Youth Blog

Volume 3/Issue 3

Party at the Shaffer’s

This Sunday the unbeaten Patriots and the the New York Football Giants square off in the biggest pro football game of the year.  As is our custom the UMYF will be holding a Super Bowl Party starting at 4:00 p.m. Till the game is over and this year’s event will be hosted by the Shaffer family.  (Direction Below) If your last name starts with A-M bring a snack to share with others.  If you last name starts with N-Z bring a drink to share.  Our host house boasts a 104 inch TV for our football viewing, commercial judging bash as well as another TV for games, etc. and a long drive for Skate Boarding if the weather holds up.  Come enjoy the game or friends or both at the UMYF Super Bowl Party.

Directions to the Shaffer’s:
1724 Misty Creek Lane
Fort Collins, CO  80524
970-224-2785

Easiest directions:  Head north on Taft Hill Road.  Cross CR 54 (there is an American Legion building on northwest corner) and continue approximately 1 mile.  Turn right on Misty Creek Lane -- it's easy to miss!  There is a stone marker that reads "Misty Creek Ranches" outside the development, but if you're going too fast, it's easy to drive right past and not see it.  I'll put some balloons or a sign or something up to make it easier to see.

Our house is at the very end of the street, last house on the left.

Youth Room Remodeling Hopes to Begin SOON!

We have been talking about, planning, obtaining approval and raising money to remodel the Youth Area in the Basement of the church education wing. With the success of the Advent Dinner Theatre we now have enough money to move forward with our plans and that means a few work days will be scheduled for the coming months.  We will have one Saturday to take out the dividers and build permanent walls with new electrical outlets.  A second day will be for building two steps in the Senior High Room (risers for the couches) and one final day to paint like crazy.  These work days will be scheduled soon so if you would like to help (Youth, Parents, etc.) Keep watching for those specific dates and consider helping make our youth rooms an exciting place to nurture young faith.

Senior High Retreat Has a Home

With no Up With Youth to attend this spring the youth program is planning a Senior High retreat open to any youth in 9th-12th grades.  With a little phone tag and investigation we have secured a great cabin facility at the YMCA of the Rockies in Estes Park, CO for March 28-30.  This location will be the perfect place for our retreat and we are excited about this opportunity.  We have plenty of room and now that we have a place, the registration forms for this event will be out this Sunday at the Super Bowl Party or you can get them from Joel starting Sunday morning.  Registration deadlines will be announced next week in the Young Methodist Reporter and the cost of the trip will be $100 for food, lodging, travel and sponsor expenses.  Scholarships are available if needed so get signed up early and join us for a wonderful weekend of faith fellowship and fun in God’s beautiful creation.

Youth, Sexuality and God Set for 7th & 8th Graders

It has been a long time coming but we can finally announce the scheduling of a Human Sexuality Workshop  we are calling Youth, Sexuality and God for 7th and 8th graders.  This will be a two day event on April 5th and 6th here at the church.  We are bringing back Rev. Gary Haddock who led the last workshop of this kind back in 2002 and are excited by this opportunity to engage in a deep and meaningful experience exploring the confusing and often scary topic of teen sexuality.  This workshop will have a small fee and registration will be required.  It includes sections for youth and parents alone as well as some together as parents and youth learn to open up discussion about human sexuality.  More details and registration forms will be coming out in the next couple of weeks so be looking for those and keep looking in future Reporters for more information on how you can be a part of this important ministry.

UMYF Planning Team Reminder

With the Super Bowl Party this Sunday we will not meet to plan UMYF but mark your calendars for Wednesday February 6th from 4-5 p.m.  The planning team for UMYF on Feb. 10th includes Mike Rowlett, Jordan Raab, Chelsea Shaffer, Evan Mackes and Mackenzie Wrobbel. We will meet in my office and please let me know if are not going to make the meeting so we can get your input and assign tasks for Sunday Feb. 10th.  If you would like to be on a UMYF planning team in the coming months, please e-mail me.

