Our Youth Group (ages 5th grade - high school) meets the 3rd Sunday of each month for lunch, the monthly business meeting and an activity. Our next meeting is February 19th-20th. We will be having a lock-in Saturday night and preparing and serving our "Mystery Dinner" fundraiser on Sunday the 20th
Don't forget our Mystery Dinner findraiser on February 20th and the Lock-in the night before to prepare for it!
Thank You
To our Youth group for providing the large inflatable games for our 75th Anniversary Pork Roast back in July. It really added to the enjoyment of the celebration and we appreciate all the work you kids and your parents did in raising funds.
Higher Things - Coram Deo 2011
Why Higher Things?
We live in a culture of blurry religious distinctions and do-it-yourself spirituality. Youth, especially, need solid ground that will nurture lasting Christian faith. Rather than treating youth as an adolescent subculture and confusing them with religious experiences that cannot be replicated at home, Higher Things believes in challenging youth to learn the pure doctrine of the Christian faith. By teaching them the same message that they hear at home, youth grow in the fullness of the Christian faith as they come to appreciate historic liturgical practice and its unique focus on God’s gifts of forgiveness, life and salvation for us delivered in Word and Sacrament.
The Theme
Coram Deo?
What exactly does "Coram Deo" mean? Well, it’s Latin for "before God," as in His presence, under His reign, etc. Think a bit about living Coram Deo, before God. What does it mean that you live Coram Deo? Under the Law, life before God is terrifying. It is living under His judgment and wrath. But under the Gospel, life before God is beautiful, a restoration of what God intended when He made Man in the beginning.
"Can mortal man be righteous before God? Can a man be pure before his Maker?" (Job 4:17) This is the core religious question: How can a sinner destined to die stand before a righteous and holy God? Only by grace through faith for Christ’s sake!
Aside from the worship and large group sessions there are a wide variety of break-out sections on various aspects of how our faith applies to life and a lot of activities just for fun as well as free time for groups to create their own activities. Because break-out section topics and leisure activities vary from conference to conference depending on the city they are held in, specifics will be announced closer to the date of the conference. You can, however, check out pictures and break-out topics from previous conferences to see what is available. Go to higher things and look at the photo album for previous years or go to the media link and listen to mp3s of previous break-out sessions.
Cost is $325 per person. Meals and Lodging are included. We do have a fund available that will pay up to half of the cost per person. So please let pastor know if you are interested.
Any confirmed youth is eligible to attend - this includes college students.
This Month's Pulse Bible Study
Here is the video for this month's Pulse Bible Study. Be sure to check your news letter for the Bible Study "One Question"
which coincides with this video:
Answers for Pulse Bible Study
Not sure about some of the tougher questions? Here are some possible answers to explore.
Question Seven
We think of Jesus as mild mannered and gentle. But in these verses He shows a lot of anger. And with good reason. Those who were challenging him by asking for a sign had already received plenty of signs in the miracles He did. Yet, instead of believing in Him, they accused Him of dong miracles through the power of Satan rather than God. Instead of giving them a sign, Jesus, therefore, points ahead to His own impending death and resurrection as the ultimate sign of God's forgiveness and His power over death itself. One reason Christ used the life of Jonah as an illustration of His own three days in the tomb might have been to remind the Pharisees that they were as stubborn to believe and obey as was Jonah, who ran from God's command and had to be hauled back to obedience in the belly of a great fish
Question Eight
The rich man in hell thought that his brothers would be willing to listen and believe if a person came back from the dead. Abraham told him that it would not matter, that if his brothers refused to believe the Word of God, they would not believe even if they saw a miraculous resurrection. We were not present to see the miracles Christ performed. But we don't need to see. We have the Word of God. If someone will not listen to the Word then all the miracle in the world would not change their mind - as demonstrated by those in the passages in the previous question who saw the miracles Jesus did and still refused to believe.
Question Nine
He has revealed Himself in creation (Romans 1:19-20), In our conscience (Romans 2:15) In the Word (John 20:31, 2 Timothy 3:15) and in the person and work of Christ (Hebrews 1:1-2)
Question Ten
Even though God has revealed Himself in creation and in the consciences, as well as the Word, many people refuse to believe. Instead, they invent all kinds of silly explanations, such as evolution, for the existence of the world and the conscience. Like those who accused Jesus of using the power of Satan to do His miracles, no amount of reason or arguing will convince them that God exists or who He is. So it is not our task to argue anyone into believing in the existence of God. Instead we simply point to God's Word by telling them what God has said is right and wrong in His Law and by telling them Who Christ is and what He did for us by forgiving us in His death on the cross. Then we just leave it up to God to do the convincing s His Word works in their minds and hearts.
Question Eleven
Remember how you memorized in confirmation class, "I believe I can not by my own reason or strength believe in Jesus Christ, my Lord, or come to Him; but the Holy Spirit has called me by the Gospel, enlightened me with His gifts, sanctified and kept me in the one true faith." God has used His Word and His gifts of baptism and communion to create faith in you and to strengthen that faith. For more information on why we need God to work faith in us, you might want to read the question/answer "What about Free Will?" in the resource section of this website.
Camp Io-Dis-E-Ca
Io-Dis-E-Ca stands for "Iowa District East Camp." Located near Solon Iowa, camp Io-Dis-E-Ca provides great fellowship and enjoyable activities combined with an opportunity to learn about Christ, what He has done for us and what our faith means for our lives.
The camp theme for this year is: Living and Active The Word of God always accomplishes what it is sent to do. When God speaks He creates, as in Genesis. The saving Gospel message of Jesus living, dying, and rising for the sins of the world is brought to us by the Word of God and calls all to repentance, delivers forgiveness, and creates faith in their hearts. Using the same Word, God keeps one's heart and mind in Christ Jesus. Truly the Word of God is Living and Active!
High School students who have complete the 9th grade and are at least 15 are invited to be Junior Counselors. The cost of the Junior Counselor program is $90.00. Being a Junior Counselor is a great way for you to serve Camp Io-Dis-E-Ca and great preparation to serve on our summer staff in the future. Come assist our counselors for a week! Still want to be a camper and a Junior Counselor? Do both! Junior Counselors receive an early bird discount when they come to another camp program!
Interested? Go to Io-Dis-E-Ca for more information.
Going to College with Christ
This is the time of year when you high school Juniors and Seniors are probably considering your college career. Where will you spend the next two to four years? what will you learn? What career lies ahead of you?
Have you considered attending a Lutheran college?
The colleges and universities of the Concordia University System are dedicated to the Gospel of Jesus Christ and to preparing students for lives of meaning and service. They provide a Christ-centered environment for students to develop in value-based communities of learning in which students prepare for every conceivable career from accounting to church work. For the 11th straight year, all ten of the colleges and universities of the Concordia University System are included in the national rankings for "America's Best Colleges" by US News & World. Interested in finding out more? Check out the Concordia University System.
Going to a state college or university? How can a student connect with a Christian faith community in which his or her faith can be strengthened and continue to grow amidst the challenges of college life? LCMS Campus Ministry can help you find and connect with the churches and campus missions the Lutheran Church Missouri Synod provides on and near many colleges and university campuses. Check out LCMS Campus Ministry for a campus ministry near the college of your choice.
Some District and Synod events for youth to watch for:
Higher Things Youth Gathering
July 12-15, 2011
Illinois State University
Bloomington, IL
“Coram Deo (Before God)” HT Youth Conference Website
