One-day Mission Project! :)

On Wednesday, March 23, First United Methodist youth participated in a local service project!

Students from middle school AND high school joined together to give the YWCA's Transitional Housing Program a freshly made-over bathroom!  We painted it "classic seaside blue," outfitted the bathroom with a new, crisp-white valance, a real potted plant for the window, and a reed-diffuser with the fresh scent of "Garden Rain." :)  The Transitional Housing Program serves homeless women and children in the area, so this was such a WONDERFUL way to bless dear friends in need right here in our home town!  Students worked SO HARD; I am SO PROUD of them!!!!!

Kudos to Kenzie Adams, Rachael McCroskey, Elisa Dunlap, Riley Jones, Connor Shaffer, Alexa Dunlap, & Jacob Hoverman for your time and energy!!!!

ALSO: This project was even featured in a little blurb on the VW independent (online newspaper!) Click HERE to see the story!

Window shot: BEFORE!

Shower stalls, BEFORE!

After removing the curtains, Kenzie works to tape around the window!

Rachael works to tape around all the little metal fixtures that couldn't be removed! GREAT job on such fine-detail work!

Riley works to tape around metal fixtures by the shower stalls!

Ta-da!  What a perfect taping job!  Way to go, students!

After six different newspaper panels were taped in, and all around the edges----- the window is DONE!  Thumbs up, Riley! :)

Connor: the  master painter!  That "Classic Seaside Blue" color was SO bright, fresh, and cheery!

Kenzie is going to town on 1 of the 2 doors the students painted!

The window was such a BEAST to paint!  But it was definitely no match for Rachael & Riley. :)

Kenzie is still working on the huge door in the background, and Elisa works to paint the metal shower stall doors.

Riley and Alexa are still smiling, all the way into the afternoon! :)

Jacob and Connor were the masters of the roller brushes!!

Way to go, Rachael!!! :)

What a BEAUTIFUL end result!  A new reed diffuser and a real, new potted plant!--AND even sweet-smelling treats from Bath & Body Works provided by my very dear Momma! :)

The finished product!  Jacob is pumped! (and so were the rest of the students!) :)

The students did SUCH A GREAT JOB!  Look at that door!! :)

A closer pic of the new plant, reed diffuser, and Bath & Body treats! :)

"The Crazy Mission of Francis Chan"

Ever read Crazy Love? What about Forgotten God?  Francis Chan is a well-known pastor and author across the United States-- even the world.  But recently, a lot of buzz has swirled around him at his decision to leave Cornerstone Church, the huge church he planted in Simi Valley, California.

Click here to read more about Francis' decision.

Do you think he's crazy?  What would YOU do if you felt God leading you in a direction that others didn't expect?  Would you obey?  Would you pretend God wasn't speaking to you?

What is God calling YOU to, in your life, today?  (Okay, maybe it isn't packing up your life and moving away to help kids in foreign countries...) BUT-- have you taken the time to ask the Lord what plans He has for you today?  Ask the Spirit to give you the courage to say "Yes, Lord, Here am I-- send me!" wherever He calls you today!  --For "Nothing is impossible with God!"  :)

Joining the Discussion: "Grenade"

Recently, we spent time discussing lyrics of songs that are currently played on most radio stations. We looked at “Grenade” by Bruno Mars, and also “Firework” by Katy Perry. There were such GREAT discussions sparked by elements of spirituality, truth, (or UNtrue things!) and faith found in these song lyrics. Check out a small section from “Grenade” -

If my body was on fire, ooh

You’d watch me burn down in flames

You said you loved me you're a liar

Cause you never, ever, ever did baby...

But darling I’ll still catch a grenade for ya

Throw my hand on a blade for ya (yeah, yeah, yeah)

I’d jump in front of a train for ya (yeah, yeah , yeah)

You know I'd do anything for ya (yeah, yeah, yeah)

Oh, oh, I would go through all this pain,

Take a bullet straight through my brain,

Yes, I would die for ya baby;

But you won't do the same.

Do you see bits of Biblical Truth in here? Elements of faithfulness vs. unfaithfulness? Things Jesus might say? (or might NOT say?) What do you think? :)

Youth Sunday :)

Sunday, January 16th was "Youth Sunday."  At the 8am & 10:45am services, Jacob Hoverman preached on being encouraged to run with endurance & finish the race -- from Hebrews 12:1-3... and at the 9:15am service, Alex Burchfield gave a talk on Christian action-- following Jesus not just in belief but in DOING things for Him and working for the good of His kingdom!

I was so encouraged by EVERYONE who participated in the services----------
A huge THANK YOU goes out to: Danny Joseph, Kenzie Adams, Jacob Wortman, Nate Stevens, Elisa Dunlap, Rachael Gent, Jacob Hoverman, and Alex Burchfield.  --AND to Mark Scheidt-- Sunday school teacher extraordinaire--  for working so hard to encourage the students who talked and led everyone in worship! :)

Check out the service on the local TV channel (channel 6) this week in case you missed it on Sunday morning!

C.S. Lewis quote

"I believe in Christianity [following Jesus Christ] as I believe that the sun has risen: not only because I see it, but because by it I see everything else."  - C.S. Lewis

what are your reactions? thoughts? feelings?

Thanksgiving Feast!

"Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you." - 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18

I am SO thankful for our thanksgiving feast-- it was a great time for 7th through 12th graders to come together to share what we were truly thankful for-- and have some DELICIOUS food (potluck style!-- thanks everyone for sharing your YUMMY stuff!)-- and play some games & laugh!!  

Connections with the Visitation Team

For the month of November, we made some new friends by visiting some elderly folks in our church body who are shut in and don't have the capacity to get out very much. It was a HUGE BLESSING for us to spend time in the homes of our gracious hosts!

Personally, I'd encourage anyone to connect with the Visitation Team to find out how YOU can make a new friend and bring encouragement to people in the body of Christ-- and be spurred on, yourself! :)

Visitation Team meets the 4th Sunday of each month in the conference room at church at 9:00 a.m. If you are interested, check it out on Sunday, November 28th! :)