Christmas!

Hey all :-)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GkHNNPM7pJA

Think about it. Times haven't changed that much... except that the shepherds would hear about Jesus' birth through a tagged tweet or Tumblr link ;-)

On average, a baby is born every 3 seconds.... what made this one so special? Why do we still talk about him?
It wasn't his noble birth, (son of a carpenter,)
or his military might, (peaceful teacher,)
or his riches, (lived on the road with his followers,)
... but the healing and love he brought when he came to be in relationship with his people =)

Merry Christmas!
Blessings,Katie

PS: holiday schedule is Christmas Eve service next Friday from 6:30-8, a cookie-baking and carroling party TBA, and the New Year's all-nighter. Hope your break is going well! Feel free to chat or text me anytime if you need something - called2shepherd2@gmail.com

Fall kick-off!

This Friday!
6:30-10:30ish




FB event: http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=153423574673074&index=1

(Last year's fall kick-off at the mall-->)

Schedule:


6:30 gather and break into groups at 9076 Hill St in Tigard.

7:00 groups head out to gather as many photo-scavenger hunt pics as possible.

8:00 meet at the mystery destination, (clues will be found along the way.)

8:30 back to Hill st to watch To Save A Life, eat, play games etc....

10:30 or 11:00/over when movie ends.



Let me know if you need a ride, (before-event rides will be just before 6:00 so that I can finish set-up and adult-chaperone meeting.)



What to Bring: comfy shoes, a jacket, a friend, and a phone/camera if you want to take some of the pics for the hunt! The more people that attend, the more fun the hunt/competition tends to be, so feel free to bring someone along!

Decisions

Have you been hiking before? With a map, compass and all of the things you need? You surely came across a cross section in the path and had to decide whether to turn left or right. It’s only a problem if you have taken the wrong turn. That means loss of time, detours and costs energy and at some point you might even ask yourself if you will ever reach the goal.

Life is similar. We arrive at points in life where we must decide on a path to take.Whether it is a decision in your job, for school, for a boyfriend or a girlfriend and lots more besides. You will notice that life is made up of lots and lots of decisions. Sometimes we ask ourselves afterwards why we made such a decision and then we realise years later that we were just wandering around without having any perspective.

Jesus wants to show us a way, we wants us to be able to separate the essential from the inessential so that we make it through life better. If we trust him, lots of things become easier. Try it out.

Proverbs 4:

"10 My child, listen to me and do as I say,and you will have a long, good life.

11 I will teach you wisdom’s waysand lead you in straight paths.

12 When you walk, you won’t be held back;when you run, you won’t stumble.

13 Take hold of my instructions; don’t let them go.Guard them, for they are the key to life."

Airplanes

I'm going to attempt to put out a weekly devo :-) wish me luck! lol


This week's is one I copied from Dare 2 Share soulfuel, but I'll write one of our own for next week....

-----------------------------------------------------



http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kn6-c223DUU&feature=av2e





"Can we pretend that airplanes in the night sky are like shooting stars?


I could really use a wish right now (wish right now, wish right now)...


Yeah, I could use a dream or a genie or a wish


To go back to a place much simpler than this.


Cause after all the partyin' and smashin' and crashin'


And all the glitz and the glam and the fashion


And all the pandemonium and all the madness


There comes a time where you fade to the blackness...








I'm pretty sure that these words aren't new to you - right? B.O.B. (ft. Hayley Williams) Airplanes is a hugely popular award winning tune - but did you also know that it was written by a 22 year old college student from Cornell University named Tim Sommers? Oh and Eminem also threw in a verse - so we have this unlikely collaboration of Tim, Eminem, B.O.B., and Hayley that produced a smash hit that gets stuck in your head like the Barney theme song did when you were a kid.





Speaking of when you were a kid, do you ever wish you could go back? Airplanes is mainly about Tim or B.O.B or somebody wanting to go back to a time when things were pure, less complicated, and simpler - so for most of us that would be when we we're children, right? But now you're not. Friends have changed, life has drama and complications that you never saw coming when you were a child playing hide and seek or sardines in the neighborhood on a summer night. Maybe that's why Airplanes has connected so well with so many...we all could use a wish, and we all sometimes wish we could go back to being children.





And why not? When we were little children, we weren't loaded down with the burdens of worry, peer pressure, rejection, and performance expectations. We put all our trust in people who would love us, provide for us, and take care of us.





Guess what? I don't have to pretend that airplanes were shooting stars in the night sky that I could throw up a wish to, because when I start feeling the strain and stress, I remember this event from Jesus' life: One day children were brought to Jesus in the hope that he would lay hands on them and pray over them. The disciples shooed them off. But Jesus intervened: "Let the children alone, don't prevent them from coming to me. God's kingdom is made up of people like these (Matthew 19:13-15, The Message).





Interesting, isn't it? Jesus' disciples thought He was too important or too busy to waste His time with little kids, but in fact Jesus describes His followers as "people like these." What did He mean? Easy...when we trust in Jesus Christ as our only hope of salvation, we bring the faith of a child to God, then we become the children of God! Sure, I have the burdens of worry, peer pressure, rejection, and performance expectations...and when they creep into my soul and darken my life, God reminds me to go back to being His kid. He sits me down like a loving parent and fills my mind with these promises:





"See how very much our Father loves us, for he calls us his children, and that is what we are! (1 John 3:1).

