Merry Christmas!!

Merry Christmas from Cyberyouthgroup!! Even Santa takes his hat off for baby Jesus!

Youth group is taking a break until '07. Here are some important announcements in the meantime...

Secret Santas were assigned at our christmas party last week. There is a STRICT $10 limit on these gifts! Please have them ready to exchange immediately following the candlelight service on Dec. 17th. We will meet up in the chapel and swap gifts - it should be done in five minutes, so ask your families to wait for you.

Mission Trip Fund-Raiser - This friday night (15th) from 6-9 we are babysitting at church to raise money for our trip. If you are going on the trip, you are expected to be there (or let me know). If you aren't going on the trip, please consider coming out to support the group and have some fun with little kiddos (they're fun - trust me). Please RSVP to me by email - jsanderson@haddonfieldpres.org.

Special Event - Eryn Frederick is a missionary connected to our church, who lives and works in Guatemala. She is in the states and will be sharing some experiences with our church, for anyone who is interested. The event will take place in the parlor at 7:30 pm on the 19th (Tuesday). It is a busy season, but please consider coming out to hear fascinating stories from someone faithfully doing the Lord's work. Snacks will be served.

See you in '07!

Happy Birthday Jesus!

Most people think Christmas is all about the big guy, and I have no problem with him (or them - see photo). But cyberyouthgroup is all about the little guy!! So come celebrate the last youth group of the year with our Jesus Christmas Party...
When: December 10 (Sunday) - 6 - 8:30 pm.
Where: third floor youth lounge
What: Pizza, games, cookie making, secret santa, hot chocolate, christmas movies, good times.
Bring: $3 for pizza & cookie supplies.

2007 Mission Trip Update: Everyone planning on coming this summer needs to turn in a sign-up sheet and $50 deposit, ASAP. To get a sign-up sheet, email me - jsanderson@haddonfieldpres.org. Sign ups and check should be turned in to the church office.

Mission Trip Fundraising is already underway. We need all those signed up for the trip to come out for our Babysitting fundraiser - Friday night, Dec. 15th from 6-9 (yes, it is a rec. hall night - sorry). We will be babysitting kids while their parents shop on King's Highway. If you can come and help, RSVP to me - 429-1960, or by email (see address above).

See you Sunday!

Only Two Weeks...

...Of youth group left in 2006!! My oh my, where has the time gone...

THIS Sunday (the 3rd)- all youth groups meet at church, 6:00 -7:30 pm for our usual pizza and good times. Amy Concilio will be away this weekend doing some important stuff, so your fearless leaders this week will be Matt, Matt & Me!!

NEXT Sunday (the 10th) - Youth Group Christmas Party!! We will have hot chocolate, cookie making, christmas movies, secret santa, etc. etc. So put it on your calendar and get ready for a good time. This will be our last time together until 2007!

Senior highers remember - if you're going on this summer's mission trip, make sure you or someone in your family is at the meeting This Sunday at 12:15 in the chapel!

!Feliz Navidad!

Happy Turkey Day!!

Print this picture out for a special coloring page! You can even laminate them to make cool thanksgiving placemats! Just a little turkey-day treat from yours truly :)

This Sunday - no regular youth group. We need all hands on deck for the Advent Festival!! Two hours of hoagie eatin' greens hangin' wreath makin' carol singin' good times!! The party gets started about 5:30 and winds down about 7:00. Bring the whole family!

Also, remember - mission trip meeting December 3rd at 12:15 in the chapel. Anyone who wants to come on the trip must be there!

Until then, happy turkey day! Enjoy the Tryptophan!!

Going West

The destination for our 2007 senior-high mission trip is Pine Ridge, South Dakota - the reservation home of the Oglala Lakota Indians. Pine Ridge is a rural and beautiful prairie land, but its people have suffered decades of economic hardship and cultural prejudice. This summer, we have the chance to come alongside this remarkable community, to learn from them and to offer our help and support in Christ's name.

