AlexandriaYouth.com

Real World Parents seminar this Saturday, no Journey tonight, Mexico meeting, more

// January 27th, 2010 // No Comments » // Youth News

Real World Parents seminar this Saturday

There’s only a couple days left to register for $10/family price. At the door registration goes up to $15/family. Price includes workbook and childcare.

The seminar starts promptly at 9:00 AM and goes until noon. You won’t want to miss this, I promise! More information about the seminar is on the church’s website here.

Mexico missions trip meeting

Our next meeting is on Sunday, February 7th, at 12:15 PM at church, immediately following the last service. If you missed the first meeting, you’ll want to make sure you come to this one because we’ll be finalizing who’s committed to going on the trip. If you’re still unsure, you’ll have to decide by then.

I’m going to Haiti in 15 days!

Yes, it’s true. On February 11, I (Tim Schmoyer) will be going to Haiti for a week to help with some of the relief efforts there. I plan to have access to the Internet while I’m there, which means I will be publishing pictures, videos, and blog posts while I’m gone, so you all can keep up with the trip while I serve.

I blogged more about my trip first here and then here if you want to see more details about my trip.

No Journey tonight

There is no AWANA nor Journey at church tonight! Enjoy your evening off with your families!

Super Bowl Party

There is no Sr. High Impact on February 7 due to the Super Bowl. Instead, we will be joining FCA and YFC at the YFC building (by the old CCO tower) on 8th and Broadway.

HUGE announcement this Sunday, Girls-only B.S. starts Thursday at Schmoyer’s, LBBC, more

// January 13th, 2010 // No Comments » // Youth News

HUGE ANNOUNCEMENT this Sunday at church!

Let me be the first to tip you off to a big announcement that will be made this Sunday at church. If you aren’t planning to be at one of our church services this week, change your plans and be there! Seriously. Something has been in the works for a while, but we haven’t been free to talk about it until this Sunday, so COME!

Check out this video I posted about it on our church’s Facebook page!

Next Mexico missions trip meeting

We had a great turnout at our first Mexico missions trip meeting last week! Our next meeting is on Sunday, February 7th, at 12:15 PM at church, immediately following the last service. If you missed the first meeting, you’ll want to make sure you come to this one because we’ll be finalizing who’s committed to going on the trip. If you’re still unsure, you’ll have to decide by then.

We’ll also start talking about the different gifts, talents, and abilities each person has on the team. This will help us start to plan what we’ll be doing there and how each of us will be serving the Covenant Mexicans on the trip.

New girls-only Bible study starts Thursday at the Schmoyer’s

This Thursday, January 14, Dana Schmoyer and Jan Banke are starting a new Bible study for sr. high girls at 6:30 PM called, “Lady In Waiting.” You’ll talk about relationships, boys, dating, and a Biblical model for how that all works. Most importantly, however, you’ll talk about your relationship with God and how to pursue your relationship with Him more than your relationship with other guys.

There’s a book you’ll probably want to purchase that costs a nominal fee, but that’s it.

Here’s a video on our youth group Facebook page of Dana explaining more about it.

Real World Parents Seminar

There’s still time to register for Real World Parents and get the advanced price of $10 per family. All the information about the Real World Parents seminar is now posted on our church’s website. You can find the promo video, a download of our print ad, and even register and pay for the seminar online.

Please help us spread the word about this seminar!

Jr. High worship band

If you’re in jr. high and would like to participate in the worship band that leads The Journey once a month, please contact Nancy Holm at nancyh@alexandriacovenant.org or at 320-763-5659. We’re looking for musicians and singers!

Lake Beauty Bible Camp winter snow camps

The LBBC Junior/Super High and Trailblazer Retreats are both happening in February.

• The Junior/Super is February 5th-7th. The early registration is January 15th, and the price until that point is $103. After January 15th the price will go up to $109. This weekend will be full of spiritual encouragement and fun. There will be broomball, polar dip, tubing, tournaments, and many more activities, as well as delicious food. The speaker for the weekend will be Aaron Felty, the youth pastor at Plymouth Covenant Church.
• The Trailblazer is February 26th-28th. Early registration is February 1st. Again until the 1st the price is $103 and after the 1st it is $109. We will have exciting things planned for this weekend as well. Some activities will be of course broomball, and tubing, as well as polar dip, crafts, and a promise land extravaganza. We will also be giving into the spiritual lives of the trailblazers through our counselors and our speaker Joel Osterlund. Joel is the Pastor of Christian Formation at Grace Covenant in Little Falls.

