Youth News – Winter 2010 “Run the race with your eyes fixed on Jesus.” (Hebrews 12:1-2) the Christians Under the Stairs youth program: setting the pace for Christian youth. Christians Under the Stairs Activities Schedule Feb 21st … Choose Olympic Teams; then …Paint a Brick Night. Here are the Olympic Teams for 2010: Heavens Chairs : Dennis Marsh (capt), Arindam Jurakham (capt), Stephen Ermert, Michael Gebhardt, Anthony Rizzuto, Rachel Gebhardt, Chantel Durgana, Vicky Mann, Ashley Ashley Altula, Marlana Goldstein Uh-Oh Oreos: Angelica Morgan, Daniela Bodden, Danny Ermert, Harris Urmani, Tyler Treadwell, Yanique Campbell, Julianne Murray, Dominique and Rochelle Hay Feb 28th … Teams get to work on their Team Banners. Review of all events during the Thirty Hour Famine. First event in progress -Teams Famine Fundraiser - ends 5:59 PM on March 6th. See your captains for details. March 5-6th … Thirty Hour Famine March 7th … No Youth Group March 14th … Olympics Begin March 6 … Fund Raising Competition: Heavens Chairs - $10.00 (bills) minus $5.21 (coins) = $4.21 (difference) Uh-Oh Oreos- $18.00 (bills) minus $12.18 (coins) = $5.82 (difference) Score at end of March 6th … Heavens Chairs – 5 Oh-Uh Oreos - 15 March 14th at 7:00 PM … Spelling Bee and Volleyball (Banners Due) March 21st at 7:00 PM … Darts and Charades March 28th … Bowling (afternoon) ,Pool (first round),Ping Pong (first round) and Domino Stacking April 4th … Easter Sunday – Youth Group leads Easter Dawn Service at Cedar Beach April 11th … Soccer (afternoon), Pool and Ping Pong (round two), Puzzle Making April 18th at 7:00 PM… Treasure Hunt, Limbo and Pie Eating (Completion of Ping Pong) April 25th … Softball (afternoon), Musical Chairs and Family Feud (Completion of Pool) May 2nd at 6:00 PM… Track and Field and Bible Trivia (Draft of Skit and Song due) May 9 at 7:00 PM … open for practice of skits and songs. May 16th at 7:00 PM … Skits and Songs competition Call Tim or Linda Ferguson at 242-2582 if you have any questions. More Activity Ideas that will challenge the minds and hearts of our young people Click here: Activities for Christian youth Vito's Vibes : a new section of the website where Vito Racanelli plays the role of scribe for the group giving us an update on past events. Nov. 1, 2009: Progressive Dinner Our progressive Dinner was held on this day. We went to Danelia's for the appetizers, the church for the soup & salad which was cooked by Amy, Cathy's for the main meal, and topped it off with dessert at Chantal's house. At each stop, Tim would read a story from a book called True, which was about people who needed help in their lives. One story in particular reached out to me, & was about a young girl who was beaten & raped by a gang member for a long time until one day she finally stood up to him after she was going to commit suicide. Of course, there was some fun mixed in with the discussion, particularly at Chantal's house( which if you haven't seen yet, is pretty big.), where we played Man Overboard. Also at Danelia's house, something funny happened. What, you may ask? It was Wachel getting wit wy a wabbit( Rachel getting bit by a rabbit.) I also bumped my head on a chandlier. Nov. 8, 2009: Movie Night This was our movie night( boy that's being redundant). We watched a movie called Cry on the Mountain( if you haven't seen this movie or was not at youth group to see this movie on this night, I strongly suggest you rent or buy it and watch it.). It's about a young boy and his parents that are going through a divorce and the father, knowing his boy would be upset, took him on a kayaking trip to Alaska. They start off on rough terms but as the movie progressed, they grew closer together. At one part of the movie, the father takes a nasty spill in the river. The boy runs to get help, & gets it in the form of a man named Johnathan, who lived alone with his dog Jake. I don't want to spoil it for those of you who didn't see the movie, but I'll just say that everyone learns a valuable lesson. Also, a quick reminder: On November 21, we will be going on a hike, so make sure you are at the church early. Tim will remind you on Sunday, so save the date. Novemeber 22: Thanksgiving Dinner Details of activities to be done in youth programs like the olympics and those described above are found in ... Not the Same Old, Done-it-before Youth Meeting (the book)

Youth Leaders' Vision Statements 2009-10 Arindam Jurakhan – Vision Statement I am looking forward to the upcoming year as a leader of our youth group. I believe we are going to have a lot of fun taking our friendship and our activities to a higher and more meaningful level. Our youth group is very special because our members are of all ages and backgrounds and we all get along. We have a great program that allows children to help our community and have fun at the same time. However, I think that we can improve the teamwork amongst our peers, work together with other youth groups and achieve our goals on a larger scale. For example, if we got together with a different youth group we could do the 30-hour famine in a larger fashion. We could also hold a fundraiser with a greater number of people and help more p people in need. We have done a lot to help people in need with little sacrifice. Imagine what we can do with just a little bit more. Angelica Morgan - Vision Statement This year in youth group I am willing, with the help of the work and dedication of Chantal and Arindam to bring our youth group to new heights, to be able to grow, to achieve new goals, and to continue our streak of goodness and dedication. I hope that the youth group and I will be able to bring new people on Sunday nights and to our activities throughout the year. With the benefit of new people, our church and youth group will be able to spread and become stronger. I also envision new goals for our youth; we can benefit from fresh ideas and thoughts on activities, capturing others attention, worship, and Sunday meetings. With new ideas we can keep our youth group up to date and current with society and the youth but yet have them kept focused around Jesus Christ. Lastly I hope that we can keep up our outstanding work that has been going on for years. I want to be able to continue our good deeds like that of the Thirty Hour Famine, Hope for the Future, and other numerous activities we constantly participate in from year to year. Chantel Durgana – Vision Statement My vision for the youth group this year is to see more friendships among my peers. I want to see more people branching out and introducing themselves to people they never really talked to. I want my fellow youth group members to have a good relationship with each other. I’m looking forward to this upcoming year full of great experiences and new friendships to come. (:

** Bringing a Youthful Spirit The Christians Under the Stairs Youth Group received a challenge from the elders of the Deer Park Community Presbyterian Church – to bring a “youthful spirit” into the midst of the church. First, on April 13, 2008, there was the “He’s Got the Whole World in His Hands” Sunday service (see Guestbook entry by Steve Bodden). Youth sang with energy and did a candle prayer in earnest. But that, to our youth, was not enough. Now what could possibly bring more of a youthful spirit to an eagerly awaiting church than a Fifties Night? There were Hula Hoops and Ed Sullivan, The Mickey Mouse Club and I Love Lucy, Elvis and The Kingston Duo (the third member was home writing the group’s new hit song), a recreation of the broadcast of Bobby Thompson's home run heard “round the world” and, of course, “Teenager in Love”. So browse through the below pictures and see if you think the Community Presbyterian Church got a little “Youthful Spirit” on May 31, 2008. Maybe you will get some and it's a great event for any youth group to do. So, under your breath or perhaps out loud sing along to: Each time we had a quarrel … why did it have to start And I am so afraid … that we will have to part Each night I ask the stars up above … why must I be a teenager in love.

Fifties Night : the Youthful Spirit

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