Our trip will focus not only on meeting physical needs, but also on building relationships and learning from our native hosts. The organization we are working with is called "Re-Member." they will provide us with a dormitory and food, tools and workspace to build bunkbeds for native kids, and opportunities to share in fellowship with the native community.

While there, we will visit beautiful natural areas like the badlands, and important historical sites such as the wounded knee memorial. And you've never seen a sunset until you've seen it on the South Dakota prairie!

The trip is scheduled for Saturday June 30th through Friday July 6th and is open to all students in grades 9-12. The cost per person (including airfare) will be about $800.00, but with fundraising efforts throughout the winter and spring, the out of pocket expenses for each person will be roughly $400. Please contact Jeremy if you need special financial assistance. We don't want money to be your deciding factor.

Below are some images of the reservation at Pine Ridge. If you are thinking of going on the trip, please take some time to ponder and pray over these images. I believe God will use this trip as much in our own lives as in the lives of those we go to serve...





Those interested in signing up for the trip should plan to attend a brief meeting after the 11:00 service on December 3rd, in the chapel.

Until then, "Hau Kola"!!

Christmas is coming, the geese are getting fat...

...and youth group is gearing up! Here are some updates:

-This Sunday immediately after the 11:00 service, all parents of current 8th-11th graders are invited to a meeting to discuss our Summer 2007 Senior High Mission Trip!! We will meet for about 15 minutes to discuss details and settle on dates. Bring your pocket calendar and let's start planning!

-6th, 7th and 8th graders - youth group this week will again be immediately after the 11:00 service, until 1:30. Be ready for some crazy good times with Amy and crew!! Bring $2 for Pizza lunch.

-9th-12th graders - we'll meet 6:00-7:30 at Jeremy's House

(you know, the big house next to the church). We will eat dinner (bring $2), enjoy a little QT, and do some planning for the Advent Festival coming up. Don't miss it!!

Speaking of which, mark your calendars now for Sunday, November 26th from 5:30-7:30 pm. The church Advent Festival needs our help! We'll be doing a skit, some fundraising, and other stuff. So plan on coming and look for updates.

See you Sunday!

Weekly Update

For those of you who came with us to Hollydell last Sunday for Whirlyball, you know this is a game we haven't seen the last of. We tied against the Woodbury youth group, but with Joey Watson on our team, I think we could own them in a rematch. Who's with me? Check out the (blurry) pics from our action-packed match up!

THIS SUNDAY (Nov. 5th): Ignore the incorrect information in the Messenger! Here's what's happening:

-6th, 7th & 8th graders - Candy Shuffle!! Come join Amy and crew RIGHT AFTER CHURCH on Sunday, up on the 3rd floor. Bring your halloween candy!! This is your chance to trade what you don't want, and finally snare that full-size Nestle Crunch bar you 've been craving. Even if you don't have any candy to trade, come join us - pizza lunch will be served, and we'll wrap up by 1:30 pm.

-9th Graders - Confirmation Class Hayride!! 4:45pm - Springdale Farms - Hayride, Bonfire, S'mores, 'nuff said.

-10th-12th Graders - No youth group this week. Spend your sunday relaxing, catching up on homework, calling all your friends to invite them to youth group next week, etc...

It's Not Whiffleball...

... It's Whirlyball!! A new sport that combines bumper-car and jai alai, all in a big ice rink! Thanks to Amy Concilio, our youth group is invited to join the youth from Woodbury Presbyterian Church, to test out our whirlyball skills (or should I say "skillz"?) this Sunday afternoon. All youth grades 6-12 are invited!

Details: meet at church at 3:15 this sunday. Bring $5 for admission. We will drive over to the Hollydell ice rink and meet up with the Woodbury group. After we play, we'll head back to church, and you can plan on being picked up there at 5:30.

Don't miss this chance to be the first Whirlyball champion on your block!

See you then.

It's Like a Big Mac!!

