My Life in Christ
Youth Conference
July 13-19, 2009 ~ Chicago, IL ~ Ages 15-30
Literature [Updated!]
| Worship Together! ~ Experience Amazing Talks! ~ Build Life-long Friendships! ~ Participate in Exciting Events and Adventures! ~ Come Away Forever Changed!
We are excited to announce the 9th annual My Life in Christ Youth Conference, hosted this year by St. Sophia’s Bulgarian Orthodox Church in Des Plaines (near Chicago), IL. This will be an inspiring and challenging week, as we work together getting to know ourselves and our faith through prayer, instruction, experience and sharing the week with approximately 70 of our peers. Speakers and discussion groups will challenge us to deepen our understanding and active participation in the Christian life, with many activities and friendships, new and old fulfilling the happiness of the week.
His Eminence, Metropolitan Joseph will open the conference and be with us throughout the week!
The daily schedule includes:
Other great happenings:
The culmination of the conference comes on the final weekend, when we will join the Bulgarian Diocese’s Annual Convention for a festive dinner dance Saturday night, and a joyous hierarchical Divine Liturgy on Sunday. The conference includes a wide range of ages; together we form a real community, helping, serving, and learning from one another.
We hope to see you all there!!
----------------------------------------------------- Wondering what's it really like? Why you should come? Read about one participant's experience last year: July 2008 Dear Friends,
The 2008 My Life in Christ Youth Conference has come and passed! So many wonderful memories and relationships made, and lessons learned! This year we had a wonderful group of 65 participants ranging in age from around 15 to around 30. Participants came from all over the country and we even had two brave souls from the Netherlands. Every year the conference brings an amazing group of pious youth together to orient us back to that which is of vital importance: our lives in Christ. This year’s conference was specifically themed “The Forgotten Medicine: Freedom to Change,” where we discussed, at great lengths, the topics of repentance and confession. Also, His Eminence led us in a monumental discussion on Sexuality, Relationships and Marriage, which, from the perspective of those of us who were present, was incredibly helpful and inspiring.
I would like to describe a particular moment at the youth conference in order to give you a sense of the fellowship and camaraderie that we experienced: It was late Wednesday night, and we were all eating some snacks in the conference center. All of the young people at the conference came from different backgrounds and interests (some attending school in various disciplines and others in the work force already); but everyone gathered together in song and laughter late into the night. Small groups of friends (both new and old) struck up various familiar songs and others participated in heart-felt discussion and mutual encouragement. The energy was potent and electric, and we were all striving to grasp every moment, knowing the value and rarity of such events. Thus, another year passes, and we are full of grace and blessing and new lessons to be put into practice. We are ready to embark upon a new year in continuation of our lives in the world, where God-willing we will have the opportunity to encourage each other through prayer, and frequent communication.
|
