Whew! What a day!

We might have chosen one of the hottest days of the year so far to walk around downtown Detroit, but I think it was quite worth it! After a few minor glitches (Family Fun Days on the River Front and an afternoon Detroit Tigers game we didn't account for, which made parking a little more of a problem) we made it!

6 youth and 3 adults (including me) made 22 lunches that included a sandwich, fruit cup, water bottle, chips and cookies  to hand out to some hungry people we met. Since this was our first attempt at this mission activity, we started on a small scale. In less than an hour, our supplies were gone! We all came back to the car saying we should have had more!

I think the best part of this ministry is that we don't just give hungry people food, we also pray with them and for them. I don't think many indigent people feel that they are worthy enough to be prayed for. I think (hope) we're able to show them that they matter in the eyes of God.

I hope more people can join us when we do this ministry again. I'd like to make it a regular thing!

What do you think?

Service and Study in the Summer

One more Food for Thought until fall... That doesn't mean we won't have lots of opportunities to grow in our faith though....

We've got service/mission opportunities!

June 23 - Following Jesus' teachings and 'feeding His sheep.' We'll make sack lunches after church and deliver them to hungry people in Detroit. I guarantee you'll think this opportunity is a wonderful experience. Hands-on faith!

July - mission trip of course! Serving in a community not like your own is going to be really something!

August - local service! We can't get more local than working around the church! We'll be sprucing up the gardens (weeding fun!) and the youth room. As usual, there will be ice cream after!

We've got study opportunities!

Beginning June 19 we'll be doing some in-depth Bible study together for whoever wants to come! We'll meet on Wednesday mornings most weeks throughout the summer to dig in to God's word.

We've got fellowship opportunities!

What? fellowship helps you grow in your faith? YES! Hanging out with other people gives you the opportunity to be yourself and show love to others while having fun!

June 2- lunch and mini-golf
July 28 - lunch and ? (got a suggestion?)
August 11 - lunch and games
August 23- LOCK IN!!

Another fundraising success!

Hey everyone! Great job on another A Night Out success! We worked hard gathering donations, setting stuff up, serving and cleaning up after. We've even got all our thank you letters written and sent out! Amazing work everyone. Together, we raised $7,000 towards the cost of our mission trips this summer.

I heard lots of compliments about the evening, ranging form the great service, to the good food to the wonderful entertainment. I agree! I was super impressed at how well everyone came through remembering their lines, being where they were supposed to be and performing wonderfully- whether it was skit or music or joke!

The only thing left to do is make sure you follow through with your auction services. Don't let it get too late before you complete your services! If the person who won your service hasn't contacted you in a month or so, PLEASE contact them, and at least remind them.

Auction Auction Auction!

How important is this event?

In the past, each student would have had to pay almost their entire mission trip expense. There were some small fundraisers (Super Bowl Subs, Pancake Breakfast, Car Wash) but they didn’t make a significant impact on expenses. There were also Youth Serve opportunities, but these were sporadic. The big fundraiser was our “A Night Out” dinner. The entire profit from this dinner was typically $1500. (split between all mission trip participants.) In 2010 we implemented a silent auction portion to our fundraising dinner. The  average profit from the auction alone has added between $3,000 and $4,000 to our expenses. Since we implemented the auction, no student has had to pay more than their $50 deposit. All expenses have been covered.

This year, we have the added expenses of extra travel days, which creates more meals needed and more gas to purchase. We’ve also added the cost of 2 passenger van rentals. This year, more than ever, we want a very successful fundraising dinner and auction.

How can you help?

Parents and Youth: Encourage bidding! Mingle with your guests or others at the auction tables, encouraging them to bid and even overbid on the items.  (It’s for a good cause!)

Parents: bid yourselves! Yes, you’re still spending money, but you’ll be getting some wonderful items for it! Or, maybe you’ll just be increasing the amount that other people will pay for that item!

Remember the mantra.... Bid high and bid often!

A Night Out is coming up fast!

The date for our annual fundraising dinner and silent auction is coming up quickly! We’ll be setting up, serving and providing entertainment to the many people who are supporting our summer mission trips.

Youth and Parents --  here’s what you need to know:

Donations:

~ Parents and Youth - Bring in some auction donations! With the additional expense of rental vans, we’ve got a larger amount we need to raise.  Ask businesses to donate, or relatives or friends who own businesses. Letters to businesses are available on the bulletin board at church.

~ Youth - think about what service YOU can auction off. What are you good at that people will want to pay for?

Here are some suggestions:

Are you good in the garden? Planting or pulling weeds would be a good service to offer. Can you babysit? A Night of babysitting would be excellent to offer. Do you like to cook? A dessert of the month or a special complete dinner would be very much appreciated! Are you known for your love of animals? Maybe a weekend of pet-sitting is the thing for you. Can you clean a car inside and out? Auto detailing is always a big hit with bidders! Do you like kids? Maybe you could offer your services at a child’s birthday party. Do you like to paint nails? Offer some manicures! Maybe you don’t think you’ve got much to offer… how about taking in mail and watering plants while people are on vacation? Talk it over with your parents if you aren’t sure what you can offer.

All donations and forms need to be returned by Thursday, April 4!

Time commitment:

~We put out auction items for bidding the week before the auction, Sunday April 14. I will need some help on Saturday, April 13 and Sunday morning, April 14 in setting up the auction.

