Information  for Parents

Chrysalis Statement of Purpose

It is the intention of the Chrysalis experience to offer the young person the opportunity, and to encourage them, to seek a dynamic friendship with God through Christ.  Chrysalis declares the Gospel message of Jesus as the Christ who has come to offer that friendship to us.   It declares the presence of this Christ through the fellowship of the community bound together by the Holy Spirit.  In that community, each young person is encouraged to grow toward being the unique person he/she was created to be and to grow in the service of Christ by serving one another and the world around them.   This dynamic spiritual growth involves dying to the old self and by the gift of faith, rising to the new self in Christ. 

• Day One builds toward a service of reconciliation with God in which one symbolically dies with Christ by letting go of all that stands between oneself and God.

• Day Two focuses on the rising with Christ with the hope that each person can have a new life, as Christ rose on Easter morning.  The goal is to build a community of love and worship leading up to the encounter with Christ in Holy Communion.

• Day Three is centered on the love of God which empowers each person to serve, going forth to be Christ in the world.   As a Christian increases in faith and hope, each seeks ways of loving in the name of Christ. 

The symbol of caterpillar-chrysalis-butterfly is used to represent the death, resurrection and new life found in Christ.  Chrysalis is the cocoon state of the butterfly.  It is the intention of Chrysalis for each person to experience the living Christ, through worship, scripture, systematic teaching and the living Christian community.  It is designed to encourage the young person to become intentional and more mature about living out his/her faith in God through Christ by the power of the Holy Spirit. The Christian pilgrimage is one of continually dying to the old self and rising to the new self in Christ.  This pilgrimage is a gift of faith and of grand and of hope.  It is the gift of faith which brings us to a friendship with God.  It is the gift of grace which empowers us to love---to love ourselves and others and ultimately God.  It is the gift of hope which  gives us a sense of what is possible for God to do in our lives and in our world.  It is the goal of Chrysalis to help make each of these gifts a reality. 

The Chrysalis Weekend

The Chrysalis Weekend is a powerful and moving experience in the sense that is puts youth in touch with the transforming power of God's love, which frees them to see and live in a whole new way. The new way is God's way of love. Whether the impact of the weekend on your son/daughter’s life is dramatic or subtle, you can be sure that God has been at work in their life when the weekend is over.  Dozens of youth and adults have been praying for your son/daughter and will continue to pray for him throughout the weekend.  He/she will hear many informative and inspirational speakers and will have many powerful experiences of God’s love during the weekend.  We are very much aware, however, that the greatest impact God will ever make in the life of your son/daughter has been and will be made through YOU. 

Aside from Jesus, you are the one who has prayed the most, loved the most and sacrificed the most for your child and it is your encouragement that will secure a lasting impact from the weekend.  Please continue to encourage them to continue growing through Bible study, prayer, daily devotions and involvement in a reunion group and their church.

Also, there are some special ways in which you can support your son/daughter during and after the weekend.

• On the day of your son/daughter’s arrival you are invited to join us for Sponsors' Hour .  This is a very special service where we pray over each youth by name. Following the Sponsors' Hour there will be a time for parents who may have questions to talk to a member of the Chrysalis leadership, we will be happy to answer any questions that you may have.

• On Sunday your son/daughter's Chrysalis experience ends with a Closing service that begins at 4:00 pm before they leave. Your son/daughter will appreciate your participation in this service, and we encourage you to attend. 

• The final way you can help support your son/daughter is to encourage them to join a reunion or spiritual support group after the weekend. The group is made up of others who have attended a Chrysalis weekend, as well as other interested youth. This group helps your son/daughter continue their spiritual growth. 

We appreciate your son/daughter's willingness to participate in the Chrysalis Weekend. If you have any question please feel free to contact us at seflchrysalis@gmail.com.