Our full-blown three-tier youth group met for the first time on Sunday night!! Not one, not two, but three separate layers of youth-groupy goodness!!
-Senior highers discussed divine intervention with a little help from Almighty Bruce (left).
-Amy and her junior highers had the youth lounge to themselves and their pizza.
-6th graders joined their fearless leaders for some games and good times of their own.
The whole night was one big tasty treat!! Now if I could just "Biggie-size" it...


Looking ahead to this Sunday...







What do you get when you mix teenagers, mexican food and a 6.2 mile walk? LET"S FIND OUT!! The YouthGroup Cropwalk is this Sunday Afternoon!! All youth and their families are invited to meet up at Salsarita's (next to Starbucks on King's Highway) for lunch at 1:15. Then we'll head to King's Court for the walk at about 1:45. If you plan to walk the whole thing, plan on getting picked up afterwards at about 4:15, or later, depending on how fast you walk!

Because of Cropwalk, there is NO regular youth group this week. Look for November/December calendars in the mail soon!

Gettin' It Done

So, last Sunday, I figured a handful of us would go knocking on doors and raise maybe a hundred dollars for Cropwalk. Instead, fourteen of you - in about an hour - raised a grand total of... wait for it...
$900.00!!

Think of all the people who will
receive food, and clothes, and medical care, and renewed hope because of your efforts. I'm so proud of you guys!! This is what Cyberyouthgroup is all about!!

And to prove just how proud I am, I kept my foolhardy promise - to eat whatever the winning team ordered me for dinner at Wendy's. Little did I know it would look like this...


Thanks a lot Emily, Meredith and Kathryn!! A little strawberry yoghurt and mandarin orange on top of a chilli baked potato, with salt, pepper and creamer (?) thrown in for flavor. I will never forget the smell!! Yes, it was painful. Yes, I experienced digestive issues for about twenty four hours. But yes, it was worth it!! (am I tough, or what?!)

THIS SUNDAY We will have regular youth group, 6-7:30 in the church. Bring $2 for pizza, and be ready for some good times and the chance to talk about what youth group is and what it could be...

See you then!!

These are the people in your neighborhood...

Hey Cyberyouthgroup!! Want to raise some money to fight hunger?! Want to get out and cruise the streets on a beautiful fall day? Want to force-feed Jeremy the craziest items on the Wendy's menu? You can have it all at the same awesome event!!

THIS SUNDAY at 4:00 we'll meet at church. After a quick orientation, we'll head out in smaller groups to hit some Haddonfield neighborhoods. We'll go door-to-door to get sponsors for Cropwalk - the annual fundraiser to fight hunger. No, you won't have to dress like these guys. No, you don't have to commit to actually walking the cropwalk - we'll ask people to "sponsor the youth group," and then whoever walks on October 22nd (I know Danielle Watson and I are both in...) will represent all of us.

After going door-to-door we'll meet up for dinner with Dave. The group with the most pledges gets to hand-pick Jeremy's dinner (and he promises to eat whatever he's served). Other awesome prizes will be awarded, and you won't want to miss out. We'll be back at church by 7:00 pm.

Be sure to bring $ for Wendy's, and be ready to give Haddonfield a serious dose of cyberyouthgroup!! See you Sunday!!

New Youth Page

If you haven't already, check out the new youth page link from the Haddonfieldpres.org website. It features awesome pics of our kick-off night, and a link to this blog. Cyberyouthgroup is slowly taking over the web!!

Next comes pastor Jeremy's myspace page...

Gopher Grabbers = Good Times

Thanks to everyone who came out for cheese pizza and games with these and these last Sunday!! I am keeping those gopher tools in my office from now on - the game possibilities are endless!

Here's what you need to know about what's coming up:

THIS SUNDAY (Oct. 1) - A certain very cool pastor is being installed at a certain very cool church, and two very cool youth group siblings are taking part in the service. Details: Oct. 1, 4:00 pm, church sanctuary. Light dinner to follow.
You won't want to not be there!! (love the double negative). No regular youth group that night.


NEXT SUNDAY (Oct. 8) -Save the date!! A very cool outdoor service project is in the works! We will meet up in the afternoon, head out to serve our community, and finish with some hard earned nourishment at McD's (or KFC? or Wawa? We'll take a vote). Plan on wearing your grubbies, working hard, and having some big-time fun. Check this blog and/or your mailbox for more information coming soon!

