SMUMC Youth will have it’s awesome annual Christmas party on Monday, December 21st from 6pm – 8pm @ the Kolgaklis’ house!

Bring a White Elephant Gift to exchange and a can of food to donate to the Food Pantry!

Check out pics from last year’s Christmas party!

What is a White Elephant gift, you ask?

Something from around your house that you put in a Christmas bag or wrap to exchange during the party! No need to buy anything. The crazier the better (with good taste, of course). We will draw numbers and each person will either choose a gift from under the tree or have the opportunity to take someone else’s gift! Always a good time!

Here is a FAQ for our upcoming retreat.  For in-depth information about the retreat itself, please visit the November Celebration website.

Here is the suggested packing list.

When will we leave?

Please be at the church by 4:00pm on Friday, November 20th. We will pack the vans and leave ASAP so that we can register, eat supper, and settle into our cabins before the first events begin. If you would like to bring your bags and stuff to the church early on Friday, we can arrange that.

When will we come back?

We will return between 1:00 and 1:30pm on Sunday, November 22nd. The retreat closes with a giant worship service!

What are the cabins like?

We will be staying in the Epworth cabins. These are comfortable and loads of fun!   You will room with guys if you are a guy and girls if you are a girl and you will be with our church and possibly another church. The cabins sleep about 10-12 and the adults have the opportunity to stay in the counselor room in the cabin (but who doesn’t like a bunk bed in the middle of smelly teenagers!). There are 4 showers in each cabin.

What is the food like?

Awesome!

What is quiet time?

You will see time each day for “quiet time.” This is a daily, personal devotion time. Often we are given devotional guides. Basically, this is a way to start our day by being one-on-one with God. There is nothing like a quiet time overlooking the marsh or the river or even in the prayer chapel!

What is church time?

Church time is when we get together with our church after each session of the retreat to talk about the session and incorporate it into our lives.

Who is our special musical guest?

Heath McNease is the antithesis of what you might expect when you think about hip-hop. He is so far removed from the exploits of the rap game that some may think his inclusion in hip-hop is oxymoronic. Heath mixes in elements of boom bap, dirty south, blues, jazz, reggae, rock, and even a bit of gospel music to his sound. “I’m such a fan of music. There is no way I could ever box myself in.”

Epworth Superstar: The Talent Show: DON’T FORGET ABOUT THE TALENT SHOW!

If you have a talent you would like to share, this is a blast

Adult Volunteers/Chaperons

The adults that will be going on our trip are:

Jim Morrow

Melissa Deen

Later this week I will send out cell phone contact information for these volunteers in case you have an emergency while we are away.

Additional Guidelines

Cell Phones: We are on retreat! Cell phone use (including texting) needs to be limited to free time or before lights out. If you have an emergency and need to contact your youngin’ at other times please use the chaperon contact list that will be sent out later this week. However if during this time the electronic devices are preventing anyone from taking part in the social activities, I will reserve the right to temporarily “borrow” your toy! Any chaperons that have cell phones are asked to model this for our students except in the case of emergencies.

Electronic Devices (including music players): Again, we are on retreat! The use of electronic devices needs to be limited to free time or the time immediately before lights out. However if during this time the electronic devices are preventing anyone from taking part in the social activities, I will reserve the right to temporarily “borrow” your toy!

Please take a good look at the packing list. Remember your BIBLES!!!!

If you have any questions or concerns, please let me know. Similarly, if there is any confusion about these communications, please let me know, too.

Improv Night after Youth This Sunday!

This Sunday we will be doing some improvisational acting after youth until 8pm. The main reason is to work on our 3 skits that we will be doing at November Celebration. Even if you aren’t going, come join us! Trust me, there’ll be some laughs!

PRAISE BAND:

Remember that Mr. Stan needs you @ church by 8am on Sunday morning to set up for the service on Sunday.
The combined band will be playing:
8:30 service: Mighty to Save as special music
11:00 service: Forever and Open the Eyes of My Heart as a praise and worship set and Mighty to Save as special music.
Thanks for your ministry to our church and community!

The November Celebration registration form can be found here.

Follow the directions on the application, EXCEPT turn it into Jim.  When we receive all of the applications, we will turn them in together.

