A Night of Lovely Valentine Hearts

"What does 'POSH' mean?"

"A crown? Really a crown? What are we to say about the crown?"

"Text me, you're kidding me right?"

"First kiss--how am I to communicate this into something God would say?"

How exciting it was for us, a people of Love, to have a cultural event fall on Sunday!?

We gathered again, like we have been for quite some time, together, all of us from Kids for Christ to junior high and even the high schoolers, packed ourselves again tightly into the upper youth room where we found ourselves sharing our lives and telling stories. Yet what was different about this past Sunday night was our stories focused on LOVE and our lives, we examined them through the lenses of God's love for us, God's people.

One of the characteristics I enjoy most about you the youth, is your ability to think critically and quickly, all the while using your imagination. Your creative juices are always pumping and your humor, which is bright, always shines through. Your capacity to think on the spot provides many entertaining conversations and it usually leaves me and the other adults scratching our heads and thinking, "Why didn't I see that?" or, "Why didn't I think of that?"

Our conversation with all of us again, began with us going to the source of love, our sacred readings. We took two of what probably are the most well known references to Scripture: 1 Corinthians 13 and 1 John 4. What you did with them was remarkable. Your ability to tell story through cleverly written summaries and your cunning narratives left us for sure in the presence of love.

Though what was impressive was your desire to work together. It can be quite the task to find roles for 10-12 peers in a matter of 15 minutes with a 'script' that may not have as many options. These 'limitations' did not prevent you from going forth with the show. I remember as we were preparing for the skits, one of our KFC students said what might have been the funniest thing I've personally heard in a long time, and it was quite silly. But the way you all responded with grace and laughter, made them feel comfortable enough to rattle off the next outrageous comment. Your inclusiveness is evident within our groups and this is a perfect example of demonstrating God's love the world.

To tell a good story is a great way to grab people's attention. After all, the Master Story teller himself, was often scrutinized because of his stories. You all are story tellers and you friends, are finding ways to let your lives tell your stories. You friends, are finding the mysteries of LOVE in the world and communicating them to others in ways I'm sure you are unaware of.

Trust yourselves. At times revisit your imagination, get lost in creative dreaming, and dream wildly. Don't worry about who or what may be around, but hope with entirely with your heart for what you wish LOVE would look like. For when you do, you create things like Catherine and Marie did:

Faith is now
Love is now
Hope is now
And now, we show the greatest--
Love
Love is eternal
Love is true
Love is God
Lois is you
Love

Then this is what you came up with as you gazed at the cheesy pick up lines on the hearts:

For the Crown--You belong in the Kingdom of Heaven
For Holla--Hello my child
For Marry Me--Dedicate yourself to Jesus
For real love--God
For Love Ya--Love Everyone
For LOL--God Loves your Laughter
For Dream Big--God has many dreams for you
For Hottie--Everyone is a hottie

Or again how you took Scripture and created something beautiful like this:

God wants us to look past stereotypes and focus on inner beauty and love what you love because you love it

Love is not limited to romance or significant others. It transcends these things which we limit it to, like how we love tacos and muffins and how we love our mom and dad. Love, as demonstrated in the last sentence, can and is, quite confusing. Yet no matter how much we claim loves confusion, we often times prevent Love's capacity to woo us. We are quick to label love and even quicker to pick who we will love. In a sense, our attempt to define what LOVE is often times leaves us looking harder for it because where we once encountered love in some capacity, is no longer there. This is what is beautiful about love, it surprises us, even when we have it figured out.

We still have a lot of LOVIN left to do and we are still in need of much love. Many of us are longing for love and some of us have plenty of love to give away. Be attentive to the places where God's love appears and take note of them. Look for those in your life who is in need of God's love and give it to them. Find ways to creatively proclaim Christ's love with the stories you are telling with your lives. All the while, trust and know, God loves you and I more than we will ever know. Remember too:

Love never gives up.
Love cares more for others than for self.
Love doesn't want what it doesn't have.
Love doesn't strut,
Doesn't have a swelled head,
Doesn't force itself on others,
Isn't always "me first,"
Doesn't fly off the handle,
Doesn't keep score of the sins of others,
Doesn't revel when others grovel,
Takes pleasure in the flowering of truth,
Puts up with anything,
Trusts God always,
Always looks for the best,
Never looks back,
But keeps going to the end.

Peace to you these Lenten Days friends.

Shalom.

Adam

Super Bowl of Presence

On a Sunday morning in church, the actual church building, I am there.

On a Thursday night, huddled around the little table with the dancing flames of the candle that is lit, with you, I am there.

During the most chaotic time of your life, I am there.

In those moments when you get goose bumps because you have heard something profound, I am there.

When you smile because of good news you have received, I am there.

As you sort through all those tough questions about where I may be and even when you know for sure I am not there, I am there.

