Thinking About Working for God for a Living

Staff

Da Vita D. McCallister Associate Conference Minister for Youth and Young Adult Ministries 860.761.7115 davitam@ctucc.org

TAWFG Events

TAWFG Congregational Day Retreat Sept. 22, 9:00 am - 4:00 pm TAWFG Shepherd's Luncheon Sept. 25, 12:30 pm TAWFG Members' Retreat Jan. 4 - 6

TAWFG Resources

TAWFG Program Description: PDF Thinking About Working for God: Labels: PDF Thinking About Working for God: Interest Cards: PDF Resources for Thinking About Working for God Sunday 2011 (Word version): DOC Resources for Thinking About Working for God Sunday 2011 (PDF version): PDF

TAWFG is the young vocationers (13-21) program of the Connecticut Conference UCC. The primary aim of the TAWFG program is to create, nurture and sustain an environment within the Connecticut Conference where youth and young adults can freely explore a call to authorized ministry.

The program provides resources to three distinct groups; young vocationers, congregations with young vocationers and the Conference at large. The program has three components to serve each of these groups, based on the model created by the Fund for Theological Education,: Notice, Name and Nurture. The Conference at large is challenged to Notice youth and young adults who have the gifts for authorized ministry; while young vocationers are encouraged to Name their call, and congregations with young vocationers, in partnership with the conference, are called to Nurture vocational exploration.

Notice

Members of the Connecticut Conference at large may all participate in noticing and identifying youth and young adults with gifts who may be called into authorized ministry. The TAWFG program is designed to help these communities develop intentional strategies to accomplish this critical task.

During annual TAWFG Sundays, pastors may use Scriptural suggestions and other resources in developing a sermon which includes a specific "ask" about authorized ministry; they may invite persons in discernment to participate in worship, and offer a blessing for all those considering their life's vocation.

TAWFG participants will be recognized at Conference Annual Meetings.

Name

"Have you ever thought about working for God for a living?" That's the question, and it is being asked of young people at Silver Lake Conference Center, at Confirmation retreats, and at Conference youth events. Youth and young adults complete a card with information about how to contact them, and how to contact their home church and pastor.

Pastors receive a "Good News" letter informing them about the young person in their midst, and both the congregation and the young person are invited to join TAWFG.

As members, TAWFG vocationers and mentors participate in a Facebook group where they may consider their calling together. They gather face-to-face at the Conference Annual Meeting and at a Spring Retreat.

Nurture

The center for nurture of young vocationers is their home church. Those pastors are invited to semi-annual luncheons to share and receive tools and resources for encouraging vocational exploration. In addition, an annual TAWFG Congregational Day retreat offers workshops, worship, resource sharing and storytelling.