Stay home and Wrapping Paper

2 Things

1- No Class this Wednesday night

2- Christmas Party - Sunday, December 4 - 6:00pm - Teen area.  

Ill check back as we get closer with more details on what they are to bring and expect.  

I hope everyone has a wonderful weekend and Thanksgiving with your families!

2 Quick Things

This Sunday Night - October 23

The Crews have invited all families to come to their home this Sunday night at 6:00pm to celebrate Reagan’s birthday and to just have a time for us to all be together.  Dinner will be provided and delicious. 

Trunk or Treat Festival

The Children’s ministry and UY are teaming together to coordinate this year’s Trunk or Treat Festival.  With that being said, Im going to need yall’s help to pull this thing off successfully. If you would be willing to help, let me know and I will definitely give you a job.  Also, if your family or maybe a team of families wants to do a trunk, click HERE to sign up.

2 Things

Small Group - This Sunday, September 11 - Teen Area

Ok, well the time has come for us to fire up our Small Group rotation.  I know there was a “sign-up” but here is how I will approach it from here on out in order to know who needs to be in the communication loop when it comes to the UY small group.  If your family plans to participate in the UY small group you can indicate that by showing up Sunday night.  If you want to be a part of it but will not be available Sunday night, then simply let me know and I will include your family in the communication.  Sunday night will simply be a kick-off with us eating together and taking some time to map out the road for this semester.  We are going to do an old school pot-luck so Im going to need your help in providing some delicious foods.  Unlike old school pot-lucks there will be some form of order so we don't end up with 15 dozen deviled eggs.  You can click HERE to indicate what type of food you will be bringing.  Thank you and I look forward to being with you all.  

Slight Fall Retreat Change

As indicated in the last update, our fall retreat will still be Sept. 30-Oct 2, however the location has changed.  We will now be going to the wilderness retreat in Mentone, AL and with that change it means we can lower the price to $60.  Deadline is still September 18 and signup is accomplished by way of payment.  

Pray, Groups, Autumn Getaway and Feedback

Each year about this time I usually send out some long entry describing our direction and vision for the upcoming year as far as it pertains to our youth ministry.  The reason is because at this point each year I usually try to take some time to step back and remind myself why we do what we do as a youth ministry.  After the summer happenings have settled and your kids are back in the books, it is a natural breaking point to evaluate and assess how things are going.  My thoughts have been jumbled at times but I feel very strongly that God is calling us to the ground floor.  Ill explain what I mean by that in a second but what I'm getting at is that I have no definite path, no initiatives, no neat curriculum or 10 step program to lay out there.  Im saying that I think it is a season that we should collectively humble ourselves in diligent prayer asking God to take us where He wants us.

Last Wednesday night, the teens took some time to look at a very simple passage out of 2 Corinthians 13.  Paul is wrapping up his letter to the people in Corinth as he says:

“May the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with you all.”

Now, I know this verse is laced with typical church verbiage, so I think we might could just read through that without allowing the magnitude of what he is desiring for them to sink in.  I mean after all, this is a sentence with the words Jesus, Love, God, Grace, Fellowship, etc. all jammed in there…. Haven't we all heard some version of this sentence before over and over? Now, go back and read it again, allowing the definition of each word to wash over you as though you were hearing and understanding it for the first time…. seriously, give it a shot.

The GRACE of the Lord Jesus Christ… that’s a biggie.

The LOVE of God… um pretty incredible

The Fellowship or friendship of the HOLY SPIRIT….  Yeah

Paul is wanting these three things to be with them, to be a part of who they are, for them to be woven into the essence of their DNA. He is praying that God deliver a deeper understanding of who He is into who they are.  

So here is the question, do we want and have a desire for these things to infiltrate who we are as a faction of the body of Christ?  And maybe an even better question is, have we taken the time to genuinely ask God for it?  God is real clear that if we ask him for something that fits into His will, He will deliver.  Clearly I lack a lot of knowledge, but it seems to me that somewhere in God’s will would be a chapter or several chapters that have to do with His people drawing near to him in a deeper understanding of his grace, love, and spirit.  

Ok, so Ive rambled on and you are probably wanting me to get to the point, so here it is.  For the month of September, I am committing, and several of your teens have committed to praying for very specific things that fall in the basket of asking God to be revealed and move among us.  There has never been a strong movement or growing that has occurred that didn't begin with a group of people petitioning God to do so.  Where did the disciples head when Jesus left them?…to a room to pray.  What came next? Well, some pretty crazy powerful stuff.  

I will be texting a group of teens, those who indicated they wanted me to, throughout the month of September (Mon-Fri) something specific to pray for.  If you have any desire to be added to that list, you can let me know.  The point here is that we draw back and regather our focus.  Clarity is best delivered in the arms of Christ and I know I fall victim to getting so wrapped up into other things that I tend to lose sight of what the purpose here is.  We are to make disciples who make disciples.  May God lead us into the path where our surrender is required and His Glory is shown.  

