Bocci Ball Breaks into Owensboro

While the grass was not quite ready for Lawn Bowling, we did enjoy some Bocci Ball in the rough terrain of the Kendall backyard. Seen below are some of the action photos of the evening ...

Who are Our Brothers and Sisters in Faith?

Here's a great link, which will give you a curious look into the Taize Community - a faith community in France that began in 1940:

http://www.taize.fr/

The Slow Hours of Fasting

Our 24 hour fast has begun for our Sr. High Youth Group, and we ask that you keep all the fast participants in your prayers: Meredith Bowers, Sarah Clancy, Katie Duncan, Melissa Gilliland, Courtney Harrison and Rachel Warren.

A big thank you goes to Creda Heffelfinger, Rachel Schroeder and Nancy Harrison for co-chaperoning the event. Also, please - if you are participating in the fast - make sure to bring the following: sleeping bag, pillow, towel, washcloth, toothpaste and toothbrush and any other toiletries you may need.

Over the 24 hour period, there will be occasions for fellowship, games (bowling and board), movies, some sleep, plenty of community service, painting for VBS, and lots and lots of juice breaks.

The 24 hours of fasting will also include an evening and morning prayer service and the 24 hours will conclude with a worship service and the celebration of the Lord's Supper.

Everyone is invited to participate in the Lord's Supper even if you have not participated in the fast - parents are also invited to join.

After we celebrate the Lord's Supper together, we will also eat together as a group.

I am so glad we have so many participating in this year's fast. While an individual spiritual act, it is good to do it in community and to remember together that we are supported by more than food ... we are nourished and supported by God.

Wes

Spider-Man and Jesus

"Spider-Man is my savior. There, I said it. And that comes from more than two decades’ worth of neon-highlighted scripture skimming, from a man whose blood runs deep with parables passed down from his preacher father and preacher grandfather. From them, I came to know God early on in church, school, Bible study, choir rehearsal and Christmas plays on Sundays. But as a kid, I found religion on Saturdays off a busy street near my house in a one-room shop called Stand-Up Comics. That is where I met Peter Parker, the man of the blue and red cloth."

Click here to read more.

A Word about the Youth Calendar

Several kind persons noted that they could not immediately access the youth calendar via the link on this blog. That is because you will need to sign up for a google account to access the web. Of course, there is no need to sign up for the google account since you can still get calendar information through the church bulletin and through Presbynotes. However, for those who wish to access the calendar through the blog, please create a google account, which should give you access to the youth calendar on the web.

Article on Youth and Youth Ministry

How Kids Are Changing and What It Means for Youth Workers
An Interview With Chap Clark

“The more things change, the more they stay the same.”

It’s a familiar saying, but have you ever wondered if it’s true when it comes to the kids you work with? Given the vast changes in youth culture, are kids still fundamentally the same? If they’ve changed, are the changes fairly minor or are they absolutely mega?

Dr. Chapman (“Chap”) Clark, Associate Professor of Youth, Family and Culture at Fuller Theological Seminary has recently authored a book, Hurt (Baker Books, 2004), that addresses some of these questions. In order to get beyond the surface, Chap conducted a broad survey of the most recent literature, both secular and faith-based, on adolescents. Not only that, but during his sabbatical from teaching, he spent several months doing “ethnographic” research at a local high school campus as a substitute teacher and at after-school events. The goal was to grasp the worldview of the students by observing, listening, and having conversations with them. In the following interview, Chap describes what he’s seeing in kids and how caring adults should consider responding.

What’s the number one thing you’re seeing in adolescents?

The biggest theme that emerged out of my study, and we’re hearing about in other research studies too, is that institutions that were originally designed for teens have dramatically changed. Now instead of being about caring for kids or what’s best for kids, they’re often more about what’s best for adults and keeping kids busy. I describe this as “systemic abandonment of the young” by the adults who are culturally charged with caring for kids. If kids don’t fit the pre-ordained boxes that adults control, they end up hurt, abused and left behind.

[to read more, click here.]

New Youth Calendar

Now you can track what's going on with the youth group through this blog. To the right, you'll notice a new section titled, "Youth Group Calendar." Simply clink on the link in that section, and you'll be able to see events occuring each day, week, and month as well as an overall agenda. Currently, the calendar is broken into two groups:

1. Summer Trips - in blue
2. Other events - in green

You can also see the calendar, by clicking here.

Are You Game?

Sr. High Game Night @ the Kendall's

Join us this Sunday evening from 6:00-7:30 pm at the Kendall's for an evening of splendid games and fine dining (provided by the Duncan's). Although the "lawn bowling" course has been severely restricted due to this spring's cold weather, there will be plenty of other games to enjoy and challenge you. Please feel free to bring your own game as well for the group to play ... both outdoor and indoor games.

