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...