The Shenandoah District Church of the Brethren Youth Ministry Newsletter Winter 2010 CONTENTS Page 1 This Year s Theme & Devotion Page 2 Upcoming Winter Events Page 3 Winter Youth Worship Page 4 Junior High Lock-In Page 5 Senior High Retreat This Year s Theme The theme for the coming year will be... Footprints. Each of the events sponsored by the district will be focusing on footprints. Make sure to follow the Footprints that lead you to each of our events. There you will learn more about yourself and who you are, just by looking at those footprints you follow and those you leave behind. The Last Runner The annual marathon in my town usually occurs during a heat wave. My job was to follow behind the runners in an ambulance in case any of them needed medical attention. The driver and I were in an air-conditioned ambulance behind approximately one hundred athletes waiting to hear the sharp crack of the starting gun. We re supposed to stay behind the last runner, so take it slowly, I said to the driver, Doug, as we began to creep forward. Let s just hope the last runner is fast! He laughed. As they began to pace themselves, the front runners started to disappear. It was then that my eyes were drawn to the woman in blue silk running shorts and a baggy white t-shirt. Doug, look! We knew we were already watching our last runner. Her feet were turned in, yet her left knee was turned out. Her legs were so crippled and bent it seemed impossible for her to be able to walk, yet alone run a marathon. Doug and I watched in silence as she slowly moved forward. We didn t say a thing. We would move forward a little bit, then stop and wait for her to gain some distance. Then we d slowly move forward a little bit more. As I watched her struggle to put one foot in front of the other, I found myself breathing for her and urging her forward. I wanted her to stop, and at the same time, I prayed that she wouldn t. Finally, she was the only runner left in sight. Tears streamed down my face as I sat on the edge of my seat and watched with awe, amazement and even reverence as she pushed forward with sheer determination through the last miles. When the finish line came into sight, trash lay everywhere and the cheering crowds had long gone home. Yet, standing straight and ever so proud waited a lone man. He was holding one end of a ribbon of crepe paper tied to a post. She slowly crossed through, leaving both ends of the paper fluttering behind her. I do not know this woman s name, but that day she became a part of my life a part I often depend on. For her, it wasn t about beating the other runners or winning a trophy, it was about finishing what she had set out to do, no matter what. When I think things are too difficult, or too time-consuming, or I get those I-just-can t-do-its, I think of the last runner. Then I realize how easy the task before me really is. Lisa Beach
Jr. and Sr. High Youth Worship January 16, 6:00-8:00 pm Wakeman s Grove CoB It s that time again time for another youth worship. The evening s guest speaker will be A. Mack, founder of the Church of the Brethren, along with Brethren Boy, of National Youth Conference fame. They will be speaking on this year s theme of Footprints. Come on out to join in some fun games, a moving worship service and some tasty snacks. With these two sharing the message, this will be one youth worship you won t want to miss! Senior High Retreat February 25-27 7:00pm - 2:00pm Brethren Woods Led by the Interdistrict Youth Cabinet (IYC), the same folks that put on Roundtable, the weekend will be based on the theme of The Missing Piece. Each of the sessions throughout the weekend will focus on a different kind of peace, including God as our missing piece/peace, peace within our relationships with others and the missing peace in today s world. To learn more, check out Ephesians 3: 18-19. We also will spend an evening up on Massanutten Mountain, going tubing. There will also be time to spend with your friends, new and old, hanging out and enjoying all camp has to offer. With all this, what more could you want? Roundtable March 18-20 Bridgewater College Make your way to Bridgewater for this interdistrict gathering. Meet up with youth from all over the east coast and have a great time worshipping, fellowshipping and having an all-out blast together. This year, David Ratcliff, of New Community Project, will be speaking on the theme, I Believe I Can Fly. Workshops on just about any topic are available so register early to get your first choices. Also, this weekend will include the band Adonia as the entertainment as well as the variety show. Registration opens in January, so get ready! Junior High Lock-In February 11-12, 6:30pm 10:00am Mill Creek CoB Join all your junior high friends for night of non-stop fun and fellowship. We ll start the evening by spending some time getting to know one another, then head to the mountain (Massanutten that is) for an evening of tubing. Once back at the church, it s time for some fun and games. To close out this event we ll end on a high note of a crazy delicious breakfast. Sleeping optional. (he! he! he!) Note: If you know someone that would like to be a regular receiver of the newsletter, you can now sign up on the District Youth Website http://www.shencob.org/youth
