Hi Everyone!

Our monthly planning meeting was another good one -- a time of fervent prayer, spirited discussions, and the normal frivolity that late nights and joyful hearts brings to youth leaders! Several were not able to attend due to illness, business engagements, and planned events with their own kids. We missed you and prayed for you all!

Old Business Updates:

Super Bowl Party: Mike and Stacy did a wonderful job with this event -- and everyone had a great time. Thanks to both of you! Mike asked for a letter of thanks to be sent to Doug Millican and Kevin Ellis for setting up the satellite feed in Robey. Lea will do that this week.

Bowl-a-thon Ed & Lyn McDonald: Twenty-nine kids participated this year and earned a total close to $900 for themselves to offset their trip costs. Thank you Ed and Lyn and other adults who attended.

Confirmation Class: Frank reported we have 25 middle school kids in the class and they are bonding with their mentor group leaders already. Confirmation will be taught by Karen Binder this week as Frank is on the High School Ski weekend.

High School Ski Trip: Mike Taylor reports that all is in readiness with a total group of 23 going to A-Basin in Colorado. We leave for the airport on Friday the 18th at 11:30 a.m. , flying on Frontier Airlines directly to Denver, and will return on Monday the 21st in the late afternoon. Please pray for travel grace as we go.

HS Student Leadership: Mike & Stacy met and will have another 2-3 hour planning meeting after the ski trip for future events. Currently they are part of a mission project to repair a local house set for April 2nd.

MS Student Leadership: Lea & Karen had their first meeting with the group last Sunday. They are currently working on the events they would like to see at the MS Retreat on April 1-3rd. Frank suggested that they contact Gold Coast regarding the recreational events there as they have staff who can advise them of the time necessary to do the ropes/tower course. The MS Student Leadership team also wants to produce promotional video for the MS Retreat.

New Business:

Battle of the Bands: Ray Callahan, Brian Nee and Ryan Meyer presented a proposal to create a Battle of the Bands youth outreach event in Robey Hall. There was general discussion of the point and the logistics. The planning committee liked the idea and asked Ray, Brian and Ryan to go ahead with the planning and bring the plans to the next meeting on March 15th. The committee selected Saturday, April 9th, a night when Robey is free. There was some misgivings about the number of activities we have slated for April. But Frank pointed out that Ray and Brian and Ryan should seek the help they need so as not to overburden those currently involved with other events.

Calendar of Current Events:

TLW Dinner Feb 27th: Stacy Rowe brought the plans for this dinner. The time is 4 - 6 p.m. Dinner starts at 4:00 and the TLW ceremony will begin at 5:00. Frank will preside. Roger Watts will be with us. Stacy suggested that Charlie Miller of Hope Pregnancy should be invited to say a few words. Drama is preparing a skit; Video is preparing a -- well ... a 'video' presentation.

Frank said that he is preaching on purity on that Sunday, and will give the kids an opportunity to sign up for the dinner that night. Suggestions were made to prepare for more signups the day of the dinner.

It was suggested that we have TLW or Purity rings for every student who attends the dinner. Stacy will look into her contacts at Jacob's Ladder.

HS House Repair Mission Event: Mike Taylor said that a February date is much too soon. He secured $250 from Ken Beers and Missions to pressure clean the house and roof. Once that is done the kids can paint. We set a target date of April 2nd to paint.

HS Game Night - Mar 13th at the Bierman's: Stacy and Mike said that HS Student Leadership is planning the event and will have details very soon.

Spring Fling Mar 18th - 31st: Frank & Lea went over the scheduled dates and events. Laser Tag on Friday the 18th; Mystery Fun Trips on Tuesday the 22nd and 29th; Mystery Mission Trips on Thursday the 24th and 31st. Lea will be able to participate the week of Private School break [21-25th] but will not be available for the Public School break [ 28th - Apr 1st] -- Help Wanted

MS Retreat: April 1-3rd at Gold Coast Christian Camp in Boynton Beach. Lea and the MS Student Leaders working on the program. Frank asked for two campfires for worship and at least one hour session on Saturday morning for lessons. Andrew Cochran, a friend of Frank and Sue's, a local college student and Christian worship leader, has signed on to provide the music for the weekend. The emphasis for this weekend is on building relationships -- with God and with one another.

Frank asked that mentor volunteers be solicited from HS students who wish to work with the younger students. This will take some of the onus off the adults, while at the same time foster a spirit of cooperation and love between the MS and HS groups. There was general discussion around this point. It is working well in Confirmation class right now. There was general agreement to promote this kind of mentoring in youth. Frank will make it part of the Sunday announcements on Sunday the Feb 27th.

Cake Auction - Apr 25th: Stacy has this one under control. She said that people came to her volunteering to participate.

