Welcome to the July edition of the N.E.T.M.A. newsletter where you won't
ever have to say, "Nobody ever tells me Anything!"
From the Youth Pastor
I will never forget the first Fourth of July that I experienced as a father. My daughter Rachel was just over two months old and for some reason, I thought she would enjoy the fireworks display as all the colors unfolded in the sky above us. I had temporarily forgotten about all the loud noises. Temporarily, that is, until her screams of terror drowned out the fireworks! It was then that I began to realize that screams, whether out of frustration, being startled, scared or happy, and the fourth of July go together. Think about it with me for a minute…it was our nation’s screams for independence that brought about this day we celebrate in the first place, and our children’s quest for independence can bring about the same types of screams in our lives, as well as theirs.
God has uniquely created each one of us and when He did, scripture tells us that He had specific things in mind for us to accomplish. Ephesians 2:10 tells us, “we are God’s workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.” Since this is the case, it only stands to reason that we would seek out what it is He created us to do…we call it our search for independence, discovering who we are meant to be as an individual, apart from the rest of our family. As a parent, are you helping to guide your child to discover what this is and to lead them toward their independence or, are you not necessarily intending to, keeping them from being able to discover this?
In reading Wild at Heart by John Eldredge, this all came back to me when I read these words, “Most of us have been misinterpreting life and what God is doing for a long time...We’re asking the wrong questions. Most of us are asking, ‘God, why did you let this happen to me?’ or, ‘God, why won’t you just get my kids to straighten out?’” When, what we should be asking is, “God, what are you trying to teach me here? What issues in my heart are you trying to raise through this? What is it you want me to see? What are you asking me to let go of?” Too often, we as parents forget that God has called us and given us the privilege and honor of participating in raising His children.
One thing I have discovered, as I continue to raise the four children that God has entrusted to my care, is the search for independence during the adolescent years is scary enough for my kids. Is what I am doing helping them or keeping them from discovering their independence? Am I helping to guide them and celebrate their independence, or are we at war over it? Their screams are always the best way to gauge how I am doing!
VBS Information
Reminders for Youth Helpers with Children’s VBS. First, ONLY those youth who signed up and have been assigned a job for the week need to show up. We have had some issues in the past with youth showing up and wandering around and distracting others while VBS is taking place. You can check with Carolyn Krisha at the church office if you are not sure if your teen has been assigned a job. There were sign-ups in their Sunday school classes for a month back in April and May. Second, there will be a separate youth snack area this year. Youth will have snacks to eat during their breaks, IF they provide them.
Reminders for Youth VBS: Youth VBS will take place Sunday, July 5, from 6:30 to 10 p.m. Monday through Thursday evenings will run from 6 to 9 p.m. at the Power House. Youth are asked to bring a 2-liter drink and snack to share. If all youth will do this they should only need to bring one of each. This year’s youth VBS is called Searching for the Truth and will lead teens to discover how Christianity compares to world religions while building them up in their own personal faith journey. Remember, this is the event when we welcome our rising 7th graders to the youth ministry.
Important Kroger Card Information
Several of you have had problems with the magnetic strip on your Kroger cards. Please be aware of these two important facts: first, do not let Kroger give you a new replacement card. When you don’t get your card from me your number is not tracked and you will not get the 5% rewards from your purchases. Second, when you are no longer using your Kroger card, please return it to me so that I can let the person tracking the cards know that number is no longer being used before we destroy the card.
If you would like to purchase a Kroger card and start receiving money back from your purchases for your child’s youth account, just contact Danny.
S.N.A.C. Summertime is quickly approaching, which means that Sunday Night After Church is as well!
We kick off our summer S.N.A.C.’s this month and here are just a few things to remember.
1) This is an acronym for Sunday Night After Church. It is a fellowship time from 7:30 to 10:00 p.m. Youth MUST attend the evening activities at church in order to attend S.N.A.C. for that night.
2) We ask students to bring a drink and snack to share. Sometimes the host home provides grilled hot dogs, ice cream or pizza, but it is not necessary as long as the students do their part by bringing the drinks and snacks.
3) S.N.A.C. ends by 10 p.m., so please be sure to pick your child up so that the host family can get to bed.
Jr. High Weekend at Eagle Eyrie
Jr. High Weekend at Eagle Eyrie is October 11-13. The theme is Up2You! It is based upon Hebrews 12:1-2, “Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles, and let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us. Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before him endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.” Jr. High Weekend is open to students in the 7th through 9th grades for the 2009/20010 school year. It is a weekend filled with worship, fellowship and special interest conferences designed specifically for young adolescents. The cost for the weekend is $80 with a $1O non-refundable deposit due no later than Sunday, September 13.
July Dates to Remember
03 – Return from Centrifuge around 4 p.m.
05–09 – Youth VBS (see above information)
12, 19 & 26 – S.N.A.C. (see above information)
16 – Youth and family night at the Salem Red Sox game. Meet at the church at 6:11 or at the park at 6:51 for a fun night of fellowship and baseball. Tickets are $6 each for general admission.
19–25 – Impact VA mission trip to the eastern shore
28 – White water rafting trip. Youth who signed up and paid their deposits will receive information in the mail along with a release that needs to be filled out and returned
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