Applications are due on Sunday, November 8th.

Hey students!  We have a few spots open for this year’s Student Leadership Team.  Students 7th grade -12th grade are eligible.  Not every student that applies serve on the team, but fear not!  You have great gifts for ministry and we will make sure you have a place to serve!

DOWNLOAD THE APPLICATION HERE. IT IS DUE ON SUNDAY (note the change in due date).

…or an excuse to throw water balloons at each other!

Come out to St. Marys UMC from 6pm – 8pm tonight.

Water Dodge Ball(oon), the Slip-n-Slide Dash, and more!
Bring some friends!  Also, bring bathing suits and a towel.  Ladies wear your one-piece or bring a t-shirt.

Capture the Flag:  Grog Style

There shall be 2 teams. Each team will have 1 Grog.

1. The Grog has the following powers.

a.The Grog’s touch freezes a person IN PLACE.

b.The Grog can only be immobilized by the power of his/her own team’s “secret device.”

c.The Grog cannot cross into enemy territory, but can be in the neutral zone.

d.Players frozen by the Grog can be un-frozen by the tap of a teammate.

e.The game ends only at the defeat of the enemy Grog or if all of the opposing team is frozen/jailed by the Grog or other teammates.

Each team will have a designated territory.

1. The territories shall be as follows:

a.The sanctuary side of SMUMC Campus and the garage side of the SMUMC Campus

2.The boundaries will be as follows:

a.Inside of buildings is off limits.

b.Stay only on church property.

c.Upstairs on the fire escape is off limits.

d.The neutral zone will be Conyers St.

e.Do not go into neighboring property or into Ready St.

f.Inside, under, or on top of cars is off limits.

Each team will have a designated Jail in their territory.

1. This is to be marked off with cones.

2.People are sent to jail by being captured by a normal member of the enemy team.

3.People can be released from jail by a team-mate “releasing” them and then everyone must make it to the neutral zone without getting tagged.

4.The Jail must be visible from enemy territory.

5.The Jail can only be guarded by people at 50ft away (with the exception of when enemies are close to the jail—you can tag them then).

Each team will have a “secret device.”  (A flashlight).

1. The secret device has 4 parts.  (Body, top, 2 batteries)

2.Each part must be hidden separately.

3.The parts must be visible from 50ft. away.

4.The parts must not be hidden on a person or in their clothes.

5.Do not use your own parts to complete your enemy’s “secret device.”

6.Once hidden, the parts cannot be moved/re-hidden.

7.If an enemy has a secret part and is captured or frozen, the item must be placed directly where the person was when they were captured. Only opposing team members can move it at this at this point.

8. Parts must be guard free in a 50 ft. radius.

Wednesday, July 1st, 6pm-8pm @ the church.

Imagine Capture the Flag—with 5 flags the come together to form a device that will defeat the other team’s key player, leading to victory.  Throw in some batteries and half a city block and you have Capture the Flag:  Grog-Style.  Come on out from 6pm—8pm!  Bring a bunch of friends—we are looking to have teams of 10 or more!

Wow!  What a great week!  We have been very busy!

We had a great trip to the Gathering Place on Sunday–packing out the vans again!  We met some new friends and had a great time hearing from Kenny Grant.

On Wednesday, a whole bunch of us went to TNT Lanes and then to Pizza Hut!  It turns out that St. Marys Methodists don’t bowl a whole lot or eat a lot of pizza, but we sure do love to hang out!  What a great time!

On Friday, we took a whole bunch to Ichetucknee Springs!  We tubed down the spring from the Mid-point launch, had lunch (for me, it was Lunchables–who doesn’t love Lunchables!), and then to the Blue Hole for some VERY COLD swimming!  What a blast!  We did run into all of that rough weather in Jacksonville, putting us behind on our return; but everyone was safe!

Today, we had our final ASP meeting in preparation for our trip.  We leave next Saturday!!  We have all of our tools ready, we’re finishing up our first aid kits and snacks, and then we meet to pack our luggage Friday morning @ 9am!  We will leave Saturday morning @ 9am for Lake Junaluska and then Kentucky!

Praise God, from who all blessings flow!