long time overdue…
Posted by: erin on: September 22, 2008
Hello all! This post is long overdue and I apologize for that. Here is a quick update of the past few months…
mission: austin 2008 started and finished. a total of 20 youth and 5 adults worked for one week in austin, texas and overcame many obstacles in the process. I took a short vacation (at home!). We finished our book study after breaking much bread together as a group. School started… hooray! We held a lock-in, totaling 26 youth at one point! Games in the gym are fun, going to sleep is not! Going to church after a lock-in is hard, but builds a stronger bond and shows the congregation what a great group we have! The mission: austin slide show was a big success, everyone enjoyed it! Rally Day was great, thanks to all those that helped! Back to a regular routine of Sunday and Wednesday EYC!!!
Okay, I think that pretty much sums it up! Does anybody have anything to add?
Now, on to the present… we are preparing to move into our new youth building! Our hope is that we will move this upcoming Sunday. I am looking for some storage solutions, so if you think you can help please let me know. I really think this will be a great space for us; much less wasted space and a better atmosphere that suits our group. I am happy to report that after last night’s youth group we realize how much our community is formed by the people, not the building! (Wonderful insight Junior High!)
We have a wonderful group of youth and I am blessed everyday to get to work with each and every one of them, as well as the parents!
Stay tuned for more info about the move, as well as more calendar events, such as a concert in October!
In His Peace,
erin
mission:austin
Posted by: erin on: July 29, 2008
Hey everyone!
I hope you all have had time to recuperate from the mission trip. =) Hopefully you have had time to reflect on everything you experienced and learned last week. I learned a lot about myself through the crew devotions, and it was really cool to meet people from other youth groups. These two things reinforced how important it is to maintain relationships. It takes a lot of work to keep a relationship going and quite often it takes sacrifices from both parties. Whether it’s with your parents, siblings, friends, significant other, or people in authority (such as the amazing staff that took care of us last week) it is important to remember that we are asked to love the other person as we love ourselves. As I’m sure you all remember, the ways we can do this are to serve, risk, and forgive those people that we love. None of these things are very easy for me. I don’t think they come naturally to most people, and so I want to challenge you all to work on these things in your everyday relationships. Start by choosing one person and go on from there. I will choose my sister because we don’t really get along…ever. Feel free to ask how it is going if you are interested. Accountability is very important in our faith. So, remember to Love Out Loud here at home! It doesn’t have to be a service project or a mission trip; you can start right now with the people around you!
FHS,
Anna
proverbs 16.16
Posted by: erin on: June 16, 2008
“How much better to get wisdon than gold! To get understanding is to be chosen rather than silver.”
How does this verse make you feel? What do you understand this to mean?
For me, wisdom is much more important than gold and silver. How wonderful to have wisdom to get you through life. Your life is so much more than material possesions, so much more than the songs on your iPod, the shoes on your feet, and the purse you carry. Wisdom is what will help to make your life. Yes, you could end up in a high-paying job and do very well for yourself, but without wisdom, where are you?
Wisdom is not taught, it’s something you earn. It’s the whole expanse of your knowledge, understanding, experience, discretion and how you use all of those things together. How do you measure wisdom?
Leave me some thoughts…
thursday…
Posted by: erin on: June 16, 2008
Hey everybody! I hope summer is going well still, and that you are staying out of the heat!
Just a quick reminder… we will not be going to Lion’s Park on Thursday, but instead meeting to go see Prince Caspian at Hollywood Theaters. Please email me if you are interested in meeting us there. We will then come back to the Youth Center to discuss the movie. Parents need to pick up at St. Paul’s at 4:00.
I hope to see many of you there!
Peace,
Erin
creating your own posts…
Posted by: erin on: June 4, 2008
Hello everybody!
So, lots of people have asked me how to create a post on the blog as opposed to only leaving comments. Here is what I have found out… you have to become a wordpress.com user with your own blog, then I can add you as a contributor on this blog. You can then write posts, but they will be approved by me. At this point that is the easiest way I have found. I am still searching and trying to figure out exactly what will be best, but for now if you are interested in creating your own post leave me a comment or send me an email. I will then send you an invite to join wordpress and add you as a contributor.
Leave comments and let me know what you think.
Peace,
Erin
summer is here!
Posted by: erin on: May 29, 2008
Well, who can believe it?!? Summer is here! I know that I am having a hard time with the fact that it is June already (well, close enough as of the day this will post)! My little girls are growing up so fast, seniors are graduating, youth are moving up to high school, and summer EYC plans are set in motion!
