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Curate's Message
What an image Jesus used at the Last Supper; the vine and the branches. It has the strong idea that we are all connected.
It didn’t feel that way this winter, when everyone was shut up inside. And yet most of us continued to try to be with people, on Face Time or on Zoom. These substitutes felt better than being totally alone.
In the Vine and Branches, Jesus told his disciples to:
“Abide in me as I abide in you. Just as the branch cannot bear fruit by itself unless it abides in the vine, neither can you unless you abide in me. I am the vine, you are the branches.”
John’s gospel is telling us that we are all connected, and that Jesus Christ is the vine. Since we are in Kansas, an agricultural state, most of us know instantly that this is a powerful statement. In the Incarnation Jesus came to be with us; but then he left. But he left with the promise that He is still with us, as long as we remember to abide in His love.
Rev. Mary Kane Donovan
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You are transforming too
 It is the season of Easter, the Spring season and also the end of another school year. This season is marked by its transformations. Our young people don prom dresses and caps and gowns, signifying their coming of age and being on the brink of adulthood. There are other new transformations happening as we move from a pandemic of unknowns to more information than we know what to do with as we sort and decide how to live in this new way, post-vaccine.
Our focus turns to the young as they show milestones of growing up. Whether it's graduating from high school or college or moving from one grade to the next, there is a clear marker of their transformation. Remember that we as parents are transforming too. We were once parenting at the beginning of a pandemic and now here we are amidst a pandemic with a vaccine. We once held these children every day as little ones and now they are out there in the world. Just like the natural transformations we see each Spring: trees budding, flowers blooming, baby animals, butterflies; we are bursting forth into a new season of parenting. Before we become that beautiful bloom, we are a small seed breaking open and spilling out our guts. The transformation is not pretty, and that’s okay. If we look at any of the transformations in the bible: Abraham, Jacob, Mary, Peter, Paul…they are all messy. Remember that God is there through all of this change longing to be with us. You are not alone. If you feel like all your guts are on display, it makes sense. We are transforming too. God is molding us to be that beautiful bloom of a parent for our children in every season of their lives.
“Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your minds, so that you may discern what is the will of God—what is good and acceptable and perfect.” Romans 12:2
~Michael Funston, Associate for Youth, Young Adult & Campus Ministry
Want to join other parents of teenagers and young adults in conversation about faith, parenting and life? You are invited to the Episcopal Diocese of Kansas Parent Ministry Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/edokparentministry
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Church-wide Episcopal Youth Ministry Network Gathering
Third Thursdays, Next date is May 20, Noon Central
THIRD THURSDAYS ZOOM LINK
This meeting is for any adult serving an Episcopal Faith Community at the parish, diocesan, provincial, or regional level of Youth Ministry. If you crave ideas, resources, prayer support from your peers, and more, this is the gathering for you! The room will be open for 90 minutes with program time or featured guests in the first 45 minutes of the meeting and hang-out time to follow. You are welcome ANY third Thursday!
Sign up here to receive occasional EYMN communications.
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Youth & Young Adult Event Calendar (updated February 1, 2021)
*Denotes college-age events.
May 2, Youth, Young Adult & Campus Ministry Worship on Zoom, 11 am
June 5, Mega Camp Staff Training @ Camp Wood YMCA
June 6-12, Episcopal Summer “Mega” Camp @ Camp Wood YMCA
June 17, Youth Commission Meeting Online, 10 am – noon
June 23, Kansas City-area Youth Day-of-Mission tentative
June 25, Wichita-area Youth Day-of-Mission tentative
July 17-18, Camp Canterbury* @ Camp Wood YMCA*
July 18, Wichita-area End-of-Summer Youth Campfire gathering tentative
July 25, Kansas City-area End-of-Summer Youth Campfire gathering tentative
July 30-Aug. 1, Campus Peer Ministry Retreat
Aug. 1, Youth, Young Adult & Campus Ministry Worship on Zoom, 11 am
*Events noted with an asterix are open to college-age adults, defined as those age 18-24 and at least 3 months after completing high school.
More info and registration forms available online:
http://edokformation.wordpress.com
Join us for weekly Young Adult programs:
(all events are outside with masks or online)
- The Word@Washburn, Washburn Student Union, Mondays, 12-1 pm, discussion on the week’s lectionary, last day, Monday, May 3
- Canterbury @ K-State, 1823 Laramie, Manhattan, Mondays, 6:30-8 pm, dinner, program, and Compline, last day, Monday, May 10
- Canterbury House of Lawrence, 1116 Louisiana, Lawrence, Tuesdays 6-7:15 pm, dinner and program, last day, Tuesday, May 11
- Campus Ministry Small Group, for any college students who would like to join, Wednesdays 7-8 pm on Zoom, email Clarke for the link internku@episcopal-ks.org, last day, Wednesday, May 5
- Young Adult and Graduate Student Small Group is for any young adults who would like to join, Wednesdays 7:30-8:30 pm, on Zoom, email Will Chaney for the day, time and link, whdc425@gmail.com, last day, Wednesday, May 5
- Tea & Compline, Thursdays, 8 pm, on our Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/CMEC.KS, last day, Thursday, May 13
Programs will resume the week of August 23, 2021.
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Stay in contact with Youth & Campus Ministry
 Parents, college-age students and youth can sign up to receive text messages from the Youth Missioner. These will include event registration reminders as well as spiritual encouragements. Parents Young Adults and Youth, to sign-up, send a text message to 81010 and include as the body of your text one of the following codes:
- College-Age folks and their parents send @edokYA
- High School Seniors and their parents send @edok2021
- High School Juniors and their parents send @edok2022
- High School Sophomores and their parents send @edok2023
- High School Freshmen and their parents send @edok2024
- 8th graders and their parents send @edok2025
- 7th graders and their parents send @edok2026
- 6th graders and their parents send @edok2027
- Volunteers or others interested send @edokother
Parents, you can join as many lists as you want to make sure you get messages sent to all of your children.
Not a parent or a youth? You can join by sending a message to 81010 with the code @edokother
Follow EDOK Youth Ministry on social media:
Follow EDOK Campus Ministry on social media:
2020-21 Formation Team
Anastasia, Michael, Karen, & Clarke
Youth, Young Adult & Campus Missioner:
Karen Schlabach, kschlabach@episcopal-ks.org, 913-708-5927
Associate for Youth, Young Adult & Campus Ministry:
Michael Funston, mfunston@episcopal-ks.org, 785-231-8785
Program Assistant at Canterbury House of Lawrence:
Clarke Mortensen, internku@episcopal-ks.org, 937-919-3273
Program Assistant at Canterbury at K-State:
Anastasia Cunningham, internksu@episcopal-ks.org, 920-267-0652
Curate for Campus Ministry:
The Reverend Mary Donovan, mkp19@hotmail.com, 917-880-3844
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The Office of Youth Ministry within the Department of Faith Formation for The Episcopal Church has begun a research project to assess the impact, evaluate the efficacy, and plan for the future of the triennial international Episcopal Youth Event (EYE). It is important that we capture the depth and breadth of our diversity in this process so that all voices are represented and heard. If you attended as a youth or adult chaperone, ANY EYE in the last 40 years, please consider signing up to be a part of this research project: 