The theme for both retreats is What Now? Our theme verse is Joshua 1:9. Our summer theme was being wanted by God and it was based on Moses. We pick up here with Moses dead. Joshua and Israel are wondering what now? Now that they aren’t camp, what now? During these weekends students will be encouraged to look for what they are called to do in the areas that they have influence (i.e. school, clubs, sports teams), and then to go do it with courage and strength. It will be a challenging and encouraging weekend for your students.

Brochures and online registration are here on LBBC’s website.

Mexico trip meeting this Thursday, Real World Parents seminar, jr. high praise band

// January 5th, 2010 // No Comments » // Youth News

Mexico missions trip meeting this Thursday

If you want to know more information about this summer’s missions trip to Mexico, be sure to attend this first meeting on Thursday at 7:00 PM at church. Our host for the trip, Dale Lusk, if flying up to be here with us and tell us all about it.

Real World Parents Seminar

All the information about the Real World Parents seminar is now posted on our church’s website. You can find the promo video, a download of our print ad, and even register and pay for the seminar online.

Please help us spread the word about this seminar that has the potential to be truly life-changing for you and your family. Matt Reeve, a guy who travels the country speaking, will be here to present the seminar and I’m confident will be worth your time. The cost is $10 per couple in advance, $15 per couple at the door, so sign up today! It’s from 9:00 AM to 12:00 PM on Saturday, January 30, 2010. Find more info and register online here. Also, pick up a brochure with more info at the youth kiosk at church to pass out to parents you know.

Jr. High worship band

If you’re in jr. high and would like to participate in the worship band that leads The Journey once a month, please contact Nancy Holm at nancyh@alexandriacovenant.org or at 320-763-5659. We’re looking for musicians and singers!

Mexico 2010 missions trip meeting, parenting resources, and more…

// December 15th, 2009 // No Comments » // Youth News

Mexico 2010 missions trip meeting

This coming summer we’re going to a town in Mexico where no Covenant missions group has gone before. It will be a great time to minister to several Mexican Covenant churches in the area through a variety of means. And the cool thing about this trip is that it is open to the entire church body: youth, adults, college students, married couples, parents, everyone serving side-by-side.

Dale Lusk of Merge Ministries will be our host and coordinator for the trip. He will also be here at our church on January 7 to give us more information about the missions trip, tentatively scheduled for early August 2010.

If you have any interest at all in going to Mexico with us this summer, please make it a high priority to attend this meeting. It’s on Thursday, January 7, at 7:00 PM at church.

Real World Parents Seminar

All the information about the Real World Parents seminar is now posted on our church’s website. You can find the promo video, a download of our print ad, and even register and pay for the seminar online.

Please help us spread the word about this seminar that has the potential to be truly life-changing for you and your family. Matt Reeve, a guy who travels the country speaking, will be here to present the seminar and I’m confident will be worth your time. The cost is $10 per couple in advance, $15 per couple at the door, so sign up today! It’s from 9:00 AM to 12:00 PM on Saturday, January 30, 2010. Find more info and register online here. Also, pick up a brochure with more info at the youth kiosk at church to pass out to parents you know.

Youth For Christ Jr. High Christmas Party

This Monday, December 21, Youth For Christ is hosting a hangout for Jr. Highers in the YFC room at 8th and Broadway in Alexandria (top floor of the old CCO building, by the radio tower). It starts at 7:00 PM and will go until 9:00 PM. Come hang out, play games, play Xbox, ping-pong, foosball, and even win some pretty amazing prizes like skip passes, DVD player, MP3 players, gift card, movie passes, free bowling and more.

This is intended to be a Youth For Christ outreach event, so please bring a friend who doesn’t know Jesus.

