It's On!

I'm going to make a serious effort (with some assistance) to get you a blog every week.  I have some fantastic Youth who will be helping me out by providing a few posts of their own.  We'll try and be sure to do special posts when we're away (Youth Annual Conference, Youtheology, Mission trip, etc.).  Please be sure to stay tuned for our posts!

Here's what's coming up for the Youth:
today we had a picnic at the park, played frisbee, some baseball and tossed the football a bit too.  We had a new chaperone (Walt Thomas) join us.  He has some great ideas for future Youth activities.

Next week (April 29th) we'll be going rollerskating.

Here's a little devotional for you to ponder.  It's from the devotional journal "God is in the Small Stuff".

This is real love.  It is not that we loved God, but that he loved us. . .  1 John 4:10

The only love that is completely other centered is called agape love.  This is love of the highest order.  When we love with agape love, we desire the best for the people we love.  We are even able to love those who are unlovable.
We are capable of agape love only to the extent that we give the details of our lives over to God and allow Him to work in us.  But even before that can happen, we must realize that God loves us and that He can only love us with this kind of love.  God's love is never self-centered, and God's love is always sacrifical.  While we were enemies of God, He loved us.  When we ran from God, He loved us.  And He loved us so much that He sacrificed the Son He loved most so that we could experience eternal life.
Love is the essence of God.  Love is what motivates Him to do what He does for us -- down to the last detail -- even when we don't love him in return.  Knowing that should give tremendous meaning to our lives.
Whenever you feel insignificant, remember how important you are to God.
Love yourself as the unique individual God created you to be -- nothing more, nothing less.
God does not help us because we deserve it; He helps us because He loves us.
Love isn't an option. We are commanded by God to love others.
Never confuse love with lust.
Loving God is the greatest thing you can do.

Take a few minutes this week to spend with the Lord - it could be while driving, maybe in the shower, before you go to sleep at night or when you first wake up in the morning.  Think about how much He loves you, the blessings He has given you.  His love isn't something you earn or something you deserve - He loves you no matter what (the good, bad and the ugly).  Don't forget to thank Him!

Guns, Knives, Theft, Drugs, Fighting.

Each day there is a headline screaming to us about some awful thing a teenager has done. There may be some kids out there doing awful things, but please direct your attention to the really fabulous things that our Youth are doing. We have a group of really amazing young people. Sure we have Honor Roll kids. We certainly have musically talented kids. We have athletic kids and theatrical kids. We have a Youth who is considering ministry as a vocation. We have kids in scouts and kids who are artistic. Many of our kids have jobs and are good employees.

But did you know our kids not only commit to, but follow through on doing a Mission a Month? Our kids have busy, hectic schedules -- they could easily choose to spend that time relaxing or having fun. Yet they choose to dedicate themselves to doing good things for God. They haven't been forced, they aren't getting a prize. In fact, it was their idea.

So what do they do on the other weeks when they aren't doing a Mission? They have one week out of the month they devote to fundraising to pay for those Missions. That's AT LEAST one fundraiser. Sometimes they have several in a month - especially in a year where we will be traveling for our Mission. We do some fundraisers around the church, like collecting Our Family labels, aluminum cans, the cookie walk, dinners and maybe a brunch here and there. But we also work outside the church to raise money - that way we are not overly taxing the congregation financially.

We're not all work and no play - we have fun also. We may go to a movie, have a hayrack ride or go ice skating or maybe out for pizza. Sometimes we just hang out up on The Roof - which is what we call our Youth Room up on the 4th Floor.

Each Sunday you can look around and see Youth sitting in the Fusion service, then right after the sermon they stand up and walk out. What is that all about?? Darn kids - where are they all going?? The Youth are going to Sunday School class. While most everyone else is getting ready to leave - our kids have signed up for Sunday School in addition to Sunday Service. Our amazing parents and adult sponsors will usually have something for us to eat for lunch - because after all we are talking about teenagers. They seriously like to eat!

How do you find out more about what these amazing, headline defying Youth are doing? We are all about technology. We e-mail, text, there's a facebook page, a blog and we have a spot on the website. We'll tell you all about our activities during Youth Moment at each service once a month. Sometimes we even go old school and hang flyers around the church. Pretty soon we'll be telling you about the new Confirmation Class that's starting or the Bible Study that's meeting. So check out what we're doing!

Camp Fontanelle BBQ and GaGa ball

Yesterday we went to Camp Fontanelle for their annual service, BBQ fundraiser and the second annual GaGa tournament.  We were a little short on players and had to recruit a couple of our daring chaperones to have enough for a team.  While we didn't win - we did pretty darn good.  I think if we practiced a bit as a team rather than as individuals, we'd do much better next year.  Darn!  Did I say practice?  Hmm, that probably means that we'll have to work something out to practice (and get really fabulous) for next years tournament.

