And so we wait

      Advent is a special time in the church when we prepare, when we anticipate what God is going to do. It is a time of great hope. We pray that you will take some time during advent to hope and dream together. While we wait with millions of Christians around the world, let us rejoice that we have someone to wait for.
       Waiting isn’t easy though. We live in a “I need it now” type of world. By the time you read this, though, Mary and Joseph (two teenage parents) will have been waiting for many months for their child to be born. The wise men had been waiting for years and years for their sign. So we join them in thankful waiting. As have all the Christians before us and all those after us, we wait. We hope. We give thanks. And we dream of a time when our savior walks among us. Advent us upon us. We await our savior.

THANKSgiving

Happy Thanksgiving to you all. Indeed, we all have much to be thankful for. We have friends, family, pets, homes, jobs, food, churches, and much much more to be thankful for.
Put your nerd caps on, here we go. You might be interested to know that the Greek word for "giving thanks" is "eucharisto". This might ring a bell with some of you. It is the word we get one of our terms for the Lord's Table. When we call communion "the eucharist" we proclaim a table of thanksgiving. Our God works through that table in lots of different ways and perhaps God will work through your table in different ways too. Not that your table will become our Lord's table, but maybe a piece or two of the Lord's Supper will mysteriously show up around your table. Maybe you will encounter Christ this week in the people you share your meal with. Or maybe the Holy Spirit will move you offer great hospitality to someone. Whatever happens around your table, make your thanksgiving table one of great thanks. Give thanks for a God who loves us, comforts us, and provides for us.

May the grace of our Lord be with you and your family as you celebrate together.

Corn Maze sign up

This Sunday we are headed to the North GA Corn Maze, for an exciting evening frolicking in a corn field. So we can get rides in order, we need to know if you are coming. Let us know by Wednesday if you would like to go. Cost is $10 (bring it with you). We will leave at 3:00 from the church parking lot and be back between 7:00-7:30. If you can drive let phil know as well.

Too Rich?

In High School Sunday School we are talking a little about money and faith. We have just finished a stewardship campaign. The economy is a wreck. Unemployment has skyrocketed. People are losing their homes. Let's just say money is on people's minds. Thought this was interesting. CNBC has an hour long special on the Super Rich that aired last summer. Here is a short clip from it. Just something to think about.

BLOCK PARTY CANCELED

Due to lack of interest, the trip to the presbytery block party has been canceled. As scheduled, we will not have youth on Sunday October 26th. We will see you the following week, Nov 2 when we will eat with some of the men at the Druid Hills Night Shelter and learn more about homelessness. Have a great weekend, see ya then.

Middle School Retreat

Twelve middle schoolers and three adults from St. Luke's joined about 130 other middle schoolers from around the presbytery October 17-19. It was a great weekend filled with great worship, exciting keynotes, crazy hair, awesome skits, and great small groups. They even moved through the trees high above the ground on the High Ropes Course.

The theme of the retreat was "Old Testament lessons for a new world." We encountered stories about creation, the exodus, and Jeremiah and through the keynote speaker and small groups we found contemporary meaning in all of those.

The presbytery camp and conference center, The Calvin Center, graciously hosted us and provided all the great leadership and food. The presbytery youth council also served as support and planning staff for a great retreat. The Calvin Center is a fantastic conference center and a great part of our presbytery. check em out at www.calvincenter.org.

Special thanks to all the families who made this weekend happen. Lives were changed, relationships were built, and faith was deepened. If you see Jennifer Holley-Wolf, Mary Louise Connor, and John Connor thank them for all their time and effort to make sure that the youth had everything they needed for the weekend.

Pictures to come soon.

You are the Light of the World

"...In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father in heaven," (Matthew 5:16).

The youth got connected in amazing ways last Sunday night. They made some incredible lamps, from scratch, that interpreted the scripture for the evening. Check out the pictures and see what incredible lamps the youth of St. Luke's made starting with only a table of "treasures" and a lamp wiring kit.