And now, a few tidbits of info and a request.  

Small Groups

We will begin our small group season on September 11, at 6:00pm in the teen area. Ill check back next week with a few logistics and what to expect but I hope you and your family will be joining us this year!

Fall Retreat - Sept 30 - Oct 2 - $65 

This year we will be going to Camp Timberlake in Millport AL.  The cost is $65 and deadline will be September 25. 

Feedback Please!?
Some of you may remember at the beginning of the summer we handed out a “Spiritual Discipline Guide” for anyone who wanted it. I need your help in gathering some feedback on how that went.  This is something I have never done before and it would be really helpful to know a few things just to see if it is the sort of thing I may try again in the future. Below is a link to an anonymous survey….. there is no way for me to know who submits what so please just answer the questions honestly.  You aren't going to hurt my feelings and I really do want a true measurement of how it went for most everyone.  So… if you literally took the booklet home and never touched it again, please still fill the survey out.  This has no affect on your eternity.  Thank you for taking the time to do this, it really will help.  Click HERE to take the Survey

Adios, Music City, Tiny groups of people

Goodbye Bash - This Sunday August 14, 6:00pm - Teen area

It is time to say goodbye to summer and goodbye to our interns.  We will be gathering in the teen area to eat, watch the summer video, and say goodbye.  BBQ will be provided but it would be really helpful if you as families could provide sides and other items to pull the meal together.  Click HERE to sign up for what you would be willing to bring.  

Road Trip to Nashville - August 26 - 28

This is for the Sophomores, Juniors & Seniors. The purpose of this trip is to allow the older/leaders of our group to have a time to themselves to bond and have some fun.  We will be focusing on leadership and where they fit into leading as it pertains to our group.  Hunter’s parents have graciously opened up their home for us to stay with them so housing is free.  We will be attending the Wilson County Fair while we are there which is heralded as one of the best in the country.  The plan is to leave after school on Friday and Return Sunday afternoon around 4:00pm.  Cost will be Fair admission ($8) and 3 meals.  

Small groups

The UY small group will begin the following week after Labor Day (September 11).  Here in the next couple of weeks I will be rolling out what the plan will be, but I wanted to go ahead and throw it out there so your family can be thinking about what they will want to do as far as small groups go this year.  As always, I want to encourage your family to be a part of some small group somewhere.  It doesn't have to be the “UY” small group but being a part of any group will benefit your family and our church.  So…. be in thought in where your family will land!

Hang Night  - This Sunday - July 31 - 6:00pm-9:00pm

We will indeed be having a hang night this upcoming Sunday Night…. They will need $4 for dinner.

Enocity - Tuesday, August 2 - 2:00pm-5:00pm

We will be enocitizing this upcoming Thursday.  Meet at the building, pick up at the building.

We will be gathering this Wednesday, August 3 at 6:00pm for class

Girls sleepover at Sunshine pointe  - Friday - August 5th 

The girls will be having a sleepover at Sunshine pointe cabin this Friday night.  They can arrive there at 6:00pm and can bring desserts and snacks to share.  Being that there is a lake day the next day, they can just stay there until then or you can pick them up anytime that morning.  

Lake Day - Saturday - August 6th 

Last lake day begins as usual at 1:00pm and will wrap up 7:00pm.  Guys bring canned drinks and girls bring side items to go with burgers and dogs.  

Lock-in - Sunday - August 7th 

Yes that is right, it is time for me to jack up your household for a few days by keeping your kid up all night and then sending them home to recover for the next few days.  The start time has not been determined yet as I am still ironing out a few details on activities.  Just know its happening and I will drop the exact details as we approach.  

End of the Summer Goodbye Intern Party - Sunday August 14 - 6:00pm

We will be gathering together in the teen area to say goodbye to the summer and our interns. 

Lake Day - This Saturday, July 16 - 1:00pm-7:00pm
It's time for another lake day but this one will be just a little different. We are going to be doing our inaugural Lake Day Aquatic games. Games start at 2:30 and dinner will be served around 5:00pm. This time girls bring canned drinks and guys bring sides or desserts. We will be having grilled chicken!

Hang night - This Sunday, July 17th - 6:00pm-9:00pm - At the building
Standard procedure here, theme is TBA. They'll need $4 for food and snacks.

Next Wednesday.
We will indeed be meeting together at 6:00pm

Camp
For those who have registered for camp, money is due at your soonest convenience...$120

Help!?!
Many of the staff will be going up early to camp to help get everything in line before campers arrive on Sunday. Andy Gann has agreed to drive the big bus up on Sunday with the campers but we need someone who is willing to simply ride there and back with him. You would be returning on that Sunday evening. I realize that sounds like a whole lot of fun and I'm sure you don't want to miss out on this grand opportunity to serve.... But seriously, we need someone.... The last shall be first - Jesus.