September Youth News
Posted on August 30th, 2010
Parents and Youth Meeting
We will be having a meeting on September 26th at 6pm to discuss this past summer and the upcoming months as we transition back into a school year schedule. This will be in place of youth group that night. Both parents and youth are invited and encouraged to attend. We’ll be discussing things like when No Holds Barred should be held, what kinds of activities we’ll be doing as a youth group, and what days work best for these activities. Please make plans to attend and email Julie with RSVPs. Hope to see you all there!
September Plans
September is a transitional month between the carefree days of summer and the more structured, routine-oriented fall. For this reason, the youth will be taking a relaxed approach to our schedule this month. We’ll have No Holds Barred the first 3 Sundays of the month, and then we’ll have a meeting the last Sunday of the month as referenced above. We’d like to encourage you to enjoy the time with your family and to get yourself back into the swing of school. October promises to be interesting…
“Let us preach you, Dear Jesus, without preaching….not by words but by our example.”
-Mother Teresa
September Schedule
September 5th: NHB @ FBC 6pm-7pm
September 12th: NHB @ FBC 6pm-7pm
September 18th: FBC @ FACES, 7:30am
September 19th: NHB @ FBC 6pm-7pm
September 26th: Parent/Youth Meeting @ FBC, 6pm-7pm
“TO LOVE IS TO BE VULNERABLE.”
-C.S. Lewis
Having a “Peter Moment”
There’s this story in the Bible where Peter and some other disciples are just hanging out in a boat, sleeping, waiting for Jesus to come and join them. They wait, and wait, and wait some more. Jesus is a night owl, and decides he’s going to wait until the last watch of the night (between 4-6am) to come to them. Peter sees Jesus walking on the water towards them. He’s curious, and calls out “Lord, if it’s you, tell me to come walk on the water.” So, Jesus invites him to get out of the boat. And Peter, being the crazy man that he was, actually got out.
He double checked to make sure it was God’s voice that he was hearing, and then he went. I don’t know about you, but in the middle of an awful thunderstorm, I wouldn’t be very eager to get out of a boat onto a choppy, unstable giant body of water. But-Peter gets out and begins to walk on water. And I’d bet that he’s enjoying it-knowing that he got out and was doing what Christ asked of him. And then he looked down.
He looked down and saw the waves crashing around him. He realized that he was doing something no human being besides Jesus had ever done before. He realized he had no control. And he freaked out. I can’t say I blame him one bit, either. Jesus calmly walks over, plays lifeguard, saves him, and says “Why did you doubt?”
Well, I’m having my own “Peter Moment” right now. I’ve just graduated from college, spent the last 6 years training to be a teacher, the career I knew from age 4 was the career for me. After my time this summer as a CBF CCI intern, however, I’m sensing a call to seminary and to vocational ministry. Jesus asked Peter to get out of the boat.
I don’t know how it’s going to all turn out. In fact, I know very little, but I do know that God wants what is best for me and will provide for me as I continue my journey. I’m spending this year lifeguarding, serving as the Assistant Band Director for the Appomattox County High School Marching Band (GO RAIDERS! woo!), and interning here at Farmville Baptist until December.
This is a major transitional time in my life. I’d bet that as some of you (your youth) get back into the more structured routine of the school year that you’re going through a transition yourself. Transitions can be smooth, but they can also come with waves of fear, anxiety, and a sense of confusion about what the future is going to look like. As we transition into this fall, I hope that all of us can remember to trust in where God is sending us. Like Michael said last Sunday, God equips those whom He calls. School can be hard. Homework can be time consuming (not to mention obnoxious). Friendships and relationships can be hard to manage with the busy schedules we keep.
As we enter this school year, know that I’m praying for you and your family. Know that God is ever-present in your life, even when you may not see Him or understand the ways in which He is working. Know that you are well-loved by God, and that no bad grade on a test or strikeout in the baseball game will ever change that. Know that you have a church family that wants to help you and support you as you go through the ups and downs of the school year and of life in general.
God is calling you to get out of the boat in some area of your life. Will you be willing to answer His leading, even if you can’t understand what’s happening? Will you trust God during your storms? Will you work with God through your “Peter Moments” to grow as a person, spiritually, emotionally, and mentally? All it takes is a willingness to get out of your boat and take the first step.
Love you all. Julie
You don’t need to go to Calcutta to help people. Find your own Calcutta. – Mother Teresa
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