Thanks to all of you who dropped things off for the building, came with tools, and were there for great support. We cannot do all of this without you. Thank you so much.

Well, It's official!!!

That's right, ladies and gentlemen, boys and girls, turtles and birds...Rev. Phil Brown is now officially ordained as a Minister of Word and Sacrament and installed as one of St. Luke's Associate Pastors. September 28th marked the day that people from all over the country descended on St. Luke's to celebrate this occasion.

The worship service was great. Very special thank you to all of you who led us in worship. Equally awesome was the reception that followed. Who knew that Phil looked so good on a Wheaties box? It takes a lot of people (too many to name) for this to happen. St. Luke's is a great church. You all make this a great place to be in the ministry. Thank you for an awesome first three months.

Grace and Peace,
REV. Phil Brown
(but you can still call me Phil)

Pray What!?!?!

Last Sunday night the youth of St. Luke's gathered for a ruckus evening of prayer. The youth spent time together with great food (thanks to the Burroughs), exercise, clay, stickers, candles, sidewalk chalk, and blindfolds. It was an evening spent connecting with our great God in ways that may be surprising and a whole lot of fun. Prayer is so much more than a simple quiet ten seconds with God. Prayer involves all of who we are. All of our bodies, minds, spirits, and friends.

Things on the calendar:
Sunday (Sept 28) Family Re-Connect night. Spend time this evening as a family. Check your Thursday Youth Connect e-mail for resources on building a family genogram.
NO YOUTH Connect at church.
Friday (October 3) Middle school retreat registration due. Check your Thursday Youth Connect e-mail for all the forms and more information.

As always let us know if you have any questions, want to help, or have great ideas for the Youth.

Camp Twin Lakes

Sunday Night was the first service project night for the youth of St. Luke's. They stuffed nearly 500 bags for Camp Twin Lakes Partners Card fundraiser. From Saturday, November 1-Sunday, November 9 Atlantans have an opportunity to shop and save 20% at more than 400 Atlanta retail and restaurant locations. For nine days in November, all Partners Card cardholders can shop as often as they wish at participating stores and dine at their favorite restaurants. Visit their website at www.partnerscard.com for more information. Let's continue to help them out and use you partners card for all your holiday shopping (even if it is a little early). 

It was a great night of serving our community. Camp Twin Lakes is a great camp and serves the needs of children who would not otherwise be able to experience summer camp due to illnesses or other challenges in their life. Visit their website for more information on the amazing service they provide. 

A special thanks to all the youth and adults who helped make this evening happen!!! You all ROCK!!!!

Thanks for coming

Last night marked the first night of youth connection for this year! People gathered from all over town to have fun and learn about the upcoming year. If you were unable to come, please know you were missed and if you stop by church there is a packet waiting for you with all the info you might need for this year. Thanks to all of you who took time out of your Sunday night to be at church and support your youth and the youth of St. Luke's. 

Youth Starts!! Youth Starts !! September 7th

In addition to it being “homecoming” for all of St. Luke’s, it is also the first evening of fall youth connection. This is going to be a great evening. Come meet all the volunteers that will be in ministry with your youth this year. Phil Brown, our new Associate Pastor for Youth will be introducing himself. Meet Sunday School teachers, youth advisers, and all those people behind the scenes who make St. Luke’s a great place for your youth.

You will also receive vital information for what is going on at St. Luke’s this year. You will get calendars, information sheets, and sign forms so that your youth can participate in all the great activities we have planned for the fall. Please bring copies of insurance cards if you have them.

This will be a fun evening to spend together has a family. It will not be a drag, we promise!

We are all excited to get fall started here at St. Luke’s and can’t wait to serve God with all of you.

