FEBRUARY YOUTH
NEWS
“Though your sins are like scarlet, they shall
be made white as snow,” declares the Lord.
~Isaiah 1:18~
I had a situation recently in which I needed
to do laundry very badly. I was down to my last pair of socks.
Every time I opened my closet door to grab a sweatshirt to don, my
feet were buried in the pile of dirty clothes that toppled out. My
schedule was full of late nights and early mornings. Weekends left
no time to slow down and switch loads between washer and dryer. I
wonder how many of you reading this have experienced the limited
wardrobe and overwhelming task of laundry.
Realizing I would not have the chance to do
my laundry all at one time, I worked on my loads of laundry one at
a time over a few days. I didn’t need to nor was I able to do it
all at once. I worked on it little by little and eventually it was
complete and my closet was renewed.
I can’t help but think of this as our lives
completely taken over by sin, limiting our every day lives. Every
time we slide the door open, we remember what’s there. It buries
our feet in place and for a moment we are paralyzed. We eventually
sigh and shuffle our dirty laundry back into wherever we can hide
it and head out into the world again, putting on a smile for all
to see. We keep ourselves busy either by choice or by situation,
leaving no time to work on the mounting pile.
Sometimes we think we must cleanse ourselves
of all our dirty laundry at once before we turn to Jesus. We need
to be squeaky clean for Jesus to accept us. But the truth is Jesus
wants us…right now…with all of our laundry. He wants to take us in
our last pair of socks. Jesus will walk us as we work on our dirty
laundry one load at a time. This task of laundry begins with
Jesus. Our time spent with Him is all He asks. As Lent begins let
us all take time out of our schedules to be with Jesus.
What the Youth
have done:
Fellowship Opportunity: Open Youth Room
On Tuesday, December 29th, the
youth room was open to all youth in 7th-12th
grade. Sadly no one attended.
Fellowship Opportunity: Service and Fun Day
Out!
On Wednesday, December 30th,
Amanda, 2 chaperones, and 10 youth journeyed in the van to
Downtown Minneapolis and the surrounding area for a day of fun and
fellowship on the Lightrail, at The Depot for ice skating, a movie
at Forest Lake Theatre, and dinner at Pizza Hut.
Fellowship Opportunity: Graduates of Elim
Reunion
On Wednesday, December 30th, all
graduates of Elim in the past 5 years were invited for a night of
fun, fellowship, and conversation. Fourteen graduates attended and
we’re planning on doing this again next year!
Service Opportunity: Date Night
On Friday, January 8th, 5 children
attended Date Night where they were watched by 8 youth who played
games, colored, and watched a movie with them! Thanks so much to
all! Looking forward to next month.
Service Opportunity: Undecorate the Sanctuary
On Saturday, January 9th, 3 youth
helped the congregation take down Christmas decorations around the
church. Thanks so much for all your help!
Learning Opportunity for Volunteers: Recharge
No one from Elim attended this opportunity.
Only 2 inquiries were made.
SKI TRIP:
Saturday, January 16th – Monday,
January 18th, Amanda and 4 chaperones brought 18 youth
to Giant’s Ridge for a wonderful weekend of skiing, fellowship,
and fun! We had wonderful weather and great volunteers! Thanks so
much to all who attended! It truly was a memorable trip!
Service Opportunity: Youth Coffee Hour (6th
grade)
On Sunday, January 17th, 9 – 6th
graders and their families helped serve and clean up Coffee Hour.
$150 was donated and $75 went to the Campership Funds, while the
other half is being put towards donations of the ELCA Gift
Catalog.
What the Youth have planned:
Service Opportunity for Mission Trip
Participants: Elim’s Bake-Off
On Sunday, January 24th, the youth
participating in the 2010 Mission Trips to Green Bay, WI and
Thunder Bay, Ontario, Canada will be selling their entry in hopes
of winning 1st prize for the second year in a row! See
Amanda with questions.
Service Opportunity: Stuffing Envelopes
On Monday, January 25th, there is
an opportunity to earn service hours by stuffing envelopes at the
Fire Hall for the upcoming community events. This was a huge help
last year for the Lasagna Dinner! We need your help! Sign up in
the Youth Room! We start stuffing envelopes at the Fire Hall at
7:30pm!
YOUTH SUNDAY PRACTICE BEGINS!
Music practice dates: Wednesday, February 3rd,
10th, and 17th – 8pm-9pm
Saturday, February, 20th – 9am-finish
Readers, Greeters, and Ushers: Saturday,
February 20th – 9am-finish
Service Opportunity: Date Night
The next Date Night will be Friday, February
5th from 5pm-10pm. Please sign up in the youth room if
you would like to help serve dinner and help play games with the
children of the community!
Service Opportunity: Mardi Gras
Sunday, February 7th will be Mardi
Gras, complete with a silent auction, Mardi Gras food served, and
carnival games for all!
Please plan on helping set up on Saturday,
February 6th beginning at 10am!
CAMP SUNDAY and YOUTH SUNDAY!
Mark your calendars to worship on February 21st
at the 9am and 10:30am services with the youth as your worship
leaders!
Information about summer camps (Vacation
Bible School, Mission Trips, 9th Grade Camp, Summer
Festival, and Luther Point Bible Camp) will be available,
including representatives from Summer Festival and Luther Point
Bible Camp.
Youth in 7th – 12th
grades:
Schedule for Wednesdays during Lent
February 17th: Ash Wednesday
Service at 7pm
February 24th, March 3rd,
10th, 17th, and 24th:
Come for soup between 5pm – 6pm
Be in Chapel by 6pm
Activities:
