Thanks, Wednesday, Keys, Lake, Serve

A big huge gigantic thank you to all who were able to be there last night and bring your piece of  the puzzle to make our Welcome Cookout a success.  I feel like our day of 7th grader inducting went really well.  It was half fun and half serious and I hope they feel like they are a part of this group now as we move forward into the summer. I also know the interns appreciated it and thus far feel extremely welcomed by your efforts to make them feel that way.  So, thank you.  Ok, the summer train is rolling and here is what is around the near corner.  

Wednesday Nights
As has been announced, there are no adult classes on Wednesday nights but we as a youth group will be getting together when we are in town.  This week we will meet, but next week we will not because of Knoxville Workcamp.  Still same standard 6:30 time.

Keys to the Kingdom Workshop - This Friday
Over the past several months I have been teaching on various topics meant to push your teenagers into action for the Kingdom of God.  We want to move past just trying to “be a good kid” and into a place of awareness that God wants them available to be used in powerful ways.  This Friday night is a great opportunity to continue that thought process.  In the simplest of terms, we are going to have a mini-retreat at the building.  There is a group of 12 high school students from TN, who in my opinion, have been doing some pretty powerful stuff to advance the kingdom of God locally and globally.  They have developed a workshop called “Keys to the Kingdom” that is designed to help youth groups identify their spiritual gifts and also show them what it looks like when teenagers step out of their comfortable little worlds and into what God is calling us to be.  I have known each of these students over the past 6 years and I promise you your teen will benefit from hearing from them and simply being around them.  Here’s the plan:  6:00pm Friday, May 30, teens arrive at the building with: 

$5 (to help cover dinner and breakfast)
Sleeping bag
Pillow
Air mattress (if they have and want one).  
Change of clothes and showering items if they desire to freshen up Saturday morning.. Lets encourage them to do so.

Let me be clear…. THIS IS NOT A LOCK-IN.  Sleep will be had… granted it might be limited but there will be a bedtime/lights out.  We will wake up, have breakfast, and spend the morning hours continuing the workshop in sessions and breakout groups.  We will wrap things up at 11:00am.   

I really do hope your teen is available to be a part of this.  I promise you, they will benefit as a follower of Christ as a result of being there for those short few hours.  Let me know if I need to clear anything up surrounding this opportunity.   

Lake Day
This upcoming Saturday, May 31 we will have our first lake day.  Arrive at 1:00pm at Sunshine Pointe and girls bring chips, dessert, or some other form of snack and guys bring drinks (cans or bottles).  Hamburgers and hotdogs provided.  Pickup or go home is 7:00pm.

If you are in a situation where your teen wants to participate in the Keys to the Kingdom and lake day and that window of time in between presents you with a problem, we can work out transportation straight from one activity to the next.  They may get there at the lake a little early, but hey, its the lake.

Knoxville Workcamp

We will be heading out next Sunday and I ask that you guys will be in prayer as we travel and serve.  Parents with participants, I will be sending an email shortly with the needed details.

Welcome, Welcome, Welcome

I know this upcoming weekend is Memorial Day weekend and I know some of you may have small group responsibilities on Sunday night but we are going to roll out the welcome carpet Sunday night with a cook out.  If you are in town and if you don't have to be at a small group, I want to invite all UY families to the Maple Shelter at Bowers Park this Sunday evening at 6:00pm.  We want to use this gathering to welcome our new upcoming 7th graders and their families and the summer interns into the UY.  I know the excitement within is boiling over and you are already asking yourself "What can I do or bring to make this event a success?"  Well, Im so glad that is what you are thinking because here is how this is going to work.  You can click HERE and sign up to bring something.  You do not have to create an account to this site to sign up, you should just be able to click and indicate which item you can bring.  To make things easy on the hamburger meat I have provided slots to donate $5 to help cover the cost and I will just simply show up with the meat.  If you have any questions, please ask.  I hope you guys can make it as we extend our welcome to the new UY members.

Summer is upon us

I know it's hard to believe but Summer is approaching at a rapid rate.  We have a really full summer planned and I can not wait to dive in.  The most important thing at this moment is that if your teen is planning on going to IMPACT, the form and deposit is due May 4 (THAT"S THIS SUNDAY).

I wanted to take just a moment to introduce you to our summer interns.

Caleb Snider

Kristin Smith

I have known Caleb and Kristen for 8 years and Im excited for our group to get to spend the summer with them.  Caleb attends Middle Tennessee State University and Kristen attends Western Kentucky.  They are both from Lebanon, TN. They are a lot of fun and will bring great excitement to our summer happenings while being incredible examples to your teens on what it looks like to be a follower of Christ.  They will be arriving here on May 19 to get things rolling.  

Just to refresh everyone's memory, here is a quick look at the summer dates we have so far.

May 31 - Lake day

June 1-5 - Knoxville Workcamp

June 13-16 - IMPACT JR.

June 16-21 IMPACT SR.

June 22- Lake Day

June 23-27 - VBS

July 4 - Lake Day

July 6-10 - Domestic Mission to Sneedville, TN

July 19 - Lake Day

July 20-25 - CAMP at Fall Creek Falls, TN

Ive said it before and Ill say it again, summers are the heart beat of youth ministry.  It's when we get to spend the most time together and really develop relationships.  I hope your teen(s) can jump in and be a part of what we will be pursuing this summer.  Please be praying that God uses our group to impact His Kingdom.  As always, if you have any questions... please ask.

