Diocesan Youth Calendar

Click on diocesan shield to go to the West Mo Youth Page

“Seek and serve Christ in all persons,

loving your neighbor as yourself.

Strive for justice and peace among all people,

and respect the dignity of every human being.”

What is Missionpalooza?
Missionpalooza trains teens to be Christ’s hands and feet in the world. For five days youth from Kansas, Missouri, and beyond come together in community, mission, fellowship and worship-both inside and outside the walls of the Church.

Students spend the night at St. Paul’s Episcopal Church in Kansas City, Missouri, and spend their days in the urban mission field heeding Christ’s call to feed the hungry, visit the sick, and comfort those in need.

This event is sponsored by Episcopal Community Services of Kansas City. The mission of ECS is to serve the needs of our community by creating opportunities to grow
in faith through volunteer service and partnerships. ECS hopes that this experience will
encourage youth to continue to volunteer in the near future in their own communities

What will participants be doing when they're not serving?
In the evenings, we gather for worship and enjoy program put on by area clergy and lay ministers that relates the day's work to Christian faith. The theme for 2008 is “An Essential Peace.”

Evenings include fun activities such as games, music, movie night, and a trip to either World's of Fun or an alternative Saturday afternoon outing.

Our Host Parish
This is the eighth year St. Paul's Church, located at 40th and Main, in Kansas City, has hosted Missionpalooza. St. Paul’s provides a well-stocked kitchen, spacious quarters for boys and girls, showers, and large multipurpose rooms for all our activities.

Who can come to Missionpalooza?
The event is for youth in grades 8-12 during the 2006-2007 school year.

How to register?

Registration Forms are available here to download.

  Y.A.C. (Youth Action Council)

Applications for new 2008-2009 Youth Action Council (YAC) members are now being accepted. Please click HERE to read a full informational letter about YAC. If you'd like to apply to be a council member, click here!

What is the Youth Action Council?
The Youth Action Council of the Diocese of West Missouri will be a group of no more than twenty-five youth, and youth advisors, representing each of our four deaneries. Council members will meet throughout the year to discuss and plan diocesan events for youth in Western Missouri. The Youth Action Council will form it’s own identity, and agree on additional responsibilities, if any, other than those already determined.

Who will be on the Youth Action Council?
Applications are open to all youth in the diocese grades 7 – 12. Applications are open to youth who are actively involved in their local congregation’s youth program, and regularly worship in their home congregation. Chaperone Membership is open to adults who currently work with youth in their local congregation and meet the Diocese of West Missouri requirements under the Safeguarding God’s Children Guidelines.

What will the Youth Action Council do?
The Youth Action Council will be the planning body for diocesan youth events, implementing new programs, as well as offering direction for the continuation and improvement of events and programs. Youth Action Council members will be asked to attend two scheduled planning meetings and two annual Youth Action Council Weekend Retreats. Although the Youth Action Council does not plan provincial and national events, members will help organize trips to these events.

What else will Youth Action Council members do?
Two members of the Youth Action Council, and an adult, from our diocese are invited to gather once a year at the Province VII event to discuss youth programs in their diocese. This event provides a support network for sharing ideas, concerns, and resources. Youth attending from the Diocese of West Missouri will be Youth Action Council members chosen by their council peers.

Happening

What IS Happening?
Happening is for those who are in 9 -12th grade who are looking to deepen their relationship with God, or renew it, or just discuss how real-world issues affect their spirituality. Get your application in soon, Happening is only twice a year and it fills up fast! For more info, click here for the Diocesean informational letter.

Who may attend?
Any baptized Christian in 9-12th grade may attend Happening. Adults who are involved in youth ministry are also encouraged to attend. Not more than 4 youth and/or 2 adults from the same parish may attend.

What is the Registration Policy?
Happening operates on a First come—First served basis. Completed applications forms
and registration fees are accepted in the order they are received until the Happening is full, and/or the deadline date is reached.

What is the Registration Procedure?
The completed application (note: with either a youth minister or clergy signature),
Medical Relsease/Emergency Contact form, and registration fee can be mailed to:

Happening Registrar, Kim Snodgrass
P.O. Box 596, Carthage, MO 64836

Note: Please make checks are payable to Diocese of West Missouri, Memo: Happening.
What if I cancel?

If you call at least two weeks prior to Happening, we will refund your registration fee minus a $25.00 processing fee. If you do not call and cancel, there is no refund.

What if I need a Scholarship?
If you need a scholarship to attend Happening, please contact Kim Snodgrass, Happening Registrar at (417) 793-0780. A separate application will be mailed to you immediately.

Where and When are the Happenings?
Happenings take place two times a year at parishes within our diocese. The weekend
begins on Friday evening at 6 p.m. We cannot start without you! Happening is over
Sunday afternoon at 5 p.m. after closing Eucharist. All Happeners must stay the entire weekend.