Pine Ridge 2019 Day 5

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We continued with our fence-building project bright and early. After lunch we visited Thunder Valley CDC where they are building a sustainable community centered on traditional values and incorporating agriculture, housing, energy generation, education, and youth leadership training. Our crew played with and served a meal to neighborhood kids in the afternoon. This evening we heard from Will Peters, a local high school teacher and musician. His stories, music, and friendly charisma really connected with our youth.

Pine Ridge Day 4

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Wednesday started somberly. Our group visited Wounded Knee and heard from Kelly Looking Horse the story of the massacre that happened there in 1890 (and again in 1973). Kelly led us in a prayer of mourning and remembrance. We then visited the Lakota Nation’s KILI radio followed by the commodity food distribution center. In the afternoon we began work on a fencing project for a military veteran and then came back to help with Kid’s Time at the retreat center. In the evening local people came by and put on an art show. Another full and blessed day!

Pine Ridge Day 3

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Another day learning from our Lakota neighbors. Basil Braveheart and Elizabeth Little shared their stories and insight into the Lakota understanding of the world and way of life. Then we helped host over 60 kids and their families for a summer BBQ party.

Pine Ridge Day 1

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First day adventures in South Dakota on the way to Pine Ridge.

 

Pine Ridge Day 2

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An amazing, eventful, beautiful day! After getting settled at the Pine Ridge Retreat Center we headed to Darrin’s buffalo ranch. We visited with his buffalo and heard the story of the White Buffalo Calf Woman. After lunch we headed over the hill and dismantled a chicken coop. Next up was learning traditional Lakota dancing then performing the dances at a nursing home with the Lakota Grandchildren’s Dancing Society led by Kelly Looking Horse and his wife. Then dinner and a movie and ending the day with small group discussion time. Thank you God for today.

Congratulations to the Class of 2019!

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Congratulations to our 2019 high school graduates! And, thanks to graduates McKealy Baker, Zach Osmundson, Simon Roemig, and everyone who helped to make our baccalaureate services so special.

We’re Hiring a Director of Senior High Youth Ministry

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DIRECTOR OF SENIOR HIGH YOUTH MINISTRY

  • Youth Faith Formation
  • Full-time Exempt
  • Reports to Director of Youth Faith Formation, and
  • Indirectly to Program Coordinator

Job Overview

Welcome, teach, train, guide and affirm youth in grades 8-12, embodying and inviting youth into the love of Christ. Connect with grades 4-7 as pathway to inclusion in senior high ministry. Support young adults after high school. Build up the four pillars of Mount Calvary’s identity: Grace, Inclusiveness, Love and Service.

 

Responsibilities

  1. Organize, facilitate, grow, and lead Youth Ministry program, including The Vine, service projects, retreats, worship, and other ministry areas to:
    1. promote a deepening awareness of God through spiritual practices.
    2. build faith relationships between peers, family, congregation, and community.
    3. invite responses to God’s love in worship, action, and service.
    4. teach tenets of Lutheran theology.
  2. Cultivate, train, uphold, and improve current culture and protection practices.
  3. Recruit, train, organize, support and celebrate youth and adult leaders.
  4. Counsel and support youth emotionally and spiritually within the ministry team.
  5. Develop and communicate an annual youth ministry plan in consultation with youth and adult leaders and colleagues.
  6. Collaborate with youth, adults and staff colleagues on events and programs.
  7. Communicate youth programs and stories using social media and congregational tools.
  8. Connect youth to resources, groups, and individuals within Mount Calvary and the community.
  9. Plan and execute continuing education and personal growth.

 Qualifications

  1. Strong desire to build relationships with and support high school youth, finding ways to improve cascading mentorship across the church.
  2. Able to articulate one’s Christian faith and publicly support Mount Calvary’s identity through the above pillars. This support should be energetic, approachable, affirming, authentic, and compassionate.
  3. Able to lead regular evening and weekend events throughout the year, including one or two week-long trips.
  4. Strong servant leadership skills with experience to discern when to lead and when to let others lead. Preparedness, punctuality, and professionalism.
  5. Experience training and organizing youth and adult leaders and leading events.
  6. Open and flexible to change, humility and sense of playfulness.

 

New Members May 2019

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Jerome and Megan D’Allesandro, Hailey and Brendan

Matthew and Courtney Kramer, Camille

Daniel and Nicole Witowski, Amelia and Addison

Eric and Lindsey Mundy, Axel and Elin

Bradley and Lara Hoffman, Ella and Hudson

Matthew and Tara Stone, Winnie, Walker, and Wallis

Michael and Bryanna Schuette, Oakley and Axel

Bill and Jane Marie Bloomberg, Aletta and Corrin

David and Lorene Sill

John and Joan Engstrom

Michael and Elizabeth Minnihan, Brooks

Brent and Debra McNamee, Lily and James

Jim and Jolynn Johnson

Confirmation Class of 2019 Class Picture

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Litchicks Reading List for 2019/20

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LitChicks 2019-2020

LitChicks is a fun, come-when-you-can group for women. We have lively, thoughtful discussions where we are free to consider issues from a Christian perspective or just from our own perspective. Anyone is welcome to come to any meeting, there is no commitment needed.

Our bimonthly meetings will be on the second Thursday from 7:00-
8:30pm in the Fireside Room. Most importantly, we will read good books, have deep discussions, and laugh a lot. Please join us!

  • July 11, 2019 One Good Mama Bone by Bren McClain
  • September 12, 2019 The Solace of Water: A Novel by Elizabeth Byler Younts
  • November 14, 2019 Everything Here Is Beautiful by Mira T. Lee
  • January 9, 2020 The Story of Arthur Truluv: A Novel by Elizabeth Berg
  • March 12, 2020 The Possible World: A Novel by Liese O’Halloran Schwarz
  • May 14, 2020 Virgil Wander by Leif Enger

Contacts: Mary K. Klein mkklein@me.com, Paula Evanich pevanich@hotmail.com, Caroline Linden cblinden@outlook.com