Cancellations for the holiday season

Due to everyone traveling, we want to honor the time commitments of our volunteers and give each of you time to spend with family this Christmas and New Years season. So, we will not have youth meetings on the following dates:

They Journey is canceled on December 23 and 30.
Sunday School is canceled on December 27 and January 3.
Sr. High Impact is also canceled on December 27 and January 3.

Revolutionary Parenting class on Sunday mornings

As parents, our deepest desire is to raise children who succeed in life. This is also our greatest challenge. How can we foster traits such as honesty, compassion and dedication in young minds? How can we raise children who will love and serve God as adults? How can we develop future spiritual champions?

This class will help you create a plan for your family to do just that. This class is based on results from a landmark study of Christian twentysomethings who were thriving in their faith and the parents who raised them. Intended to help you build a solid foundation of faith in your child, the class will feature thought-provoking short video clips at the beginning and end of each session by George Barna, author of 40 books including the bestseller Transforming Children Into Spiritual Champions, and founder of The Barna Group, a national research and resource firm.

So whether you’re a parent of a newborn, a teenager, or any age in between, join the revolution, and share a lasting legacy of faith with your children. It runs from January 10 to February 28, 2010, on Sunday mornings at 9:45 AM in the Family Life Center at church.

C-Group Christmas Parties

The Giroux’s are hosting a C-Group Christmas Party for high school students on Wednesday, December 30. It will unofficially start at 6:30 PM. Check with them for more details as the event draws closer.

The Carlson’s C-group is also having a Christmas party, but it’s on December 23. There will be pizza and lots of fun games!

This is a MUST READ update for all parents. Also includes dodgeball video, YFC hangout, Christmas plans

// December 1st, 2009 // No Comments » // Videos, Youth News

Real World Parents Seminar

One of they key feedback areas I hear from you parents is about having a parenting seminar sometime. You parents have expressed an urgent need for help in navigating the complex issues they face in trying to raise Godly children. So, on Saturday, January 30, we will be hosting a 3-hour workshop, called Real World Parents, to give you the Biblical principles and practical tools you need now.

What does this training provide?

• Realistic, practical next steps, not cheesy ideas that teenagers will roll their eyes at
• Help understanding what is really happening in our culture by looking at the latest statistics and what they mean
• A deeper look at the Biblical principles of parenting, and how to apply them
• How to build trust, independence, proper boundaries and wise decision-making
• Ideas for how families can integrate faith into their everyday lives
• Vision of how God wants to use each family to bring His love and generosity to their neighborhood
• Reframes the local church as a resource that supports the entire family
• Follow up web site with free resources to help pastors and parents go beyond the seminar

Matt Reeve, a parenting seminar training for Real World Parents, will be joining us to lead this workshop for parents. A brief promotional video about Real World Parents can be found on YouTube here.

Join us on Saturday, January 30, for Real World Parents. The seminar is from from 9:00 AM to noon. The cost is $10/couple, which includes your workbook.

Parent Resource: “10 ways to turn around your teen”

Here’s a free ebook called, “Ten Ways To Turn Around Your Teen,” from HeartLightMinistries.org. I haven’t read this ebook in it’s entirety, but it looks worth passing on. As a free download, there’s really nothing to loose.

Download, “10 Ways To Turn Around Your Teen,” free ebook

Dodgeball Tournament highlight video

On November 21 we had our Alexandria Allies Dodgeball Tournament. It was a lot of fun! All the teams did extremely well pounding each other with balls.

Here’s a highlight video of the event, including some of the best dodgeball shots in slow-mo. Check it out!

Youth For Christ Jr. High Hangout

On Monday, December 21, Youth For Christ is hosting a hangout for Jr. Highers in the YFC room at 8th and Broadway in Alexandria (top floor of the old KASX building, by the radio tower). It starts at 7:00 PM and will go until 9:00 PM. Come hang out, play games, play Xbox, ping-pong, foosball, and even win some pretty amazing prizes.

This is intended to be a Youth For Christ outreach event, so all church kids are expected to bring at least one friend who doesn’t know Jesus.

Hope to see you there!