Click here to see a map of where the Kendall's house is.

Jr. High Overnight - "May" it be

As a way to honor the jr. high students who had hoped to attend the spring retreat at Camp Kum Ba Ya, the youth group ministry is hoping to create a date in May for an overnight (or at least extended evening). The hope is to have the overnight either Friday, May 18th or Saturday, May 19th.

We are seeking some parents to help out by doing one of the following:

• hosting the overnight at your house
  
• serving as a volunteer or chaperone for the evening
• helping to prepare a meal for the evening or morning
  

The youth committee will provide a schedule for the evening - including time for games & recreation, worship, eating and sleeping.

While we will not be able to recreate the opportunity some of our baptized youth had hoped to experience at Camp Kum Ba Ya, this will give these jr. high students the chance to experience God's Word, community with one another and our care as those responsible for their spiritual maturation. It will also open up the opportunity for those who could not attend Kum Ba Ya because of other constraints.

I hope you will consider creating and supporting this evening of fun, fellowship and faith formation. If you can help in any way, please contact the church (churchoffice@firstpresbyterianowensboro.com / 684.1467) or by contacting myself (associatepastor@firstpresbyterianowensboro.com).

God's peace to you,

Wes

Bible Study: Inside and Out

Gifts

Jr. High Bible Study: 5-6 pm - The Todd

Join Creda Heffelfinger this Sunday as we dig into Paul's message about giftedness for the body of Christ (1 Corinathians 12). You'll read about and hear of an interesting dynamic: one body served by unique parts.

What gifts might you be equipped with to serve others? Why do we have different gifts? How can our gifts be used to serve the common body?

Believe it or not, people have always wrestled with the question: why am I different? Come hear a word from the Lord.

Dinner to follow.

The Bible

Sr. High Bible Study: 6:30-7:30 pm - The Todd

Maybe you think the Bible is something that only pastors read. Maybe you think it is a big paper weight. Maybe you think it is a holy book.

Regardless of what you think about it, it cannot be ignored. So what is it? Who wrote it? Why? What does it hope to say?

Join David Searles this Sunday evening to look behind, within and throughout the Bible! He'll help you understand how the Bible has shaped American culture and how it is a book that never goes away but is unique to every generation.

The Bible: the world's most published book, and for Christians .... the very word of God.

Dinner before.

Plugged In

Welcome to our new blog.

It's time to get plugged in.

What the blog is:

• a place to stay informed about events and activities for our youth group
• a way to keep in touch with your friends
  
• a place to read great articles about Christianity, faith, being a young adult, culture and life
• a place to see photos and other links related to your life and friends

What the blog is not:

• a substitute for true community ... community occurs when we gather face-to-face and find ourselves worshipping the Risen Lord
• the coolest, internet resource out there; but, hopefully, it's not too drab!
• as exciting as your grandmother's home-made pimento cheese
• a subtle way to promote the Presbyterian church ... (if it were, it would be something like this: click here to find the secret to living)
  

And, unfortunately, this blog does not include:

• A 24-hour live, feed of "The Todd" or the church balcony

Come on in. Stay awhile. And, if you're really serious, set this page as your homepage.

Sunrise Service and Breakfast

Join us this Easter Sunday at 6 am for our sunrise service. Then, help prepare a congregational breakfast.

Bring your bunny-face slippers, though, it's going to be cold!

24 Hour Fast - Experience Hunger, Experience God

Beginning Friday, April 27th, the Sr. High youth are invited to begin fasting at 1:00 pm and to go without food for 24 straight hours. Fasting is an ancient spiritual discipline, whereby a person comes to acknowledge a deep-seeded hunger and to also acknowledge that, ultimately, only God can fill that void. It helps develop an awareness that there is more to life than simply food and drink. It also helps develop compassion for others who find themselves frequently without food or clean water.

Fasting helps develop an awareness of ourselves, an awareness of others, and an awareness of God.

If you would like to participate in this year's fast, please do one of the following:

1. contact Wes Kendall at the church and notify him: 684.1467; associatepastor@firstpresbyterianchurch.com
2. post a comment to this article below by clicking on the comment icon

Although this year's fast will begin at 1:00 pm on Friday, we will not meet at the church until 6:00 pm that evening. So, you will need to keep yourself accountable for the first five hours of the fast.

Our fast will conclude with the Lord's Supper and with a shared lunch on Saturday, April 28th.

Finally, we are asking the congregation to support those of you who are fasting by either praying for you or by offering money for future acts of service.

Experience hunger. Experience the One who said he "is the bread of life."