ADULT MINISTRIES
YOUTH AND YOUNG
YYAM
T H E W H EAT
OCTOBER 2009
ACOLTYE FESTIVAL
INSIDE THIS ISSUE:
The 2009 Acolyte Festival
ACOLYTE FESTIV- 1 is now history and what an
VAL
amazing time it was! 50+ aco-
lytes from 9 different churches
YOUTH CONVEN- 1
TION
converged on Christ Cathedral
to make this event a monumen-
tal success. The festival ran
PROVINCE VII 2
YOUTH NETWORK August 22nd and 23rd, a Satur-
day and Sunday.
WESTERN KANSA-
On Saturday the acolytes
2
SAS YOUTH BLOG were welcomed by Bishop Ad-
ams who told us that his first
experience within the Episcopal
Church was as an acolyte and
that the ministry of the acolyte
is immensely important to the
Church.
The acolytes of all ages
participated in the Acolyte
Olympics whose games ranged
from relays to liturgical knowl-
edge. Each team was compet-
ing for the rights to be the first
SPECIAL POINTS
OF INTEREST:
• Youth Convention
YOUTH CONVENTION
• Youth Blog
A few weeks ago YYAM
held the Annual Youth Conven-
tion again this year at Camp
Haven. The convention’s
theme was ‘The Biggest Loser’
and three separate talks were
given throughout the weekend.
Saturday was filled with
food, swimming, food, a relay
race, food, the talks, food, a
VOLUME, 2 ISSUE 7
H A RV ES T
Serving the Young People of the Diocese of
Western Kansas
church to have their name en-
graved on the attached plaque
and to display the trophy until
the next Acolyte Festival.
This years winner was St.
Anne’s Episcopal Church in
McPherson! Congratulations!
After the Olympics the
youth took in workshops de-
signed to help further their aco-
lyte skills. There were five
workshops and the youth were
able to choose three of them.
Acolyting 101 was led by
The Rev. Georgia Decker, Walk
the Walk was led by The Rev.
Randy McIntosh, Liturgical
Lingo was led by The Rev.
Canon Jim Cox, Holy Smoke
was led by Jennifer Favre, and
the Cathedral Tour was led by
both Pat Wilkinson and Jo
Reed.
campfire, food, a movie, and
more food. The Rev. Mark Cow-
ell celebrated the Eucharist
Saturday night.
On Sunday morning the
youth voted on their representa-
tives to Diocesan Convention.
This year the Youth Delegates
are Jillian Martin (Sts. Mary &
Martha) and Gage French
Sunday morning the aco-
lytes vested and processed into
Christ Cathedral with their
church banners held high. The
acolytes sat in the choir area as
Bishop Adams presided over a
Solemn High Mass.
Many thanks to our work-
shop leaders, to the Episcopal
Church Women of the diocese
for their financial support, to
Dean Jones and the good peo-
ple of Christ Cathedral for allow-
ing us the use of their facilities,
to Bishop Adams for his support
and presence, and to all the
acolytes and leaders who at-
tended this
event.
(Grace). Our Alternates are
Gabriel Cowell (Sts. Mary & Mar-
tha) and Sadie Pile (St. Thomas).
We were blessed with an
attendance of more than 20
youth and we hope to see all of
them again at our next event!
 VOLUME, 2 ISSUE 7 Page 2

PROVINCE VII YOUTH NETWORK

October 25-27 your dioce-
san representatives to the
Province VII Youth Network
traveled to Little Rock, Arkan-
sas to meet with other youth
representatives from the 12
diocese in our province.
We met together on Friday
to discuss our individual
youth ministries. We shared
our calendar of past and
future events, we shared our
triumphs, and we shared our
challenges. Afterward we
brainstormed what this net-
work can do for the 12 dio-
cese in Province VII.
On Saturday we went to
the Heifer Project, a humani-
tarian organization, and met
with Bishop Benfield and
some of the youth of Arkan-
sas. Later that day we broke
out into smaller groups to
discuss issues of communi-
cation and initiative.
On Sunday we attended
Christ Church in Little Rock
and then flew home.
The purpose of the Prov-
ince VII Youth Network is to
provide resources and en-
couragement to the youth
ministries of Province VII.
For more information
about the province check out
our blog:
www.westernkansasyouth.
blogspot.com

WESTERN KANSAS YOUTH BLOG

In every business, institution, right away is a blog. We now

family, and friendship there is one
component that is the most impor-
tant and most difficult, communi-
cation. Communication is the key
to effective ministry for without
communication we can’t invite
people to events, we can’t have
meaningful discussions, we can’t
even spread the Gospel!
One of the break-out sessions
at the Province VII Youth Network
meeting (see above) was on com-
munication and it was led by Ewart
Jones from the Diocese of Texas.
Ewart gave all sorts of ideas for
communication and of all of them
the idea that can be implemented
have a blog and it will be up-
dated frequently with thoughts,
upcoming events, Episcopal
education, Christian formation, Pray for the
and other good stuff. Annual Diocesan
Please visit our new blog
Convention
and bookmark it. Check it of-
ten for updates. October 16 and
17 in Salina
www.westernkansasyouth.blog
spot.com
 VOLUME, 2 ISSUE 7
PRAYER FOR THE DIOCESAN CONVENTION
Almighty and everliving
God, source of all wisdom
and understanding, be
present with those who
take counsel in Salina for
the renewal and mission
of your Church in Western
Kansas. Teach us in all
things to seek first your
honor and glory. Guide
us to perceive what is
right, and grant us both
the courage to pursue it
and the grace to accom-
plish it; through Jesus
Christ our Lord. Amen.
YOUTH AND YOUNG ADULT
MINISTRIES
YYAM
Contact Info:
Andy Hook, Communications
Phone: (620) 662-8024
Email: grace.youth@sbcglobal.net
Page 3
Book of Common Prayer, The Youth and Young Adult Minis-
page 818 tries of the Episcopal Diocese of
Western Kansas is comprised of
clergy and laity from around the
diocese.
Current Members:
The Rev. Mark Cowell, Sts. Mary
& Martha of Bethany, Larned
The Rev. Christine Lampe, St.
Thomas, Garden City
The Rev. Michael Milliken, Grace,
Hutchinson
The Rev. Joel Galvaglia-
Galvaglia-Maiorano,
Hays Medical Center
The Rev. Dennis Zimmerman, St.
Cornelius, Dodge City
Karen Zimmerman, St. Cornelius,
Dodge City
Michelle Ramirez, St. Thomas,
Garden City
Nancy French, Grace, Hutchinson
Gage French, Grace, Hutchinson
Gabriel Cowell, Sts. Mary & Mar-
tha, Larned
Logan Van Horn, Sts. Mary &
Martha, Larned
Andy Hook, Grace, Hutchinson
If you are interested in joining us
in ministering to the needs of the
youth of the Diocese of Western
Kansas, please contact Father
Cowell at
m_a_cowell@yahoo.com