Cancellations for the holiday season

Due to everyone traveling, we want to honor the time commitments of our volunteers and give each of you time to spend with family this Christmas and New Years season. So, we will not have youth meetings on the following dates:

• They Journey is canceled on December 23 and 30.
• Sunday School is canceled on December 27 and January 3.
• Sr. High Impact is also canceled on December 27 and January 3.

C-Group Christmas Party

The Giroux’s are hosting a C-Group Christmas Party for high school students on Wednesday, December 30. It will unofficially start at 6:30 PM. Check with them for more details as the event draws closer.

Monday C-Group at Rosengren’s next week

This Monday, December 7, the C-Group that normally meets at the Hurlbut’s house will meet at Roger Rosengren’s house instead. It starts at 6:30 PM with dinner as normal, followed by a Bible study and bonfire, so wear warmer clothes for sitting outside.

Roger lives at 2338 Centennial Lane NW in Garfield. Here’s a link to his house on Google Maps if you need to print out driving directions.

From Alexandria to Roger’s house (these directions are from Roger if you’re close to Hwy 82).
Take Hwy 82 West for 4 miles to Brophy Park. Angel left (west) onto County Road 8 for 2.5 miles. Cross County Road 40. Continue on County Road 8 for 0.9 miles. Turn right on Centennial. Drive on gravel for 0.9 miles to 2338 Centennial. Their house is on the left.

Dodgeball tourny this Saturday, Planet Wisdom, Food Drop, Journey band practice

// November 17th, 2009 // No Comments » // Youth News

Dodgeball tournament this Saturday

That’s right — several youth groups from the area are getting together to have a big dodgeball tournament, complete with prizes and more! It starts at 1:00 PM this Saturday at Lake Community Church, but you should arrive closer to 12:30 PM to get registered and ready to go.

If you’re not already on a team, that’s no problem. Just show up with $3 and a parent to sign the release form and we’ll place you on a team for the afternoon.

Planet Wisdom registration due

We’d really like to have your Planet Wisdom registrations by this Sunday if at all possible. Turn in a check for $69 to Tim Schmoyer or the church office. You’ll also need some cash to take with you that weekend for two meals.

If you’d like to come, but you’re unable to pay $69, that’s fine. We’re more interested in having you join us than we are in the money. Please talk with Tim Schmoyer and we’ll be happy to help you out financially.

This trip is for both jr. high and sr. high students and the dates are December 4-5. We’ll be spending the night at Bloomington Covenant Church.

If you’re not familiar with Planet Wisdom, check out this video. It’ll give you an idea of what this year’s theme is all about.

Food drop at New Life Church next Wednesday

We’ve had a great time the past two months helping New Life Church distribute food to those in need in our community. The next opportunity to serve is next Wednesday, November 25, from 10 AM to 3 PM. It’s the day before Thanksgiving, so all of you non-homeschooled kids who have been unable to serve in the past because of school can make it this month!

Journey band practice

If you’re in jr. high and are interested in playing an instrument or singing in the Journey Worship Band, the next practice is on Wednesday, December 2, at 5:00 PM at church. We’ll be in the Worship Center (sanctuary). It’s open to everyone, so just show up. We’ll provide pizza after practice for all of you who serve. Immediately after the Journey, you’ll also quickly help lead AWANA in music, too, before heading to your small groups.

Planet Wisdom, Costume Party/Food Drop highlights, Immerse, more…

// November 4th, 2009 // No Comments » // Youth News

You gotta watch the news video this week

The best thing to do this week is to watch the news video. It explains a lot of what’s going on a lot better than this email can. Plus, there’s no way to see all the fun video highlights from last week’s Food Drop and Friendly Costume Party without watching it. You can, however, see pictures of the Friendly Costume Party on our church’s Facebook page.

Immerse this Sunday/New series for Impact

This Sunday is our church-wide Immerse Worship Experience, an interactive time of prayer, music, testimonies, reflection, and more. It starts at 6:30 PM, so it will coincide with Sr. High Impact. The high schoolers will join Immerse and then we’ll break off to start a new series called, “Don’t get married until…” The preview video is in the news video above.

Dodgeball tournament deadline

If you and some friends want to be in the Allies Dodgeball Tournament, the deadline to have your registration form turned in is Sunday, November 15. You can download the form here. The actual tournament is on Saturday, November 21, at Lake Community Church, starting at 1:00 PM.

