New Year's Greetings to everyone!
I hope everyone had a great Christmas and New Year and I hope you are enjoying your break from school.
Although the weather was very cold, we did have youth group tonight. Lots of folks were out of town or had practices to attend, so we had 5 youths total! And we had lots of fun!
We discussed if anyone made any new years resolutions. One "resolution" or goal we have for the youth group this year is to learn more about the Bible. So, we spent most of the time at group tonight playing a DVD Bible quiz game. Congrats to Ashley, Rachel and Kate, the winning team!
Next week, most everyone will be back in town. We will have our postponed Christmas party, so spread the word and bring a fun gift to giveaway. Remember, don't buy (or steal) anything. Wrap it up and prepare for a fun gift exchange.
Also at Journey next week, we have asked Jenny to share her Christmas and life story, and then we'll talk about "paying it forward". We plan to watch the movie "Pay It Forward" the following week, Jan 16.
Stay warm and see you next week!
Wednesday, January 2, 2008
Tuesday, December 18, 2007
NO CHRISTMAS PARTY!! POSTPONED til JAN 9
Calling all youth!!
Due to a death in the family, we will be traveling out of town on Wednesday, so we’ll not be having youth group this week. We’ll be postponing our holiday party til JANUARY 9th. Please call your friends as I don’t have very many emails…
Thanks.
Mark
Due to a death in the family, we will be traveling out of town on Wednesday, so we’ll not be having youth group this week. We’ll be postponing our holiday party til JANUARY 9th. Please call your friends as I don’t have very many emails…
Thanks.
Mark
Thursday, December 13, 2007
Movie Night (The Nativity Story)
Hello and Merry Christmas! (May Christ be born in you!!)We had our first official "Movie Night" at JOURNEY this week. We viewed "The Nativity Story" on the big screen. Hopefully, everyone had a good time and enjoyed the movie and the popcorn.
The movie taught the youth several things about the Christmas story - a few were that Zechariah (John the Baptist's preacher dad) who got struck mute for not believing a word from God. That Mary could have legally been stoned to death for getting pregnant without being married (like, so not fair!!) and the terror of the Bethlehem baby massacre by Herod in an attempt to kill the new Messiah.
Mary and Joe were a couple of special people that God chose specifically for one special purpose. To care for Jesus. God in the flesh. God with us. Immanuel.
We also mentioned that Kate's grandma (Abbey & Rachel's great-grandma) is probably not going to live much longer. She's 96 years old and has lived a long and good life. But what is most special about her is that she has been totally faithful to God and has been a shining example to our family of how to prepare and present yourself to be used by God for his special purposes. Her name, fittingly, is Mary. (We love you Grandma!)Mark
Saturday, December 8, 2007
If you don't have something nice to say...
It's Christmas time! Snow is on the ground, the tree is up. looking forward to Christmas break! This week, in the spirit of Christmas we had a dramatic reading of;
A Soldier's Silent Night (Silent Night playing in the background)
TWAS THE NIGHT BEFORE CHRISTMAS, HE LIVED ALL ALONE,
IN A ONE BEDROOM HOUSE MADE OF PLASTER AND STONE.
I HAD COME DOWN THE CHIMNEY WITH PRESENTS TO GIVE,
AND TO SEE JUST WHO IN THIS HOME DID LIVE.
I LOOKED ALL ABOUT, A STRANGE SIGHT I DID SEE,
NO TINSEL, NO PRESENTS, NOT EVEN A TREE.
NO STOCKING BY MANTLE, JUST BOOTS FILLED WITH SAND,
ON THE WALL HUNG PICTURES OF FAR DISTANT LANDS.
WITH MEDALS AND BADGES, AWARDS OF ALL KINDS,
A SOBER THOUGHT CAME THROUGH MY MIND.
FOR THIS HOUSE WAS DIFFERENT, IT WAS DARK AND DREARY,
I FOUND THE HOME OF A SOLDIER, ONCE I COULD SEE CLEARLY.
