Hello Friends!

This Tuesday (today) we WILL be holding our regular Bible Study at Christ Church, Ballston Spa from 6-8pm. These Bible Studies are incredible. The fellowship and fruitfulness among the youth and what Jesus is teaching us all week by week is truly of the Kingdom of our Lord. I can’t recommend them highly enough for youth in the Capital District who are searching for more of the Lord and more fellowship among young people their age. Come one, come all!

Our regular Sunday Bible Study is CANCELLED this week because of Easter. We will be back on however next week at our regular time of 5-7pm. We really look forward to it! Have a blessed Easter!

Unfortunately we have had to change the Spring Confirmation Retreat dates one last time due to a scheduling conflict with a regional confirmation at the Cathedral of All Saints on Sat. May 4th. The dates for the retreat will now be April 19-21. This will be the final change, and we apologize greatly for the changes. We know it is difficult to organize all the youth from your parishes to set aside a weekend for this retreat, but it is truly a powerful weekend for every confirmand that attends so we ask you to make every effort to ensure that they are able to attend. We, in turn, will make every effort not to make scheduling mistakes in the future! Registration forms for this retreat and all other upcoming retreats for this spring can be found by clicking on the icon to the left of this email labelled “Diocesan Website…”.

Registration for Beaver Cross Camp is now open! Registration forms can be found on the Beaver Cross website:www.beavercrosscamp.com or you can call us to register at (518)-692-9550.

Applications for Beaver Cross Counseling Staff 2013 are now being received, but not for much longer! Being a Beaver Cross Counselor is more than just a summer job. It is a life changing opportunity to grow as a person, as a mentor for young people and as a disciple of Jesus Christ. If you or anyone you know is looking for a dynamic and purposeful way to serve the Lord this summer, please consider applying to work at Beaver Cross Camp. Application forms can be found on the Beaver Cross Website: http://www.beavercrosscamp.com.

We are now beginning the search for our diocesan interns for this coming fall! If you or a young person you know (preferably aged 18-28) feels a call to grow deeper in their discipleship and relationship with Jesus Christ, and are discerning a call to some form of Christian Ministry then the Diocesan Youth Intern Program may be for you. This internship is a 6 month to full year commitment, and by God’s grace is designed to be a life transforming experience in their walk with God. Please contact Fr. Tyler Slade at tslade@ctkcenter.org if you would like to learn more.

Weekly Update:

We can’t say enough about what our Lord is doing in our weekly Bible Studies in Colonie/ Schenectady and Ballston Spa. Jesus is revealing Himself and the reality of His salvation and Kingdom to the youth who attend, and a little community is forming in each of the groups that is SO fun, loving and godly. We look forward to each meeting, to see what wonderful things the Lord has planned for all of us. If you have youth who have been thinking about attending these studies but haven’t yet for whatever reason I can’t encourage you enough to make the extra effort. I am confident in the Lord that it will be worth it!

Hello Friends!   

The Winter Sonshine Retreats are right around the corner!   For three full days and two nights we have an action packed weekend planned with all sorts of outdoor winter adventures from snowtubing, to sledding, snowball slingshots, the infamous broomball, and much more! This will be a fantastic opportunity to spend time with our Lord Jesus and old and new friends alike. This will not be a weekend to be missed.  The dates for these retreats are Feb. 16-18 for Middle Schoolers and Feb. 21-23 for High Schoolers. To register or to get more details click on the icon to the left of this message labeled “Diocesan Website…”   

This Sunday (Jan. 27) we will be having a SUPER BOWL party at St. Michael’s Church Colonie (49 Killean Park Rd.).  It is going to be awesome!  Lots of fun, food and fellowship.  Kick off is around 6:30.  Doors open at 6.  Hope to see many of you there!!! 

This Tuesday our weekly Bible Study at Christ Church Ballston Spa will be held from 6-8pm.  It is exciting to see how the Lord is building this group up in the depth of their relationship with Him and with each other.  If your youth haven’t attended this study yet, or if they are looking for a great community of young people to fellowship with and to grow deeper in their faith with, this is a great place for both!  Dinner will be served.  See you there!

