Episcopal Youth Community (EYC)
EYC Mount Dora is the youth group for St. Edward's Episcopal Church serving middle school and high school youth. We meet every Sunday from noon to 2pm, with lunch provided.Building Relationships
Our weekly meetings start with (free) lunch and time to just hang out and talk, and finish with free-time to continue building relationship. Additionally, we do a variety of fun, recreational activities outside of our weekly meetings.
Bible Study
The core of our weekly meetings is our Bible study discussions. We learn how to read and study the Scriptures, and practice good study and application of the Word through group conversation. Our goal is to develop sound interpretation techniques and grow in our love for the Word of God.
Community Service
Students are encouraged to explore ways to live out their faith through a variety of ministry opportunities and community service projects. Out goal is to serve locally, and through service trips like Soul in the City (organized with other youth groups in the Episcopal Diocese of Central Florida).
It was cleanup day today at stedwardsepiscopal. The youth group was supposed to have a car wash fundraiser on the property today, so instead we came out ready to work on the Ian mess.
The church had a few trees down, but no building damage. And there was a ton of debris everywhere.
Feeling fortunate that the damage wasn't worse. Some of the church members showed up to work today and are still without power... two full days post-storm.
I'm proud of our youth for getting out there and working hard today.
Bonus... the flag was shredded by the storm, and the Marine in me was happy to see a fresh one go back up when we finished working.
#EYCmountdora #church #episcopalchurch #mountdora #mountdorafl #someplacespecial #lakecountyfl #youthgroup #youthministry #youthmin
It's so great to see our youth studying the Bible!
We've been learning how to study (and not just read) the Word, and then we spend some weeks practicing by diving deep into one of the week's lectionary readings.
We're building a passion for the Word, and letting it change their lives.
#EYCmountdora #episcopalchurch #youthgroup #youthministry #mountdora #mountdorafl #lakecountyfl #church
Following my recent service trip with the stedwardsepiscopal youth this Summer, I had the opportunity to write about it for the cfdiocese publication...
"Summer mission trips can be transformative experiences, especially for youth. And when these trips are done well, they can also have a great impact on local communities. Nonprofits and other organizations thrive on volunteer help to accomplish their mission. So when a group of youth partnered with a local church converges on a single community, the impact can send ripples across a city, bringing hope and encouragement to those already doing great work there."
Link in bio.
#youthministry #youthgroup #church #episcopal #episcopalchurch #eycmountdora #soulinthecity2022
Day 4 of #soulinthecity2022... our last full day!
We wrapped up more projects today, and finish everything with one more session of worksites tomorrow morning.
Today I heard an adult at one of the worksites ask the youth if they were happy or sad that our week was coming to an end soon, and one of them answered, "a little of both."
And that resonates with me too.
While most of us are feeling a bit of exhaustion and can't wait to get back to the comfort of our own homes (and beds), the relationships we've all developed and the feeling that comes with recognizing the impact we've been having will be hard to leave behind.
Tonight was my turn to teach during our evening worship session. And I talked to them about removing the filter (and lie) that they can't change the world around them...
Because I've been watching them do it all week long!
We talked about the impact of the things they've been doing at all of our worksites, and that changing the world doesn't happen with big things, but small acts right in front of us.
Then I shared Micah 6:8 as the very heartbeat of God, and a guide for living in such a way that changes the world...
DO justice... make right all the things that are wrong in our communities (and world).
LOVE kindness... being nice is your new favorite thing. And not only to others, but also to yourself.
WALK humbly with your God... where He goes, you go.
Can I get an amen?
cfdiocese stedwardsepiscopal
#youthgroup #youthministry #youthmin #communityservice #summermissions #church #episcopalchurch #micah6v8 #activistfaith #eycmountdora
Day 3 of #soulinthecity2022 is complete! Another packed day of work sites and starting to wrap up some of our projects.
Today I had a crew working again at New Hope Animal Shelter. We put together a garden with a doghouse centerpiece. We're certainly not master craftsmen, but it turned out pretty nice.
And after some fun leisure time, the youth got another great message about the filters they use to view the world.
One of the big moments of the day was in that message when they self-described their generation with words like anxiety... and they saw that stats showed they are actually one of the most anxious and depressed generations yet.
But God... tells them to not be anxious about anything.
Looking forward to our final full day tomorrow, but a little sad to see these great moments coming to an end soon.
Also... #piggypics🐷
cfdiocese stedwardsepiscopal
#youthgroup #youthministry #youthmin #summermissions #communityservice #eycmountdora
Day 2 of #soulinthecity2022... Today we got right back into the work we started yesterday. Our teams spread out across five sites to help the church here continue to be a blessing in their community.
A couple highlights for me today...
1 - While talking with one of our youth from stedwardsepiscopal, she mentioned how cool it was to be helping all of these small organizations in the community here, and wondered if there were organizations like them in our community. (Ummm... YES!)
So it looks like our #youthgroup might want to start looking for ways to be a blessing locally ongoing... 🤓
2 - The team I had today worked at Our Father's Closet Thrift Shop, just organizing and cleaning.
While in the kitchen section, one of the youth asked, "Who would buy silverware like this?" As we wrapped up, the owner shared with us about who they are and what they do. She explained that one of the main reasons they are there is to provide for kids in DCF care and homeless men/women.
When a homeless person needs clothes for a job interview... free. When they need to set up housing with furniture, dishes, etc... free. So it was a big "ah-ha" for some of our youth... THAT'S who... and it gave more meaning to the work we were doing there.
And of course... no trip would be complete without the daily #piggypics🐷 for my kids.
cfdiocese
#youthgroup #youthministry #youthmin #summermissions #youthmissions #activistfaith #church #episcopalchurch #communityservice #eycmountdora
Day 1 of #soulinthecity2022 is in the books! Our group from stedwardsepiscopal arrived at our host church in DeLand, where we met with other #youthgroup from around the cfdiocese.
Today I led teams out to a women's clinic to learn what they do and fill "morning sickness gift bags" for women who come through, and to an animal rescue shelter to do some gardening (and play with the dogs and cats).
We ended the day with a time of worship and a great lesson about where we find our identity (hint: in Christ and what He says about us).
And of course, no missions experience would be complete without #piggypics🐷 making his daily appearance (for my kids)!
#youthministry #youthmin #summermissions #communityservice #eycmountdora
Youth Ministry Blog
Youth Bring Soul in the City to DeLand
Summer mission trips can be transformative experiences, especially for youth. And when these trips are done well, they can also have a great impact...
Kids at Camp Wingmann Learn How to ‘Make It Matter’
This summer, children and youth from all around Central Florida came to Camp Wingmann for an experience that will impact them for a long time to...
Youth Calendar
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january, 2023
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