Teen SOYO

Teen SOYO Coordinator: Mary Bonnici - Email
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The Teen SOYO Movement seeks to integrate each young person fully into the Total life of the Church. SOYO brings its members to a deeper devotion to the Holy Orthodox Church, its faith, canons and worship. Teen SOYO creates and fosters ministries to encourage Members to commit themselves to living the Orthodox Faith daily.

The combination of Worship, Witness, Service and Fellowship are the natural expressions of that commitment. We define these expressions as follows:
  • WORSHIP ‐ Corporate worship is the sacramental expression of and participation in Holy Tradition, and is the indispensable foundation of Teen SOYO at all levels. Upon this foundation is a cultivation of daily personal prayer life and reading of Holy Scripture.
  • WITNESS ‐ Christ calls us to be His witness in the world. Teen SOYO must enable fellow Members to express their faith for themselves and to others in order to be true witnesses to Christ and the Orthodox Faith.
  • SERVICE ‐ Christ came not to be served, but to serve. Teen SOYO seeks to emulate Christ in this and honors and glorifies God by loving and serving mankind in the name of Jesus Christ, using our God‐given gifts and talents.
  • FELLOWSHIP ‐ The Holy Trinity is the perfect model of fellowship; the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit share perfect communion and exist in perfect love as a community. By gathering together in fellowship, and by showing love for one another in Christ, we emulate the life of the Holy Trinity in our daily life.
The ultimate goal of Teen SOYO is to fully integrate each teen into the full life of the Church, to create a safe and nurturing environment for Teenagers to grow in Christ, and to form spiritual and social bonds between each individual so that a profound and life giving relationship with Jesus Christ and His Holy Church can be realized.
Source: https://teensoyo.org/our-mission/
Teen SOYO at St. John's is open to all youth 6th grade to age 19. 

Upcoming Events

​5/20 – Bring a friend to vespers, fellowship & fire pit

Every Saturday, beginning 5/6 to 6/17 starting 4:30pm before vespers - Bible Bowl Study/Practice!

6/18-30 – Camp Session 1 @AV camp

6/28-7/2 - Parish Life Conference/Bible Bowl/ Oratorical
Please let me know if your teens plan to attend the PLC following camp - I'll be their advisor for the weekend and provide transportation back to York! Schedule includes Oratorical, Bible Bowl and a Day of Service project in Pittsburgh at St. Moses the Black mission & Neighborhood Resilience Project! A great opportunity to grow orthodox friendships and networks!
Bible bowl!
Oratorical!
Schedule!

7/9, 7/23, 8/7 - Teen girl book club/coffee shop, including Jaimelee & Elaine.  Book (TBD).
We'll hold our 2nd teen girl book club this summer meeting three times following church on Sunday (at a nearby coffee shop). Jaimelee Hanna and Elaine Atherholt will also join again this year. Book TBD. Send us your suggestions!

7/15 - Off the streets #1
Off the streets is a Lancaster not-for-profit who help families experiencing homelessness finding housing. Our teens volunteer to move donated furniture on move in days on a Saturday 9am till 11am.

7/30 - 8/3 - Vacation Church School @ St. John Chrysostom

8/12 - Off the streets #2

8/20 - Overnight camping trip. Leave after church. Return Monday morning.  There was great enthusiasm for our recent hike & discussion with Fr. David and proposals to extend it and camp overnight. Location TBD. A great way to end summer and get ready for back to school.