That's the update. Go Dawgs...

Cheese Pizza It Is!

Well, my big mistake last week was buying pizza with stuff on it- like veggies, pepperoni, etc. Obviously that is not going to fly around here. SO... this week, we'll be taking orders and you can tell us exactly what you want. No more slimy left-over pizza for the Sanderson family!! If you want cheese, you get cheese!

We'll be meeting again at 6:00 Sunday night at the church. Middle Schoolers (and anyone else who wants to) should head to Amy's new office - up the small stairs by the back ramp door (or just listen for the sounds of Toby Kieth playing somewhere on a stereo). Senior Highers, meet me in the big room with the big monkey (Thaddeus the fattiest looks just like the real thing!). This week we'll have some fun and also dive into some deeper stuff.

"You take the blue pill - the story ends, you wake up in your bed and believe whatever you want to believe. You take the red pill - you stay in Wonderland and I show you how deep the rabbit-hole goes."

The choice is yours...
See you Sunday

Youth Group Part Deux: Pizza Night

Looking ahead to the weekend, make sure you're planning on coming out Sunday Night at 6:00!! Two bucks gets you pizza and drinks!!

We'll dine together on the third floor, and then split up for some games and to sketch out some fun fall plans. We'll wrap up by 7:30 in time for you to dive into that pile of homework you've been dreading all weekend (they hit you early, don't they!!)

Speaking of making fun fall plans, you guys came up with some great questions and ideas for youth group last week. My favorite deep question was "what's God's favorite musical group?" This is a topic we never studied in seminary. So while I can't speak for the Man upstairs, I would put my money on these guys. Sorry, John Tesh.

Seriously though, you guys came up with some great questions, trip and event ideas, and food suggestions. This week, be ready to put your heads together and come up with a game plan for fall.

Don't miss it!! Your youth group needs you!!

Kicking Things Off

Thanks to everyone who came out for our kick-off party last Sunday!!!
We got hopelessly lost in the church on a scavenger hunt, surprised Amy with a birthday cake bash, and got some great ideas down on paper for youth group this year.

You guys are Awesome!!! See you this sunday at 6:00!!

Vertical Reality Check

Kudos to those of you who bruised, scraped and clawed your way up the plastic cliffs at Vertical Reality last month! You all look ready for the rockies!

After scaling the heights, a few of us got down on the ground and tried to do the "worm." I think my pitiful version looked more like another creature. What is it about rock climbing that makes you want to get down on the ground as flat as you can afterwards? Anyway, some of you are definitely on your way to rock climbing super-stardom. Just don't forget us little guys that helped you get there...

Youth Group Kick-Off

Well, we had to scrap the "Revelation Generation" trip, which is actually a good thing. Maybe next year...

In the meantime, set your sights on September 10th - the date of our Fall 2006 Youth Group Kick-Off!! We will meet at church, up on the third floor in the youth room. Expect a fun time, some good munchies and the chance to talk about our plans for the year. So come with some ideas about what you want to see happening in youth group. Of course I have my own ideas, but I want to hear yours too! We will gather at 6:30 pm, and be done by around 8:30. This first gathering is for both middle and high school students.

Note to parents: please arrive to pick up your kids at 8:00 - We will have a brief parent meeting to look ahead at fall plans.

See you there!!

What's Up Cyber Youth Group!!

Check it out - a new blog home for the youth group of First Presbyterian Church, Haddonfield NJ!!! This is where I'll be posting information about upcoming events and youth group gatherings. But I'll also be offering some food for thought and some invitations for your thoughts - leave me a post and let me know what you think about anything you see here. The internet is our friend!

Also, check the site for photos of the wacky, wild world of youth group. I will try to get pics up showing some of the fun stuff we'll be doing this year.

So go ahead, make cyberyg.blogspot.com your homepage! You won't regret it.

Your CyberPastor,
Jeremy