Christmas Banquet

This is a reminder that our annual Youth Christmas Banquet is Wednesday December 10 from 6-8:30pm. This is an event to honor and thank you our great leaders, and to get together as a ministry and look back at what God has done over the last year. The Banquet includes a catered dinner and a lot of Christmas fun, possibly even a visit from Santa. You can get tickets by calling the Church office or Sunday morning at X-Ray.

Thank You

Youth ministry can be a thankless job. At the same time I would argue it can be one of the most compelling and fulfilling jobs in the word. It has been an honor to serve with you in this ministry over the last year. The impact and difference that you make in students lives is amazing. Students, whose lives have been changed as a result of your ministry, might not run up to you every weekend with a giant hug and tell you how much you are loved and appreciated. But you are.

Consider this my big hug.

Thank you for serving in this ministry and loving these students. I am excited to see what God is going to do over the next season of ministry together.

Bryan

 

Weekend Wrap Up

Weekend Wrap UP

Lesson Topic: Doctrine Series "The Trinity"

Attendance: B+
'Fun Factor': C
Volunteer Involvement: C

Student Involvement: B
Worship: B+
Lesson Quality: A-
Length of Lesson: 42 minutes
Student Response: A

It was almost the last week of our "Doctrine Series" Discovering Essential Truths. This week we chose not to do a game mainly because I wanted to save a little extra time for worship and preaching, but also because we didn't have someone to emcee the game besides myself or Jeff. I would love to develop some more leaders to be on stage Sunday morning (let me know if you are interested). Also I would love to see more leaders at the doors welcoming students, answering questions, and looking for new students. It really was a great Sunday. See you next week.

Service Projects

 Here is a list of service projects for the next two weeks. Respond to the post to sign up for whatever you want.

This Wednesday 7pm @ CHCC

2 Groups - Paint Room 103 downstairs

2 Groups – Clean Children's wing

3 Groups - Clean out, vacuum and detail church vans

1 Group - Set up and organize tents

 

This Wednesday 7pm @ Love Inc.

HIGH PRIORITY 1 Group – Help stock food at Love Inc. Food bank Bothell

 

This Saturday 11-15 9am @ CHCC

2-4 Groups - Help move chairs back to the Auditorium

 

Next Wednesday 11-19 @ CHCC

1 Group - Cut fabric for panels in auditorium

1 Group – Clean, vacuum and detail church van

 
 

Importance of Sharing Gospel in LG’s

I wanted to encourage all the Life Group leaders of how important it is to ask the tough questions in group. Sunday two Middle School leaders noticed that one student didn't really understand the Gospel. The leaders and the rest of the group shared with him right there and he was saved in Student Life Groups! Take this as an encouragement and a reminder that you may and probably do have students who just come to church and think that they're saved but have never accepted Christ. Also don't feel like you need to "close the deal" right then and there. Thoughts? What do you think of making evangelism a larger part of Life Groups?

Weekend Wrap Up

Lesson Topic: Week Three of "Identity" –Reach

Attendance: A
'Fun Factor': B
Volunteer Involvement: C

Student Involvement: C
Worship: A
Lesson Quality: B
Length of Lesson: 42 minutes
Student Response: A/worship C/Message

Another good week in X-Ray. We had a good attendance and 4 or 5 new students. Please be looking for new students and students who are hanging out alone on Sunday mornings that is one of the key jobs for our leaders on Sunday mornings. We need your help to create a healthy fun and inviting environment. The message was good and I felt that some students really understood it, but then I felt that some students could care less about reaching their friends with the gospel. More on how we get them to be passionate about their friends later… thoughts?

And The Winner Is...

I had to displace a few monkeys from the ol' barel for the drawing but the winner is.... Bob Ryburn! I think you won last time I gave something away too... hurry go by a lotto ticket and then tithe!

Random Randomness

Things that I have spent anywhere from 10 seconds to 10 minutes thinking about today:

- I'm going to be a dad: Weird, awesome, fun, exciting, but not scared.
- My wife will give birth: Scared! Can I just wait in the lobby like fathers used to do?
- Starbucks: I am really wishing I had an Americano right now.
- Life Groups: Are they more important than our X-Ray service? How do we encourage students to learn something?
- Student Leadership programs: Ugg! So important, but are they really? Do they ever accomplish what we hope they will?
- Coffee: Why does it result in such bad breath?
- Public restrooms: Even though they all have that little chart that shows who cleaned it and how often...they are usually nasty.
- Dodgeball: So excited for our HS ministry Dodgeball day Sunday Oct. 19^th!