Planet Wisdom Student Conference info

If you’ve been to Planet Wisdom with us before, you know it’s an amazing time of spiritual growth, renewal, and way too much fun! This trip is for both high school and jr high students.

This year’s theme is, “A Walk With Christ To The Cross.” It is a conference experience for students like no other. Based on the Dawson McAllister study, the entire weekend is designed to intimately walk students through the 14 hours leading up to the most important event in human history, and consider what this means for their lives and faith. Who was this man? What did he do while on Earth? And why was his death so significant to our lives thousands of years after it actually occurred?

It’s a weekend trip to Grace Church in Eden Prairie, MN, on December 4-5. The cost is $69/person, plus you’ll want to bring some additional cash for lunch and dinner on Saturday. We’ll be sleeping over at another Covenant church near the city. Turn your money in to the church office to sign-up to go. Transportation is limited, so make sure you sign up early!

See the news video above for the Planet Wisdom video. If you’re not familiar with the event, that will fill you in on what it is, the speakers, the bands, and more.

Jr. highers: help with the children’s Christmas program

Julie Barnes needs jr. highers to help with the Christmas program! They have two fun songs for you to help the kids sing on Sunday, December 13th, at 3:00 PM. Here’s the info about the rehearsals:

• WHEN: Sundays from 11:00 to 11:30 AM, Nov 8 to Dec 13; and Saturday, Dec 12 at 1:00 PM
• WHERE: Room 110
• WHO: Any 6-8th grader
• DIRECTED BY: Michaela Olson (mnwolson@aol.com) and Gretch Jeseritz (gretchjeseri@yahoo.com) 491-8418

Download the flyer here.

TXT Message Devos

Sarah Wadi is sending out devotionals and Bible verses each day to people’s cell phones via text message. If you want to be on the list, sign up here.

Food dump, dodgeball tourny, Friendly Costume Party and more

// October 28th, 2009 // No Comments » // Youth News

Video overview of this week’s news

Food dump at New Life Church this Thursday

Last month some of us had the privilege of joining New Life Church and their monthly food dump by distributing free food to people in the community. We’re doing it again this Thursday, October 29. They need help from 10:00 AM to 3:00 PM. Just show up at New Life Church if you’re available. See the video above for more information.

Dodgeball Tournament

The dodgeball tournament against other youth groups in our community is scheduled for November 21 at 1:00 PM at Lake Community Church. Get together a team of jr. high or high school students and pick up a registration packet at the youth kiosk at church, or download it here. See the video above for some taunting from New Life’s youth pastor!

Friendly Costume Party this Saturday

We need all the help we can get from you youth group kids this Saturday. The Friendly Costume Party won’t be a success without you. Please plan to come help us setup starting at 1:30 PM. We around 8:00 PM with a pizza party for everyone who helped, so if you can stop by and help out for a bit during the evening, that would be great. There’s also sign-ups for time slots at the youth kiosk at church.

Rick Lenarz speaking at Sr. High Impact

Starting this week, Rick Lenarz will be teaching a three-week series at Sr. High Impact on Sunday nights.

• November 1: Who am I? (Our identity in Christ)
• November 8: Unify (Bonding together with the body of Christ
• November 15: The Quest (Reaching others for Christ

Sr. High Impact is every Sunday night at 6:30 PM at church.

November 8 is also Immerse, a worship experience that’s open to our entire congregation. We’ll join the worship time at 6:30 PM, like normal, and then we’ll go off into another room when it’s finished for Rick’s lesson.

Stay up to date

We want to make it as easy as we can for you to stay up-to-date with all the latest youth group news and information. Here’s a couple of ways to subscribe.

• Become a fan of the Alexandria Youth Facebook Page
• Join the Sr. High txt message list
• Join the Jr. High txt message list
• Join the TXT Devotional list
• Email updates
• Follow us on Twitter
• Subscribe to our news videos in iTunes

News video, No Journey/C-Groups, Food dump dates, Fields of Faith, more

// October 14th, 2009 // No Comments » // Youth News

Youth group news video

This week my little 10-week old little girl, Hannah, shares some of the announcements. Seriously, she does! Also watch to learn how to do a cool, but simple, magic trick.

