AFFIRM 2020

AFFIRM 2020 went VIRTUAL!!!!  We call it E-FFIRM!!!

E-FFIRM was held on Saturday, June 13, 2020

Check out social media with the following hashtags:  #CHOSEN     #EFFIRM2020

We held 3 main sessions for EFFIRM 2020:  Morning Watch (a video premier), Small Groups, and Worship (a video premier).  To see Morning Watch and Worship, please see the videos below.  Below the videos, check out the schedule we followed on that Saturday.

Effirm 2020 - Morning Watch

Effirm 2020 - Worship

The Group Time in the afternoon will only be for the registered participants.   A Zoom link will be sent to the participants on Friday, June 12, at 10:00am EDT / 9:00am CDT.

The format for E-FFIRM (June 13, 2020) is as follows:

• 10-11AM EDT – Morning Gathering
  • Welcome – Bishop Strickland, Pr. Michael, Jonathan, Jenn
  • SESLYO Announcements
  • Camp Songs – SESLYO
  • Morning Vesper – Bishop Strickland
  • Community Video Extravaganza
  • Dismissal

• 130-3PM EDT – Group Time
  • Middle School
  • High School 
  • We will be grouping folks into close grade ranges, keeping in mind that age and grade factors into the comfort level of our youth and with whom they would be comfortable sharing in conversation.

• 8-8:45PM EDT – Worship
  • Details TBD – Pr Ed, Pr Katherine and Worshiptivity Team

WHAT ABOUT T-SHIRTS???!!!???!!!  Well, here's your answer...

Since we do not have a registration cost this year, and since we will not have an easy way to distribute shirts, we are asking that everyone click the link below to order their own shirts.  Shirts and Hoodies are available.

Here is the order form link - (We are sorry, but we are unable to order any more t-shirts or hoodies at this time.)

We have a great description about what AFFIRM is...it's at the bottom off this page.  But in this 2020 pandemic, we have had to make a very challenging decision:  to forego AFFIRM 2020.   Please read this message from the AFFIRM Admin team and watch the accompanying video to help better understand why we made this decision.  Peace.

A Pastoral Message about AFFIRM 2020

Check out this video, and then read below for more information: 

In this time of uncertainty, we all are struggling with how to move forward with ministry.   We are coming up with creative ways to live out being CHOSEN by God to love the world and share the Good News of Jesus Christ.

AFFIRM 2020 is no exception.    

In consultation with the AFFIRM Admin staff and the synod staff, we have made the decision to forego Affirm 2020.  What does that mean? Well, in short, we will not be gathering in person in June for Affirm. 

We know.  This hurts.   This is NOT what we had in mind.  And yet, in a certain way, NOT gathering in person is a very loving thing.   We want people to be healthy and that means continuing to do ministry in ways that are unique in this time of challenge.

And so, we want to invite all of you to help us come up with creative ways of expressing how we are a CHOSEN people, called by God…   Our theme for AFFIRM 2020 is “CHOSEN.” Note the period (.) at the end of that sentence. We are confident that God chooses us for good in this world.  We thank our SESLYO board for coming up with this theme, and the accompanying verses: John 15:16-17 – “You did not choose me but I chose you. And I appointed you to go and bear fruit, fruit that will last, so that the Father will give you whatever you ask him in my name. 17 I am giving you these commands so that you may love one another.”

So, how do we live out this LOVE?   Well, that’s where we need YOU!  We will be holding 5 Zoom calls over the next few weeks to share your sorrows or laments or worries, but also, we would love to hear your thoughts about how to look forward to being God’s CHOSEN today, where you are, and to get excited about what AFFIRM 2021 might look like!  And, as a show of love and support for our youth, Bishop Kevin Strickland has committed to joining us for these Zoom sessions.

So, to sign up for a Zoom session with Bishop Strickland and our Affirm leaders, we need you to click here: "ZOOM SESSION SIGN-UP".

Here are the session dates / times:

• Wednesday, April 8, 4:30pm EST
• Monday, April 13, 4:30pm EST
• Monday, April 20, 4:30pm EST
• Monday, April 27, 4:30pm EST
• Monday, May 4, 5:30pm EST

We won’t have a limit on the number of folks per call, so be assured that if you sign up you will be registered.  You will get an email 2 days before the zoom call as your reminder to join us.  We are sending these links out by email for security purposes. Pr. Michael Jannett (Assistant to the Bishop for Formation and Communication) will be hosting these meetings to make sure they are safe and secure.

Please keep our AFFIRM community in your prayers.  This is a time to just feel what you need to feel.   God is big enough to endure this struggle of ours, but at this time, we sit in the wilderness, hopeful for a new day, a new dawning…a reminder that we are Easter people…confident that Jesus enters our darkness with us…and has overcome.

For the folks who have already registered, we will begin processing refunds.  Please contact Pr. Michael Jannett (mjannett@elca-ses.org) if you have not received a refund by June 1.

Peace!  Be well.