THE SOLDIER LAY SLEEPING, SILENT, ALONE,
CURLED UP ON THE FLOOR IN THIS ONE BEDROOM HOME.
THE FACE WAS SO GENTLE, THE ROOM IN SUCH DISORDER,
NOT HOW I PICTURED A UNITED STATES SOLDIER.
WAS THIS THE HERO OF WHOM I'D JUST READ?
CURLED UP ON A PONCHO, THE FLOOR FOR A BED?
I REALIZED THE FAMILIES THAT I SAW THIS NIGHT,
OWED THEIR LIVES TO THESE SOLDIERS WHO WERE WILLING TO FIGHT.
SOON ROUND THE WORLD, THE CHILDREN WOULD PLAY,
AND GROWNUPS WOULD CELEBRATE A BRIGHT CHRISTMAS DAY.
THEY ALL ENJOYED FREEDOM EACH MONTH OF THE YEAR,
BECAUSE OF THE SOLDIERS, LIKE THE ONE LYING HERE.
I COULDN'T HELP WONDER HOW MANY LAY ALONE,
ON A COLD CHRISTMAS EVE IN A LAND FAR FROM HOME.
THE VERY THOUGHT BROUGHT A TEAR TO MY EYE,
I DROPPED TO MY KNEES AND STARTED TO CRY;
THE SOLDIER AWAKENED AND I HEARD A ROUGH VOICE,
"SANTA DON'T CRY, THIS LIFE IS MY CHOICE;
I FIGHT FOR FREEDOM, I DON'T ASK FOR MORE,
MY LIFE IS MY GOD, MY COUNTRY, MY CORPS."
THE SOLDIER ROLLED OVER AND DRIFTED TO SLEEP,
I COULDN'T CONTROL IT, I CONTINUED TO WEEP.
I KEPT WATCH FOR HOURS, SO SILENT AND STILL
AND WE BOTH SHIVERED FROM THE COLD NIGHT'S CHILL.
I DIDN'T WANT TO LEAVE ON THAT COLD, DARK, NIGHT,
THIS GUARDIAN OF HONOR SO WILLING TO FIGHT.
THEN THE SOLDIER ROLLED OVER, WITH A VOICE SOFT AND PURE,
WHISPERED, "CARRY ON SANTA, IT'S CHRISTMAS DAY, ALL IS SECURE."
ONE LOOK AT MY WATCH, AND I KNEW HE WAS RIGHT.
"MERRY CHRISTMAS MY FRIEND, AND TO ALL A GOOD NIGHT."
We took a moment to remember the soldiers who will be spending this Christmas season away from home and to remember all the families who will be without their loved one. We are blessed to have our family together this Christmas.
Next we shared a short reading about a monk who, instead of "Merry Christmas" would say "May Christ be born in you". We challenged the youth to try that with a few people this season.
Finally, we discussed the issue of gossip and how dangerous and damaging it is for everyone involved and how to prevent it, avoid it, deal with it and even turn it around for good. We've all heard the saying "if you don't have something nice to say, don't say anything at all." That's some good advice. I would add to that. Before you say something about someone else, think to yourself, is what I am going to say going to build up that person, or tear them down? If it will build them up, then say it. Tear down? then don't.
We played the "telephone" game to demonstrate the point.
Next week 12 Dec; MOVIE NIGHT!
Dec 19th, CHRISTMAS PARTY! Bring an item from home, don't purchase anything. wrap it up and we'll pick numbers. it'll be fun. We'll go caroling if the weather's not too bad.
Merry Christmas! May Christ be born in you!!
A Soldier's Silent Night (Silent Night playing in the background)
TWAS THE NIGHT BEFORE CHRISTMAS, HE LIVED ALL ALONE,
IN A ONE BEDROOM HOUSE MADE OF PLASTER AND STONE.
I HAD COME DOWN THE CHIMNEY WITH PRESENTS TO GIVE,
AND TO SEE JUST WHO IN THIS HOME DID LIVE.
