May the Peace of Christ Be with You

May the peace of Christ be with you.

The Emmaus Walk is a key Gospel story for church work, for youth ministry. We so very often focus on it as justification for “relational ministry;” that “walking along with” that Jesus does while still very much conveying “the message.”

XX Our office logo for many, many years has been used to icon-ify this message. We changed the title of our office e-newsletter (delivered to you every other Thursday) to remember what is shared “along the way” of our ministry together.

XX But make no mistake about it… The Emmaus walk is about change.

XX And while it seems change and transformation might be as easy as a walk and a meal… We know that Change is hard.

God grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change; courage to change the things I can;and wisdom to know the difference.

Change is hard.

If we are talking about being in a new position or having a new boss… Change is hard. If we are talking about graduating a great class of seniors last spring and eyeballing those new 7th graders… Change is hard. If we are trying to improve ourselves by taking a new class or trying to get more fit… Change is hard.

But, dear god, I hope and pray that we always have the courage to change the things that we can.

Today, we wanted to talk about Change. Not just because we have experiences much of it personally, but because we truly believe that this is what catholic Youth ministry is about. One of the anthems of catholic youth ministry is Steve Angrisano and Tom Tomasek’s Go Make a Difference.

XX Go make a dff'rence, we can make a diff'rence
Go make a diff'rence in the world
Go make a diff'rence we can make a diff'rence
Go make a diff'rence in the world
< sing >

XX We can make a diff’rence. We can be instruments of change in the world, in our parishes and schools, about the staff, with volunteers and parents, we can go and make a diff’rence for today’s youngchurch.

But, we never really talk about change itself, the process of making a difference.

XX We will be referring to Chip and Dan Heath’s book, Switch, throughout this day. XX It’s a business best-seller and, while writing it, the Heath brothers probably never imagined there book being content for a Youth Contact meeting.

XX In it, they discuss three element necessary for change and they identify them as the Elephant, the Rider, and the Path. (Hang in there, we’ll explain…)

Let me interrupt this for a moment as I am about to ask you a question… And there will be many questions today. We hope to engage in some significant conversations but we invite you to discipline yourselves…. We are asking for brief conversations that involve another or two. I know it is a youth ministry sensibility to include the whole table- resist it. We both know we can have deeper river conversations with just a few

So, why talk about Change?

Because Change is in the air…

I firmly believe that the economy, the demographics of our parishes, the perception and expectations of our field will impact what it is we do, how we do it, and who will be doing it.

Consider that, please, for just a moment. In your heart of hearts, put on your prophetic hat and speak in your prophetic voice…

XX In the field of Catholic Youth Ministry, what changes (in light of the economy, the changing parish, and how others perceive our field) do you see a’coming?

-- Process --

XX We often hear the phrase “Youth are the future of the Church” and

XX immediately raise up our conviction and contention that “Youth are the Church NOW.” Youth are part of our parishes NOW. Let go back and see what Renewing the Vision has to say about youth and parish life.

XX First, parishes "should be a place where [young people] are welcomed, grow in Jesus Christ, and minister side by side with the adults of the community" RTV talks about young people’s sense of belonging and acceptance as full-fledged members of the community. Others have suggested that we segregate them from the adult community.

Second, RTV claims that parishes "should have a wide variety of opportunities to use their gifts and to express their faith through meaningful roles. Again, it has been suggested that youth ministry allows for junior participation, but is that real participation?

Third, RTV claims that parish communities need to see young people as resources—recognizing and empowering their gifts and talents, giving them meaningful roles in leadership and ministry, and encouraging their contributions. Bob McCarty for the NFCYM claims that Young people are a gift, not a problem to be solved. Are parish recourses utilized for the community beyond youth group or life Teen?

But, that’s Renewing the Vision. It’s older than some of our kids.

XX Let’s talk the future of the Church. Kenda Creasy Dean in her book Almost Christian contends that “Youth Ministry is the de facto research and development branch of American Christianity (in that in) attending to the faith of adolescents might help the adult Church reclaim its identity as well.”

Look at it this way. Youth are not the future of the Church.

XX Youth Ministers ARE!

We are an “irrationally hopeful breed” committed to collaborating with the Spirit to bring about Change. Our song is “Go, Make a diff’rence”

The Church will change. It has for 2,000 years, It will for 2,000 more.

Your Parish will change. It has throughout its existence and will continue to do so

Despite whatever arrogance we might have within the Catholic Center, we KNOW that the very future of the Church is not being decided in those halls and much as it is by your next phone call with a parent, your next training of a volunteer, your next interaction with the pastor or PLD, your next interaction with a young disciple.

Please take a moment and consider how we all, not just in youth ministry, but all might be better about being Church, about being parish community. This is not programmatic, this is philosophical… big picture stuff.

Listen to the Spirit. Listen to your heart.

What big-picture, philosophical, idealistic, significant change would you like to be a part of within your parish community?

First, parishes "should be a place where [young people] are welcomed, grow in Jesus Christ, and minister side by side with the adults of the community.

Second, parishes "should have programs for [young people] that recognize [their] special talents and role in the life of the Church. In parishes, young people need to have a wide variety of opportunities to use their gifts and to express their faith through meaningful roles.
Third, if parishes are to be worthy of the loyalty and active participation of youth, they will need to become "youth-friendly" communities in which youth have a conspicuous presence in parish life.

What big-picture, philosophical, idealistic, significant change would you like to be a part of within your parish community?

Change in hard… but talking about it can be exciting. Youth ministry and Church ministry are most likely very much going to change in the next few years. We can point to research… We can point to economics… We can point to our own restlessness in really, REALLY trying to authentically serve as

XX “ the salt in the earth, called to let the people see, the love of God in you and me. We are the light of the world, not to be hidden, but be seen… Go make a diff'rence in the world”

XX Go make a dff'rence, we can make a diff'rence
Go make a diff'rence in the world
Go make a diff'rence we can make a diff'rence
Go make a diff'rence in the world