Youth Serving Those Who Serve

A message from the Session...

Dear Middle & Senior High Youth,

We sure did enjoy your thoughtful gift. The cookies are delicious and the boxes really made them festive. We are so fortunate to have you as team members doing service, being thoughtful and caring. Your enthusiasm for doing what Jesus would do is exciting. Keep up all the good work. Thank you so much.

Blessings to You,

The Session

Yout Group STILL ON!

YOUTH GROUP is STILL ON for this Sunday at regular time!

Sr. Highs, if you need directions to Matt and Lindsey's house for the our Christmas Party...here they are:

Head down Nelson Farm Road, when you hit the intersection of Nelson Farm Road and Lee Street, go across Lee Streen into the new subdivision. You see Nelson Meadow (??). It's your third right. Go to the end and you'll know which house from there!

Sr. Highs Serving Lunch this SATURDAY!!

YOUTH ENGAGING IN SERVICE TEAM has organized a very short service opportunity!Sr. Highs will serve lunch to the Habitat forHumanity volunteers on Saturday, December 19th. Check church bulletin for needed donations! We'll meet in Brown Hall at 8:30 a.m. to cook it up and leave Brown Hall for the worksite @ 10:30 a.m. We should be home no later than 12:45 p.m.

To be broken, unbroken and NEW!

SUNDAY, DECEMBER 6th

Both Middle School & Sr. High took part in an activity that was a bit messy, a bit frustrating, and highly creative. Each youth, or a group of two or three, were given a clay pot symbolizing themselves. We then broke that perfectly shaped pot into many pieces only to put the pot back together. Interesting concept, huh? However, never did I say that putting the clay pot back together meant it had to look like it once was. Some chose to put the pot back together as close to the original form (however, there were still cracks and scars), some decided to make something new and creative, and some just got frustrated.

Objective: When we feel like we are lacking in “fruit,” and we feel “broken,” never should we be content in remaining broken. No Christian should ever seek to become broken in any way, either. How do we become unbroken? We need to remember that we don't always go back together the same way after being broken, and, actually, that is something to celebrate!

• If your life has no fruit, then God wants to clean you.
• If your life has some fruit, then God wants to prune you.
• If your life has a lot of fruit, then God wants to abide more deeply with you.

Upcoming Opportunities to Serve!

MIDDLE SCHOOL Salvation Army Bell Ringing
Wednesday, December 9th
6:00-8:00 p.m. @ Walmart off of Interstate 85
If you need a ride, please let Scott know. We can take a church van, and take everyone home if need by.




YOUTH ENGAGING IN SERVICE TEAM
has organized a very short service opportunity!
Sr. Highs will serve lunch to the Habitat for
Humanity volunteers on Saturday, December 19th. Check church bulletin for needed donations!

Friday, December 18:
Brown Hall to cook chili at 7:00 p.m.
Saturday, December 19:
Leave Brown Hall for worksite @ 10:30 a.m.

If you have a lot of fruit, God wants to abide in you...

If we have a lot of fruit...

Parker!

Middle School Youth

Human Foosball Madness!!

THIS Sunday, November 15...

HUMAN FOOSBALL!!

Brown Hall... Angelia's Pizza for Dinner... bring friends... bring your "A" game!!

SR. HIGH YOUTH GROUP TONIGHT!

Change in plans! We are meeting at the same time as usual, but we're NOT going to Center City Park like planned. Weather is too nasty! So instead we are sticking around the church. Please make a HUGE effort to come! Bring on a new CHALLENGE!! Sooo...

6:00 p.m. Youth Dinner (bring $3.00)
6:30-8:00 p.m. SENIOR HIGH YOUTH GROUP (Youth Room)

YOUTH NEWSLETTER

Youth Newsletter for NOVEMBER 2009 is hot of the press and in the mail! Go to the church website to download the PDF file! www.alamancechurch.org

Fun Bike Trip we had!!

Yesterday we had a great afternoon on the Lake Brandt Greenway Bike Trail in Greensboro! It was first planned out to be a middle school bike trip to Virginia Creeper trail, but it turned out to be a middle school / Kid Rocks / family kinda gig in G'boro instead! God works if funny ways, you know? It was a great day of biking! I'll be scheduling another one of these real soon.

