"My parents had very high expectations. They expected me
to get straight A's from the time I was in kindergarten."
- Amy Tan, author (
The Joy Luck Club, The Valley of Amazement)
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Friends, this email arrives in your inbox at 6:00am and my oldest daughter, Gertie, arrives at her first day of Kindergarten less than two hours later! We're so excited... and a little nervous, of course! She puts it that way, too. I'm trying not to have too many expectations, to simply see what happens. Any advice, for those of you who have been in Kindergarten before? :) I have been praying for you in the beginning of this new school year, with some of you having already started and some of you less than a week away. May God guide you with wisdom in your academics, your social life, and your search for balance.
Several updates have come since the last Church of Youth update.
Confirmation-eligible families
should have each received the
Confirmation Roundup Intake Survey
. Please take this asap to help us get organized and especially to help give some feedback on the potential for changes / new opportunities.
I've spoken with
Interim Journey Choir director Rev. Stephanie Escher
and she has a special message for you in this update below, take a look. Plus there's now a whole slew of
volunteer opportunity signups
available for you. Driver/chaperones, Bread Break meals, etc. Remember: our ministry succeeds with the help of families like yours pitching in to make it happen.
Rally Sunday is fast approaching! On September 10, be part of the action with Confirmation for 8th & 9th Graders, the
"Blessing of the Backpacks" during worship and a chance to see the Education Wing in mid-construction for everybody, and a
Pizza & Bowling Par-Tay at the Park Tavern for all 8th-12th Graders (
please RSVP and yes, we need parent drivers!). Then, all of our Sunday evening ministries kick on on September 17.
Just a reminder that I did my best to update this Church of Youth email newsletter with this year's roster of 8th-12th Grader families. If you know of someone who should be receiving this newsletter and didn't, please let them and me know so we can get them on board, thank you!
Let's kick off this fall well, friends!
In Christ,
Rev. Nate Melcher
Associate Pastor
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Rally Sunday is September 10.
Bring your backpack for the "Blessing of the Backpacks" ritual during worship!
Adults: please bring your backpack, briefcase, carryall, or whatever you bring with you on a daily basis for a special blessing, too.
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Check your email for your survey!
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An Intake Survey went out to all 8th-9th Grader families for "Confirmation Roundup." Please fill it out together asap!
Confirmation students, let's go to Koinonia on September 15-17!
The registration will be available soon, cost is $150 per person (scholarships available).
Yes, there will be homework time on the retreat, so please make every effort!
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Pizza & Bowling Par-Tay
Sept. 10, 11:30am-2:30pm, FREE!
Parent Chaperones/Drivers needed!
On Rally Sunday, we're heading out after worship for an afternoon of pizza and bowling at the Park Tavern. We'll depart as close to 11:30am as possible and plan to return to campus at 2:30pm. The best part is, the whole afternoon is free, so let's kick off the fall right!
RSVPs are extremely helpful, thank you!
No evening activities on Rally Sunday, including Journey rehearsal, as we'll have 1,000+ people on campus for Brene Brown. Please RSVP for our Pizza & Bowling Par-Tay, instead!
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Game Night
Sept. 17, 5:00pm-6:00pm
Improv games to break the ice!
Cache & Sebash Bash
Sept. 24, 5:00pm-6:00pm
We'll go geocaching and grab some ice cream at Sebastian Joe's.
Parent Chaperones/Drivers needed!
Blessing of the Animals Worship
Oct. 1, 5:00pm-6:30pm
Youth will serve as greeters, ushers, and readers for the annual "Blessing of the Animals" worship service. Bring your family pet to receive a special blessing this evening! We'll have pizza during LYFE Groups on this evening, too.
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Sundays are "Can't Miss" nights!
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We are excited to return to Sunday evening youth ministry on September 17 with a twist. We've expanded our offerings to better build our community through fun, faith-filled activities intended to get us laughing and thinking, as well as small group time to go deeper and be there for one another.
Our new line-up for Sunday evening has the following starting on September 17:
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5:00pm-6:00pm UMYF Fellowship
Each week features a new activity aimed at building faith-filled friendships and strengthening our community connections. Come for a night of games, discussions, videos, service projects, faith talk, etc. Most weeks are free and on-site. If there's ever an occasion that involves a field trip with out-of-pocket costs and/or we're meeting at a different time, this email and the new calendar will have the details.
6:00pm-6:30pm Bread Break
Teens gather for a home-cooked meal (or the occasional pizza!) provided by a youth family.
Parents and guardians, the sign up is coming soon, thank you!
6:30pm-7:00pm LYFE Groups
We break into small groups for a weekly check-in to share highs and lows, listen to each other's prayer concerns, and practice the art of covenant with our peers.
