Dear Fellow Servants in Christ,

The Easter Season is upon us and things are beginning to kick into high gear. You can be a huge help by being aware of the youth schedule and
help me communicate the calendar to students and parents in sphere's of
influence in youth ministry. [Calendar at the end of this e-mail]

Easter Sunrise Service at 6:45 a.m. is again sponsored by the youth ministry. The new praise band has worked out some new music, Austin Bierman and Ryan Guptil are doing a drama, and I'll be preaching the service. Attendance has run 80 - 100 over the last two years. We are in need of youth volunteers to set up chairs, hand out bulletins, and take the offering for this service. It would be a great service project for a D-Team or Wacky Wednesday team. Please call me or e-mail me if you are feeling led to recruit and organize students to setup and/or usher.

The Senior Service is May 22nd at all three sanctuary services. We met with a "few" of our graduates last Sunday and encouraged them to get their pictures for the video montage in to me or Peter as soon as possible. A snail mail letter will go out to that effect later this week.

Kayta and Brent Curry have volunteered to be the liaison between the Youth Ministry students and the Bethlehem Revisited Committee. They will help recruit, organize, supervise and schedule student involvement in Bethlehem. Thank you Kayta and Brent! Your service will be invaluable to our kids and our ministry!

Youth Specialties Core Training - April 29th 8:15 - 1:00 p.m. at Calvary. Out of 20 + youth volunteers, so far three have signed up for this specialized training in dealing with today's youth given by one of the better youth ministry organizations around. There is still time to go but you need to let me know so you can be pre-registered. Just e-mail me you want to go and it will be done! Come and sharpen your skills ...

There are several opportunities for D-Teams to sponsor one more mission project before the end of the D-Team year.

1. Our church mission committee has joined with several other UM churches in a homeless feeding program to take place at St. Andrews UMC in downtown Fort Lauderdale on Monday evenings. They are looking for groups from the church to feed the homeless there on a rotating basis -- which would mean once a month on a Monday evening.

2. Our Missions Committee is asking for able bodied drivers and volunteers to distribute hurricane preparation supplies to shut ins and elderly in the Broward County area. The distribution could be a Missions Night as part of your Wednesday D-team night. They are also asking for trucks and strong backs to pick up these supplies and take them to our storage unit on Saturday, April 22nd. Please contact me or Ken Beers if this is something you think you can be a part of.

3. As part of the church's 40 Days of Community Program, our missions committee has identified several schools in the immediate community who have specific needs that can be easily met by our congregation. Cheryl Price is organizing the efforts here for adult small groups and asked if our small groups would like to take part. Cheryl can be reached at sprice3401@msn.com

4. The Mt Pleasant/Sellers Cooperative Parish is about to make an all out assault on homelessness, drug addiction, hunger and HIV in the Triangle. We invite churches to . Most of the children parents are using drugs and many do not have simple hygiene products. We want to start a Brown Bag Ministry. We need small bags Male/female bags containing the following: Dental Hygiene Products: (Tooth Brushes, tooth paste, dental floss) Deodorant, Soap, shampoo, Feminine Hygiene Products, Facial Tissue, Lotion, Combs, Brushes You may drop them off at Sellers Memorial, 8350 NW 14th Ave, between 12:30 and 4:30, Tues - Fri


I've been a big proponent of giving our student musicians a venue to hone their skills, write music, and practice. We have some very gifted kids with no place to do this. This is a privilege ... and lately some of our student musicians have taken advantage of that privilege by ignoring the rules and disrupting other events at the church. This time they played/practiced while a scheduled VBS party was going on in the next room ... and the band didn't have permission to be there.

I would like to continue this privilege ... so please help me with this. There are two rules that all bands/musicians have been told several times: They must call me to get clearance to play or practice. They are not allowed to play or practice if there is any other event, meeting or gathering in any of the rooms in the Fellowship Hall. If you have keys to Robey, the music closet or Fellowship Hall, please do not give them to any of our students. They must call me for clearance to be there. If you are running and event in Robey or Fellowship and kids are playing -- chances are they don't have permission from me because I would not grant it if there is another planned event there. You have permission to ask them to leave.

Our next adult planning meeting is Tuesday, April 18th at 7:00 in the fellowship hall.


YOUTH WORSHIP AND EVENTS CALENDAR

This Saturday, April 8th - Annual Cake Auction and Talent Show - 5:00 p.m.

Sunday the 9th is Palm Sunday - normal youth worship in Robey

Tuesday, April 11th - Pizza Bowl - Don Carter Lanes Tamarac - $9.00 - from 11:00 a.m. - 1:00 p.m. - sign up at "The Shack" this Sunday - high school and middle school. and bring a friend.

Wednesday April 12th - No D-Teams or Wacky Wednesday

Thursday April 12th - Sunday April 16th - Holy Week and Easter Services

Sunday, April 16th is Easter Sunday - youth sponsored Sunrise Service for the church at 6:45 a.m. No youth worship in Robey Hall

Friday, April 21 - 23 - Middle School Retreat

Sunday, April 30th - Family Sunday - No youth worship in Robey Hall

Sunday, May 7th - Confirmation Sunday - 2:00 p.m.

Wednesday, May 10th - Last Wacky Wednesday & D-Teams

Sunday,May 14th - Mother's Day

Insert various HS proms and end of the school year parties here ...

Sunday, May 22nd - Senior Sunday at all three Sanctuary Services

Insert various HS graduations here ...

Thursday, May 25th - School out for the summer

June 11 - 18th - High School Work Camp in McClellanville, SC

June 25 - 28 - Middle School Impact in Orlando

July 9 - 15th - MS/HS Quest Camp in Hiawassee, Tennessee

And before you know it -- it will be Christmas!


Thank you for all you are doing for God's kids at First Church!

I love being your youth pastor!

Pastor Frank

May our Lord Jesus Christ and God our Father, who loved us and in his special favor
comfort your hearts and give you strength in every good thing you do and say. 2 Thess 2:16

www.firstchurchyouth.net