Pictured: Chad, Kestyn, Ciara, Danny, Jade, Scott, Madison, Tyler, Spencer, Stephanie, Pierson, Carter, and Jimmy

Middle School Bike Trip Changed a Bit!!

Middle School Bike Trip Slight Change... but still THIS SUNDAY!!
The Middle School bike trip has changed a bit! Because of the small sign up for the trip to the Virginia Creeper, I've decided to change the trip up a bit and make it a bit more user friendly for youth and families combined!

We're now going to bike the Lake Brandt Greenway in Greensboro and I'm inviting all families to join us!! The weather is suppose to be perfect and making this a family oriented trip makes this even better. However, if family can't come, youth can still come! So get your bike dusted off!!

DEPART: 12:30 p.m. from the church parking lot. This should give everyone plenty of time to go home after worship, grab their bikes and gear, and eat some lunch.
TRANSPORTATION: We'll have a variety of ways to get to the trail. You can drive yourself, or join us in a church van. We have a couple ways to transport everyone's bikes. So now worries!
COST: $0
DISTANCE: The bike trail is all paved, so road bikes welcome! Check out the map that I've attached. The distance is about 2.5 miles. We'll park at one end, bike to the end, and then bike back to the cars.
ARRIVE BACK: I plan on making it back to the church no later than 5:30 p.m. if we can so I can make it to sr. high youth group.

Virginia Creeper Trail - Middle School Trip!

WHEN: This Sunday, October 25th
DEPART: Right after Worship @ 11:00 a.m. PLEASE NOTE! We will load bikes between 8:30 and 9:00 a.m. before Sunday School. Please do this!!
LUNCH: Pack your lunch so we can eat on the way.
DINNER: We'll stop for fast food on the way home. So bring money!
BIKE? We will take our own bikes. Don't have one, ask a friend or let me know.
WHAT KIND OF BIKE: The trail is cinder, so bikes with road tires (skinny tires) won't work. But anything between that will be just fine.
OTHER: You might want water along the way. Make sure you bring a backpask if you need to carry it. I will ahve a backpack to carry a few if need be.
LENGTH: The trail sextion we are riding is about 1.5 hours depending how fast we go.
BACK HOME: We should be home around 9:00 p.m. Remember, no school the next day!
COST: The only money you need is for dinner on the way home. THAT'S IT!!

IMPORTANT!
You must sign up to go by Thursday, October 22! You can email or call me!
Scott@Alamancechurch.org (697-0488)

Youth Group (Oct. 18)

Sr. Highs and Their Pumpkins!

SR. HIGH: Haunted House THIS Friday!

Sr. Highs HAUNTED HOUSE!
Friday, October 16th

• Meet at the church by 7:00 p.m.
• Go by church vans!
• "Nightmare on Scales Street" in Reidsville, NC
• Cost is $13.00 w/ Canned Food Donations ($15 w/out)
• Back to the church around 10 or 10:30 p.m. (Please tell your parents!)

"Chat, Chew, & View"

Last night we had well over 100 parents and youth combined for our "Chat, Chew, & View" event! We all enjoyed great conversation, ate dinner around the table, and had a special presentation in the sanctuary by our youth. Thanks to all who came out to hear about our youth trips this past summer.

Wednesday Night w/ Kristen Levens

Sr. Highs! Don't miss out on this chilled out, take a short break, and rejuvenate kind of small group! Kristen Levens will lead you through a way of digging deep into scripture as it relates to your style of music! Each night the group will pick one of your songs, listen to it, talk about it, and then pair it up with scripture. The conversation might even be a bit strange at times!

Meet in the Youth Room starting Wednesday, October 7

6:30 p.m. to 7:00-ish

Claire Holley Concert

Last night the middle school and senior highs saw Claire Holley in concert. It was great style of music to mellow ones soul from a crazy week! Enjoy a couple of the pictures. Next Sunday is "Chat, Chew, & View." This is a special event for EVERYONE! That includes youth, friends, family, and those who help sponsor our youth for this past year's summer youth trips. We'll eat, enjoy each others company, and we'll have a final program in the Sanctuary where youth will share their summer youth trip experiences. More info to come!