The Young Methodist Reporter is a weekly e-mail newsletter highlighting the ministry of youth at First United Methodist Church Fort Collins, CO.  If you know of someone who might like to receive this e-mail or you would prefer not to receive it please let me know at jkershaw@fcfumc.net <mailto:jkershaw@fcfumc.net> .  The YMR is sent in the BCC field to protect the e-mail addresses of all who wish to keep up on youth ministry at FUMC.  I pray that the grace of God brings joy into your lives each and every day!
   

Issue 3/Volume 2

Wishes for a Happy New Year

Another year has come and gone and with winter break fast ending it is time to get things back to relative normal here at FUMC.  I hope and pray that you all had a wonderful Christmas and a safe and fun New Years.  With a new year comes new commitments and goals.  Some might like to better themselves by reading more or working out.  Perhaps others will try something new or retry something old.  Whatever might be on your list of goals for 2008 keep in mind that no one can go it alone.  If you want to work out more, find a friend to help motivate you.  If you want to read more join a club or form a new one.  If you want to try something, talk a friend into trying it with you.  And always remember that God is our source of strength and love and that God’s presence in our lives will be with us long after we’ve given up on the Nobel Prize or six pack abs.  

UMYF Kicks off the New Year this Sunday

This Sunday will mark the first regular UMYF in over two months.  Can you believe it.  We have been so busy with special events that we have not had a regular program.  Well for all of you anxious to get back to basics we will be meeting from 6:00 p.m. - 8:00 p.m. this Sunday at the church.  We will be introducing a new way of planning UMYF events approved and lead by the YLT in the coming months and we will worship with music and conversation.  We will even play around!  Come and join us for UMYF this Sunday and check out the Youth Blog for updates, more information and the entire Youth Schedule for January 2008 (see link below).

UMYF Heads for the Mountains: Ski Trip Coming Fast

With sign ups for this in October it is hard to believe that the Ski Trip is just Next Weekend.  The youth and adults signed up to go will be meeting at the church at 3:45 and hoping to leave no later then 4:15.  If you are going on the trip please make sure you have all your equipment rented and with you before we leave.  We will be returning to the Copper Junction Condos at Copper Mountain and we look forward to a great weekend of winter fun.  We will have movies, games, food and more for the down times and plenty of snow.  I have most of the deposits but my records are still incomplete for Kelsey Hartman, Abi Peterson, Danny Quinn and Greg Rushing.  If you could please check your records and let me know if you have turned in a payment that I failed to document or get back to me with questions or payments.  All Participants will need a total of $25 for food while on the trip.  You will turn in $10 on Friday before we leave to cover the cost of food at the condos.  The other $15 is to be kept for meals on the road ($10 for Beau Jo’s on Friday Night and $5 for fast food on the way home).  We hope to return by early evening on Sunday but bad weather and worse traffic always make exact times hard.  We will prompt youth to call parents as we approach Fort Collins.  If you have any questions about the trip or cannot go please let me know ASAP!

Lady’s shoes Found at Advent Dinner Theatre

With all the work it took to put on the Advent Dinner Theatre it is no small wonder that the only thing left behind was a pair of Lady’s heals.  They are a Gold open-toed high heal and they are in my office.  Now, as much as I need a pair heals I hope to reunite these shoes with their owner.  If your closet is missing a pair of heals please come by my office ASAP to claim them.  

Youth Sports Minute

If you know of any sports highlights from youth at FUMC e-mail Joel at jkershaw@fcfumc.net <mailto:jkershaw@fcfumc.net>  and make your sports-voice heard!
 

Youth & the Performing Arts

If you know of any music, art, drama, etc. events that involve a youth at FUMC e-mail Joel at jkershaw@fcfumc.net and make your artistic-voice heard!