Registration for Beaver Cross Camp is now open!  Registration forms can be found on the Beaver Cross website:www.beavercrosscamp.com or you can call us to register at (518)-692-9550.   

Applications for Beaver Cross Counseling Staff 2013 are now being received!  Being a Beaver Cross Counselor is more than just a summer job.  It is a life changing opportunity to grow as a person, as a mentor for young people and as a disciple of Jesus Christ.  If you or anyone you know is looking for a dynamic and purposeful way to serve the Lord this summer, please consider applying to work at Beaver Cross Camp.  Application forms can be found on the Beaver Cross Website:  www.beavercrosscamp.com.  

In 2013, we will be leading a diocesan group of youth to the regional Youth for Christ retreat in Saratoga Springs called  Breakout (for Middle School ages).  Breakout will take place on Mar. 8-10.  This is going to be a great opportunity to spend time with our Lord Jesus in a powerful way, get to know other Christian kids in the area, and grow closer to our friends in the Diocesan youth community.  Please register online on the YFC site (click on link in the left margin of this email) if you would like to attend, and then contact Fr. Tyler (tslade@ctkcenter.org) so he can organize housing for the event, etc.   

Weekly Update:

This past weekend was full of wonderful ministry opportunities.  Fr. Tyler had the opportunity with 5 other priests in the diocese to share his passion for Jesus and for ministering to young people at the Parish Leadership Conference in Malone on Saturday.  (There will be two more PLC’s on Feb. 9 in Cooperstown and Feb. 16 at the SLC.  May Jesus bless them greatly!)  Then on Sunday we held our weekly Bible Study at St. Michael’s church in Colonie.  Our theme for the winter continues to be “The Secret Place of the Most High.”  This week we spoke about the river of life that flows from the throne of Jesus.  We talked about how Jesus is calling us deeper into the river of His presence and that although it is always scary to launch out into the unknown we find life in this river and the deeper we go the more fully alive in the Lord and His purpose we become.  It was a challenging and worthwhile time.  Jesus is doing a work in these studies.  Lord I ask that they would bear great fruit in the months and years to come in these young people’s lives, for your glory and our Joy, in Jesus name!

Hello Friends!   

This weekend many youth in the diocese will be headed to Saratoga Springs for the Excel retreat hosted by Youth For Christ!  If you would still like to attend but have not yet registered please click on the link to the left of this message and print out a registration form to be brought to the retreat directly on Friday.  You will also need to contact Fr. Tyler (tslade@ctkcenter.org) as soon as possible so he can organize further housing for the event.   For those already registered, we will be meeting on Friday night at 5pm in the main lobby of the Hilton City Center by the hotel front desk.  Please remember to bring money or supplies for food as the retreat does not provide meals.

This coming Sunday (Jan. 20) and Tuesday (Jan. 22) our weekly Bible Studies at Christ Church Schenectady and Christ Church Ballston Spa will be CANCELLED because of the Excel retreat.  

Registration for Beaver Cross Camp is now open!  Registration forms can be found on the Beaver Cross website:www.beavercrosscamp.com or you can call us to register at (518)-692-9550.   

Applications for Beaver Cross Counseling Staff 2013 are now being received!  Being a Beaver Cross Counselor is more than just a summer job.  It is a life changing opportunity to grow as a person, as a mentor for young people and as a disciple of Jesus Christ.  If you or anyone you know is looking for a dynamic and purposeful way to serve the Lord this summer, please consider applying to work at Beaver Cross Camp.  Application forms can be found on the Beaver Cross Website:  www.beavercrosscamp.com.

