Tuesday, March 31, 2009

theGathering Bottles


They have arrived!  Represent the gathering wherever you go with a new "Sigg" bottle.  They are only $12 and can be purchased now.

Monday, March 30, 2009

Lets Go Bowling!


On Saturday, April 4th, we will be meeting at Dick Weber Bowling Alley and dominating the bowling alley...ok maybe not dominating but we will be having a great time together. We will meet at the bowling alley at 6:45 and it will end at 9:15. The cost is only $10!

You can also dress in your best 80's gear, with the best dressed getting a great prize package! (you don't have to dress up to come) Bring a friend and come have a great night.

Family Picture at the 80's Night

Wednesday, March 25, 2009

lifeGroups


Come join us for lifeGROUPS on Monday nights from 7 - 8:30. This is an opportunity to talk with your friends about real issues that teenagers go through: peer pressure, temptations, self image/self esteem, parents, friends, worry and more.


girls lifeGROUP meets here


guys lifeGROUP meets here

Monday, March 23, 2009

Embrace Chicago Recap

Couple of thoughts about the jr. high "embrace" Chicago trip:

1. I love Jr. Highers!

2. Every young person should take a trip and serve other people (hopefully in returning home, they begin to serve where they live)

3. The man who led the Good News Soup Kitchen said, "There should be no soup kitchens!  The issue of those who have and those who have nots should not exist. "  Beautiful idea...could this really happen?

4. Your relationship and mine with Jesus is a process and a journey.  You don't become just like Jesus over night...it takes days, weeks, months, years to become who he wants us to be.  The important things is that we keep moving closer to Him and His ways.

5. I can't wait to "embrace" NYC with the High School and College Students.

Wednesday, March 18, 2009

Jr. High Embrace Chicago with Karen

Today we pretended to be homeless and we only had 2 dollars to spend on dinner.   We pooled our money and split subway.  We had one forth left and gave it to an awesome guy named Eric.  He had an eye bandage and said that some teens poked him in the eye and took his money. A witness took him to the hospital, paid for the visit and gave him some money that he would have had and more.  It was cool to see how God protects his children.  After dinner Jordan, Alissa and I went into a bakery and asked for the cookies that were broken and old. We got one, and after Jordan and I talked about how the lady behind the counter didn't really look at us.  We think that she thought we were homeless.  I think now I have at least a little more understanding and compassion for those in situations like homelessness or not being able to provide.  God really showed me new ways to look at people.  

Tuesday, March 17, 2009

Jr. High Embrace Chicago

It has been a great trip so far with the Jr. High students.  This is their first experience on a trip like this and they are all doing great.  We are working at Carole Robertson each morning in their head start program.  Yesterday, we worked at the Good News kitchen and served a hot meal to about 125 guests (picture above).  Tonight we worked at the Greater Chicago Food Depository sorting and boxing over 4000 lbs of bread!  It was a great experience for our students to work behind the scenes and to not necessarily see what was going to happen with all the food or get any credit.

I am excited for the small steps our students are taking:

Realizing that there are some in our world that really struggle just to make it every day.  

That they can make a difference.

That the world is not all about them...at least we talked about it a little!

Please continue to pray for us...tomorrow we will be headed into the city with only $2 each to buy dinner.  We will be put in the situation of feeling like we are homeless.  I hope they experience something like never before. 

I love being a part of what God is doing in the city of Chicago and watching Him do even the little things in the lives of jr. highers.

Thursday, March 12, 2009

Anna's Going to Mexico


Anna is headed to Ciudad Valles, Mexico for a week with her Spanish 3 class. She is departing tomorrow morning early and I am asking you to pray for her and those she will be working with. Here are a few things you can pray for:
*Protection and safe travel
*Peace for those that have never flown before. (Anna would be one)
*Health and rest
*Group bonding
*Open hearts and minds to experience a different culture
*God's annointing on their ministry to the children and people of the villages.
*That their relationship with the Lord will be strengthened and renewed.
*That God's love will be demonstrated through this team and strong relationships will be developed between the team and the Mexician people.
*That God will create in this trip, a life-changing experience both for the team and the villagers.

Saturday, March 7, 2009

Don't forget Blast...

Just a reminder that we are meeting at Trinity this Friday at 5 pm for Blast. Please remember to bring money for dinner Friday night and Lunch on Saturday. We will be staying at Trinity on Friday night so please bring sleeping bag, pillow and whatever else you will need. We will be done around 4 on Saturday afternoon. You can check www.monyi.org later this week to find brackets for the tournaments.

Tuesday, March 3, 2009

Bizkit the Sleep Walking Dog

This is hilarious! Poor dog...but this is funny.