May 2010 Youth PresbyNotes

Finding Our Way Again
May 2010
Youth Ministry of FPC

Growing up, I lived on 15 acres of land. Mostly open fields and about 5-6 acres of timber. Before our neighborhood became the ‘place to be’, my parent’s property was surrounded by cornfields and more timber. Now though, if you were to go to their house, you’d think I was lying. Some of my fondest memories growing up as a child are those spent exploring with my 3 older brothers in those woods. I was told when we first moved out to the country not to go into the woods by myself because I could get lost. What was funny though was that our acreage of timber was small enough that if I entered one way, kept going forward, I’d exit the other side and know exactly where I was. With all the freedom that comes with being a child with lots of land, I knew that land like the back of my hand.

Or so I thought…

One evening in October, as the sun was going down, I happened to look out my window and see a deer in our field. Me being the young tracker I was, or wanting to write my own version of My Side of the Mountain, I went tracking the deer. Little did I realize though how dark those woods I’d explore a hundred times got even with the sun still barely poking up over the trees. After a few hundred feet in my pursuit of the deer, I’d realized I couldn’t tell where I was anymore. I was lost in a familiar place.

While I was in the woods, I felt my heart rate go up, the adrenaline began to overwhelm my body, and I shook a little bit, even though I was in my woods, I couldn’t figure out which way to go.

What was I going to do? I’ve been here so many times before yet it wasn’t what I’d though it’d be.

Until I saw it, the biggest tree in the woods we named the ‘T-Rex’. Immediately I sprinted over to the tree, my clothes getting caught on the thorn bushes as I ran by, and sounding like a herd of elephants, I hugged the tree and used it to keep myself up as I caught my breath. Then, I began to head in the direction of my house, indicated by a mark on the tree, and finally with the last fading light from the sun, I was out. Pretty scary moment in such a familiar place.

Had it not been for the tree, something to guide me, a sign along the trail, who knows what could have happened.

Perhaps this then is where we find ourselves journeying together in these next few months. We’ve established and are continuing to learn about the importance of community and what it means to love on another. Now we will explore how our community can be transformed by looking forward by exploring a path, trail, of love and practicing it. Being a traveler along the way of Jesus, with our fellow journeymen, is not a momentary incident. No it is a journey, a process, it is a way of life which can be learned and strengthened through a wide variety of practices which have been developed by Christians across the centuries and across traditions. In other words, in times when we may have lost our way, there are different practices and disciplines we can return to, ones which have been a part of the church for centuries, to aid us, to be that sign of hope, in our journey towards our faith in God.

As a community travels together and begins to come head on with life circumstances, it is important to be able to see what we have learned and can learn from both the good and the bad, as a community and as individuals. Instead of being a people of, "Why did this happen God?” we will be transformed into a people who ask, "Where is God in the midst of all this?"

It is our hope then, as we begin this new journey as a community together exploring spiritual disciplines and practices, we will allow our faith to not simply be something we 'do' on Sunday's only, but will set it free and become for us a transforming way of life. As a community, we will begin our 3rd part of our journey to better shape our lives together, learning, practicing, and exercising disciplines which will shape our lives and help us see the sacredness in the normalcy of everyday living.

We will explore the ancient ways that can teach us to practice peace, joy, self-mastery, and justice. The old disciplines--fasting, contemplative prayer, and simplicity, observing the holy days--do for our souls what exercise does for our bodies or study does for our minds. Our youth group and our upper room then will be transformed into a people and place of sincere spiritual formation.

It'll begin this Sunday after dinner, in the upper youth room where you will receive your 'gear' which will provide good assistance to you as we explore the spiritual disciplines.

Happy Birthday to...
03--Meredith Coomes
22--Katie Duncan
27--Tori Gossett

Youth News – upcoming events, May 2010

We had a short meeting on Sunday, April 25th, at the church wide meeting. This is a letter to inform you of upcoming events in the life of our youth ministry. Please take a few minutes to read through this information, and mark the dates on your calendar. Also, every Sunday, please check the board outside Adam’s office for any additions/changes. Thanks.

a) Thanks to all who helped with, and donated to the breakfast on Sunday 25th, it was a great fundraiser and we made about $250 to help defray costs for the mission trip.
b) The kids attending the Mission trip went to a team building event in Princeton on 25th April, meeting with other youth that are also going. It was a great event, well worth our time, with the students hanging out and getting to know the other people going with them to do God’s work.
c) The “fast that lasts” had to be postponed because of conflicting schedules. This will be rescheduled at a later date.

UPCOMING EVENTS: Bible Study dates in May: 6th, 20th and 27th, 6.30pm-8pm. NO STUDY ON 13th.

2nd May : 5-7pm Youth group, Junior High, 5-8pm Senior High

9th May : No Youth Group for Mother’s Day, spend quality time with your wonderful Moms!

15th May : Car Boot Sale. Encourage your friends and family to come and support our sale out of our cars. The cars that are selling stuff will be parked in the lower parking lot. The kids working it will need to be here at 6am to help with set-up and parking, and then work for as long as they can. All who attend will have money added to their account for the mission trips, or other youth group events. CANCELLED IF RAIN.

16th May : Youth Group 5-8pm for all. DESTINATION UNKNOWN. We are in desperate need of parents to be drivers for this event – please contact Adam or Debbie asap if you can help with this event. If we do not get enough parents to help with this we may not be able to do this.

21st May : Presbytery Youth Council meeting. This will be hosted by us, an overnight here with kids from other churches in the Presbytery, from 6pm until 11am on Saturday. Contact Carla if you can help with providing a simple breakfast.

22nd May : Senior Banquet for Katie and Jill. All other youth need to be here at 5pm.

23rd May : Spring picnic for all youth and families at Panther Creek – 4 – 7.30pm. Please see below for RSVP form.

30th May : Drive-in movie night for senior high. * this is dependent on availability of appropriate movies. If none are available, this will be held at the church.

June dates : Mission trip, June 12th-19th. VBS June 28th – July 2nd

July dates : City sights City Lights, entering 6th grade through exiting 8th grade students. More info later.



RSVP FOR Panther Creek family afternoon 5.23.10

Family attending_____________________________ Number of family members attending____________


Will bring: Hot dogs_______ Hamburgers________ Buns________ Dessert_________ Fruit________

Chips________ Drinks_______ Plates and cups ________