Hey everyone!

What a great start to fall we have had!  We’re still waiting on fall weather, but we’re really excited to be back in school and getting back to normal for Sunday nights and beyond.  I wanted to give everyone a quick update regarding Confirmation as this change is huge for us.  Our Sunday School lessons have gone over very well so far!  We are still working through the adjustment period on Sunday nights, but I think it’s fair to say we’ve seen a great improvement in connections and maturity over the first few weeks.  Hats off to our older youth for setting a good example and our younger youth for stepping up and joining us.  As the title states, we’ve got a full slate of events, starting this week through Halloween.  As I often say, the idea is not to jam the schedules up, but to offer fun, meaningful and life-giving opportunities for your youth.  Check out the details below, and let me know your thoughts and ideas!  

Also, we voted tonight to join forces with Redeemer Church to add a Haunted House component to Trunk or Treat (Oct. 26th!).  This will not be super intense, but more fun for the kids.  We’d love to have all the support we can from both our youth group and the church at large so if you as a parent or any other adults would be interested, please contact me.  

Jason   

JR HIGH at Jumpstreet Monday September 22

We are gonna head over for a night of bouncing and fun.  We have two options to attend.  We’ll be at Jumpstreet (a giant space full of trampolines) from 6:30-8.  There are two ways you can join us.  If you can send your youth with $10, feel free, otherwise, we can pick up the costs, no worries.

1.  Drop your youth off at 6:30 at Jumpstreet and pick them up at 8.  

2.  Drop your youth off at 6 at the church and pick them up at 8:15.  

I know some people live closer or it works easier, but please let me know if your youth is attending and in which way you want to drop off/pick them up.  

SR HIGH at Texas Rangers 

Saturday September 27

When this was put on the schedule, we had no idea they would be the worst in the league!  So I wanted to check with our SR High kids if there’s still an interest? Or if there was another activity we would rather do?  I think keeping it on this Saturday is ideal, so let me know.  

Youth Sunday School

So, ever since I’ve been here we’ve struggled to figure out a way to consistently connect with youth during the Sunday School hour for youth 7th-12th grade.  I know Youth bells, choir and UMYF is a lot for Sunday evening and adding Worship and then Sunday School can really be a lot.  At the same time, I know it’s the only time some youth can make it.  I want to open conversation around what are the obstacles for your youth around Sunday School attendance.  I take no offense to other commitments or choices that are made, but I’d like to at least know if there is anything we could do to promote a more consistent attendance.  At the same time, we had our highest attendance this morning, so maybe we’re settling back in to school rhythm?  Please feel free to respond to this email with thoughts, text/call, or flag me down!  

Service Opportunity with Harvey’s Kids

First month update——  We had a blast with Harvey’s Kids!  We had a handful of youth come out and I feel like they all really connected and made genuine efforts to have fun!  Great job!  Next Harvey’s Kids is October 11th from 5-8 pm

To meet a number of goals, we’re going to start focusing on a service opportunity right here in our own church.  Harvey’s Kids is a respite care program for children with special needs and their siblings.  We provide the parents a night of rest and free time from their children.  We enjoy the wonderful presence and fun these children bring to our lives.  There are a few key goals we are able to meet with this new partnership.  

1.  We meet the need of Harvey’s Kids-  Every month we have requests for more families to join, and right now we really need reliable and committed volunteers to meet the needs that are growing.  

2.  We want to be of service-  I’ve heard from so many youth that service is a key component that we want to grow in, so this definitely allows for us to suspend our own want and desires for a few hours and be of service.  

3.  Fulfilling God’s command-  God calls us to serve and stand with the least, the lost, and the last.  Children with special needs fill any of these categories based on friendship opportunities in schools and social interaction with the population at-large.  We’re standing as representatives of God’s love.  

4.  We will be changed-  Our goal is to be of service and follow God, but ultimately, God will use this opportunity to change our hearts and minds and grow compassion and care for these wonderful children.