More Pics from RockQuest

[Thanks to Brien for snapping them.] [Click on the pics to see them enlarged.]

Pics from the RockQuest Trip

We had ten climbers, two of them first-timers for our youth group journey to RockQuest yesterday. My son-in-law, Brien, took these pics. If you have more of them, please send them my way and we'll post them here on the blog!]

[Click on the pics to see them enlarged.]

Check This Out

[Click to see enlarged image.]

We've Got Another Fund Raiser on Tap

In addition to the other fund raisers designed to help cut down on your expenses associated with the mission trip this summer, we have another one scheduled.

It happens on Saturday, May 26, from 10AM to 6PM at Biggs, Eastgate. We'll be bagging groceries on the Memorial Day weekend, a time when we'll have an excellent chance of raising a good deal of money for the trip. Participants will be asked to arrive fifteen minutes early, just to get the lowdown.

For all of our other scheduled events for the next few months, go here.

Here are some of the youth activities nailed down for the next few months...

January 26/27: Bowling and Stuff Lock-in. We'll meet at Cherry Grove Lanes at 5:45PM. We have several lanes for two hours, 6 to 8PM. The cost is $11.00 per person and covers shoe rental, pizza, soft drinks, and lane rental. After we're done, we'll go to the church building to prep for the Bible Bowl and actually sleep. (Adults needed: 2 at the bowling alley and 1 males and 2 females for the overnight portion.) To help prepare for the Bible Bowl, we will also watch The Prince of Egypt.

February 25, 6:00PM: Rockquest. Depending on our group and how many adult belayers we provide, your cost could be anywhere between $15.00 to $22.50. Past trained adult belayers need to let me know of their availability.

March 4, 2:00 to 6:00PM, 2007 Southern Ohio Synod (ELCA) Bible Bowl. Here is the official web site for the event. Go there every day for updated information. There are also sample questions and memory verses that will be part of the competition. The focus of the Bible Bowl will be the Old Testament book of Exodus. I also suggest reading four chapters of Exodus every day. I would also advise that each day you pray God will teach you more about this fabulous book...not just to do well in the Bible Bowl, but also to grow in faith.

April 12, TGIFriday's. Information here. We should raise even more funds for the mission trip through this endeavor than we did the last time we did it!

April 29, Cookout, Sam's Club, 12:00-6:00PM. Same as last time, only warmer. Another difference: I've put in an application to get a $1000.00 matching grant.

Watch for a complete list of upcoming activities for the next three months or so, in the next several days.

Youth Meeting on January 14

There will be a brief meeting of our youth at 6:00 on January 14. We’ll look at the next few months and let you get back home to watch the NFL playpffs.

Put It on Your Calendars Now!

We'll be raising money again for the youth mission trip to New York by serving dinner (and getting the tips) at TGIFriday's at Anderson Town Center on Thursday, April 12, 2007. That's the Thursday after Easter.

We'll need twenty adult volunteers to help.

Tell all your friends that we'll be serving dinner from 5 to 9PM that night and that all their tips will help finance our trip!

We'll Make Tree Decorations on November 25

Our next youth get-together happens on Saturday, November 25, from 2:00 to 4:00 PM. We'll be making Chrismons for the church's Christmas tree. (Thanks to Charlene Hauke, who is helping us.)

I originally said that we would put the tree up on that date. But because Advent, the season before Christmas, doesn't begin until December 3, I'd like to ask as many of you as can be present on the evening of November 26, starting at 6PM, to be there then for the tree-decorating. I don't think that should take more than an hour.

Youth-Led Worship Postponed Until After First of Year

I spoke with your president, Courtney DeVore and vice president, Steve Feine, tonight about postponing the youth-led worship until after the first of the year. They agreed that given how busy all of our youth are this time of year and the little time that would be left to prepare for our originally-scheduled time, it would be best for the youth to lead worship after we get into the new year.

Results of This Past Week's Fundraising Efforts

Thanks to all the people who volunteered to wait and bus tables at TGIFriday's tonight, we raised $755.02 for the youth mission trip to New York! I thought that this was a great success on a night when it rained like crazy. (I also thank the Friendship folks who were there tonight to support the congregation's youth!)

When added to the $276.78 cleared from last week's Sam's Cookout, we've so far raised $1031.80 for the trip.

I'm keeping track of who has been able to work on a spread sheet. Some of the money raised will go toward gas money for the trip and the rest accounted to fund-raising participants.

There will be more fund-raisers after the first of the year, including a return to Friday's in early May.