May 25: No Youth Group!

This coming Monday is Memorial Day! Since it's a holiday, and since it's a holiday weekend, we decided not to have youth group so that everyone could spend time with their families (especially since they may be going out of town for the weekend).

See y'all soon!

-R.T.

May 11:

There will be a wedding at Westminster on Monday night. So if you show up, be dressed well, and don't expect to find us there!

This week we are meeting at the Hortons' home, at 278 Horseshoe Circle. Here's a link to a map: Google Maps: Highway 27 at Highway 60 to 278 Horseshoe Circle.

Jared will be teaching, either on "The Unmerciful Servant," or "The Kingdom of Heaven is like..."

I'll let you know which one if I find out before Monday.

April 27: Fourthweek.

Most of the leaders aren't going to be able to make it to youth group this week, because different stuff has come up for each of us...

Therefore, it is time for our first fourthweek under the new leaders!

Have fun!

-R.T.

The Rich Man and Lazarus

Sorry that it's taken me so long to post next week's lesson.

I'll be teaching again this week, as Jared's still helping his family as his mom's in the hospital.

This weeks parable will be The Rich Man and Lazarus, found in Luke 16:19-31.

Have a great Easter, and I'll see you all Monday!

Labels

Being in youth ministry, I read a lot of books and stuff about youth ministry. One of the guys who is a leading guru in the field is Marko Ostreicher, president of Youth Specialties, who wrote the best book I've ever read on the topic (Youth Ministry 3.0). I read Marko's blog. And the other day he posted this video:





I thought y'all might like it. I thought it was pretty good.

Parable Series, Week 2

Hi gang!

Happy April Fool's day!

Next week's lesson is going to be on Matthew 22:1-14, The Parable of the Wedding Feast. So try to read the passage, and maybe the context (like Matthew 21-23), and if you have time and feel up to it, take some notes of your observations. And be sure to write down any questions you have.

Travis is going to be leading, and we're going to be doing a lot more discussing that the past two weeks, since we aren't hearing a sermon before this lesson.

Be praying for Jared's mom. The doctors still don't know what's wrong, and she's still in the hospital. And pray for Anna, as she has a heart monitor for the next two weeks, which is no fun at all, and the doctors are still trying to figure out what's wrong in that case too.

See y'all Sunday!
-R.T.

Tonight!

Hey guys!

I can hardly wait to see y'all tonight, and to discuss the parable of the Prodigals.

Be sure to check out the passage (Luke 15:11-32) if you get time, especially if you weren't in church yesterday.

And also to be ready to offer some ideas for other parables to study.

You should get journals tonight, assuming we remember them.

In other news, I added some links to the right hand side, and to the top bar of the website. There's even a Daily Devotion at a good reformed website run by Covenant Theological Seminary, and some other cool stuff. Check that out.

See y'all soon!
-R.T.

P.S. Be praying for Anna, she had a doctor's appointment today about her heart rate being high and the related problems she's been having.

List of Parables

I mentioned in the last post that you could look up a list of parables online. I found an exhaustive (I think it is, anyway) list, from the International Bible Society. IBS List of Jesus' Miracles.

Up at the top you can choose which version you want it to look them up in. Of the ones listed, and for the sake of just reading (not in-depth Bible study), I prefer the NLT.

See y'all Sunday, if not before!

-R.T.

PS: look up my facebook and my twitter!

Here's the list:

Parables of Jesus > Biblical Order	New Living Translation NLT
Light Under a Bowl	Matthew 5:14-16 Mark 4:21-25 Luke 8:16-18 Luke 11:33-36
New Cloth	Matthew 9:16 Mark 2:21 Luke 5:36
New Wine, Old Wineskins	Matthew 9:17 Mark 2:22 Luke 5:37-39
Mustard Seed	Matthew 13:31-32 Mark 4:30-32 Luke 13:18-19
Pearl of Great Price	Matthew 13:45-46
Sower	Matthew 13:1-13 Mark 4:3-20 Luke 8:4-15
Weeds	Matthew 13:24-30 Matthew 13:36-43
Yeast	Matthew 13:33 Luke 13:20-21
Lost Sheep	Matthew 18:10-14 Luke 15:3-7
Unmerciful Servant	Matthew 18:21-36
Workers in the Vineyard	Matthew 20:1-16
Two Sons	Matthew 21:28-32
Vineyard and the Tenants	Matthew 21:33-46 Mark 12:1-12 Luke 20:9-19
Wedding Banquet	Matthew 22:1-14
Fig Tree	Matthew 24:32-35 Mark 13:28-31 Luke 21:29-33
Talents	Matthew 25:14-30
Growing Seed	Mark 4:26-29
Household Watching	Mark 13:32-37
Debtors	Luke 7:36-50
Good Samaritan	Luke 10:25-37
Faithful Steward	Luke 12:42-48
Rich Fool	Luke 12:16-21
Watchful Servants	Luke 12:35-40
Fig Tree (Barren)	Luke 13:6-9
Cost of Being a Disciple	Luke 14:25-33
Great Banquet	Luke 14:15-24
Lost Coin	Luke 15:8-10
Rich Man and Lazarus	Luke 16:19-31
Shrewd Manager	Luke 16:1-13
Master and Servant	Luke 17:7-10
Pharisee and the Tax Collector	Luke 18:9-10
Widow	Luke 18:1-8
Ten Minas	Luke 19:11-27

Journals and Next Week's Lesson

Hey guys!

Last night was awesome! I know we forgot the journals, but those of you who don't already have one can get one next week.

In case you weren't there, or even if you were, next Sunday's sermon is going to be on the Parable of the Prodigal Sons, and next Monday we're going to be discussing it. The passage is available here: Luke 15:11-32.
If you get the chance, try to read the passage sometime soon, that way you can be thinking about it before Sunday.

Also, next week will be the beginning of our series on parables, so be thinking of parables you'd like to cover, and be ready to suggest them next week. Maybe try to read through a list of parables online or in your Bible. Try to think of some you don't understand, or some that confused you growing up. We want to tackle stuff that's going to help you understand God's Word better, and love It, and Him, more!

Love you guys. See you soon!

-R.T.

Don't forget!

Tomorrow night is our first regular youth group meeting this semester! We'll meet at the church, at 6:45!

Don't be late! We should wrap up around 8:30.

See you there!

-R.T.

Calling all YOUTH! (Bulletin Announcement)

We are excited to announce that the Youth of WPC will be starting up again. After a long hiatis, we will begin our routine of Monday nights of fun and Christian fellowship.

Please come to our big "YOUTH KICK OFF" on Monday night, March 16th at 6:00pm. Parents and teens are all invited for pizza, games, and a time to meet the new youth leaders. All you need to bring with you is...NOTHING but yourself and a friend or 2. We look forward to seeing you there on March 16th and every week thereafter on Monday nights from 6:45-8:30pm.

Youth Group Update!

Hi guys!

I'm new here! Most of you have met me at one time or another, but for those who haven't, I'm Tiller. I just wanted to stop by and post an update:

Today, March 16, we're having a youth group kick-off at the church! It'll be at 6, and there will be pizza! It's going to be a good time for you guys to get to know Jared and I, who are going to be leading youth Bible study in the weeks left between now and summer break. Parents are invited as well, so that they can meet us too!

I'm looking forward to getting to know all of you, and I know Jared is as well. I hope you can all make it!

There should be an announcement in this week's bulletin, and if you need anything feel free to facebook/e-mail me!

-R.T. ("Tiller")

No Youth Group

We will not be having youth group tonight due to illness. We will resume next week at the normal time.

Paintball this Saturday

Jamie Smith from our church is hosting another paintball event this Saturday. Here are the details:

"

I am planning on hosting another paintball-on-the-mountain get- together this Saturday around 12:00 PM before the youth group outing that evening. I have 7 guns/masks that I can loan out and this week just bring $5 each and that will include all your air and paintballs.

If you want to go to Wal-Mart, you can buy some of the "field swabs"

to take care of broken paint in your barrel so that it doesn't put you "out" of the game when a paintball breaks inside your barrel.

The weather is going to be perfect and in the 60's on Saturday, so reserve your spot to come play by emailing me at jdrum3@yahoo.com (just reply to this email) call me at home 423-570-1114, or on my cell 423-285-4375. If we have more people than guns, we can take turns, but I have set up bunkers and barriers in the woods now for our capture the flag games that should make them more interesting.

Please don't wait until the last minute to call me because I will make other plans if people do not contact me.

