It's the final countdown! APYA's Week Eight

It's our last week of our amazing stint at Chautauqua Institution, but we're still going strong! Here's the Week Eight rundown:

Monday 8/13 - "What's Interfaith All About? Help build the APYA manifesto!" We'll construct a mission statement of sorts expressing what APYA has meant to us and what we want it to become. Hurlbut Church, 8 p.m.

Tuesday 8/14 - Porch Chat on Pastor Paul's Porch (across from Hurlbut Church), 8 p.m.

Wednesday 8/15 - "Taking Home Chautauqua" We'll share what we've learned at Chautauqua and how we can translate it into a hometown, homegrown experience. Hurlbut Church, 7 p.m.

Thursday 8/16 - Porch Chat on Pastor Paul's Porch (across from Hurlbut Church), 8 p.m.

Friday 8/17 - Muslim Jum'a prayer. All are welcome & no special dress is required. Ask our Muslim coordinators questions and observe or participate in the Muslim noonday prayer. Hall of Christ, Q&A @ 12:30 p.m., service @ 1 p.m.

Join us for our week of "lasts." Email us (apyaci@gmail.com) with any questions! Hope to see you soon.

Favorite Moments of Week 6

As Chautauqua grappled with the consequences of being in the digital age and technology seeping into all aspects of our lives, APYA celebrated the sense of community that comes with sharing physical space at a time when our generation is criticized for doing everything online.

On Monday, we sharpened our Frisbee skills in Miller Park and made bracelets and prayer beads, thanks to Anna.

On Wednesday, we met at Bellinger and learned about MEMRI.org, which translates current news (that we don't hear about in the US) from countries in the Middle East, Africa, and Asia into Hebrew and English and checked out The Huffington Post's robust Religion section.

On Tuesday and Thursday, we had very lively discussions with Anne Foerst and Rachel Wagner about  personhood and embodiment in Christianity and the realm of artificial intelligence, German society, religious and virtual communities, and the simplified reality presented in video games. They each left our minds much invigorated.

We got to experience a special treat on Saturday. Michael Harvey led Havdallah, the ceremony that signifies the end of Shabbat, yesterday evening. He explained the rich symbolism in actions we performed and played lively songs to ensnare our senses and help us better understand the gift that is Shabbat.   

APYA Week 7 Events

The summer's flying by, but APYA's Week 7 is the busiest week yet.

Monday, August - Porch Chat, 8 p.m., Pastor Paul's porch

Tuesday, August - Vegetarian BBQ, 6:30 p.m., Hurlbut Church

Wednesday, August - Ethics with House, M.D., 8 p.m., Hurlbut Church

Thursday, August 9 - Porch Chat with Rabbi Lee Moore, 8 p.m., Everett Jewish Life Center

Friday, August 10 -  Jum'a Muslim prayer service, 12:30 p.m. Q&A / 1 p.m. service, Hall of Christ

Saturday, August 11 - Havdallah with Rabbi Lee Moore, 9 p.m. at the Fire Circle (toward Thunder Bridge)

Email apyaci@gmail.com with questions or if you'd like to be added to our email list.

Game Night!

 Our Monday activity was a great success when APYA took over the College club and led games like Jenga, Twister and card games!  Thanks to all who came!  It was a fantastic way to meet new members and hang out with our friends!!  Looking forward to more events like this one!!

Suffering & Knitting

Flashback to July 4th, a day full of festivities at Chautauqua and across the country, celebrating the courage and vision of a group of citizens who wanted a better life for themselves and demanded and took their rights. They made their share of mistakes along the way, and we live with some of them today, but where would we be if they had let their fear of making mistakes stop them.

On this Wednesday, we gathered at beautiful, serene Alumni Hall Porch with Kate Simmons, Creative Director of women4women-knitting4peace, to learn to knit. We were inspired by the vision and work of women4women, especially since it empowers the knitter to show his or her love and care for another in a tangible, useful way that transcends culture.

Tie Dye Day

On Monday, July 16th, we set up camp behind Connolly and tie dyed while listening to music and enjoying the beautiful weather and the gorgeous sky. One of my favorite parts of the evening (other than seeing everyone enjoying each other's company) was the ingenuity we saw when we ran out of dye, only to have Mike make more, as if the reality of running out of dye was unacceptable. Check out the pics!

Social Justice!

Tonight our APYA participants helped change the world.  With a great deal of enthusiasm and care, they participated in the growth of two organizations, "Project 6 Million" and "It Gets Better".  The participants wrote statements, pledging to do their best to eradicate discrimination and intolerance.  These statements will be submitted to Project6Million which will be transferred to a memorial, to be set up once 6 million statements are collected. 

In addition, the participants videotaped statements to be submitted to "It Gets Better", in order to encourage the LGBTQ community.

We are so proud to be able to perform acts of loving kindness in attempt to make the world a better place!

For more information on how you could submit statements for these organizations, contact APYACI@gmail.com! 
www.Project6million.org
www.itgetsbetter.org

What Brings You Joy?

Tonight at the Colonnade, a great group of participants gathered to sit, talk, and draw the things that bring them the most joy!  Four posters were created with a wide variety of drawings, words, and religious symbols, and by the end of the evening all four were covered.  Look for these to be displayed around Chautauqua!  Thanks to all who came and participated!
 -APYA

Week Three APYA Events

And we're back! This week's theme is Inspire. Commit. Act., and in that vein, we're presenting several collaborative activities.

Monday, July 9  - Poster-Making in the Plaza: What Brings You Joy? 8 p.m., Bestor Plaza

Tuesday, July 10- Porch Chat on Pastor Paul's Porch, 8 p.m. (for ages 16-22)


Wednesday, July 11 - What Time is It? Social Justice Time! Crafts, Videos, and Letters for a Better World. 7 p.m., Hurlbut Church (for ages 16-22)

Thursday, July 12 - Porch Chat on Pastor Paul's Porch, 8 p.m. (for ages 16-22)

Friday, July 13 - Jum'a Muslim Service, 12:30 p.m. Q&A/ 1 p.m. service


Shoot us an email at apyaci@gmail.com with any questions. 

Unique and United - July 2nd Program

This evening 15 young adults joined APYA together for our first event of Week 2 at Chautauqua at University Beach!  After short introductions and plans for the rest of the week, the participants stood in a circle for an icebreaker game!  One at a time, each participant tied yarn around their wrist, and before throwing it to another person, shared a unique story or attribute about themselves.  Soon we had a complicated web of yarn forming inside the circle that connected each one of us.  We learned that despite the fact that our religions may seem unique or unable to relate to one another, there are always attributes or parts of our faiths that are connected!  Each of us cut our yarn to make bracelets to remind ourselves and each other that despite the many differences in the world of religion, we are all connected!  Our icebreaker was followed by a great game of frisbee at University Beach with snacks and sodas and great conversation!  Looking forward to seeing everyone again this week!

-APYA

"Easy A" Movie Night

On Thursday night, we devoured a variety of snacks and watched "Easy A" in Hurlbut Church (thanks, Hurlbut!) with a discussion afterwards. For a comedy about high school drama, "Easy A" raised questions about religion, reputation, family & parenting, ethics, and friendship. Nikhat and Emily prepped some questions, and the group participants responded enthusiastically. Movie Night was the final APYA-exclusive event of Week 1 - a fun conclusion to our first week. We can't wait to see what Week 2 has in store.

Text Study & Motif Adaption June 27th

Tonight the APYA Coordinators were joined by inquisitive minds on the Alumni Hall Porch for a Text Study.  Based on the theme of the week at Chautauqua, Reclaiming the Bible in a Secular World, we chose to do a study on the Motif Adaption and intertexuality within Exodus 17:1-17 and Numbers 20:1-13.  It was a truly enlightening lesson!  The questions asked were intelligent and respectful, and everyone gained something from the experience!

Mike ready to dive into the text study

We had a great time playing a bit of interfaith volleyball at the Boys and Girls Club beach on Monday as a part of our first icebreaker activity night. The sky was magnificent. About 25 young adults attended, hailing from all over the world. (photo courtesy of Emily's very professional cell phone camera)

Week 2 APYA Events

Monday 7/2 - Icebreaker Games @ University Beach, 7 p.m. 

Tuesday 7/3 - Porch Chat w/ Oliver "Buzz" Thomas @ Pastor Paul's porch across from Hurlbut Church, 7 p.m.

Wednesday 7/4 - Discussion & Knitting: God's Role in Suffering and What You Can Do About It @ Alumni Porch, 6:30 p.m. 

Thursday 7/5 - Porch Chat w/ Yehezkel Landau @ Pastor Paul's porch across from Hurlbut Church, 8 p.m.

Friday 7/6 - Jum'a Muslim service @ the Hall of Christ, 12:30 p.m. Q & A; 1 p.m. service
                   and
                  Shabbat service at the Miller Bell Tower at 5 p.m. 


All are welcome to attend Friday's events, but events M-Th are young adult-focused.

As always, send any questions to apyaci@gmail.com. We look forward to seeing you! 

Week 1 APYA Events

Hello, everyone! Our remaining Week 1 events are as follows:

Wednesday 6/27 - Motif Adaption/Text Study of Torah at 7 p.m. on the Alumni porch

Thursday 6/28 - Movie Night & Discussion ("Easy A") at 7 p.m. at Hurlbut Church

Friday 6/29 - Jum'a Muslim service at the Hall of Christ, 12:30 p.m. Q&A; 1 p.m. service
                      and
                     Shabbat service at the Miller Bell Tower at 5 p.m.

Please email us (apyaci@gmail.com) with any questions! We hope to see you there.