I LOOKED ALL ABOUT, A STRANGE SIGHT I DID SEE,
NO TINSEL, NO PRESENTS, NOT EVEN A TREE.
NO STOCKING BY MANTLE, JUST BOOTS FILLED WITH SAND,
ON THE WALL HUNG PICTURES OF FAR DISTANT LANDS.
WITH MEDALS AND BADGES, AWARDS OF ALL KINDS,
A SOBER THOUGHT CAME THROUGH MY MIND.
FOR THIS HOUSE WAS DIFFERENT, IT WAS DARK AND DREARY,
I FOUND THE HOME OF A SOLDIER, ONCE I COULD SEE CLEARLY.
THE SOLDIER LAY SLEEPING, SILENT, ALONE,
CURLED UP ON THE FLOOR IN THIS ONE BEDROOM HOME.
THE FACE WAS SO GENTLE, THE ROOM IN SUCH DISORDER,
NOT HOW I PICTURED A UNITED STATES SOLDIER.
WAS THIS THE HERO OF WHOM I'D JUST READ?
CURLED UP ON A PONCHO, THE FLOOR FOR A BED?
I REALIZED THE FAMILIES THAT I SAW THIS NIGHT,
OWED THEIR LIVES TO THESE SOLDIERS WHO WERE WILLING TO FIGHT.
SOON ROUND THE WORLD, THE CHILDREN WOULD PLAY,
AND GROWNUPS WOULD CELEBRATE A BRIGHT CHRISTMAS DAY.
THEY ALL ENJOYED FREEDOM EACH MONTH OF THE YEAR,
BECAUSE OF THE SOLDIERS, LIKE THE ONE LYING HERE.
I COULDN'T HELP WONDER HOW MANY LAY ALONE,
ON A COLD CHRISTMAS EVE IN A LAND FAR FROM HOME.
THE VERY THOUGHT BROUGHT A TEAR TO MY EYE,
I DROPPED TO MY KNEES AND STARTED TO CRY;
THE SOLDIER AWAKENED AND I HEARD A ROUGH VOICE,
"SANTA DON'T CRY, THIS LIFE IS MY CHOICE;
I FIGHT FOR FREEDOM, I DON'T ASK FOR MORE,
MY LIFE IS MY GOD, MY COUNTRY, MY CORPS."
THE SOLDIER ROLLED OVER AND DRIFTED TO SLEEP,
I COULDN'T CONTROL IT, I CONTINUED TO WEEP.
I KEPT WATCH FOR HOURS, SO SILENT AND STILL
AND WE BOTH SHIVERED FROM THE COLD NIGHT'S CHILL.
I DIDN'T WANT TO LEAVE ON THAT COLD, DARK, NIGHT,
THIS GUARDIAN OF HONOR SO WILLING TO FIGHT.
THEN THE SOLDIER ROLLED OVER, WITH A VOICE SOFT AND PURE,
WHISPERED, "CARRY ON SANTA, IT'S CHRISTMAS DAY, ALL IS SECURE."
ONE LOOK AT MY WATCH, AND I KNEW HE WAS RIGHT.
"MERRY CHRISTMAS MY FRIEND, AND TO ALL A GOOD NIGHT."
We took a moment to remember the soldiers who will be spending this Christmas season away from home and to remember all the families who will be without their loved one. We are blessed to have our family together this Christmas.
Next we shared a short reading about a monk who, instead of "Merry Christmas" would say "May Christ be born in you". We challenged the youth to try that with a few people this season.
Finally, we discussed the issue of gossip and how dangerous and damaging it is for everyone involved and how to prevent it, avoid it, deal with it and even turn it around for good. We've all heard the saying "if you don't have something nice to say, don't say anything at all." That's some good advice. I would add to that. Before you say something about someone else, think to yourself, is what I am going to say going to build up that person, or tear them down? If it will build them up, then say it. Tear down? then don't.
We played the "telephone" game to demonstrate the point.
Next week 12 Dec; MOVIE NIGHT!
Dec 19th, CHRISTMAS PARTY! Bring an item from home, don't purchase anything. wrap it up and we'll pick numbers. it'll be fun. We'll go caroling if the weather's not too bad.