Weekend Wrap Up

Lesson Topic: Week Three of "Identity" –Reach

Attendance: A
'Fun Factor': B
Volunteer Involvement: C

Student Involvement: C
Worship: A
Lesson Quality: B
Length of Lesson: 42 minutes
Student Response: A/worship C/Message

Another good week in X-Ray. We had a good attendance and 4 or 5 new students. Please be looking for new students and students who are hanging out alone on Sunday mornings that is one of the key jobs for our leaders on Sunday mornings. We need your help to create a healthy fun and inviting environment. The message was good and I felt that some students really understood it, but then I felt that some students could care less about reaching their friends with the gospel. More on how we get them to be passionate about their friends later… thoughts?

Weekend Wrap UP

Lesson Topic: Week One of "Identity"

Attendance: B+
'Fun Factor': A+
Volunteer Involvement: B

Student Involvement: C-
Worship: B+
Lesson Quality: B
Length of Lesson: 47 minutes
Student Response: C+

It was so fun to be back!!! One of the students told me how smart we are to take a break from youth services in August. He said it was because we wanted them to miss being together so that they won't take youth service for granted, and then he begged that we never canceled services again. Needless to say students were excited to be back again. Worship was great! Jimmy lead a good time of fun with a good old Rock Paper Scissors tournament. Our message wrapped up with a challenge to our students to get connected in real relationships and to join a Student Life Group. All in all a great Sunday.

Summer Youth Ministry

Hey found this great article and thought I would just copy it here for you all to read.

BB

Luke McFadden writes asking, "From what I have seen from your [youth group's] site, your summer schedule is different than your in school schedule? Just curious of the reasons for this, and how you feel the church/youth take this as well."

It's actually not just me — our entire church shifts it's ministry programming dramatically during the summer for a couple reasons.

1. Attendance is usually pretty low during the summer since so many people are traveling, at camp, visiting family, etc. We never stop events just because numbers are down. It's more because this is the most natural time for reason #2 to happen.

2. Our volunteers deserve a well-earned break so they're refreshed and ready to go in the fall. That doesn't mean that the relationships and personal ministry to students stop — only that there's not as many "official" events on the calendar.

3. It allows us, as church leaders, to take a step back from the normal ministry grind and reflect, evaluate and cast vision for the next school year. Otherwise we become so entrenched in the same ol' stuff that we never take time to critically evaluate properly and implement changes for the next year.

Our calendar doesn't reflect the actual ministry taking place (it never does!). We're not "shutting down" the youth ministry — it just takes on a different form. It's the perfect time for more personal hang-outs and building relationships to take place, especially when everyone's schedules are not as conducive for programming and calendar events.

Monday Miscellaneous

- Vacation is soooo good. We just got away for 3 days on Whidbey Island and it was great. I learned that it is hard for me to do nothing. So we hung out read books took a few walks on the beach.

- This was a great weekend in our HS ministry. We kicked off our "Esther...Risking it all". Lots of good elements, great music and a pretty good lesson. We had students totally engaged from start to finish.

- I'm sure I'll see Indiana Jones this Thursday even though I'm not a huge fan. We have our DVR set to record the first three because they are on TV this week. I'm guessing we will do a Indy marathon on Thursday (Our day off).

- Yard project's are fun when you can see imagine family and friends enjoying the space. Hopefully backyard Bocce Ball court and new seating area will be done for Memorial Day.

- Not sure which I'm more excited about: Freshman moving up into HS ministry or Summer Camp. Both are really exciting.

Week in Review

Lesson Topic: Week Four of a our series A New Way To Be Human: Live Selflessly
Attendance: LOW Lots of students spending mother's day with Mom.
'Fun Factor': Low
Volunteer Involvement: Ok (I would love to get some volunteers on stage.)
Worship: Good Lesson Quality: Average
Length of Lesson: 42 minutes
Student Response: Average

Good Sunday just hard because of mothers day. Teaching was good but I wish I could have had signups with service opportunities for students directly after service so that they could have had a chance to apply things right away.

Weekend Wrap Up

Lesson Topic: Week One of a our new series A New Way To Be Human

Attendance: Back to normal
'Fun Factor': Way Above Average
Volunteer Involvement: Average
Worship: Probably Best Worship All Year
Lesson Quality: Above Average
Length of Lesson: 39 minutes
Student Response: Good

The whole Sunday was great! Altogether, probably our best Sunday this year. Worship was great the band did a good job leading and worshiping. The message was focused on the Freedom that we have in Christ and how to activate that freedom. Thanks to those of you leaders that were there your presence in the room is HUGE even if you can't be there for the full service I really appreciate you stopping in at the beginning to welcome and "set the mood" in the room.

Weekend Wrap Up

Lesson Topic: Week Two of a quick series on God's Sovereign Mercy Attendance: Below Average (Spring Breaks)
'Fun Factor': Average
Volunteer Involvement: Below Average
Worship: Really
Good
Lesson Quality: Above Average
Length of Lesson: 42 minutes
Student Response: Average

The big push to the message was, have you began to harden your heart for God? And have you grown complacent in your faith, and are you starting to become unaware or unaffected by sin, were focus points that we stopped on. Overall it was a really good Sunday.

