Holidays, DHR and the Beach

Christmas Party - December 10 - 6:00pm - Teen Area

It is indeed Christmas time and therefore a Christmas party must be had.  Ours will be this upcoming Sunday!  This is for teens and families of teens.  Just a few things to know before arriving to the party.

1. If everyone could, please bring some sort of delicious finger food/dish. Ill just leave it wide open but if you could, click HERE to indicate what you will be bringing just so everyone knows what their competition is and we can see how things are shaping up.
2. As always, teens will continue our Christmas ornament competition.  This is simply a handmade crafted ornament that displays the most fun and creativity. Most creative ornament will win a stellar prize.  
3. Teens are to bring a gift for the gift exchange.  Only parameter is they can’t buy it.  It has to be something they already have that they are willing to part ways with….. and try and make it something someone else would actually want to have.   

That’s it! See you at the PARTY!!

DHR Foster Parent's night out - December 17th - 5:00pm-8:00pm
We have an outstanding opportunity to serve our community in a unique way.  The youth group and families, along with some other small groups will be hosting a night for Parents with foster kids to have a night out.  This will allow those parents to have a small break to get some Christmas shopping done or just have a night to themselves.  I just want to encourage anyone who can help serve that night to do so... Thanks!  

Leadership Retreat - Jan 12-15 - Gulf Shores, AL - $50

This is for those in the 10th grade-12th grade. Our leadership retreat is quickly approaching and the deadline to sign-up will be Sunday, December 31.  Sign-up achieved by way of payment.

Holiday Schedule

You’ll see this plastered everywhere over the next few weeks but just wanted to make sure we are all on the same page.  

Dec. 20 - No Wednesday Night Classes

Dec. 24 - ONE Christmas Eve Service at 9:30 with Christmas Concert to follow… no classes

Dec. 27 - No Wednesday Night Classes

Dec. 31 - ONE New Year’s Eve Service at 9:30... no classes

Just a few things

Wednesday Night November 22

We will not be meeting next Wednesday night…enjoy your Thanksgiving! 

Kid Craze - December 3 - 5:00-7:30pm

Teens will be assisting in kid craze giving the parents of the younger ones a night off.  

UY Christmas Party - December 10 - 6:00pm - Teen Area

Yep, its that time again to start thinking about all the different Christmas functions to go to.  Ours will be at the stated date and time above and more details on what to bring later!

Leadership Retreat - January 12-15

Those in 10th, 11th, and 12th grade will be having a leadership retreat designed to equip and motivate them to reach their full capacity of leadership.  More details on this to come but just wanted to get the dates out there.  That’s a Friday through Monday (MLK day)

Foster kids Christmas

The UY committed to 2 kids for our foster kids “Give a Christmas”. I have been using this as an opportunity to teach them about giving so I just wanted to make you aware in case you wanted to use this opportunity as well.  This is not supposed to be something they come to you and ask for money for, I really do want it to be some sort of sacrificial giving on their part, no matter how small it might be.  So far we are half way to our goal and they are doing fantastic!

Retreats and Sunday

Bridge Retreat - This Saturday - $10 
The teens will be conducting a retreat for the bridge kids this Saturday (October 15) starting at 10:00am.  They can either meet there at camp Tuscomba (2900 Camp Tuscoba Road, Northport, AL) at 10:00am or be at the building at 9:30am to ride the bus over.  We will wrap up and be back to the building on Sunday in time for class at 10:00am.  For those being dropped off, I will have the bus to transport them back to the building on Sunday.  The cost is $10.

UY Family Group
The teen portion of UY family group will meet at the building Sunday night at 6:00pm

UY Fall Retreat- November 3-5 - $65
Deadline to sign-up (by way of payment) is October 22.  This is gonna be a good one so we want everyone there!

Sunday, Retreats

This Sunday - Bridge Hang Night - 5:00pm-8:00pm
We are going to be having a hang night including the bridge kids in an effort to let our teens invest in some of the younger ones.  $3 to help cover food.

Bridge Retreat - October 14-15
The teens will be planning and administering an overnight retreat for the bridge kids. The retreat will be here in town at camp Tuscoba.  We will meet there on Saturday at 10:00am and return to the building during church on Sunday.   Cost will be $10

Fall Retreat - November 3-5 - $65
Our fall retreat will be at the Springville Camp and Conference Center located in Odenville, AL.  Deadline to sign-up will be October 22 and sign-up can be accomplished by way of payment.  

Groups, Action and a Retreat

Family groups

Just a couple of things regarding UY family groups as we move forward.

• The first UY family group gathering will be next Sunday, September 10.  Those of you who signed up, I will be sending a separate email with the details about that first gathering at the beginning of next week.

• If you signed up for a different group but your teen still wants to be a part of the the teen side of things, that is absolutely ok, they can join us! We just want everyone to be connected to a group somewhere.  

Sunday Night Action Team Meeting. - 6:00pm - Youth Area 

In class we have been talking about what it looks like for each teen to step forward in their walk with Christ as well as the different ways they can lead and serve.  As an effort to give them more opportunities to invest in this youth group and church we are developing “action teams”.  This is just a simple way to provide an avenue to put them on a path of service and leadership.  Sunday night we will have our first “Action Team” meeting.  If they have been here, they know what this is and if its something they want to be a part of.  Ill be sending them all a text letting them know about the meeting but just wanted to let you as parents understand whats going on.  

Upcoming Events

Next week I will be rolling out a full schedule of all thats will be going on but wanted to go ahead and get the retreat out there.  

Retreat - November 3-5 - Springville camp and conference center in Odenville, AL - $65

groups and hump days

Family Groups

I know this won't be completely relevant to everyone but just wanted to communicate some things as family groups fire up!

1. I think it's super important that everyone find a family group to be a part of. As usual we will be having a UY family group but if there is another group you feel would fit you better, then please get connected there. 
2. Next Sunday evening, August 27, will be “Group Link”. This is an event designed to help people, who may not know what group they want to be a part of, have a chance to meet and see the groups being offered. If you plan to be a part of the UY group, please make plans to be there. If you are a part of another group, I'm sure they would want you there as well and if you don't know what group you'd like to join, well this would be perfect in helping make that decision. 
3. Our UY family group will be operating a bit differently than it has in the past. We will be creating more of a separation in what the adults do and what the teens do. While it's always good to do things as families, I think it's time to allow the parents and teens to go deeper in their times together. There will still be aspects of what we do that will be family driven, we just want to allow discussion times to be tailored to the relevancy of ages.  
4. Our first family group meeting will be September 3, 6:00pm in the youth area. We will lay out the blueprint for what is ahead and iron out some of the logistics moving forward. 

There is nothing happening This Sunday evening. 

Wednesday nights

This upcoming Wednesday night, August 23, the teens will resume meeting together. 

a few things

Wednesday nights moving forward!

We will resume our Wednesday night gathering on August 23.  However, on Wednesday, August 16 the teens will be helping out with the “Back to School Bash and Splash”…. No gathering tonight, August 9.

Pool Party at Garrett’s - Saturday, August 12 - 3:00pm-6:00pm

Garrett Welch is inviting everyone to his home for a swim party! 

Their address is:

 13918 Willow View Lane, 

Northport, AL

Everyone bring a drink with them and if you’d be willing to bring brownies, let me know.  We need like 3 batches of brownies!  

Intern Going away Party - Sunday, August 13 - 6:00pm Youth Area

Well its time to wrap the summer up and with that wrapping comes a goodbye to our interns.  This is an event for all families… not just the teens!  We will be doing BBQ but if you would be willing to bring something to help fill in the gaps, please sign up here.