Youth Term 1 2016

Hi everyone - things have been pretty quiet for the past year with formal Youth activities, but WAC Youth have been getting involved in lots of all-age church activities, and we're seeing more and more taking on responsibilities around the joint - which is fantastic!

On Sundays there are youth running the data projector (and preparing the slides beforehand too), reading the Bible to us, welcoming, leading singing (with their voices and a mic., or drums, or bass, or piano, or brass!), serving morning tea, passing their knowledge and faith on to the younger kids in SALT Club - frankly, the place would probably fall down if the youth all took the weekend off at once.

Great news though!  There's an event just for youth coming up on the 4th April for peeps in Grade 3 + It's going to be a terrific afternoon/evening, with games, other fun activities (oooh, I do love a bit of mystery!)  and of course food.  All this is happening at Kerrie and Dan's place, so you know the food will be GOOD!  Thanks for offering, guys!

Hey, if you've got ideas for future activities, let us know - talk to Richard, Andy, Kerrie, Alison or Katie.  We love hearing your suggestions!

Opportunity Knocks!

Image from Dreamstime.com

Hi everyone!

THIS SUNDAY: Meet as usual 5pm @ WAC. We're on the home straight, finishing our gallop through an overview of the Bible - this week we look at Jesus' Resurrection - so what?  And Jesus' Gift to us - The Holy Spirit. And just because, we're going on a 'Treasure Hunt' - bring a camera or iPhone, we're 'collecting' treasure around Warragul town.  Permission slips are needed cos we're (walking) off-site: on the blog go to the right column and click on 'Treasure Hunt Permission' for a printable form.

NEXT WEEK:  We meet @ WAC for the grand finale!  The Return of Jesus, and the New Creation! New Creation... that's what we are when we're baptised into Jesus.   Hot summer evening... makes you think about water, doesn't it?!  Come in clothes you don't mind getting wet, bring a towel, and we'll have some watery outdoor fun (weather permitting)!

OPPORTUNITY:  Youth Bible Group has been invited to lead prayers for the Combined Carols, 8th December at 7pm!  We'll meet at the usual time, and plan our prayers over a bite to eat.  If you can't stay for the service, that's OK, we'd still love your input for the prayers. But we hope you can stay!

BBQ and Bonfire Night! Last Sunday's Outing

Well, that's what it was going to be - but God has a sense of humour!  When we were going to have a tobogganing trip, the sun came out and there was no snow.  When we were going to have a beach day, it poured.  This time, when we were going to have a BBQ and Bonfire night (doesn't that sound like a good choice for a chilly winter outing?!) we had wild wind, rain and thunder!

But the Youth Bible Group's motto is NEVER GIVE UP!!

SO... we had our BBQ and Bonfire at Katie's place - she doesn't have a BBQ, so we grilled the snags on the stove - and then rolled them in bread and tomato sauce in the traditional way;  and she doesn't have a bonfire, so we toasted marshmellows on the stove top - but hey, they went all crispy and black on the outside, and gooey and melty on the inside, just the way they do over a bonfire!  Someone ate so many he was feeling a little ill... or maybe that's because he prefers his marshmellows more charcoal than lolly...

AND we got to watch a rather peculiar animated movie - 'The Tale of Despereaux', which was definitely a warmer option than tramping through mud and long grass in a storm.

Next outing is scheduled for 15th September, and we're hoping to go to 'Bounce' in the city... what could possibly go wrong for that one??!

The Challenge...

OK, so I told the Youth Bible Group that their homework was to have a look at this blog... and that they would see something to their advantage...!  What could it be, what could it be?  ...  Here it is - this is a test of your ability to draw as well as whether you did your homework or not!

If you see this, sketch the pic. you see here, just a stick figure will do, as long as I can tell it's the same one - and show it to me after church on Sunday (you'll need  to be quick, I'm off to Ellinbank at 10.55!), or if (*gasp!* surely not!) you don't crawl out of bed in time for church, send it to me as an mms .... there's a chocolate frog in it!

This pic. tells us something about the big story of the Bible - it's not about a God who sits around hoping we'll like him.  It's about our God who comes looking for us, and does whatever it takes to rescue us.  Cool, eh?!

Term 3 in Full Swing - or Swim?

Today we started a new series - it's called 'Bible Overview', which is really random, because what it really is is an overview of the Bible.  Who knew?

Anyway, the plan is that in 15 sessions, we get a bird's-eye-view of the big story of God and human beings, through all of history, from when it all began up to now.  The coolest thing is that when we've got that big picture clear, it gets much easier to 'get' where different bits of the Bible fit in.
SO... we started by jotting down a whole lot of events from the Bible, 5 or so from each person, and put them in order.  We were pretty good at some parts of the Bible, but there were some shaky bits too!  Like, when exactly did Amos prophecy that Israel was in deep do-do?  Was it before or after Darius the Mede threw Shad. Mech. and Abed. into the fiery furnace??
And did Naomi sort out Ruth's love-life before or after Jonah went deep-sea diving in the first (fully organic) submarine???
The BIG question is, will we be able to answer those questions after we've done this series????
Anyway, if you want to get the jump on the course, click on the pic. at left - there's a website that takes you through it...
Or you can just turn up next week, for part two!

What our youth minister wants for Christmas...

            What do I want for Christmas?  I’m glad you asked!  I have a list - it’s not long, but may involve some expense for some - no, for all of us… I want every teenager who could claim they belong to Warragul Anglican Church to have their own Bible, in a version they can easily read.  I want each of them to be able to explain what makes someone a Christian, versus another faith. I want each of them to know in their bones that they belong to our church family, and are wanted, known, respected, valued, and missed when they aren’t there.  I want each of them to know that they have a ministry among us, not only to peers and children younger than themselves, but to the whole church.  I want every one of them to sense Jesus with them, moment by moment, their Saviour, King and Friend.

            Which is why I’m loving our Youth Bible Group on Sunday afternoons - it’s Christmas every week, because I’m seeing our teens sharing their knowledge and questions and concern for their school mates and hopes about life with each other, and I’m seeing them grow in maturity and love and knowledge of God week by week.  It’s why I love spotting our teens on the sound desk and in the music group and reading the Bible and welcoming, and especially chatting with folk of every age over morning tea.  And why I get a thrill when I hear someone praying for our kids - and even more when I hear our kids praying.

            I’m really looking forward to the combined St Paul’s School and WAC Carols on 9^th December, because some of our teens are going to minister to us in music that night.  That same morning, we’re going to celebrate as a few more young’uns graduate from Salt Club and take their place among the adults on Sundays, 

and I’m excited, because I’m looking forward to hearing them lead us in prayer, challenge us to share our faith, show us the way as they welcome people over a plate of biscuits, spur us on to give to people in need, and step up to be the leaders of the next generation.

            And I’m bouncing in my chair as I look forward to Sunday 16^th December, when a couple of our teens plan to confirm that this faith we share is their faith, before the Bishop and the whole church. 

            After all this, unwrapping presents on the 25^th could be a bit lame…!