Dear youth ministry friends,

In this month, where colorful leaves dot our lawns and handprint turkeys adorn our walls, I have a very November-ish question: How does your organization show gratitude?

The concept of gratitude-sharing is not new, and we are trained at a young age to think in such a way. (“What do you say?” “Thank you!”) But how often do we model gratitude specifically in the way we spend our time? And then, of course, a second question is quick to follow: how often do we model this for our young people?

Service projects are one avenue for modeling gratitude, and […]

Kairos Gratitude

On May 8, 2025, the first cohort of participants in the Yale Divinity School Certificate in Youth Ministry Leadership program gathered for the first time in person. We worshiped. We broke bread together. We reminisced. We listened to speeches. We took a whole bunch of pictures. And, we honored the work we accomplished together, with all participants receiving a certificate of completion.

For me, it felt like the culmination of nearly three years of effort, dreaming, teaching, reading. Seeing our group gathered in one place was affirming and beautiful; it warmed my heart in ways I had neither anticipated nor […]

“Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good; his steadfast love endures forever.”

November is a time when we talk a lot about gratitude.  In this season of gratitude, we at YMI give thanks for all of those working to bring the love of God to our youth!  We are also grateful to all of those who have shared their knowledge and expertise with us over the years.  If you are looking for resources on gratitude for your youth ministry this month, Robert Emmons and Marc Afshar talk about cultivating a culture of gratitude, the benefits of gratitude, practices of gratitude […]

November 2025 News

Season of Gratitude

National Hunger and Homelessness Awareness Month

November is National Hunger and Homelessness Awareness Month. For those looking for resources to support youth struggling with these issues, see our resources here. Also, you can watch videos on homelessness, read a relevant Bible passage, and answer the reflection questions which are listed in Section 7 of Tending to the Mental Health of Adolescents here.

Community Service Project Ideas

Each Thanksgiving is an opportunity to teach youth and children how to be thankful. By showing […]

Chapter, Verse, and Season. A New Podcast from Yale Bible Study
We are pleased to announce the launch of “Chapter, Verse, and Season: A Lectionary Podcast from Yale Bible Study” on November 22, 2021. We are excited to open yet another avenue for communities, clergy, and laypeople to access the wide variety of expertise and creative thinking that the faculty of the Yale Divinity School has to offer.

According to Center for Continuing Education Director Joel Baden, “We wanted to give listeners an opportunity to overhear the kinds of conversations that take place in the halls of YDS – faculty from […]

November Resources

November is traditionally a time for giving thanks and this November, we are sharing resources on gratitude. Help your youth to express thanks and learn that gratitude is a way of life – and one that can lead to positive change in all facets of their lives. Start with the lesson on Building Space for Gratitude here.

Consider giving back to the wider community with service days or a mission trip. Start with our Teambuilding, Mission Trips, and Service resources here. You can also watch our videos on

Advent Resources
Looking for inspiration during Advent? We have several resources, including our Chapter, Verse, and Season Podcast (search Advent), INCARNATION — Fleshing Out the Bible’s Christmas Stories: An Online Yale Bible Study, and you can help your youth recognize joy in the light of other emotions at the Tuning In To Joy Lesson.

Chapter, Verse, and Season Podcast Anniversary
We are thrilled to be celebrating one year of our Chapter, Verse, and Season podcast! Each week, we give listeners the opportunity to overhear the kinds of conversations that take place in the halls of Yale […]