Camping Trip!!! =)

Next Sunday at this time our group will be out at Champoeg State Park having a blast on our one-night camping trip!

Let me know ASAP if you plan to attend or have a friend that would like to attend so that I can plan for food/games etc :-) Cost is $10, which covers food and the site reservation.


Here are the packing list, parent letter, and permission slips in jpg form that you can print and bring. If the permission slip or parent letter are hard to read, see the previous post for text you can copy/paste into a Word doc.

Parent letter and permission slip for the camp out! =D

(if you're having trouble viewing the jpgs, please paste these into a document. Give the Parent letter to your guardian. Print, sign and bring the permission slip with you!

Foundry Youth Camping Trip – 2010
Parent info. Sheet



Dear Parents,

We’re so excited to have your student camping with us this weekend – it’s going to be a great experience. I want to make sure you have all of the information you need to know about the trip:

- We will be tent camping at Champoeg State Park, which is 6 miles SE of Newberg along the Willamette River. Restrooms/changing areas and showers are available.
- We will arrive at the park around 1:30 in the afternoon on Sunday, (those riding down with me will leave Tigard a little before 1:00,) and will wrap up our time together at 11:00 am on Monday, at which time they can be picked up or I can transport them home, (whichever you’ve indicated on the permission slip.)
- Boys and Girls will have separate tents and changing areas, buddy system will be used for activities and there will be an adult chaperone at each tent site to ensure the safety of all students.
- Students are being asked to bring clothes which are modest and they don’t mind getting dirty/wet, and to wear sturdy shoes since we will be outside and hiking.
- We will be having Hot dogs for dinner, s’mores for dessert, and pancakes for breakfast. Feel free to send snacks or alternative foods if your student has special dietary needs.



General schedule of events:

Sunday afternoon: Group games, Ultimate Frisbee, scavenger hunt, hiking opportunity etc.
Sunday evening: dinner, campfire, group activities, games, quiet time.
Monday morning: breakfast, clean up campsite, small group hike and chat time.



If there’s anything information I’ve missed, or you have any questions please contact me at: 503-537-8489, or called2shepherd2@gmail.com




Blessings-
Katie Stevens, Pastor to Youth and Children at the Foundry Community




-------------------------------------




Foundry Youth Camping Trip Permission Form

Student’s Name:________________________ Date of Birth:_______ Grade: ____

Address/City/Zip:_____________________________________________________

Emergency Contact #1:________________________________________________
(W) Phone: (____)________________ (H) Phone :(____)_______________

Emergency Contact #2:________________________________________________
(W) Phone: (____)_________________ (H) Phone: (____)_______________

Health/Med. Ins. Co. :________________________
Policy Number: _____________________________

Does the student have any medical conditions, food allergies or special needs that we should be aware of? ________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Please check/fill in one of these:
- My student will be picked up by_______________________
OR
- Please transport my student home following the event. _____

As a parent/legal guardian of _________________, I have reviewed the information about the Champoeg camping trip with the youth from The Foundry Community, July 18-19 2010, and give permission for the subject of this release to be involved in the overall activities of this event. I/We understand all reasonable safety precautions will be taken at all times by The Foundry Community and its agents during the events and activities. I/We authorize any treatment by an accredited hospital and/or physician deemed necessary for the subject of the release in case of an emergency. I/We understand the possibility of unforeseen hazards and know the inherent possibility of risk. I/We agree not to hold The Foundry Community, its leaders, employees, and volunteer staff liable for damages, losses, diseases, or injuries incurred by the subject of this form.

Parent/Guardian Name (Please Print):________________________________ Parent /Guardian Signature:_______________________________________ Date:______________

Who, Me?

(click on the above image for a larger view.)


This coming week we will continue talking about David- nothing is impossible.
More to come post-chat.

Chat will be on Saturday this week =)

Unplugged

(click on the above picture for a larger view.)

This week we talked about keeping our priorities in line by making sure to spend time with God to recharge. It won't matter if we do everything in the right order or the right way if we are too exhausted or our energy stores are too depleted to do our best.

Suggestions for refueling:
-journaling
-taking a walk
-music
-quiet time
-drawing/art
-straight up prayer :)
-remembering that God always hears us and is with us, even when it feels like there's no time for everything we've crammed into our schedules.

Bible study today!

Tok Box Bible study tonight, 7pm pacific time :-)
Just click on the link, (I'll post it around 6:45,) and join in the conversation!
Theme: Unplugged- time and priorities

Bible Study

This Sunday on Tok Box =)

time TBA (check the poll on the 'Open Forum' link to give input of when works best for you) =)
Open Forum

I will post the feed URL and study sheet in email and on FB on Sunday--- so let me know or check it out!
Foundry Youth FB

Dare 2 Share

Dare 2 Share is a week from this Friday!!!! =D

Please make sure you are at youth group this Friday (7:00) so that we can go over trip details and get permission slips out. Remind each other and start packing :-D

See you there!