by Gavin on February 26, 2010
So you missed out on our Hard Core Bible Study during Lent start on Wednesday. No worries, pull out a journal of any type and jump into the scriptures. Here’s a list of the readings.
Readings:
Day 1 – Genesis 1:1 – 15
Day 2 – Gen 1: 6 – 8
Day 3 – Gen 1: 9 – 13
Day 4 – Gen 1:14 – 19
Day 5 – Gen 1:20 – 23
Day 6 – Gen 1:24 – 31
Day 7 – Gen 2:1 – 4
Reflecting On the Journey
God’s creative power brings order out of chaos. What “chaos” are you experiencing in your own life, or in your family, right now? Are you having trouble with your parents, brothers or sisters, friends, school, or work? What problems do you need to solve with God’s help? What difference does it make to you to know that God has created-and is in charge of – an orderly cosmos?
Is your own life so hectic that you are missing out on the gift of God’s sabbath rest? If so, what changes can you make in your schedule that will allow you to enter into a time of rest and re-creation?
If people tried to describe what God was like by observing you, what would they say? Of course, “God is spirit” (John 4:24), not a person of a particular gender or age or eth- nic group or nationality. But each person is created to have fellowship with God, to have God’s Holy Spirit living in him or her. Therefore, you bear God’s spiritual image. How would your actions and words be different if you took seriously the idea that you are created in the image of God?
What are you currently doing to care for God’s creation? What could you be doing to be a better steward (or caretaker) of the people, plants, animals, air, water, and rocks of God’s good earth?
by Gavin on February 21, 2010
by Gavin on February 16, 2010
Some of you may know the whole story, others might not. This coming Wednesday is Ash Wednesday which begins for us as Christians the observed season of Lent. Not all faith expressions observe Lent, but we do as our heritage goes back to formal liturgical traditional denominations.
Anyways, we observe the time of Christ going into the desert by often sacrificing something of our normal day to ‘prepare’ ourselves or to ‘purify’ ourselves for Holy Week and our ministry beyond then.
We in the youth stuff will be doing a couple of things to move into the desert of our normal to ‘prepare’ and ‘purify’ ourselves a bit more.
Lenten Practices
As a Group
- Hard Core Bible Talks : Wednesday Evening at 6:30 – 7:30 – We will get more indepth into the stories and scriptures of the bible than is our norm. If you are game for some deeper talks, deeper questions, then give this a shot.
- Girls Book Club : Wednesday Evening at 6:30 – 7:30? – This is exclusively for girls who want to digest some books that are of interest to them & discuss amongst peers. Cheryll Young will be helping facilitate the group.
- Eikon Photography : Wednesday Evenings at 6:30 – 7:30 – We are looking to bring back our Photog group. How does your photography impact and reflect your spirituality
- Prayer Txts : I am going to start up sharing some of my daily prayers via txt again. If you are interested in getting some reflection from me sign up here.
On Your Own
- Wesleyan Fast : Each Thursday evening, after the evening meal, until mid-afternoon on each Friday, Methodist people are invited to follow Wesley’s example of fasting and prayer. During this time he did not take solid food but fasted and focused much of his time in prayer. (Water is permissible in the fast)
- the H2O project : Water is a global crisis. You might not know this because it comes so easily for us here in the states. Fast from drinking anything but water & save that money you might otherwise spend on cokes or lattes and give it to a global water project to help those around the world have a safe drinking water.
- Examen : much like we do at Drive Groups, ask yourself each evening “Where did I see God today?” “Where was I reflecting God today?”
- Read the Bible : Don’t just randomly read, but pick a book of the bible, spend your Lent reading each day. There are many daily reading options out there (like Nashville Area Journal) that are longer or shorter readings.
- Pray Regularly : Use your cellphone to set an alarm for morning, midday & evening prayers. No need to say something uber formal, but just take a minute to say a prayer in your day. Its what Jesus did most in the desert.
by Gavin on February 16, 2010
Ski Trip is this weekend. Due to the size of our trip I’ve expanded our transportation and our housing. This affords us some flexibility to add one or two more folks. So if you had plans that fell through, give me a shout As Soon As Possible!! We have just over 40 folks going, so it should be a crazy good time.
Itinerary: We will jet from the church parking lot in a big ole’ bus at 3:30 (or the earliest we can get everyone out from school, JP2 gets out at 3:15, so it will probably be 4ish), head up to the slopes grabbing a quick bite to eat, ski late into the night at Perfect North (like 1am, its really cool).
Those who have never skied will have lesson options and some of us adult leader types will help you get through the equipment rental process.
We will then head back to lodging at Higher Ground Retreat Center just a few miles from the ski slope, grab a few hours rest, wake for breakfast, a time of devotion and then hit the slopes for the rest of the day. Ending around 5-6pm then heading home. Should arrive home around midnight.
Packing List
- Money for food (we have breakfast covered, but other than that, you’re on your own)
- Ski Gloves
- Ski Pants
- Nice Warm Jacket (preferably one that doesn’t get wet)
- Long Underwear
- Ski / Knit Hat
- Glasses or goggles (something to hold them on as well)
- Chap Stick
- Other under garment clothes (sweatshirt, pants, etc)
- Sleeping Bag & Pillow (needed cause we’re staying in bunkhouse type setting)
- Pillow and/or Blanket (for the bus for those that can sleep on the bus)
- Toiletries (I don’t want to smell your inevitable stink)
- Towel, Shampoo, Body Wash, Toothpaste, etc.
- If you think of something more, go ahead and put into a bag. Just think WARM and DRY and you will do just fine.
If you want to drop your stuff off early (so you can come over right after school) let me know and we will have the conference room open in the morning of Friday or Thursday evening to stick your stuff. Then you can just come on over and get on the bus ready to go.
If you have not turned in your Perfect North Ski Slope Release Form or the HFUMC 2009-2010 Health / Release Form, please bring those along with you on Friday or give to me sometime tomorrow around WNT / Ash Wednesday Service.
See many of you on Friday!!
shalom
-gavin
Check out the slopes here:
URL: http://www.perfectnorth.com