At a packed football stadium in Miami, I am there.

In the middle of the devastation of an earthquake, I am there.

In the house jammed packed with 25 students and some older folks, I am there.

Jesus once said to those who were following him that, “Wherever two or three are gathered, there I am in the midst of you.”

Sometimes we may need to look a little harder than other times, but no matter what we are doing or where we are, God is in the midst of it. In our laughter and in our tears, in our chatter and in our singing, in our groaning and in our smiling, God is present with us. This was evident this past Sunday night as we gathered.

Many people gathered with their closest of friends the other night to watch a football game. It was the ‘game’ of the year some say. In fact it in so influential in our society and culture, there is a move to get the Monday after Super Bowl Sunday off and make it a “National Holiday”. I even saw one person’s Facebook status say, “If Martin Luther King Jr. was still alive, he’d have a dream to have the Monday after the Super Bowl off.” This sporting event shapes our culture if not because of the event itself, than for sure the commercials and entertainment they provide for us. Either way, whatever your reason may be as to the reason you watch, you gather with others to do so and in that gathering, with the TV up loud, the dip falling off the chip and on to your white t-shirt, and the drink that was just spilled, God is there.

Imagine watching the game alone this past Sunday? Would you have had the same experience? Would you have been as involved in the game if you were alone? Sad you not come, Katie Duncan would not have one the quiz with her 11 out of 14 correct answers and Graham Duncan wouldn’t have anyone to tell how he almost guessed to the exact what the combined score would be. He guessed 47 and the actual score was 48. Or what about the dance party which happened after the start of the second half? Would your moves have seemed as cool, and perhaps as lame, if you did it alone? You wouldn’t have had the laughter you had without the others doing the sprinkler, the running-man, and lip singing to Miley, would you? Then there is the football game which broke out during the game in the house! Two of our KFC’ers started their own game after their interest in the one on TV dwindled but what was fascinating about their game, and more entertaining mind you, is their field wasn’t 100 yards long, played on soft grass. No instead it was played on staircase: one end zone at the base of the stairs and the other one, one top of the stairs. The miracle, no one got hurt!

Then there is the table and how it hosted a great meal provided by our host, Kim. The spread was great: chicken wings, chips and dip, vegetables and fruit, cold beverages, and candy. How good it was to see us with plates in hand and empty cups, come to the table to be filled not only with food and drink, but with good conversation with our good friends. In that moment, in those moments where we sat eating together, talking, giving thanks, and enjoy the game, a holy moment happened. Even if it was just a second long, we sat, worried free except for who would score next and what the next commercial would be, and we were gathered together, in a home, breaking bread. Sounds familiar doesn’t it as we approach this Lenten season.

Peacefully you gathered too. It is said you can’t have a party with people too different from each other. You guys the other night proved you can. Despite being junior high and senior high, despite being from different schools, despite many things, you guys came together and lets be honest, partied! To see you interact and to see you converse with each other brought much delight to me. For the most part, your inclusion of everyone was inspiring and your ability to adapt is always remarkable. Yet what gets me every time is your creativeness and making sure you keep things interesting. Your care free spirits, along with your good willed attitudes facilitates a warm and welcoming atmosphere.

Sometimes it is hard to see God’s love in the world, let alone in our own lives. But that night, I had no problem seeing Christ’s face in the 25+ of you who attended our party. Your laughter, your conversations, your presence is and was proof alone God is with us. The fact of the matter is, there was lots of fun happening and a fair amount of jocularity, which provided a great sense of peace that night and which carried into the start of the week. Incredible you are.

Friends the next time we gather, look closely, listen intently, and simply pay attention to the faces of one another. And when you do, you too will see proof of Jesus’ promise to us that he is there with us, when a few have gathered or when an entire stadium of people are together, Christ is in our midst.

Peace to you until we gather again.

Souper Bowl of Caring Week 1

Grace and peace to you friends.

Here is a quick update on how the different "team's" ended up after the first week of our month long of a congregation who SOUPERLY cares for hunger.

Souper Bowl of Caring 1st Sunday Results:

Kids for Christ--15 pounds of canned goods and $10

Junior High--12.2 pounds of canned goods and $9

Senior High--10.6 pounds of canned goods and $15

**There was a general donation for $25 that will go in to the 'large pot' at then end of our drive

Keep up the good work folks!

Holy-Huddles Not an Option

The room sits still.
Messy, yes, but still.
The humming from the heater disturbs the now quiet youth room and it is peaceful.
This room, which was host to 30+ students Sunday night, now sits empty and still.

Light shines in on the table which is catering to two very tired Foosball teams.
Bottles of paint still gather around a large painting which has lies draping across the ping-pong table.
Chairs are out from under the table and in an order which leaves good evidence to the fun which was had the last time the it was used.
Looking around, the stories of some of those youth are speaking loudly and give good testimony to what this room is for.