Youth- I am curious what your plans are for the summer… where will you be vacationing, what are you looking forward to the most and what else do you have going on? Keep me posted, especially if you are traveling so I can add you and your family to my prayers.
This Sunday is the carwash fundraiser for mission: austin! To all the youth that are not going on the trip but would like to help wash cars, we would love your help! Just make sure you plan on attending church before or after you help and we will be all set! It should be fun, dirty and hot! E-mail me if you have any questions!
Now, on to what the summer will look like for St. Paul’s EYC… beginning in June we will meet on Tuesday mornings to have a breakfast book study. We will be reading the book Praise Habit: Finding God in Sunsets and Sushi by local Christian rock artist David Crowder. Meet with us on Tuesday, June 3rd to order the book and find out what this is all about. The book will cost $10 and I will order them for everyone. If you can’t make the first breakfast but know you want to be involved, give me a call and I’ll make sure you get a book! Moving on… we are headed to Waco Water Park Thursday June 5th for some fun in the sun. Then, Thursday June 19th we will go play at Lion’s Park- putt-putt and more! Check out your calendars (which can be found at http://www.stpaulswaco.org/downloads.html) and are in the mail headed your way!
I think that there are some fun activities for everyone this summer and I hope to see you involved! Remember to keep me posted on what you have going on and how your summer is going! See you Sunday at the carwash!
Blessings,
Erin
A few congrats…
Posted by: erin on: May 20, 2008
I just wanted to post a few congratulations to youth in EYC. If you know of an achievement not listed here, please post a comment or e-mail me to let me know and I will make sure it gets added!
First (and unfortunately) though, I need to say congrats to the parents for winning the annual kickball game! It was a great game and thanks to all that came out and played. It was a beautiful day and we all had a great time!
Now, on to the youth…
Sarah, Madison and Camille were all inducted into the National Junior Honor Society at Midway Middle School! Good job and keep up the good grades!
Colton has been invited to attend a leadership program for youth! A teacher from his school nominated him for this program, which is quite an honor since only a few students are chosen each summer!
And, to the seniors, Isla, Ginnie, Monica, Lauren, Nick F., Nick D., Elliott, Adam and Wyn are all so close to graduating! Congrats to all of you and know that you remain in our prayers as you head off to various schools! Keep us posted on how things are going and try to find a good campus ministry to get involved in!
Again, if you know of any other congrats that need to be awarded, let me know. I can only post what I hear from the youth and the parents!
In His Love,
Erin
cool site
Posted by: erin on: May 7, 2008
Hello to all my youth…
I just visited this wonderful website where you can participate in daily devotions, online! You can read the daily lectionary, and then work through it using a devotion, prayer response and reflection. It really is great! Plus, as much time as you all spend at the computer, you can add this to your favorites and spend some time with God.
Check it out at www.d365.org
Let me know what you think!
Peace…
The Transitional Teenage Years
Posted by: erin on: May 7, 2008
- In: parents
- 2 Comments
In understanding teenagers this has to be one of the most important things to remember- the teenage years are the equivalent of constant transition. Teens are not really children, but not yet adults either. Just looking at them can tell you that, right? Some develop much quicker than others, for example- a 12 year old might look like a 16 year old but act like an 11 year old. How many of you have seen that in a youth before? Realize that while that is hard on the parents, it can be just as hard, or harder on the youth. As parents of teenagers it is important to have a better understanding of what changes are taking place throughout their teenage years. Think of it like this: the adolescent years (growing from child to adult) are much like the toddler years (growing from infant to child). There are many ups and downs related to both of these stages and that is what we will look at in this post.
A Change in Their Way of Thinking
Do you remember when your now teenager was a child? I’m sure you do. Remember how hard it was to get them to understand abstract ideas? They took everything you said just as you said it, very literal. As they hit the developmental adolescent stage they begin to think conceptually, using judgement to discern situations. It is common for teenagers to relate entirely different as teenagers than they did as children, why do you think teenagers are so often labelled ‘rebellious’? Teens now understand the parables they have heard for so many years, such as ‘People who live in glass houses shouldn’t throw stones.’ This change typically happens between the ages of 11 and 12. Many teens think that they now know everything, which is where so many parent-teen arguments come from. They begin to think more about the values they were taught and possibly reject those values. While this is hard for parents to go through, it is part of growing up and becoming an adult. Do you agree with all of your friends’ values? Probably not.
Does all of this make it any easier when your teen does rebel? Again, probably not, but maybe now you can understand it a bit more.
