Book Suggestions-SMV Youth Program ‘06/’07
Positive Discipline for Teenagers; Nelson, Jane, Ed.D. & Lott, Lynn, M.A. 2000
From the back cover:
*Find out how to encourage your teen & yourself
*Grow to understand how your teen still needs you, but in different ways
*Learn how to get to know who your teen really is
*Discover how to develop sound judgment without being judgmental
*Learn how to use follow-through.
The Blessing of a Skinned Knee; Mogel, Wendy
(Has a great deal about jewish parenting, but leads to the conversation of parenting as a person of faith)
Everyday Blessings: The Inner Work of Mindful Parenting; Kabat-Zinn, John & Myla
(A little Zen-Buddhism for your parenting mind)
The Price of Privilege, Levine, Madeline, Ph.D.
(This may or may not apply to your own family, but certainly applies to many in our area. The author is a psychologist in Marin. Many of the issues and contexts certainly resonate and are worth reflecting on.)
Raising Resilient Children: Fostering Strength, Hope, & Optimism in Your Child; Brooks, Robert & Goldstein, Sam.
http://www.commonsensemedia.org/
Our Wild Ride
The Rev. Jennifer Hornbeck, Associate Rector
Our spiritual hunger is so strong, so powerful and so often unfed in this world. In our “unfaithed” zip-code, in this post-modern, post-Christian world on a busy September Sunday evening, teens fill Fowler Hall with laughter, games, and conversation. The buzz is infectious. Sixth graders through high school seniors get together in groups, hop across the hall in relays, talk about life, share a meal, and meet new people. Many ask about bringing friends, who are more than welcome, and look forward to the next event. We plan for a Great America trip, filled with lively car-rides, sugar and fried foods, and serious roller-coaster screaming. And at the end of our gatherings we say our prayers, sometimes quietly and sometimes with a loud-as-possible “ZAAPPP!!!”
For many people, youth ministry was a high-point, a grace-filled experience in a difficult stage of life. As we grow the youth program, we are seeking to be intentional about creating a life-long journey of faith. In our first group gathering, a tone of respect and care was set as we talked about the kind of community we would like to create. Our youth program vision includes involving parents and families in our program, doing community outreach and mission trips, and weaving connections throughout our many lively church programs. AND we know this is only a beginning, building strong roots for a lively, growing, strong youth program.
When youth or adults sign up for confirmation class we connect them with mentors, and ask that they attend church regularly, take part in a service project through St. Mary’s outreach programs and make a pledge to St. Mary’s. Being active in the life of St. Mary's feeds us far beyond expectation as we grow in our lives in Christ.
This new program expands our budget needs to include:
- Three full-time clergy
- An energetic, growing youth program
- Investing in a lifetime journey with faith
- Dreaming big for our children and youth