Six Flags

Thank you for registering for Six Flags! Here's the scoop: Tickets will be ready to pick up at church starting Wednesday afternoon. Please pay for tickets when you pick them up ($26.50/ticket ). Also, remember that there is a parking fee too. Carpooling is encouraged!

Meal vouchers: Upon further review, the meal vouchers are not a great deal and they limit you to the type of food you might want to "experience" at the park. After careful consideration we have decided not to mess with them. PLEASE BRING MONEY FOR FOOD!

Families to be on the lookout for from St. Luke's are: the Bosticks, the Kings, the Dills, Phil, and Scott and Andrew Rice. Please feel free to invite whomever. Unfortunately we can't order any more at the group rate, but there are plenty of deals out there if they want to go.

On Saturday, feel free to go whenever you want to. We will plan on meeting as a group at 2:00 outside Johnny Rockets. It is directly to the right as you head into the park from the main entrance. If you have any questions please let us know. I will have a phone with me. 970-215-9041.

Get excited! Let's have a great time in good clean Christian fun--screaming included!

Let me know if you have any questions.

Thanks,

Phil

Six Flags

As summer winds down why not end it with a bang as we head to Six Flags on Saturday, August 9. This is a church wide family affair. Let's eek out one last day of summer before school starts again. A church that plays together--stays together.

Cost: $26.50 per entry ticket. $9.50 per meal voucher. Please let us know if you are going by Monday, August 4 by calling the church, e-mailing Phil (philbrown@st-lukes-pres.org), or signing up in the church lobby.

This is a joint event between the fellowship committee and the youth.

If you have any questions please let me know.

Silverbacks game canceled!!!!

Due to lack of registration/RSVP the Silverbacks game is canceled!!!

Mexico 2008 Week #1

...And we are back!

This year St. Luke's sent two teams to Mexico to build houses in Piedras Negras, Mexico. Week number one consisted of a slew of people including five of our very own youth. Week #1's team was: Nancy Boyken, Phil Brown, Kitty Bryant, Peter Bryant, Tim Cutler, Callie Dill, Don Dill, Maddie Dill, Shannon Dill, David Fadel, Kim Fadel, Allyson Frick, Jamie Kennedy, Elizabeth Kennedy, Mike Kerman, Ron Mason, Tom McIntosh, Christian Vidana, John Whitcomb, Marty Whitcomb, Angela Zalesky, Chet Zalesky, and Chris Zalesky.

If you would like to know more talk to any of the above mentioned people.
www.cpcmexico.org

A more detailed post is soon to come. Just wanted to let you all know we returned safely and had a wonderful time.

Mt. Top 2008

St. Luke’s commissioned a team of 13 youth and 2 adults to head to Mountain Top Service Camp in the Cumberland Mountains of Tennessee during the last week of June. During the week they met 150 people from around the nation. They served Grundy county with gracious and open hearts as they repaired homes for those in the county who were not able or could not afford to do so. They camp also provided a day camp for the kids of the county. This camp provides a week of play and one-to-one attention. At nights all would gather for worship, fellowship, and food.

St. Luke’s is blessed to have a continued relationship with Mt. Top. If you want to hear more about the trip ask Mary Elizabeth Alexander, Katie Bostick, Matt Connor, Albert “David” Fadel, Chris Guerrant, Maddy Keith, Ben King, Kaitlyn McAlarney, Sassy Perry, Emma Pile, David Potter, Clarice Reid, or Angela Scowden. They would love to talk with you!

Visit http://mountain-top.org for more information.

New Beginnings

So, here we go. We are going to give 'blogging' a shot. St. Luke's Youth Ministry will alway inform you in three ways about what is going on around church: 1. By mail, 2. by e-mail, and 3. by this blog. Check often as this will be the most up to date place to look. You can even subscribe to the calendar and set reminders for you from the calendar. Post comments, download forms, and see slide shows and movies of all that has been happening in the life of St. Luke's Youth. There will be links of interest for youth and parents. Take a look around and let us know if there is something that isn't working.