UTurn

Overview of U-TURN Youth Ministry

Anyone ever wondered what our approach to youth ministry is? We just printed up new brochures describing our programs. You can download it here: Download 2009 U-TURN Ministry Brochure (right click and select "save as")

We are also hoping to launch a new "Sr Honors" program this coming fall. We've been asking the question, "What do we want our students to know, understand, be exposed to, and experience during the six years they are in youth ministry?" We've come up with a few things we think are important in equipping them for the future. We will offer those programs/classes/experiences/opportunities throughout those 6 years and then offer a very special honor to those Seniors who complete the requirements. You'll be hearing more about it all in the fall.

Surfside Mission Trip

Download 2009 Surfside Mission Trip Registration Info/Broshure

Registrations are due back May 31st.

After the devastation of Hurricane Ike, we felt like this was the perfect time for us to focus our mission efforts right here in our own backyard. There are plenty of ways we can help with hurricane recovery and how cool is it that God lets us be a part of His work?

We will still be staying away from home in another church so it’ll feel like you’re away in some fancy destination doing work for God. Only difference? No long van ride!!!

You guys are familiar with Surfside beach, and Freeport FUMC is very close. We’ll be staying at the church in the same way that UM ARMY or Faith in Action does - guys in one part of the church and girls in the other. You’ll need to bring cots or air mattresses with sleeping bags and bedding ‘cause we’ll be on the floor. We’ll eat breakfast and dinner @ the church (except for one special night) and we’ll take sack lunches to the worksite.

At night, after showers & dinner, we’ll have some great fun activities and enjoy hanging out with each other. We’ll also spend some time in worship each night reflecting on all that God has done and who He is.

This is a great opportunity to help some of the people here in our community and have a great time doing it!!!

Sr Sunday

We had a great Sr Sunday!

Congratulations!

Ashleigh Bowers

Katie Walzel

Sara Fish

Justin Mikulencak

Cristy Hockstra

Sarah Hancock

Mason Gray

Dennis Faltysek

Will Bedell

Ryan Hemphill

Here are a couple of downloads for ya: (Just right click and select "save as")

Senior Sunday Sermon with Justin Mikulencak

"Hallelujah" - Sarah Fish

2009 Senior Slide Show Video

Pool Party

Hey guys! Our Pool Party is this coming Sunday Night!!! Join us at the Pierson's house from 5-7pm. We'll have food for ya and tons of fun. This is a great opportunity to get to know the other youth in our group and to welcome our confirmands!!!!

Here's the map to their house:  (just click on the picture for a larger view and them right click and select "save as" to download.)

McKinney Falls Camping Trip

Download Registration Form/Info

June 9-12 we'll be heading to McKinney Falls State Park for a great trip. (Check out the video on their site too.) Within the city limits of Austin, McKinney Falls offers a great location for us. They have plenty of hiking/biking trails and places to swim and fish. We'll be staying in screened shelter/cabins with bunk beds (nobody has to bring a cot). We'll also spend one day at the Volente Beach Waterpark.

This annual trip is always one of the best! "Our plan is to have no plan." In this busy world, we live our lives frantically running from one event to the next. This trip is a total break from it all. Our goal is to have so little to do that we actually get a little bored. Why??? Why would any youth leaders want to bore their students? 'Cause when we get bored, we also get creative. And when we get creative, craziness is sure to follow, and amazing memories are made.

God revealed Himself first to us as "Creator" (Genesis 1) and then He said we were made in His image. That means we were made to create too. But we don't ever slow down long enough to become creators. We're too busy consuming stuff that others create. Our hope/goal is that we can slow down and notice God - to slow down and begin to think about Him - to slow down and create space - space for Him to work and space that will allow us to imagine and create new lives in connection with Him.

Download the Brochure/Registration form here:
McKinney Falls State Park Brochure/Registration

Baby Bottle Boomerang

Our 7-8th grade girls Small Group is working on a service project. The Baby Bottle Boomerang will help raise $$ to support the Pregnancy Help Center and Safe Haven.They will be collecting money in baby bottles between Mother's Day and Father's day. You should be hearing more from them soon.

Below is the flyer with an explanation.

Mother’s Day, May 10 – Father’s Day, June 21

The Pregnancy Help Center will have its third annual Baby Bottle Boomerang starting on Mother’s Day, May 10^th and ending on Father’s Day, June 21^st. The money raised will be split between the Pregnancy Help Center and Safe Haven Maternity Home-which is now operational.  Here’s how it works----Each family takes a baby bottle home with them and puts their spare change (or dollars) in the bottle. When the bottle is full or on Father’s Day, the bottle is turned in to your church. (Some people empty their small bottle into another container and continue to collect change until the end of the Boomerang.) The collected bottles are then brought to the Pregnancy Help Center for deposit. Total giving amounts will be sent to each church.

Last year, local churches raised over $44,000 through the Baby Bottle Boomerang for the Pregnancy Help Center and Safe Haven.