Deadlines, Camp out, and Graduation

Deadlines
Knoxville Workcamp - June 1-5
This Sunday is the deadline for Knoxville Workcamp.  Again, to register you click HERE and work your way through the registration process.  If you register your teen, let me know so I can keep a log of who has signed up.  If you have issues or questions through that process, also let me know.  

IMPACT JR. & SR.
Applications and $25 deposit due by May 3.  See me for application.

Father/Son Campout UY and Younger
Dads with sons.... On Friday, April 18 we are going to plan on taking in some mother nature with a little camping excursion.  The plan as of now is to go to Blue Creek campground that day after work/school and return the next morning.  If you have a son or sons that are not in the youth group but are younger, they are included in this.  The location could change, but just know we will be in the outdoors somewhere in the near vicinity of Tuscaloosa playing with fire and sharp objects.  

Graduation Appreciation Night
On Wednesday, May 14 we are going to get together at 6:30 to eat and give a big congrats to our graduating Seniors.  Hope you can make plans to be there.

Spring Break, Knoxville, IMPACT

For those Spring Breakers in town next week:
Monday - We are going to meet at the building at 10:30am, head to Veterans Park in Birmingham and have lunch there. (They will need to bring a sack lunch).  Then we will head over to Treetop adventures and be entertained there for a little while before we head back to Tuscaloosa. Click HERE to see the rates on things to do there.   We will return to the building at 4:30pm.

Tuesday - We will meet and leave from the building at 1:00pm to head over to the movie theater to see “God’s not dead”.  Matinee rate is $8.50, drinks and popcorn are astronomical. We will plan to be back at the building for pickup by 4:00pm.

Wednesday - There are no classes Wednesday night but we are going to plan on meeting up at the building to eat, hang out, play games and have a devotional.  Start time is 5:30pm, end time is 9:00pm.  Have them bring $3 to help cover dinner.  

Knoxville Workcamp - June 1-5
Knoxville Workcamp is a collaboration with twelve different youth groups spending the week serving the people in Knox county and the surrounding areas.  During the week crews will paint or repair people’s homes who are in need of help.  The days will be spent doing this and the evenings will be spent together in worship and fellowship.  The cost is $55.  To register your teen click HERE and go through the registration process. At the end you will have the option to pay online or to tell them you will just give me the money.  That is totally up to you on how you want to proceed there although they are encouraging us to do it online so its easier to keep up with all the funds (But again, do what you want). Deadline to sign up is April 13 and then registration fee goes up to $65 until final deadline April 27.  I realize this is a new addition to the summer schedule so feel free to direct any questions you may have to me.  

IMPACT JUNIOR - June 13-16
This is for those in 6th-8th grade this school year (not next).  The cost is $155. A $25 deposit that goes towards the full amount is due by May 3rd to secure a spot.  Also due on that date is the application.  I will have those available during classes or come see me to get one.

IMPACT SENIOR - June 16-21
This is for teens in 9th-12th grade this school year (not next).  The cost is $215. A $25 deposit that goes towards the full amount is due by May 3rd to secure a spot. Also due on that date is the application.  I will have those available during classes or come see me to get one.

Deadline, Concert, Roadtrip

Retreat Deadline
Reminder that the deadline for Retreat sign-up is this Sunday.  $55 and shirt size is all I need. 

Concert
Kari Jobe and Rend Collection are coming to Birmingham on March 13.  The UCM and UY are going to be taking a bus to see them.  Group rate cost is $20.  Let me know if your teen or even yourself is interested in going.  If you don't know anything about either of these performers, check them out... they are really good. 

Junior/Senior Roadtrip
On the weekend of March 21-23 we are going to be joining with the UCM to take a road trip to Nashville.  The purpose of this trip is to just take the opportunity to mingle the college group with the older UY members and have some fun.  Cost of the trip will be the cost of their meals.  We will be staying in the home of one of the elders from the Otter Creek church, participating in a service opportunity on Saturday, and just having some fun taking in the Nashville scene.  Let me know if you have any questions.

Retreat - Camp Changes

Spring Retreat - March 14-16
Ok, these dates have been lingering out there for quite some time but now we are approaching the make it happen time frame.  In youth ministry retreats hold some distinct purposes.  In my opinion the most important is the opportunity for your teens to connect.  Growth in Christ is best done through community with each other and weekends like this provide a chance for these teens to deepen relationships with each other in ways that showing up to Church or an event can not do.  I say all that to highlight the fact that this is more than just the next thing on the calendar.  It's a strategic opportunity to make a huge step in the direction we are heading as a group.  Why did I just take a paragraph to explain why I think this retreat is important?  Because I want your kid there to be a part of it.   

So here's the superficial details once again.  As soon as sign-ups are completed, Ill send out the detailed specifics to those who are going.

- Deadline for sign up is March 2 (That's a little over a week away)
- Cost is $55
- Sign up is completed with payment and T-Shirt Size
- Timberlake Christian Camp in Milport, AL is where we will be going (Less than an hour away)
- The focus on the weekend will be spiritual disciplines.  Learning what that is, what it looks like and taking time during our time there to actually do them.  

If you have any questions at all please feel free to call me. 

Camp Moved
Well when I originally scheduled camp I was under the impression that school was starting later in August.  It turns out that my impression was indeed incorrect.  So, since the week we had scheduled to do camp would also have the first day of school in it, we clearly can't proceed with the original plan here.  New camp dates - July 20-25.  Bad news is we have to move the dates around but the good news is that Fall Creek Falls called and they had a cancelation so we will get to go there again this year.  Im sorry for this change and hopefully this doesn't effect your teen being able to go.