7:00pm-8:00pm Journey Rehearsal
Journey is excited to have many new voices join in the singing this year. As the SPRC team continues searching for a permanent Director of Music Ministries (the interim director this year is Sharri Speer),
we are excited to announce we also have an interim director for Journey choir, Rev. Stephanie Escher! You may have seen Stephanie around Hennepin this year working with teens and helping lead worship and other ministries. She is excited to work with our Journey families and you can meet her on September 10 during our Pizza & Bowling Par-Tay!
Plus, maaaybe at 7:00pm-8:00pm... Confirmation for Adults?
Do we have a group of parents who would like a group during Journey rehearsal? We'd have an opportunity to create a group led by Pastor Nate featuring video discussion, Bible study, and faith-based parenting topics. Interested?
Let me know!
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SPECIAL: A Welcome Greeting from Journey Choir Interim Director, Rev. Stephanie Escher
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"I am excited to work with you this next year! I know Bill was a very special person in your musical lives and I am honored and blessed to be with you during this transitional year. I look forward to working together with you as we make great music and explore different kinds of genres and styles.
"My hope is to add some instrumentalists at some point and venture into contemporary, gospel, bluegrass/folk and world music as well as continue a solid foundation in exquisite classical works. In efforts to reach out to more youth and enhance the worship experience, we will also be working with creating visuals: videos, etc. to be played during worship on the days we sing. We are privileged to help build a worship experience that truly incorporates the voice of the youth in your own words, images and stories.
"I am a provisional elder (pastor) in the UMC [Nate Note: this was my status until I was ordained in June.] and I am currently working as a hospice chaplain in St. Paul. Pastor Judy is my mentor as I seek ordination this next summer and we both thought it would be a great adventure, privilege and lots of fun to work with you as part of my own journey towards this goal. My background includes 14 years of classical piano study, fulfillment of music degree coursework through University of Colorado and UW Madison, private and college conducting classes, musical direction of various church choirs, contemporary youth bands and the occasional children’s choir in Colorado, Wisconsin and Illinois. I have worked in music ministry in churches as a worship and music arts director with the focus of creating dynamic ancient and future worship through various musical and visual art forms. I also spent some time as a professional musician in an all female R&B band in Atlanta.
- Rev. Stephanie Escher
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We can't do it without you!
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NEW Ways to connect for teens and parents!
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Teens!
Having a tough week? Want to help a friend? Come to church... online!
Our brand-new mid-week Skype group video chat
starts Sept. 13 and runs Wednesday nights this fall from 9:00pm-9:45pm.
Join Pastor Nate and other trusted adult leaders to check in with highs & lows and share prayer concerns.
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Parents! Are you interested in either a self-led
LYFE Group on Sundays during Confirmation and/or a
"Confirmation for Adults" on Sundays during Journey led by Pastor Nate?
Build your faith this year in a group of fellow parents. Is this your year to go deeper?
Let me know!
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October Events: TOT-Lock & Trunk-or-Treat!
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1 part spooky, 1 part sleepy!
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Trail of Terror Field Trip + Lock-In
Oct. 13, 6:00pm - Oct. 14, 8:00am, $20
Come for both a trip out to Trail of Terror (6:00pm) or the Lock-In (11:00pm) or both! Registration link coming soon.
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Ask dad to borrow the car!
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Trunk-or-Treat
Oct. 29, Time TBA
We hope to return for a third year of fun with our annual Trunk-or-Treat event, pending the parking lot and education wing repair are complete. Stay tuned!
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Old schoolers called it "JUMYs."
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The Event at Craguns
Nov. 3-5, Cost TBA
Confirmation Students, you're not going to want to miss this weekend at Craguns resort with games, service projects, a live rock band, workshops, new friends, a pool, nature walks, worship, and one of the most fun road trips ever!
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"Force for Change" Lock-In & Field Trip
Dec. 15, 7:00pm - Dec. 16, 12:00pm, Cost TBA, Fundraiser event, too!
Let's be a Force for Change! We'll go to
Feed My Starving Children
, watch Star Wars VII: The Force Awakens, get some sleep, then wake up early to catch a matinee of
Star Wars VIII: The Last Jedi
on opening weekend!
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Get ready for major events, like...
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09.10 Pizza & Bowling Par-Tay!
10.01 Blessing of the Animals Worship
10.13 Trail of Terror Lock-In
10.29 Trunk-or-Treat
11.03-11.05 "The Event"
12.15 "Force for Change Star Wars Lock-In
03.14 Ash Wednesday Worship
03.30 Good Friday Worship
06.24-06.30 LYFE Camp 2018
07.21-07.29 Senior High Mission Trip
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Church of Youth Ministries of Hennepin Avenue United Methodist Church
Rev. Nate Melcher, Associate Pastor
511 Groveland Avenue, Minneapolis, MN 55403-3223
This email is sent in the highest spirit of Christian love. If you think something is "lost in translation" between us, please contact me so we can explore it together. Thank you. -nm
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