Community.
Laughter.
Playing.
Praying.
Church.

An incredible evening we had this past Sunday night when all 3 of our children and youth ministries got together for a night of celebration and well, community. Every Sunday for worship all of God's children come together to share life together but rarely, do all the younger children get together to embrace each others stories. But we did and yes, it was quite tight and loud in that upper youth room.

It was incredible to see how we adjusted as the room continued to fill up with faces we know well and faces we are just learning about. As mentioned earlier, there wasn't much room to breathe, but we managed to carry on delightful conversations and share in a few laughs together. In a sense we stared diversity in the face and took on the challenge. Ranging in ages from kindergarten to seniors in high school, we acknowledged our differences and committed to be a part of ministry together.

We began to take a stand against a major issues facing our world, nation, and community these days: hunger. What you guys are doing, what you guys are learning about, what you guys have committed yourselves to do will bring a great hope for a people in our community who may very little at this point. Even in the good fun of 'competition', what you will accomplish with your dedication to bringing awareness of hunger to our congregation is a work which will not go unnoticed. In the end the efforts which you have put into motion will indeed bring good news to those who are in dire need of such news.

Would it be possible though, to accomplish that which we are hopeful for if we did it alone? Instead of working together, we hung out by ourselves, recruiting only those whom we like and worked by ourselves? Perhaps we could accomplish some of the tasks at hand, but would our efforts be completely fruitful? Our intentions would be good yes, though some could say they lacked integrity and purity as they would be flawed with in-authenticity and perhaps, corruption, as limitations were set in order to keep some people out. It would be creating of a system just like the ones we face today which prevent people from experiencing a love that God had intended for all of God's children.

We are not a 'holy-huddle' if you will, rather we are a community committed to the Gospel of Jesus Christ and in participation with each other. Much like the Apostle Paul explains in his first letter to the Corinth Church, we need each other. The nose can't say to the ear, be gone, for what would we hear with? The hand could say to the eye be gone, for what would we see with? Inclusion of one another in the action of our ministry is a must if we are to see the change we have dreamed of. Our efforts by ourselves come with limitations but when we join our causes, we can accomplish more than what we could by ourselves.

Many of us have experienced growing pains in our lives. Our muscles ache and our bones seem to be growing at an obvious rate which brings teeth-gritting pains to our knees and other joints. We know it was inevitable for we all grow. We all can't stay an infant all of our lives and our bodies know this and are designed to grow, so we do. We adjust to our growing pains and take necessary action to make sure we adapt to our growth. Growing makes us weird. Our bodies begin to take on new shapes and sizes and sometimes this is uncomfortable and we don't know what to do. Eventually over time though, we find our 'swag' and we become content in our own skin and we finally enjoy who we have become. It doesn't stop there though for we make adjustments in our eating habits, exercise habits, and daily activity to make sure our bodies stay healthy. For if we don't, serious consequences could occur.

As a youth group of First Presbyterian Church, it is important for us to constantly evaluate our selves, check our growth, and respond to the needs of the community, kind of like we are with the Souper Bowl of Caring. We have to engage in the difficult conversations a community must have in order for peace to occur. We cannot begin to develop 'partners' and detach ourselves from the community at large and turn appears to be whole, into individual fragments. At all costs, we must avoid any sort of segregation and facilitate opportunities for all of us to participate in the life and ministry of the youth group of FPC. It is our nature to for cliques, after all it is quite inevitable in a system which encourages different group of people to participate with their own age groups, but we can find ways to serve and live side by side as a youth ministry. If you cannot and do not believe, perhaps Sunday night can attest to this claim.

Sunday night, all 30+ of you gathered together in our small room, crammed onto couches, and sat peacefully amongst each other. Together as a community we listened to the instructions of the evening and worshiped together. From there we embark on a ministry opportunity which includes all of us, yet we each went at it a different way. The signs and yes even those silly slogans some of you came up with, were brilliant and clearly demonstrate your awareness of the project at hand. This speaks truth to the idea of how we can be church together, despite those things which are obvious, along with the hidden ones too.

Together we can make a difference and we will but we must be attentive to those things which are happening in our community life. Then my prayer for us as I reflect on our time we had together this past Sunday, is that God may gives us eyes to see the injustices in our society and yes even in our own group, that God may grant us ears to hear the cries of those who's voices have been muted by our laughter and fun, even some of our own voices, that God may grant us courage to bring justice and peace to these people in our lives who are in need of God's love. It is my prayer we continue to listen to God in the silent moments that occur in our lives and attentively engage in hopeful, life-giving activities with each other, with the end result being the kingdom of God here and now.

To all of you who are a part of Kids for Christ, junior high, or senior high, I am thankful and grateful for your vow to our community.

Grace and peace to you all.