YOUTH GROUP Sun., September 27th

CLAIRE HOLLY in Concert

Middle School & Sr. High Youth

More information:

http://www.pcmgreensboro.org/PCM/Home.html

www.ClaireHolley.com

SHOWTIME:

7:00 p.m.

VENUE:

Presbyterian Church of the Covenant

TICKETS:

$7.00 (bring $$ w/ you)

We'll leave APC by 6:15 p.m.

Sr. Highs who drive may do so, but you must have a note from your parents giving you permission to drive and permission to have other passengers. Sr. high passengers must have permission from parent to ride with another youth.

Fall Youth Theme Revealed

"BRANCHING OUT"

John 15:5-8 (Message)

I am the Vine, you are the branches. When you're joined with me and I with you, the relation intimate and organic, the harvest is sure to be abundant. Separated, you can't produce a thing.

Separated, you can't produce a thing. Anyone who separates from me is deadwood, gathered up and thrown on the bonfire.

But if you make yourselves at home with me and my words are at home in you, you can be sure that whatever you ask will be listened to and acted upon.

This is how my Father shows who he is—when you produce grapes, when you mature as my disciples.

Youth Mystery Trip to a Vineyard

Youth Group Scripture (Sept. 13, 2009)

Live Well, Live Wisely
James 17-18 (Message)

Real wisdom, God's wisdom, begins with a holy life and is characterized by getting along with others. It is gentle and reasonable, overflowing with mercy and blessings, not hot one day and cold the next, not two-faced. You can develop a healthy, robust community that lives right with God and enjoy its results only if you do the hard work of getting along with each other, treating other s with dignity and honor.

Youth Group MYSTERY TRIP!!

THIS SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 19th

Middle School & Sr. High

We leave from the church @ 8:00 a.m. SHARP!! So don't be late!

Pack a lunch and wear something you don't mind getting dirty.

Back to the church by 12:30 p.m.

Don't let sleeping in get in the way!

YOUTH GROUP STARTING SOON!

Couple more photos!

Middle School Mission Photos!

Middle School Mission Trip Update!

Yes, we are here in Hampton, Georgia!  Sorry for the delay in updating the blog.  We've been working hard and playing hard ever since we turned left into the Calvin Center.  It's hot and humid, but it hasn't stop our middle school youth from doing some great work for two elderly folks in the community.  Work consists of scraping, painting, cleaning up garbage, and going to the dump.  However, one special project for the week is building a dog house for one of the dogs. I know it sounds pretty pointless, but a group of the youth felt that the neighbor dog really needed a better house to live.  So, a house we are building.  We'll keep you updated on the progress.  It should be done by Friday.

Well, everyone is doing GREAT!  I hope to take some time later to load some more photos.  As usual, my brain is fried.  Fried brain = bad writing.  So I'll stick with photos.  ~ Scott

Back from Philly now off to Georgia!

It's time for the middle school mission trip to Calvin Center in Hampton, Ga! We'll be there August 9-15. We'll be staying at the Presbyterian Camp Calvin and participating in their Mission Work Camp. Mission Work Camp allows our group the opportunity to reach out with the love of Jesus Christ through fellowship and service. Typical projects consist of painting, simple carpentry, yard work, and cleaning. In addition to repairing the homes of some very deserving people, we'll have the opportunity to connect with the homeowners and hear their amazing life stories. Seeing people of all ages come together to build, reconstruct, listen and talk is a very powerful way to live out Christ’s call for us to be people of word and deed.

So follow our stories on the blog! We'll try to post photos and video updates everyday if we can. It's going to be a hot, fun, yet rewarding week!

HOME from PHILLY!

We made it home! It was an amazing trip and I can't wait to see what the youth are going to do with their lives now that they've been so heavily educated in homelessness, faith, community, and so much more!

Peter reflects on the Philly service trip

Matt Poole reflects on his experience in Philadelphia

Kelsey Ford reflects on her Philadelphia experience

BROAD STREET MINISTRY UPDATE #9

Running up the stairs like ROCKY!!

Sadly, the only way for me to get in a picture is to take a picture of my reflection looking at a skyscraper.