Virtual Bubblewrap

You got to check out this virtual bubblewrap that makes the rounds from time to time. Thought you might enjoy the diversion this afternoon!

Teen STD Increase

By now you've probably heard the recent news that 1 in 4 teenage girls has an STD. Here is Wall Street Journal article and some interesting discussion.

Just for the fun of it

Ridiculously cheesy but I had to give it a try. I guess I could handle a kindergarden class or two.

26

Alright, Bob Ryburn this is for you! (He just stopped into the church office and caught me reading a magazine at my desk. And said if you have time to read a magazine you have time to blog about camp!)

What an awesome weekend. In many ways I am still recovering! The weather was awesome! The lodge was great! The worship was great! Pastor Ben (our speaker) did a great job! Family groups were great!

I heard from a lot of people that this was the best winter camp that they have ever been to. What made this camp best? Feel free to comment. Here are a few of my thoughts

 

1. Leaders were committed to the students. I heard awesome feedback about family groups and the impact of that time directly after the message. This made Ben's messages even more impactful and effective.
   
2. There was never a dull moment! Even relaxing by the fire sitting on the couches there was always something fun happening.
   
3. Great location. The Chalet is no Ritz-Carlton but set up great for community. Everyone who was there got involved in something from sledding down the hill to hanging by the fire there really was something for everyone.
   
4. Students with open minds and hearts. No matter the situation at home or school the students seemed committed to getting the most out of their experience at camp.
   

Weekend Wrap Up

Lesson Topic: Week Two of our Series Blind Date
Attendance: Average ish (some schools on break)
'Fun Factor': Above Average
Volunteer Involvement: Average
Worship: Above Average
Lesson Quality: Above Average
Length of Lesson: 40 mins
Student Response: Above Average

One of our better weekends in quite a while for lots of reasons.
Our worship band was awesome. We had Tim back leading and Sam back from his college trips. The worship team all did an awesome job. The message was second in a three part series I'm doing called "Blind Date". It was so much fun as we covered "what girls should look for in a guy" and "what guys should be". Next week: "what guys should look for in a girl" and "what girls should be". One verse I am particularly excited to share is Proverbs 11:22 first 2 people to post the verse in the comment section get $5 Starbucks cards.

Random Ramblings

-Today marks the first day of class in my quest for my master's degree. I am very excited and nervous at the same time. It will mean later hours at the office or working on papers at home that I'm not so excited about, but I'm very excited to be reading some awesome books and learning.

-Love my life group. A couple was facing a big decision last night so the whole group made it to their home last night to lay hands on and pray for them.

-Every SF-12 leader should have a co-leader! Robert came on this semester as a co-leader for my group and it has been awesome. It is really fun for me to sit back and watch him lead and build relationships.

-I am really excited about winter camp! Baker has so much snow!

-I would love to do more Campus Ministry. I was reminded this week that our main ministry doesn't happen within the 4 walls of the church.

-I think I despise Shareen's dog less than I once did. I actually let her sit on my lap the other night and I may have even petted her. Don't get me wrong I still don't like the dog but I've grown to tolerate her.

 

A clip from HS Ignite

Weekend Wrap Up

Lesson Topic: Final Week of Hooked Series

Attendance: Below Average

Fun Factor: Good fun video's in welcome and announcement time.

Volunteer Involvement: Great show of leaders between services. Thanks for stopping by.

Worship: Really Good

Lesson Quality: Good lesson hard to get through while getting over cold.

Length of Lesson: 40-45 minutes

Special Focus: Prayer time. We had a longer directed prayer time for students. It was great and I believe added to the worship time.

Ignite Review

We had a good Ignite last night. The Band (Elijah Grinstaf) was great. The night had more of a relaxed feel the music had an unplugged café feel and it was a lot of fun. Attendance was below average but we did have 6 new students and plenty of leaders. Just a reminder to you to talk up Ignite with students! Ignite is a very special tool that we have and we want to do our best to REACH new students with the gospel through this event. So don't forget to encourage students to go and to bring friends. I want to make a concentrated effort to create a good buzz, surrounding Ignite.

Weekend Wrap Up

Lesson Topic: Third week of HOOKED series
Attendance: Average (100)
'Fun Factor': Average
Volunteer Involvement: LOW!!! (4 leaders for service including Shareen, Eric (lead worship) and myself)
Worship: Good
Lesson Quality: Good some fun fishing stories
Length of Lesson: 30 minutes
Special Focus: We ended the service with communion

This was a good week besides our main computer deciding to act up moments before the start of service. Message was good and lead right into communion. The communion time was a little rushed because of starting late (computer) but was very impactful and good for students to take communion on a regular basis. Next week last week of HOOKED. Then a special 2 week series BLIND DATE: a look into dating relationships

Sharing the Victory

I just wanted to share this note with you. This was from an 8^th grader who accepted Christ last week at Ignite to the leader who prayed with her.

