Mission Trip 2011

Want to put your faith in action in loving service? We are in the early stages of planning a Servant Mission Trip for the summer of 2011. Please be on the lookout for information about planning a mission trip for next summer! Youth Ministry Team is also looking for adults that might be willing to help co-ordinate the mission trip. If you are interested please see Vicar Bryan.

2012 Youth Gathering Update

Wait – didn’t we just do that? Yep, and it’s time to start looking towards the next Gathering in 2012!!! This event will be for those who will be in grades 7-10 this 2010-2011 school year and the dates to mark your calendars for are July 18-22, 2012 in New Orleans. The Planning Team for the National Youth Gathering is meeting in August to decide on a theme for the event, so look for more information to come out this fall. At this point we need to start thinking about fundraising for the event and our first fundraiser is coming up soon.

On September 18^th the youth will be helping to serve lunch during the Scrapbooking seminar Annie Webb is holding at the church. In return, the registration fee for the event will be donated to the youth to apply towards the funds needed for the National Youth Gathering. Youth can count these hours of service towards their required hours in order to go on the event. So if you have a youth who is thinking about going to the National Youth Gathering, make sure they mark their calendars for September 18! Please note this event is open to the entire congregation and the more people that sign up to come the more we have to help send the youth to New Orleans!

Small Groups!

Will be starting up again this year! If you were in a small group last year, we hope that you will continue to meet with the group you met with last year, but we will also be looking to start some new groups as well.

If you are a youth in grades 5-12 who would be interested in being a part of a small group ministry (PS they have a TON of fun) please make sure to put your name on the bulletin board outside Vicar Bryan’s office –or – contact Ray Guy (guy1118@msn.com). Once we see who is interested this year, we will be looking at availabilities to set up meeting times. Please sign up by the 12^th of September (youth kick off night).

Youth Leader Training

Saturday, September 18^th from 9am -4pm
@ Resurrection Lutheran in Yardley

· Are you new to youth ministry at Saint Luke and need ideas and motivation?
· Have you been doing youth ministry at Saint Luke for years and need to be refreshed?
· Are you a parent or volunteer that is burning out working with your child or youth?
Do you want a chance to get to know other youth workers in the synod?

If your answer is yes to any of these questions, then register today for SEPA’s Level 1 Youth Ministry Training!

Come to learn the basics of meaningful and successful youth ministry.Come to be reminded of what it means to minister to young people. Using material from Youth Leadership, trained leaders from our synod will teach the fundamentals of effective youth ministry.

Youth Ministry Kick Off Night!

Youth Band Looking for New Members

St. Luke's youth band is looking for new members this year. If you are a teenager who enjoys contemporary Christian music and likes to sing or play an instrument, we'd love to have you come and join us. We are especially in need of guitarists! The band practices once a week in the church basement, usually Sunday evenings, and we play about once a month at a variety of church events.Need more information?Contact Richard Jenkins (rrjenk@verizon.net) or Samantha Menapace (flyers.girl47@gmail.com).

VBS 2010: A Real (Baobab) Blast!

It's hard to believe that after months of planning and preparation, VBS 2010 is over. I am happy to report that this year's VBS, Baobab Blast, was a huge success in many different ways.

We had over 100 children join our team of teachers and helpers every day from 9:00 - 12:00 during the week of August 2nd. The weather was great--mostly sunny and not too hot.

The children heard Bible stories, watched skits, played games, sang songs, and made crafts throughout the week. They also brought in close to $1500 in donations for God's Global Barnyard, an ELCA charity that purchases animals which provide families living in poverty with food, funds, and fertilizer — all for a better future. On Thursday night, August 5, the children and their families attended a VBS Water Ice social in the sanctuary. The children sang songs they had learned during the week and ate water ice in the garden. The families attending that night donated over $1,000 for the Mikanjuni Lutheran Parish, our partner congregation in Tanzania. As you can see, we were blessed with many generous families who expressed their gratitude for our VBS efforts by sharing their treasure with those who need it most.