Weekly Update:

This past week has been action packed with two Bible Studies at Christ Church Ballston Spa (including last night), a special youth event at St. John’s Church for the youth of Troy, and our monthly Youth Worship Experience at St. Michael’s church in Colonie.  All of these events were great.  Our fellowship is really building at our Bible Study in Ballston Spa and our studies are getting deeper and more vulnerable and fruitful each week.  It is a wonderful group.  Our Troy event was great fun and the message Fr. Tyler brought was reported to be challenging and timely which is great.  And our Sunday Worship Experience was fantastic.  We really went for it, seeking more of Jesus’ presence and purpose in our lives, and we had a really powerful conversation about the impediments we have in our lives to trusting Jesus with all our hearts and pursuing Him with total abandon in our lives.  We were all very open and honest, and it was clear that bringing those stumbling blocks into the light was really powerful and freeing for all present.  Jesus loves it when we bring our sin and shortcomings into the light!  Our focus for the winter is learning to ‘Dwell in the Secret Place of the Most High’ so as you pray for this ministry please pray that our youth will have a revelation of Jesus’ desire to draw us into His heavenly realm that they might learn to abide in His presence and become a holy generation!

If you would like further information about anything in this update please email Fr. Tyler at: tslade@ctkcenter.org.

Hello Friends!   

Registration for Beaver Cross Camp is now open!  And this year we are offering a Christmas special of 10% off every week of camp for which you register before December 25^th , plus an additional Christmas gift from us of your choosing (choices include a Beaver Stuffed Animal, Beaver Cross Duffle Bag, or Beaver Cross T-shirt).  This is a great deal so if you are planning to send your kids to camp this summer please don’t miss out on this opportunity!    Registration forms can be found on the Beaver Cross website: www.beavercrosscamp.com or you can call us to register at (518)-692-9550. 

This week we will not be having our regular Bible Studies at Christ Church, Ballston Spa and St. Michael’s Colonie, because it is time again for our monthly Youth Worship Experience!  This month we will be meeting at Christ Church, Schenectady (970 State St.) from 5-7 pm.  The past two meetings have been really exciting and full of our Lord’s presence and purpose.  We hope to see you all there!!

 In 2013, we will be leading a diocesan group of youth to the regional Youth for Christ retreats in Saratoga Springs called Excel (for High School ages) and Breakout (for Middle School ages).  Excel will take place on Jan. 18-20, and Breakout will take place on Mar. 8-10.  This is going to be a great opportunity to spend time with our Lord Jesus in a powerful way, get to know other Christian kids in the area, and grow closer to our friends in the Diocesan youth community.  Please register online on the YFC site (click on link in the left margin of this email) if you would like to attend, and then contact Fr. Tyler (tslade@ctkcenter.org) so he can organize housing for the event, etc.  If you register BEFORE December 21 you will save $10 on your registration fee as the cost goes up after that date. 

This Friday, December 7th and the Sunday after next, December 16th we will be holding deanery wide youth events!  This Friday’s Deanery Youth event will be from 6-8 at Christ Church, Deposit for the Susquehanna Deanery.  Then on Sunday the 16th our event will be at St. Luke’s, Catskill from 2-4pm.  These events have been fantastic because it is a great opportunity to get kids together from around the whole deanery to worship Jesus and build our relationship with Him and kids from other churches in a really fun and inviting environment.  Let’s make every effort to get our kids there! 

Update from this past week:

We had two great Bible Studies this past week, one on Tuesday at Christ Church,  Ballston Spa and one on Sunday at St. Michael’s, Colonie.  Tuesday’s study was on Romans 8 and the fact that we are more than conquerors in Christ despite any trials or tribulations that we encounter in life.  On Sunday we had a powerful time of worship in which the Spirit of the Lord was present to us in a powerful and compelling way.  We then studied the Mustard Seed passages in the gospel of Matthew and talked about how the call of Jesus into His kingdom can seem small, quiet and gentle in a world of loud false advertizers, but once we yield our hearts to our Lord He reveals His kingdom to be an infinite realm of heavenly love and power.  Both studies were powerful and challenging.  These studies are really not to be missed.  The communities are building, new people are coming each week, and the Lord is moving in our midst.  I pray your youth will be able to join us very soon!

If you would like further information about anything in this update please email Fr. Tyler at: tslade@ctkcenter.org.

 Hello friends

Registration for Beaver Cross Camp is now open!  And this year we are offering a Christmas special of 10% off every week of camp for which you register before December 25^th , plus an additional Christmas gift from us of your choosing (choices include a Beaver Stuffed Animal, Beaver Cross Duffle Bag, or Beaver Cross T-shirt).  This is a great deal so if you are planning to send your kids to camp this summer please don’t miss out on this opportunity!    Registration forms can be found on the Beaver Cross website: www.beavercrosscamp.com or you can call us to register at (518)-692-9550. 