Next Food Dump

A couple weeks ago some of us had the privilege of joining New Life Church and their monthly food dump by distributing free food to people in the community. We’re doing it again this month on October 29. They need help from 10:00 AM to 3:00 PM. Just show up at New Life Church if you’re available. See the video above for pictures from the last time we did it. (Thanks, Cassia, for taking the pics!)

Also, they have 10,000 pounds of beans and 10,000 pounds of potatoes that need to be packaged sometime before the food dump, but they don’t know when that will be yet. Since it will be a pretty last-minute event, I’ll send the announcement out via Facebook and our text message list as soon as I find out when it is. So make sure you’re a fan of www.facebook.com/AlexandriaYouth and that you’re on our mass text messaging list.

Cancellations this week

Due to MEA, there are no C-Groups nor is there Journey this week. Enjoy your time with your family!

New Journey rules

If you are in The Journey, this is very important. Previously we allowed students to hang out either in their classrooms or in the gym for the first half-hour of game time. However, everyone must now be in the gym by 6:30 PM. You don’t have to play the games if you don’t want to, but you still need to be in there until your group is dismissed to your room.

Also, we love having guests and friends come join us throughout the year! Just make sure they’re registered by the second visit. It’s very important that we have everyone’s name and their parent’s contact information while they hang out with us at church.

Thanks, guys!

Fields of Faith canceled

Wednesday, October 14, was supposed to be the date for Fields of Faith on the football field after the game this evening, but that’s been canceled due to the pending weather. It will be rescheduled for a future time.

Dodgeball Tournament

It’s scheduled for November 21 at 1:00 PM at Lake Community Church. Be sure to start forming teams of 6 to enter and compete against other teams and youth groups from around our community. There are even some youth groups from other towns in Minnesota coming to complete! It’s $3/person and registration packets will be available at church soon. There are prizes for the winning team.

News video, Dodgeball tournament, Friendly Costume Party sign-ups, and more

// October 7th, 2009 // No Comments » // Videos, Youth News

News Video for October 6

Watch the video below for a chance to win a CD and hear about lots of other things happening around our youth group.

Jr High worship band practice tonight

If you’re in 7th or 8th grade and are interested in leading worship once a month with the Journey, just bring your instrument and/or voice to practice tonight at 5:00 PM at church. Pizza will be provided afterwards.

Mexico missionaries at C-Groups tonight

Tom and Janice Kelly will be at the Giroux’s C-Group tonight to talk about their mission work in Mexico. Dinner starts at 6:30 PM, so show up for some good food followed by their talk.

Allies Dodgeball Tournament

Yes! That’s right — form your own teams of 6 to compete in a dodgeball tournament against teams from other youth groups in our community! You’ll get a cool team uniform and the winning team gets a trophy! It’s on Saturday, November 21, and starts at 1:00 PM at Lake Community Church. Feel free make a team with kids outside our church, too!

To enter, you’ll need to pick up a registration packet from the church in about a week or two. For now, form your teams!

Friendly Costume Party sign-ups

On October 31 our church is hosting the annual Friendly Costume Party here at church. We need as many people as possible to sign up to help! Check out the list at the youth kiosk at church to sign-up for the 1:30 to 5:00 PM shift and/or the 5:00 to 8:30 PM shift. A pizza party and a movie will follow afterwards.

Greg Stier to answer all your evangelism questions

A couple weeks ago you sr. high students wrote a lot of questions about evangelism and sharing your faith. On October 18, Greg Stier (the guy from The Gospel Journey series) and myself will show a video of us answering all your questions. Come to Sr. High Impact on October 18 to have your questions answered. It starts at 6:30 PM!

Sr. High Fall Retreat at Lake Beauty

The early registration deadline has passed, but you can still register up until October 16. The cost is $105 and the retreat dates are October 23-25. Pick up a registration form at the youth kiosk at church.

In case you missed Impact last week…

Some people have been asking about the videos we showed concerning the Muslim girl who converted to Christianity and is now receiving death threats from her family and Muslim groups around the world. I posted all those videos on my personal blog if you wanna see them.