A Change in Ideals
‘I’m not going to church anymore, I don’t believe in it.’ That is something I have heard parents struggle with often, along with other changes in values. Believe it or not, some of the change in teens ideals is because they want attention, they want to be in control. They also are seeking correct information- be glad when they seek that information from you, even if it starts a fight. I’m sure that is hard to hear, especially from someone who doesn’t have teenagers yet, but it’s true. They want to hear what you think, but aren’t quite ready mentally to have an adult conversation with you about it, so you end up in an argument. Think about this as well- when the teen is in pain (hurting about something-whether it be from school, friends, or life at home) they want to make sure the parents feel that pain as well. Remember that you are the parent and you are in control. Help them to understand what they are going through and be supportive. It will certainly help in the long run.
So, why are we talking about all of this?
This whole post is about transition, right? (Correct answer: yes!) So how does transition play into your teen’s spiritual life? The answer: in so many ways. They will start asking more abstract questions now about God and His call to us as Christians. They will be more curious about their faith and other faiths. Don’t push this transition of a wonderful spiritual journey. Help them by sharing your spiritual journey, your God moments during the week (places you have seen God’s love), and by listening to them as they ask questions. Guide them as the seek the answers to those questions, but do not force the answer. Being a guide means to accompany a person to show points of interest and to explain their meaning or significance. Be a wonderful guide to your youth, and know that I am striving to be a guide for them as well.
Let us end in prayer,
Dear Lord, please help me to be the guide that my youth needs, both in his/her spiritual transition and in all his/her other changes as well. Help me to understand what my youth is thinking and feeling, even when we are fighting over the silliest matters. Help me understand the many influences my youth has, from media to friends to myself. Help me sort through the bad to see the good, help me to see God in my child. All of this I ask in your name, Amen.
More issues…
Posted by: erin on: April 21, 2008
So, this past Wednesday we discussed a few issues that teens face- peer pressure, friends and drugs. The last post focused on friends, so for this post we will look at drugs and peer pressure.
I was amazed when every youth in the room raised their hand when I asked this question, “How many of you know someone who has done drugs?”. It just goes to show you that drugs are everywhere, including junior high schools. We talked some about the type of people that use drugs, and we all agreed that even the well-off youth use drugs. In fact, it may be easier for them to get the drugs than it is for others that people tend to look at as typical drug users. That may be a truth, and something that you should think about as you hear your peers talk about drugs.
We also talked about alcohol. I named it as a drug, and some disagreed at first. It is addictive, it can be harmful- to you and to others (think about all the drunk driving accidents that hurt innocent people). Now, here’s a question- how many of you have tried alcohol? My guess is many more of you have tried alcohol than have tried drugs, but maybe not. Here’s another question- why is it that alcohol is more socially accepted than drugs? Isn’t it just as harmful? Do you agree or disagree and why?
Ephesians 5:15 says “Be careful then about how you live, not as unwise people but as wise…” Live as wise people, make wise decisions, think about Christ-always. How easy is that? Maybe it is easier for you to think about how someone you look up to would handle a situation than to think about what Jesus would do. Even better, instead of asking yourself the WWJD, ask yourself What Would Jesus Want Me To Do? I believe that Fr. Alex preached about that in a sermon recently. It is simpler to think of only yourself, but Jesus wants you to think of him and others. So, think about that. In fact, if you find that passage from Ephesians interesting, continue reading on in the fifth chapter as Paul writes about renouncing pagan ways, the evil days, and how to live a Christian life.
Now, though we could never discuss enough the ways and reasons to stay away from drugs, I want to move on to peer pressure. I think that the words ‘peer pressure’ lend themselves to images of a bunch of teens surrounding one teen pressuring them to try drugs, or cheat on a test, etc. I think that peer pressure for today’s teens is much more understated. Peer pressure today exists on levels that some parents just can’t understand. Girls, what if you don’t have the right handbag or shoes- do you feel some pressure from some of your friends? I’m guessing that at least some of you can say yes. Boys, what if you don’t have the coolest car or mp3 player? Do your friends make fun of you?
Think about how peer pressure plays out in your life. Think about how you maybe pressure others. Are things coming to mind? I’m sure that each and every one of you can name sometime you have been pressured and sometime you have pressured others. Now, realize that peer pressure is something that is just there- but you can make a difference. A little bit goes a long way!
I will end this post with a prayer that I hope you can use as you think about all of these things… Dear Lord, as I fill my mind with other things, the room for you grows smaller. Help me to keep you always in my life and think of you as I am faced with hard choices. Help me to realize the thrill of drugs and alcohol is nothing like the love that you provide. Give me the wisdom to realize when I have fallen subject to peer pressure and when I am pressuring others. Watch over me Lord as I live my life and keep you in my heart. In your name we pray, Amen.
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