Our weekly Bible Studies will be taking place on Tuesday (we will be meeting from 6-8pm at Christ Church Ballston Spa), and on Sunday ( we will be meeting from 5-7pm at St. Michael’s Church in Colonie).  These have been wonderful times that the Lord is really blessing!  Hope to see your youth there! 

 In 2013, we will be leading a diocesan group of youth to the regional Youth for Christ retreats in Saratoga Springs called Excel (for High School ages) and Breakout (for Middle School ages).  Excel will take place on Jan. 18-20, and Breakout will take place on Mar. 8-10.  This is going to be a great opportunity to spend time with our Lord Jesus in a powerful way, get to know other Christian kids in the area, and grow closer to our friends in the Diocesan youth community.  Please register online on the YFC site (click on link in the left margin of this email) if you would like to attend, and then contact Fr. Tyler (tslade@ctkcenter.org) so he can organize housing for the event, etc.

Update from this past week:

We had a great study last Tuesday in Ballston Spa led by Stephen and Kate our Diocesan interns on Moses and the burning bush.  We talked about how the Lord meets us in our weakness and calls us to step out in faith in spite of that weakness as we learn to lean on Him who is always more than enough for us.  We concluded by each commiting to step out in faith in a new way this week.  It will be interesting to see how everyone faired in their new steps of faith as we meet again tonight and check in with each other. 

We did not have any weekend retreats or trips or bible studies this past weekend because of Thanksgiving, but the whole team was blessed to have time with family and friends, and hope your time of giving thanks was blessed as well.  May giving thanks become a way of life that we practice no matter what our circumstances may be! 

If you would like further information about anything in this update please email Fr. Tyler at: tslade@ctkcenter.org.

Hello Friends!

This week’s regional Bible Study for youth in the Capital District which we normally hold on Sunday at Christ Church in Schenectady will be held at St. Michael’s Church in Colonie instead. We are making that move in order to give kids who closer to that side of Albany an easier trip to get there. These studies have been great and very worth coming to. Hope to see many of you at St. Michael’s (49 Killean Park Rd., Colonie) this Sunday from 5-7pm.

Next week our weekly Bible Studies in Ballston Spa and Schenectady will NOT be held because we will be holding our monthly Youth Worship Experience on that Sunday (Nov. 11) from 5-7pm at Christ church Ballston Spa (15 West High St., Ballston Spa) instead. This was a fantastic night last month in Colonie and we would love to see your youth there this time!

In 2013, we are planning to lead a diocesan group of youth to the regional Youth for Christ retreats in Saratoga Springs called Excel (for High School ages) and Breakout (for Middle School ages). Excel will take place on Jan. 18-20, and Breakout will take place on Mar. 8-10. This is going to be a great opportunity to spend time with our Lord Jesus in a powerful way, get to know other Christian kids in the area, and grow closer to our friends in the Diocesan youth community. Please register online on the YFC site (http://events.r20.constantcontact.com/register/event?oeidk=a07e67juhpr5de961cb&llr=nrn8jsdab) if you would like to attend, and then contact Fr. Tyler (tslade@ctkcenter.org) so he can organize housing for the event, etc.

Please sign up now for the Fall Confirmation Retreat, to be held on Nov. 9-11. This retreat is an important milestone for kids in the confirmation process to understand why one would choose to be confirmed and what it means to entrust your life to Jesus Christ as your Lord and Savior. The registration form for this retreat can be found by clicking on the registration and forms icon on this website. If you are planning to send a group from your church, please contact Fr. Tyler now to let him know even if you don’t know how many kids are coming and haven’t gotten the registration forms filled out yet, etc. as these numbers help us plan for housing and meals.

The deadline for applications for our 2013 Youth Mission trip to Northern Ireland is November 12th. For all those that have expressed an interest in coming on a trip like this, now is your opportunity! The dates of this mission are tentatively set for June 27- July 7, and the trip will include attending the Christian Youth Conference called Summer Maddness, a service project, and site seeing. It is going to be a fabulous mission trip! If you are interested in applying please click on the registration and forms icon on this website.