January 16, 2011 6:00 8:00pm Wakemans Grove Church of the Brethren Join A. Mack (founder of the Church of the Brethren) and Brethren Boy (of National Youth Conference fame) as they share the message during our Winter Youth Worship. These two will be speaking on the theme of Footprints. Make sure to also come out to enjoy getting to know other youth from around the district and the tasty refreshments that will follow worship! Directions from North and South From North: Take I-81 South to exit 279, Edinburg, VA. At end of exit ramp, turn right onto Route 185 (see below for further directions). From South: Take I-81 North to exit 279, Edinburg, VA. At end of exit ramp, turn left onto Route 185 (see below for further directions). FROM BOTH DIRECTIONS: Route 185 will turn into Route 675. Follow Route 675 for 2 miles. Turn left onto Route 682. Cross Stony Creek. Wakeman s Grove Church of the Brethren 668 Wakeman s Grove Rd., Edinburg, VA 22824 540-984-8383 Church is one mile on left. Directions from West/Route 42 From Northwest: Take Route 675 to Columbia Furnace. Turn right onto Route 42 South. Immediately turn left and continue on Route 675. After 2.75 miles, turn right onto Route 682. Church is one mile on left. From Southwest: From Route 42 at Hudson Crossroads, go north 4.25 miles and turn right onto Route 691, just after crossing Swover Creek. Cross Swover Creek two more times, and just after the second time, follow Route 682 as it forks to the left. Church is less than a mile on the right.
Hey Junior Highers! Wanna spend an evening having an all-out blast? Want nonstop fun and games? Wanna go tubing at Massanutten? Then sign-up for the February 11-12, 6:30pm 10:00am Any and all Junior High youth Mill Creek Church of the Brethren $25 per person Join us at Mill Creek Church of the Brethren Friday evening and spend some time together getting back together with old friends and making some new friends as well. Then we ll head up the mountain to go tubing at Massanutten. After we have had all the fun we can up there, we ll head back to the church for some organized free-time and possibly some sleeping. This event will close out Saturday morning with a hearty breakfast. Go ahead and sign up now to get yourself registered so you make sure you won t miss out on this awesome event! Jr. High Lock-In February 11-12, 6:30pm - 10:00am Mill Creek CoB Please return this form to the District Office (P.O. Box 67, Weyers Cave, VA 24486) by February 2, 2011 with your check for $25 made out to the Shenandoah District. Name: Phone Number: Address: Grade: Congregation: Email: Advisor s Name (if you are an advisor, please note here): *Churches must send at least one advisor for their group, every group must have an advisor!*
February 25-27 7:00pm - 2:00pm Senior High Youth Brethren Woods $95 per person Interdistrict Youth Cabinet (IYC), the folks who bring you Roundtable, will be leading several sessions based on the theme of The Missing Piece. Sessions will look into God as our missing piece/peace, peace within our relationships with others and the missing peace in today s world. The rest of the weekend will include an evening of tubing at Massanutten and much more fun, games and fellowship. Sign up now (and all your friends) to take advantage of this wonderful weekend! Make sure to bring: clothes for the weekend, sleeping bag, pillow, warm clothes for tubing, bible, plenty of friends, etc. Senior High Retreat February 25-27, 7:00-2:00pm Brethren Woods Please return this form to the District Office (P.O. Box 67, Weyers Cave, VA 24486) by February 14, 2011 with your check for $95 made out to the Shenandoah District. Name: Phone Number: Address: Grade: Congregation: Email: Advisor s Name (if you are an advisor, please note here): *Churches must send at least one advisor for their group, every group must have an advisor!*
Shenandoah District Youth Ministries Church of the Brethren 1453 Westview School Road P.O. Box 67 Weyers Cave, VA 24486 Phone: (540) 234-8555 Toll Free: 1-888-308-8555 Fax: (540) 234-8333 E-mail: districtoffice@shencob.org Youth e-mail: youth@shencob.org Alton Hipps Bridgewater Kate Ridgeway Sangerville 2010-2011 Youth Council Lauren Flora Bridgewater Maddie White Linville Creek Adult Advisors: Joan Daggett Associate District Executive Sam Cupp Youth Ministry Assistant Katie Cummings District Board Liaison Shenandoah District Church of the Brethren 1453 Westview School Road P.O. Box 67 Weyers Cave, VA 24486 RETURN SERVICE REQUESTED