The Young Methodist Reporter is a weekly e-mail newsletter highlighting the ministry of youth at First United Methodist Church Fort Collins, CO.  If you know of someone who might like to receive this e-mail or you would prefer not to receive it please let me know at jkershaw@fcfumc.net <mailto:jkershaw@fcfumc.net> .  The YMR is sent in the BCC field to protect the e-mail addresses of all who wish to keep up on youth ministry at FUMC.  I pray that the grace of God brings joy into your lives each and every day!
   

 Issue 3/Volume 1

Another year has come and gone and with winter break fast ending it is time to get things back to relative normal here at FUMC.  I hope and pray that you all had a wonderful Christmas and a safe and fun New Years.  With a new year comes new commitments and goals.  Some might like to better themselves by reading more or working out.  Perhaps others will try something new or retry something old.  Whatever might be on your list of goals for 2008 keep in mind that no one can go it alone.  If you want to work out more, find a friend to help motivate you.  If you want to read more join a club or form a new one.  If you want to try something, talk a friend into trying it with you.  And always remember that God is our source of strength and love and that God’s presence in our lives will be with us long after we’ve given up on the Nobel Prize or six pack abs.  

UMYF Kicks off the New Year this Sunday

This Sunday will mark the first regular UMYF in over two months.  Can you believe it.  We have been so busy with special events that we have not had a regular program.  Well for all of you anxious to get back to basics we will be meeting from 6:00 p.m. - 8:00 p.m. this Sunday at the church.  We will be introducing a new way of planning UMYF events approved and lead by the YLT in the coming months and we will worship with music and conversation.  We will even play around!  Come and join us for UMYF this Sunday and check out the Youth Blog for updates, more information and the entire Youth Schedule for January 2008.

UMYF Heads for the Mountains: Ski Trip Coming Fast

With sign ups for this in October it is hard to believe that the Ski Trip is just Next Weekend.  The youth and adults signed up to go will be meeting at the church at 3:45 and hoping to leave no later then 4:15.  If you are going on the trip please make sure you have all your equipment rented and with you before we leave.  We will be returning to the Copper Junction Condos at Copper Mountain and we look forward to a great weekend of winter fun.  We will have movies, games, food and more for the down times and plenty of snow.  I have most of the deposits but my records are still incomplete for Kelsey Hartman, Abi Peterson, Danny Quinn and Greg Rushing.  If you could please check your records and let me know if you have turned in a payment that I failed to document or get back to me with questions or payments.  All Participants will need a total of $25 for food while on the trip.  You will turn in $10 on Friday before we leave to cover the cost of food at the condos.  The other $15 is to be kept for meals on the road ($10 for Beau Jo’s on Friday Night and $5 for fast food on the way home).  We hope to return by early evening on Sunday but bad weather and worse traffic always make exact times hard.  We will prompt youth to call parents as we approach Fort Collins.  If you have any questions about the trip or cannot go please let me know ASAP!

Lady’s shoes Found at Advent Dinner Theatre

With all the work it took to put on the Advent Dinner Theatre it is no small wonder that the only thing left behind was a pair of Lady’s heals.  They are a Gold open-toed high heal and they are in my office.  Now, as much as I need a pair heals I hope to reunite these shoes with their owner.  If your closet is missing a pair of heals please come by my office ASAP to claim them.  

Youth Sports Minute

If you know of any sports highlights from youth at FUMC e-mail Joel at jkershaw@fcfumc.net  and make your sports-voice heard!
 

Youth & the Performing Arts

If you know of any music, art, drama, etc. events that involve a youth at FUMC e-mail Joel at jkershaw@fcfumc.net and make your artistic-voice heard!

The Young Methodist Reporter is a weekly e-mail newsletter highlighting the ministry of youth at First United Methodist Church Fort Collins, CO.  If you know of someone who might like to receive this e-mail or you would prefer not to receive it please let me know at jkershaw@fcfumc.net .  The YMR is sent in the BCC field to protect the e-mail addresses of all who wish to keep up on youth ministry at FUMC.  I pray that the grace of God brings joy into your lives each and every day!