This Sunday we're off this weekend for Youth Group and we will be having our YEC elections.  The term runs from school year to school year.  The positions are:  President, Vice-President, Secretary, Treasurer, Senior High Representative, Jr. High Representative, YAC Senior High Representative, YAC Jr. High Representative.  I will be starting a few appointed positions this year also.  I would like the Youth to prayerfully consider their ability to serve in one of these positions and e-mail me by Friday (September 24th) with what position they'd like to run for.  We will then have a ballot election after Fusion, before 11:00 service up in the Youth Room.  The results will be e-mailed out later that day.  If you are unable to come on Sunday and would still like to vote - I will send an e-mail ballot and you can return it by e-mail or phone call.  I know some of you work or have activities that may keep you away.  Your vote is important and I want to be sure everyone has input.  I'll be e-mailing "job descriptions" soon.  If there is something you have an interest in or a talent for, that you'd like to be able to do (aka Spencer the musical unicycle rider) - please be sure and let me know.  You all have so many amazing talents!

Last work day

Today was our last work day. We started the day off with an informal service. The theme was Ephesians 4:32.  About forgiveness - not only forgiveness of our sins, but forgiving others.  There was a piano, bongo and tamourine available - so we had music at our service also!  We worked like crazy again - today we spread mulch down paths, then cleared more dead trees to run through the chipper to make more mulch - then we used that up too! We finished building shelves in the craft room. The lodge received a little sprucing up with scraping and painting the window and door trim. We were cut short of a couple windows and doors by a big downpour. Happily the weather held off until after we were about done. We weren't able to go swimming or play laser tag today because of the rain. All the girls had their hair french braided - and a couple of the guys! We had a great evening devotion and talked lots about prayer - for ourselves when times are so tough - but also prayer for others.  The main point was Hebrews 13:5b. "Never will I leave you, Never will I forsake you." And Psalm 23.  This was Michaela's last Youth Mission trip as a Youth. (I fully expect she will take other mission trips and may someday be a chaperone on a Youth Mission trip.  We all prayed for great experiences for her in college and we send her with our love and support.  It's really hard for Priscilla and I when our babies leave the nest - so tears have been shed. Tomorrow we come home. The trip was quick, but productive. Thanks for supporting us on our mission, we really appreciate all the support from our wonderful volunteer chaperones, parents and everyon who helped financially to send us on the mission. Without all of you - none of this is possible.

First day

We reached Camp Fontanelle and promptly started to work.  We had a list of projects for a week and we have seriously knocked out a large chunk of that work already.  Our kids are amazing!!!  We have built shelves, weeded and mulched flower beds, built bunny fencing, set posts in cement, pulled old fence posts and chipped a huge wood pile.  Today we have more shelves to build, painting and yardwork to do.  We're hoping the rain holds off!  Last night we had a campfire and completely polished off the s'more supplies!  Our devotions last night were about how God loves us, no matter what and he forgives us when we mess up. Psalm 139.  We'll post again soon - we're getting ready for church.  Miss you all - wish you were here!

almost, almost, almost!

Sheesh!  It's almost time to go on the Mission Trip!  I'm still frantically trying to get everything ready.  Wow is there still a lot to do!!  Permission packets went out in an e-mail today and some of the kids took them home also.  Be sure and look for them.  I need them by Saturday morning when we take off.

I also sent out packing lists.  Please let me know if you have any questions about the list, what to pack, what's going on, where in the world we're going, etc. etc.  Please be sure and bring a bible.  I am putting together devotions and I'll be giving you scripture to look up.  If you don't have a bible - don't sweat it, we can always find one for you.

We have had some really lovely donations for snacks.  I'll be putting Maddy to work baking some cookies too.  So at least we won't go hungry!

Mission Trip Meeting

Well, we were supposed to have a Mission Trip Meeting today - but we were Graduation Partied out aka too many people are out of town and busy with Graduation Parties.  Darn.  But Congratulations on all who graduated this year!  What a fantastic accomplishment!  (Michaela and Nate - I'm really proud of you two!)

I'll be rescheduling that Mission Meeting.  It was probably a blessing in disguise because I'll be getting more information this week.

So far we have: Michaela, Jacob, Connor, McKenzie, Matt, Maddy, Tyler, Paige, Joslyn, Chandler, Spencer, Dustin, Katie and Charlotte going.  I'm sure there's more Youth wanting to go that I either haven't written down or they just haven't had a chance to let me know for sure yet.

We still really, really need chaperones - in particular men who can spend the night and keep those boys out of mischief. 

We'll be out there over a weekend, so if anyone would like to come out and work with us - we'd love to have you!  There is a special invitation to all the kids getting ready to enter 7th grade in the fall.  You are welcome and encouraged to come out and spend even part of a day with us or even come in the evening to share devotions with us.  We're really excited to have you join our group and this is a really good way for everyone to get to know each other.  Just give Kristin a call to work something out.

check out the Camp Fontanelle website:  http://www.campfontanelle.com/
I can't say enough good things about the fabulous, dedicated staff there.  You'll be seeing more about them towards the end of the month.