Sincerely,

Jamie Smith

P.S. If money is an issue, please call me as I don't want anyone to miss out on this fun time of fellowship."

Paintball

Jamie Smith is hosting another paintball event this Saturday. Here are the details:

Once again we are planning some paintball on the mountain this
Saturday, February 17 @ 2:00 PM at Jamie Smith's house.

There are only three rules and they are:

1) You must email or call Jamie and let him know you are coming (423-
570-1114 or jdrum3@yahoo.com -- just reply to this email)
2) You must bring paintballs (500-1000 per person), and
3) You need to bring $5 each to cover the cost of Co2 if you don't
bring your own.

Paintballs can be bought at Wal-Mart or Boards & Bikes at the foot of
the mountain. I do not recommend the brand "Monster Paintballs," but
any other .068 caliber paintball at Wal-Mart will work. If you
haven't tried it yet, it is a lot of fun!

MNF Tomorrow

Tomorrow is youth group at the normal time. Be sure to have your "homework" done both ladies and the men. The young men need to finish memorizing the Apostles' Creed and the Definition of Man. Adam and Jason will be telling the guys about their experience in work and in life.

Men's Study Homework

Gentlemen, I just posted the Apostles' Creed on the blog thanks to Michael's hard work in getting it typed up. Be sure to memorize it as well as the definition of man by next Monday night. And those of you who didn't interview your Dad, make sure you get that done by Monday night (wink, wink Michael and Trent).

The Apostles' Creed from the Trinity Hymnal

The

Apostles’ Creed

I believe in God the Father Almighty,

Maker of heaven and Earth.

I believe in Jesus Christ, his only Son, our Lord,

who was conceived by the Holy Spirit,

and born of the virgin Mary.

He suffered under Pontius Pilate,

was crucified, died, and was buried;

he descended into hell.

The third day he rose again from the dead.

He ascended into heaven

and is seated at the right hand of God the Father Almighty.

From there he will come to judge the living and the dead.

I believe in the Holy Spirit,

the holy catholic church,

the communion of saints,

the forgiveness of sins,

the resurrection of the body,

and the life everlasting. Amen.

Men's Study Homework

Gentlemen!

Your duties for the week involve the interview with your Dad as well as to begin memorizing the Apostles Creed and the Definition of Man.

Interview with your Dad

Specifications: You are to give a formal interview of your Dad to learn about what he does for a living (his job/career). You are to schedule a time when it is just you and he (or you and your sibling and he) without any interruptions. You are to take detailed notes and report back to us next week what you learned (providing your dad wants to share that information with us: you are to ask for permission to share this info with our group).

Here are the questions:

1. What do you do for a living?
2. What is your official title?
3. How long have you been in this job or career?
4. What training or experience did you need/obtain for your job?
5. How did you know that you wanted to do what you are doing now?
6. What are some of your daily responsibilities?
7. What do you love about your job/career?
8. What do you dislike about your job/career?
9. What did you want to be when you grew up?
10. If you could do anything you wanted to do and didn’t have to worry about being paid well, what would you do?
11. What is something you wished someone told you when you were my age? (i.e. advice, wisdom, etc.)

Date: __________________ Permission to share with group: Y or N

Interviewer’s Signature: ___________________________________________

Interviewed Signature: ____________________________________________

Definition of a Man

· Rejects passivity

· Accepts responsibility

· Leads Courageously

· Expects a greater reward

From Raising a Modern Day Knight by Robert Lewis

Opportunity to Help

This Saturday you have an opportunity to help in a real physical way by helping the Farys move into their new house up on Bryan hill. Come to the red brick house just at the top of Bryan Drive at 9:00 AM and join others from our church in ministering to our own church family.

From John Carpenter:
"Calling all strong backs! Sarah Fary is moving into her new home on Bryan hill Saturday morning, and we need to get together one of Westminster's famous moving crews. This should be an easy move since everything is loaded into a large truck that we will just back up to the door. Remember, "many hands make light work," "the more the merrier," and all those other corny but true sayings. We also have a little reward for everyone who shows up to help move. Let's turn out, rain or shine, 9 a.m. this Saturday. Her new house is the red brick house on the right, almost at the top of Bryan Hill. You may need to park at the college in order to keep the street clear. Call 618-3753 if you need more directions."