Grants available to youth, young adults to participate in upcoming events
The Orthodox Church in America’s Department of Youth, Young Adult, and Campus Ministry is offering grants to youth and youth adults wishing to participate in several exciting events in the coming months.
“Participants at all of the events are invited to apply for the Peter the Aleut Grant to help offset their registration, lodging, and travel expenses,” said Andrew Boyd, OCA Youth Director. “Representatives from the Department will be participating in all events, and we hope to see many of our younger faithful in attendance.”
Among the offerings are the following.
Annual “One” Conference. Spend a day of fellowship and education with youth and young adults from other Orthodox jurisdictions and the Coptic and Indian traditions at the third annual “One” Conference at Saint Peter’s College, Jersey City, NJ, on Saturday, September 7, 2013.
“Designed to build solidarity and unity on the grassroots level, the conference is especially timely given the persecution of Christians in Egypt and elsewhere,” Andrew said. “Join us as we stand in solidarity, get to know one another, and learn together.”
Additional information and registration forms are available here.
Saint Vladimir’s Seminary, Yonkers, NY, will host the “For the Life of the World” Conference for college-aged young adults on October 5. The conference will focus on the legacy of Father Alexander Schmemann’s landmark book, For the Life of the World, which he had written specifically for college students. Priests Joel Weir and Christopher Foley will speak about their journeys into the faith through Father Alexander’s writing. More information is available here.
The New York Regional Festival of Young Preachers, sponsored by the Academy of Preachers, will feature participants delivering a 15-minute sermon on the theme “Truth Telling: Democracy in an Age without Facts.” The festival, which will feature participants from all educational levels and from different Christian denominations, will take place at Union Theological Seminary, New York, NY, September 27-28. Participants between the ages of 14 and 28 are invited. More information is available here.
The National Festival of Young Preachers. The Youth Department once again encourages participation in this annual event, slated to be held in Indianapolis, IN January 2-5, 2014. The theme is “Questions of the Soul.” Besides the traditional 15-minute preaching slots, there will be opportunities to share artistic reflections on the theme through song, artwork, and poetry. Participants between the ages of 14 and 28 are welcome. More information is available here.
“All Christians are called to preach the Gospel,” Andrew said, “and these festivals certainly teach and enable our young adults to articulate the Gospel of Jesus Christ in their world. Mentors and support are available to any interested youth.
Prospective participants in all of above events are able to apply for the Peter the Aleut Grant to offset costs associated with attending.