Merry Christmas! May Christ be born in you!!
Wednesday, November 14, 2007
Bible Millionaire
What fun! Everyone had a great time with our first game show night. We had 10 contestants, but nobody made it all the way through. Apparently the questions were a bit more advanced than we figured. So, either we make the questions easier...or we start hitting the books. The books of the Bible, that is.
NO JOURNEYOUTH GROUP ON 21 NOVEMBER DUE TO THANKSGIVING.
See you on November 28th for our special game show, Bible Millionaire.
Don't Miss It!
Thanks
Thanksgiving is next week, so we thought it fitting to reflect on the importance of giving thanks.
First we revisited our Compliment Challenge from last week. Everyone mentioned one compliment that they gave during the week and how they reacted. Amy complimented...everyone...and their clothes... Good job everyone. And Amy...nice shoes.
Kate handed out slips of paper to everyone with specific instructions. a Grand Prize winner was announced. Matt! (and the people rejoiced! hurray.) He was given a treasure box filled with candy. Others had instructions to go ask for a piece, one at a time, until all the "treasure" was taken. Only one person said "thanks".
We discussed the situation. How everyone felt.
There is a story in the Bible in Luke (who was a doctor) that described how, as Jesus was traveling from Samaria to Galilee, ten lepers called out to Jesus for mercy and healing. Jesus heard their desperate cries, had compassion, and told them to go show themselves to the priest. All headed for the temple, and on the way realized they had been completely healed. Only one man turned around to thank Jesus. Jesus asked rhetorically, "Where are the other nine?"
We discussed the situation. How everyone felt.
We are all lepers needing the healing of God. Christ has the power to save us from certain death. We just have to ask. Cry out to Jesus for mercy and healing. And He will.
We now can live life completely, not isolated but fully restored. How grateful we should be to the God of the universe for saving us from death. Thankfulness should flow from us like a fountain. Every moment in every situation.
Here's our verse;
"In every thing give thanks; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus" 1 Thessalonians 5:18.
We then created a "WE ARE THANKFUL" banner upon which everyone jotted down some things we are thankful for. Hung it up in the sanctuary.
Then Kate had everyone write a thank you note to someone. Then she handed out a personalized thank you note to everyone. And then there were hugs...and it was good.
HAPPY BIRTHDAY to Alicia! And THANKS to Alicia for bringing in cupcakes, cookies and pop for everyone. You are truly a joy, young lady.
We had three guests tonight, Alicia invited Stephanie. The DeBoer's invited Rebecca, and Ashley.
we ended the night with some games; Egg, Chicken, Dino... and leave the room scenarios.
that's all folks. Happy Thanksgiving!!!!
Wednesday, November 7, 2007
Self-Esteem
Tonight we discussed an issue lots of our youth have to deal with - self esteem. Most of us have been blessed with great families and friends that support and encourage us, but sometimes we still struggle with people and situations that really tear us down and make it hard to see ourselves as the precious treasure God has created us to be. All of us deal with criticism and sometimes even ridicule. If we don't have a healthy self image, then it's easy to internalize this negative input and start to think that we are ugly, stupid, worthless - you name it. 
We all know the saying "sticks and stones...", but words do hurt. a lot.
We need to realize that God passionately loves us, just like we are, and has created us for a wonderful beautiful purpose...and through Christ we can do anything. (Phillipians 4:13)
Everyone wrote one thing that they are good at on the board - what a variety of talents!!
For fun, we had three individuals role-play a scenario and were, well, let's just say they were misunderstood....just ask them if you'd like to hear the details.
Also, we crowned a new stare down contest champion - Alicia!!
Everyone got a purple Spirit bracelet to remind us not to complain~ cause nobody likes to be around a complainer... plus, the Bible explains how some complainers ended up...1 Corinthians 10: 10 And do not grumble, as some of them did—and were killed by the destroying angel.you don't want to mess with the destroying angel. just not a good idea.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
