Youth Service Preparation Begins!

Every year, the youth of Poughkeepsie United Methodist Church work very hard to prepare and lead a worship service for the entire congregation. It’s a lot of work, but it’s also an amazing learning experience. Students gain new perspectives on:

· Worship. We learn that worship is a conversation between God and his people, and we learn about how to plan biblical worship.

· Christianity and the Arts. We discover how our creative gifts can be used to glorify God and encourage his people.

· Working together. Students really get to know each other as they work hard to bring each part of the worship service together. There is a great sense of satisfaction as they realize they can bless the whole congregation.

This year we have been given a unique challenge. Our Youth Service will be on April 2^nd, a communion Sunday in the middle of Lent. This year we will learn more about the meaning of communion and how it can be the focus of the service we plan. We will also need to think about how to plan for a theme that will be appropriate in Lent. These challenges are actually an opportunity for youth to think about aspects of worship that are less familiar to them. I am really looking forward to working together with such a gifted group of young people and watching them learn to glorify God.

The Banquet

Sunday, January 29^th, 5:30 – 8 pm

Come join in on an evening of games, dinner and youth-led worship.

If you are just starting with youth fellowship, this is a good event to come to.

Future Dates for your calendar

Ski Trip	Saturday, February 18, 6 am – 7 pm
Young Women’s VN #95	March 3 - 5, 2006
Junior High Winter Camp	March 10 – 12, 2006
Youth Worship Service	April 2, 2006 (NOTE: DATE HAS CHANGED)
Young Men’s VN #96	April 28 - 30, 2006

The schedule for this month…

Date	Activity	Details
January 1	New Years Day: No meeting
Friday, Jan 6	Twelfth Night Party		For senior highs and college students
January 8	Music & Drama		Youth teams meet 4:30 – 5:45 to plan Banquet
	Youth Service Preparation		6 – 8 pm at PUMC. We’ll talk start planning youth service, April 2. Senior high: final retreat planning
January 13 – 15	Senior High Retreat		Depart for Hathaway Farmhouse at 4 pm on Friday and return at 6 pm on Sunday
January 15	Long weekend: No Meeting
January 22	Mission Teams		5 – 6 pm: a short planning meeting
	Youth Service Preparation		6 – 8 pm at PUMC. We’ll choose our theme, choose our working groups, and start planning in our groups.
January 29	Banquet		5:30 – 8 pm at PUMC. Games, dinner, worship.
Friday, Feb 3	Youth Service Lock-in		7 pm – 9 am at PUMC. Bring a sleeping bag, clothes and toothbrush. We’ll work on the youth service, play some games and enjoy the night together. Please eat dinner before.
February 4	Sub sale prep		Missions fund-raiser
February 5	Super Bowl Sub Sale		Missions fund-raiser; 7:30 am – 1 pm

SKI TRIP for Youth and Church Families

A group of 15 youth had so much fun going skiing together last winter that we want to try to do it again. We’re looking at Saturday, February 18 from 6 am to 7 pm (that’s the President’s Day long weekend). We will get a group rate of $37 per person with 20 or more people registered. With 30 people or more, we will investigate bus transportation. Youth are encouraged to attend together with an adult. Families are welcome. Please look for more details and sign up to attend on the Youth Bulletin Board by Sunday, January 22.

Summer Mission Team News

DATES DECIDED: The dates of the M-Fuge mission trip are finally decided. We will be serving in Philadelphia between July 8 – 15, 2006.

ALL MISSIONS MEETING: We’ll have a meeting before youth fellowship on Sunday, January 22, from 5 – 6 pm. We’ll go over more logistics and set team meeting dates. Bring a planner!

SUB SALE coming up: We are planning our second large group fund-raiser for Super Bowl Weekend. We’ll do some prep work on Saturday, February 4. The Subs will be sold on Sunday morning, February 5. We’ll need people to take orders on Jan 15, 22 and 29.