hinduism, and Native American religions, we reflect on their differences and similarities to Christianity.