Youth E-Letter
For the week of 6-30-08
Hebrews 13:5-6 Because God has said, "Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you." So we say with confidence, "The Lord is my helper; I will not be afraid. What can man do to me?"
This Week in Worship: We will not be having youth-led worship for the summer. Please take this opportunity to worship with your family. Youth-led worship will resume September 7. Please note that service times change this Sunday to 9 and 10:30 am.
Monday Night Live Begins TONIGHT June 30 at 7pm! It will literally Kickoff with a night of kickball, football, etc! Bring your friends! We have a plan B if it continues to rain so still come on out!
NEXT MONDAY NIGHT LIVE: Messy Game Night! Dress for mess! 7-9pm
Summer Youth Calendar: If you did not receive a snail mail copy of our summer youth calendar reply to this email and we’ll get one out to you!
Happening THIS WEEK:
Tuesday: High School Girls D-Team 7 pm at the Stitzlein’s
11th & 12th Grade Guys D-Team 7 pm in The Refuge
Sunday: Worship at 9 and 10:30 a.m. in the Sanctuary
Middle High D-Team 7pm in The Refuge
June 30, 2008
1. Something for Your Heart
2. Surf Report
3. Forgettable Fact
4. Potent Quotables
5. Uh, That's Funny?
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LIVE TEEN BIBLE
This ain't your mom and dad's Bible. Write in it, draw in it, create in it, live in it. Express yourself as you discover God.
Check it out at http://www.group.com/live/.
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FOLLOW THE LEADER: JESUS AS A TEENAGER
Memory Verse:
"Children, obey your parents in the Lord, for this is right. ‘Honor your father and mother'--which is the first commandment with a promise--‘that it may go well with you and that you may enjoy long life on the earth.'" (Ephesians 6:1-3)
Introduction:
Sometimes it's hard for me to imagine that Jesus had parents. How do you parent the Son of God? And how does God in the flesh honor his parents' authority? This week we'll take a look at how Jesus responded to his earthly parents. This will be one of the most important parts of your journey to deepen your relationship with Jesus.
Your parents were put into your life for several reasons:
1. They see the real you no one else sees. They're the first ones to see if your walk with Jesus is real or if you only put on a front. Whenever you come home, you take off your mask and the real you comes out.
2. They're supposed to model godly character for you. Believe it or not, the majority of us will eventually take on most of the characteristics of our parents. That's good news if you have godly parents, and it's something you'll have to resist if your parents haven't been good role models.
3. God gives parents a unique ability to discern danger for their children. If you'll learn to listen to them objectively, then God will use them to protect you from destructive relationships and situations.
4. Most parents love their children and desire the best for them. All children desire a heart connection with their parents and need that relationship to be healthy.
If you don't live with your parents or if your parents have failed to fulfill their God-given responsibilities, then God will be your Parent. In fact, many of the Old Testament men and women whom God used were orphans or from one-parent families.
Okay, let's get ready for a week of learning more about Jesus. Remember, he designed you, and he knows how you're wired. Ask God to give you an open heart as he teaches you from his Word this week.
DAILY DEVOTIONS
Day 1
Luke 2:41-50
It's difficult to imagine God having to yield to his earthly parents' authority. In the passage you just read, Jesus didn't stay with his parents. After three days of searching, they finally found him in the temple. Then Jesus honestly told them he had to do the will of God.
A misunderstanding (common among parents and teenagers) took place, yet Jesus never raised his voice. The important thing is not that misunderstandings happen between you and your parents; the important thing is your response to them. God will use conflicts and trials to help you grow. It's almost like a test. Tests reveal both what you know and what you don't know.
Write down some of the weak areas in your relationship with your mom or dad.
Spend a few moments taking these areas to God and asking him to improve them. Also, ask God to give you wisdom this week in relating to your parents.
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Taken from "Christ: The Life of Christ--The Basis of Faith" by Student Life, copyright 2008 Youth Specialties/Zondervan. Used by permission. Order the book here:
http://www.youthspecialties.com/shop/product_info.php?products_id=414
~ Next Step: Your life after high school
http://www.nextstepmagazine.com/nextstep/default.aspx
~ Teen Writing Contests
http://www.davidbarrkirtley.com/teenwriter/Contests.html
A species of earthworm in Australia grows up to 10 feet in length.
"I wonder what it would be like to live in a world where it was always June."
~ L. M. Montgomery
"Summer afternoon - summer afternoon; to me those have always been the two most beautiful words in the English language."
~ Henry James
Today's chunk of wisdom: "Never kick a cow chip on a hot day."--Will Rogers
*All "surf report" internet links and "potent quotables" are provided for informational purposes, and do not imply endorsement by Youth Specialties.
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Allison Sarracino
Youth Pastor
Oakdale Emory UMC
(work) 301-774-2406 ext. 16
(cell) 301-395-5316
(fax) 301-774-3157