There was general discussion regarding MS participation in the Cake Auction. Some suggested that we do a different event. We agreed that both Work Camp and Impact are mission events, and anyone going on a mission event should be given the same opportunity to subsidize their costs.

Discussion around the MS taking money away from the High School students by participating. It was brought up that there would be MS parents attending the event as well -- some of whom have both MS and HS kids. It was suggested and agreed that since the MS Impact was less money [$200] than Group Work Camp [$600] for HS, we could start the bidding lower for the MS auction, and also separate the money earned for each group [MS and HS]. It was agreed to make the cake auction available to MS and HS students.

Senior Sunday: We have 21 graduating Seniors this year! WOW! Sharyn Poynter came to the meeting from Celebration Committee and reported that Celebration was in favor of continuing to have the Senior Service in the Sanctuary. Celebration, however, picked Memorial Day Weekend as the date -- normally our Family Sunday Service. Youth had settled on the May 15th. Frank will not be here on Memorial Day Weekend, nor will others involved with the youth. We discussed the 15h and the 22nd -- and Sharyn said she would get back to Celebration this week for a better date.

Impact June 5th -8th: This is the first time MS students will participate in a Work Camp mission experience. Permission slips are available at The Shack. The cost is $200. Volunteers are needed to go on this trip. High School Students who cannot stay attend the more lengthy HS Work Camp, or who can't afford to go on the HS trip can go to Impact for less money.

HS Work Camp June 11-19 Permission slips at The Shack

Quest Camp ’05 July 11th-15th: Frank & Lea do not have the total costs yet. Still waiting fort the bus company to get back to us. Camp fee is $219.

Administrative:

Website www.firstchurchyouth.net: Mike brought the idea that our web address should be more prominently displayed on all our correspondence: bulletins, letters, calendars and the like. It was agreed and Lea will endeavor to put it on all correspondence.

Leadership Training Opportunities:

1. Youth Specialty Core Training at Calvary Chapel on Saturday, March 5th. Frank said we have money in our adult training budget for those who wish to attend. The curriculum deals with Teens in our ever changing environment. See Lea by the 25th if you decide to attend.

2. Willow Creek Leadership Summit - August 11-13th at Spanish River Church. A wonderful time of refreshment together .. Frank encouraged all youth leaders to commit to these events.

Fund Raisers & Budget: Linda was absent due to illness. [we missed you!] Linda asked in an e-mail that all expense slips be turned in for youth events so she can reimburse you and keep an accurate track of our budget.

Witness Wear Fundraiser: Linda Kuhlman reported via e-mail that 21 students participated and made $720 for their personal trip accounts. Orders for the same merchandise and price can be submitted until the end of February. She expects to schedule more babysitting fundraisers in the near future. Linda also pointed out that there have been two more fundraisers y-t-d this year than last year.

In the event planning process, planners need to keep Linda up to date on expected costs during the planning process in order to keep track of expected expenses against our activity budget.

Trip Policy Discussion: was tabled until the March meeting.

D-Teams: Saturday, March 12th - 8:30 a.m. - 11:00 a.m. was set aside for a D-Team Leader's meeting.

Worship Calendar:

Worship Committee: Peter & Suzanne, Ed & Lyn , and Frank are the Youth Worship Committee who plan worship, drama, video events.

Feb 20th Roger Watts preaches on God's plan for marriage.

Feb 27th Frank preaches on ‘A Life of Purity.’ The new Youth Choir will bring a special musical presentation and we believe there is a Drama slated for that worship. [?]

Mar 6th Mission Madness: "Compassion’ Worldview Missions - Panel Discussion -

March 13th Mission Madness: "The Least of These" Local View - Sandy Coultier [His Walk] - Girl Scout Recognition Sunday

March 20th Speaking Opportunity - Palm Sunday - Youth Choir Special - Drama[?]

March 27th Easter Sunday - Sunrise Service 6:45 a.m. ‘Unplugged’

April Theme: "Live4Him" What does it really mean to live for Jesus

April 3rd - Mike Taylor speaking at Youth Worship

May 22nd - Speaking Opportunity

May 29th Family Sunday - Roger Preaching - the date of Family Worship may change this month depending on the Celebration Committee's date decision on the Senior Service. We may switch Family Worship to the Senior Service Sunday., and have a normal youth worship on the 5th Sunday in Robey. This depends on other pastoral commitments. More next week on this.

Next Meeting: Tuesday, March 15th - 7:30 p.m.

Meeting adjourned at 9:30 --

Thank you for all you are doing ... I love being your youth pastor!

Frank

"Even now, declares the Lord, return to me with all your
heart, with fasting, and weeping and mournng." Joel 2:12

"Prepare the Child for the Path ..."