~Between Sunday, April 14 and Saturday, April 20 we need ironers! Plan on spending an hour or two up at the church in the afternoon or evening ironing tablecloths and napkins.

~Saturday, April 20- We’ll start setting up at 9:00 AM for several hours, then give you a break, then expect you back later in the afternoon to start serving.  Once the evening is over, we’ll expect EVERYONE to help clean up.

Entertainment:

Youth must participate in at least ONE piece of our entertainment. Youth (AND Adults) can participate in as many of the entertainment pieces as they want to. (The only requirement is that for part three (testimonies) people must have been on a mission trip.)

~Skits will be performed in several parts. (see below)

~Musical pieces will be performed in between each act.

~We’ll perform a reader’s theater.

~We’ll also present something about Minnesota and the need for us to mission there (not sure how we’ll do this yet.)

Skit information:

Part One- Game Show  (Performed Live)

Cast:

Game Show Host                   Nathan                      

Contestant 1                          Jessica

Contestant 2                          Josh                            

Contestant 3                          Drew

Prize Girl                                Caitlin                        

TV Announcer                       Steven

Commercial Man                   Luke                           

Commercial Woman             Beth

Whammy                               Louie                          

Parent                                    Angie

Part Two - A Van Ride (Performed Live)

Each participant will work with Jake Zinke to create a sketch revolving around a van ride to a mission trip. We’ll start writing this skit on March 24 @7:00 PM. 5-7 youth plus one adult are needed for this sketch.

Part Three - Testimonies (Video-Taped)

Individuals or pairs will share true stories about events from past mission trips that they’ve been on. There is no limit to the number of participants. Youth AND Adults can take part in this.

Possible Part Four- Another Van Ride

Depending on how part two works out, we may add a sketch revolving around a ride home from a mission trip.

8 Ways to Pray

Lent offers us all a very special opportunity to grow in our relationship with God and to deepen our commitment to following Christ.  In our busy world, Lent provides us with an opportunity to reflect and to pray more deeply. As you prepare for Easter, here are some (possibly new) ways for you to pray and reflect on scripture:

1. Journal your prayers.

But don't just journal requests. Write out questions, heartaches and struggles. Don't forget to journal praises, too. Be creative. Put your prayers into poems. Write a letter to God.

2. Take a prayer walk.

Yes, even when it’s cold! Walk around your neighborhood and pray for the family in each home you pass. Or take a "prayer walk" on the sidewalk around your school, or while you’re walking to or from school(s).

3. Pray over your calendar and schedule.

Got a test coming up? Pray for peace of mind. Pray for the players of Friday night's basketball game-both sides. Pray for our youth group night!

4. Pray Scripture.

Let's say that during your Bible reading time you come across 1 Peter 5:7: "God cares for you, so turn all your worries over to him." Turn that verse into a prayer: "Lord, I'm going to trust you and give you all my worries. I know you will take care of me." Do this with Scriptures that express needs and also with those that praise or thank God. Hey, why not personalize the Lord's Prayer? Take each sentence or phrase from this well-known prayer (Matthew 6:9-13) and write it in a way that applies directly to your life.

5. Pray about the news.

When you read or hear about a troubling issue, pray for the people involved. Pray for politicians and other national and community leaders who make the news.

6. Partner up.

Find someone to pray with regularly. Plan to meet somewhere once or twice a week, or get together before school. Praying with a friend is great for personal accountability. It's also a cool way to take a friendship to a deeper level.

7. Be quiet.

If prayer is a conversation, then you also need to listen in silence. And silence means getting away from distractions like music and TV. A quiet, little-used corner at the library could be the best place. As you listen, don't expect to hear a voice. But do expect God to tug at your heart, move your conscience, or help you realize something you need to do or change.

8. Keep a prayer on your lips.

Dozens of thoughts pass through your mind daily. You daydream. You may think bad or gossipy thoughts. Turn those daydreams and not-so-great thoughts into prayers. Ask God to help a person hurt by gossip. Ask him to forgive you for thoughts that take your mind places it shouldn't go. Turn daydreams and other passing thoughts into moments to recognize God's presence in your life. As you learn to keep a prayer on your lips, you'll come a little closer to understanding what it means to "pray continually" (1 Thessalonians 5:17).

What are you doing to prepare for Easter?

Last year I posted about the Christian season of Lent. At the risk of getting flack for repeating myself, I'm going to do that anyway! 

Lent, is generally observed as a time for Christians to reflect, repent, and pray as a way of preparing their hearts for Easter. It is commonly observed by many Christian denominations—Catholic, Anglican, Lutheran, and others—although not every Christian church or denomination does so. Because Lent is not officially instituted in Scripture, observing it isn’t in any way a “requirement” of Christianity. However, Christians from many different theological persuasions choose to observe it as a way of focusing their thoughts on Jesus Christ during the Easter season.

So what have you been doing to prepare your heart for Easter? Like last year, I have been visiting a site called Journey to the Cross. On this site, they provide a daily devotion for Lent. I find that some days, these devotions are just what I need to keep me focused on God that day, and help me to prepare for the joy that is Easter.

If you'd like to participate in these daily devotions as well, I encourage you to visit www.d365.org/journeytothecross