Update from this past week:

In the past three days we have had two exciting and challenging Bible Study at Christ Church in Schenectady and Ballston Spa. We are sincerely asking our Lord Jesus to transition these beautiful young people from a place of believing in Jesus to knowing Jesus in a personal and transformational way. The wonderful part is that that is what they want as well! And of course their desire reveals that this is what Jesus wants, and is what He is working towards in their lives and hearts. The Lord is raising up the next generation to know Him and walk with Him ‘in the cool of the day.’ It is such a privilege to be a part of His work.

If you would like further information about anything in this update please email Fr. Tyler at: tslade@ctkcenter.org.

Hello Friends!

This week we will be holding our two weekly regional Bible Studies for youth in the Capital District.  The first will be tomorrow (Tuesday, Oct. 23), at Christ Church, Ballston Spa from 6-8pm.  The second will be this coming Sunday at Christ Church, Schenectady from 5-7pm.  Both sessions will include dinner, games, worship, bible study, fun and fellowship.  They have been very exciting and purposeful so far.  Hope to see you there! 

In 2013, we are planning to lead a diocesan group of youth to the regional Youth for Christ retreats in Saratoga Springs called Excel (for High School ages) and Breakout (for Middle School ages).  Excel will take place on Jan. 18-20, and Breakout will take place on Mar. 8-10.  Because over a thousand Christian kids attend these retreats each year they are a fantastic way to connect our youth with other Christians in our area to build friendships, be encouraged, and grow deeper in our faith.  If you come to this retreat as part of the diocesan group you will receive the additional benefit of being able to stay at the Spiritual Life Center which will be much more affordable than hotels in Saratoga.  If you would like to be a part of this diocesan led group to Excel or Breakout this year please contact Fr. Tyler Slade (at: tslade@ctkcenter.org) asap as the sooner we register the lower the cost of registration will be. 

Please sign up now for the Fall Confirmation Retreat, to be held on Nov. 9-11.  This retreat is an important milestone for kids in the confirmation process to understand why one would choose to be confirmed and what it means to entrust your life to Jesus Christ as your Lord and Savior.  The registration form for this retreat can be found by clicking on the icon to the left of this message.  If you are planning to send a group from your church, please contact Fr. Tyler now to let him know even if you don’t know how many kids are coming and haven’t gotten the registration forms filled out yet, etc. as these numbers help us plan for housing and meals.

The deadline for applications for our 2013 Youth Mission trip to Northern Ireland is November 12th.  For all those that have expressed an interest in coming on a trip like this, now is your opportunity!  The dates of this mission are tentatively set for June 27- July 7, and the trip will include attending the Christian Youth Conference called Summer Maddness, a service project, and site seeing.  It is going to be a fabulous mission trip!  If you are interested in applying please click on the application icon found in the column to the left of this message. 

Update from this past week:

This past week we had two wonderful Bible Studies, one in Ballston Spa (Christ Church) on Tuesday and one last night in Schenectady (Christ Church).  Our theme this fall is growing in faith…not just talking about our faith, but challenging kids to step into trusting Jesus in their real lives.  We had opportunities to pray for a number of kids to step into deeper faith and awareness of Jesus’ presence in their day to day lives.  It was powerful.  We also had an incredible time at St. Michael’s Church in Colonie this past Sunday.  Fr. Tyler preached at the 8 and 10 services on wanting Jesus in our lives and living for Him rather than what He can give us.  It was a remarkable morning because when an invitation was given to pray for people during communion, so many people came forward that we ended up praying for folks for an hour and a half after the service had concluded.  The Lord was really moving, and we saw one woman get healed of back and neck injuries, multiple people get released from emotional and spiritual turmoil in their lives, and even more folks discovered Jesus in a new and deeper way in their lives.  It is hard to describe the magnitude of what the Lord is doing through brief emails like this, but we believe that Jesus is beginning to move in a more powerful and sovereign way in our lives.  It is exciting, and we are trusting that this is only the beginning!