"Thank you so much for helping me let God into my life. Those few minutes in the room as you prayed with me changed my life. You put things into perspective for me, and I already have felt myself changing."

You all have a piece in this victory; it is because of leaders and shepherds like you that we can have this impact. Thanks.

Next Semester of SF-12

Typically we take the spring semester of SF-12 (4-5 weeks) and do a topical study. I have set up a voting spot on the right side of the screen to get a feel for what you could get excited about teaching. Today I added a new idea. What are your thoughts on our students learning about Finances/Money/Budgeting/Giving/Saving/Credit Cards/Debt/Insurance all of the things that come along with being a working human in today's society. The goal would be to give them a Biblical view of money that they may not be getting in economics classes at school. As always feel free to comment.

Mike Huckabee Ad:

Do you think Huckabee and Chuck will be on the ballot? There would be no need for a secret service with Chuck around!

Prayer and Fasting

Today I took a day of prayer and fasting. I love taking time once a month to get away for awhile and spend time praying for our ministry, you, our church, life, and whatever God lays on my heart. As I was praying for you (our leaders) I had a thought. What can I specifically be praying for on your behalf? Are there specific things that you are wanting prayer for? If you feel comfortable use the comment section to list what we all can be praying for. If you aren't comfortable with that email me so I can pray more specifically for you.

SF-12 Tonight

Shepherds… Mount Up! SF-12 starts tonight 7pm and we will meet in the Upstairs Chapel (please be on time or a little early). I am so excited about this semester of SF-12 James is one of my favorite books of the bible and I believe that our students are going to benefit from the challenge of James. I hope you are as excited as I am to reconnect with your small group and challenge them to be in, and learn from the book of James. SF-12 leaders your job as shepherd of your small group is a great responsibility and I am so proud that you are vital partners in this ministry. Thank you and see you tonight.

 

Weekend Wrap Up

Lesson Topic: Third week of HOOKED series
Attendance: Average (100)
'Fun Factor': Average
Volunteer Involvement: LOW!!! (4 leaders for service including Shareen, Eric (lead worship) and myself)
Worship: Good
Lesson Quality: Good some fun fishing stories
Length of Lesson: 30 minutes
Special Focus: We ended the service with communion

This was a good week besides our main computer deciding to act up moments before the start of service. Message was good and lead right into communion. The communion time was a little rushed because of starting late (computer) but was very impactful and good for students to take communion on a regular basis. Next week last week of HOOKED. Then a special 2 week series BLIND DATE: a look into dating relationships

And the winner is…

Bob Ryburn! I performed the ceremony here in my office just moments ago. Here is a picture of the drawing for a $10 Starbucks card.

Recap of Quarterly Leader Meeting

To all of you who did not make it to our quarterly meeting. This is a recap of what we talked about.

We are doing awesome! But we don't want to get to comfortable where we are. We have an opportunity to make a bigger impact on the community and in the life of students.

 

X-Ray (Sunday morning Youth Services 11am)

-Worship – Continue to develop student worship leaders. Look for worship mentors for the band.

-Messages Series – Starting "Hooked" this week. Come check out the new Stage design.

-Fun Factor/ Atmosphere

-Recruit/Develop Leaders Who Are Always at X-Ray 8-10 leaders every X-Ray

We need your help recruiting! You are our ministries biggest cheerleaders. Be actively looking and praying that God will use you to bring someone into this ministry that will impact more students. We are actively looking for leaders for check in, welcome, emcee, worship mentors, and roamers.

-Programming

1^st Sunday -Prayer (Pray with leaders)

2^nd Sunday -Testimony (Student)

3^rd Sunday -Missions (pray/testimony)

4^th Sunday -Communion

SF-12 (starts this Wednesday)

-Study

James

Ignite (Next Ignite Jan 27^th)

-Working on marketing campaign

In schools (Cedar Park, Bothell, Jackson)

Winter Camp Mt. Baker (Feb 22^nd-24^th)

Awesome camp planed. Speaker is Ben Marshall (new counseling pastor at CHCC)

I need to know if you are planning on attending. Email me or even comment that you are planning on being there.

Freshman Frenzy (Welcome events for new freshman)

All leaders in attendance to meet and greet freshman

2 events Late Spring and Early Fall

First Leaders Blog

My hope and desire is for this to become a place where you can come to receive encouragement, training, ministry info or just to comment on a posting. I will be posting on Monday, Wednesdays, and Fridays for the next 2 months (trial). Please comment on posts, as many of them I will ask for your input or thoughts. Most will be serious. Some will just be funny videos or upcoming events others may be random ramblings. I will do my best to keep things quality for you the reader/leader.