LIQUID Blog

I didn’t do any blogging last year!  I’m going to change that this year!

Thanks to all who came out to our big Fall Kick-Off Tailgate party.  It was fantastic.  Many apologies to any who suffered injuries from any of the “Minute to Win It” challenges.  Hopefully, you have all recovered by now.  It was wonderful to have everyone participating in getting our Fall Youth Ministry started. There was such an energetic and exciting attitude.  Special thanks to Mary Linda, Sharon & Natalie and all the dinner planners and cooks.

At our kick-off meeting I presented many plans and hopes for the coming year.  More about the “7 year plan” on another blog entry.  One of the big plans is our 2011 Youth Summer Mission Trip to Los Angeles.  In the 11 short days that have passed since that meeting we have had  18 students sign-up to be part of the mission team.  This is awesome!  I will be contacting CSM (our mission host) and increasing our team size from 14 to 25!  And if those spots fill up….. we’ll hopefully add more!  However, it seems likely that we’ll be limiting our team to 20 spots as it may become financially difficult to raise funds to meet that significant a need.  Also, it may be difficult to recruit the adults needed to lead a team any bigger than 20 students.  I’ll keep you posted!  Needless to say, if you haven’t signed up you better do so quickly!

We’ve got great things planned for the year.  Make sure you visit our website for updated info on all our events.Blessings,

Matt

PS - we’ve moved our Christmas Party and Progressive Dinner to December 12th (from Dec 19).  Please update your calendars!

TOP DOWNLOAD @ REIDYOUTH

Fall 2010 Liquid News

High School Mission Trip 2011 Brochure

LAX2011 Commercial - “Are You Ready?”

Another Great Night!  Thanks to all who came out for the Lame Games last Sunday.  About 30 people gathered at the Rosenzweig’s for a night of sloppy joes and messy fun.  Special thanks to Denise, Paul, Anna, Paul and Mary for hosting the fun and putting all the messy games together.

We enjoyed Cheeto-Head, Donut-Bobbing, Blindfolded Ice Cream, and the Slip-N-Slide and the screaming balloons.

Derrick T. won the Messy Diaper Challenge.  The correct messes were caramel (incorrectly identified the most of all five substances), barbecue sauce, CheezeWhiz, chocolate syrup, and peanut butter with raisins.  Congrats Derrick!

Check out the photos at the media gallery of all the messy fun.
 

The Confirmation Class of 2008 began their year with a weekend retreat.  On Saturday we studied and played at Liberty Hill, thanks to Benita L.  We spent a lot of time getting to know each other through community building and games.  Everyone agreed - Badminton was great.  There must have been something in the meatballs we had for dinner because Maggie S. kept talking about them the rest of the weekend!  Go figure.

On Sunday our class went to Bishop Gravatt for some time on the ropes course.  There was a lot of “teamwork” building as we had to work together to accomplish certain tasks.  Then after a lunch of chicken sandwiches we tackled some of the high-ropes.  Lot’s of fun was had, even by the adults. 

Check out the Photo Gallery for more pictures.  (Hey Maggie - bring your camera to class so I can get a copy of your pics too!)

Confirmation classes begin on Wednesdays at 6:00.  Dinner is available for a small cost.  See you then!

Matt

We enjoyed a bit of Chick-fil-a and Evan Almighty today.  Our prayer brunch was partnered with a little cinema.  Thanks to Anna, Paul, Bennett, David, Will, Mary, Kennedy, and Andrew, and Thomas for being a part of our little Summer outing.  Everyone seemed to enjoy Evan Almighty.  I thought it was pretty good too.  It was a good movie with a faith-filled message.

On our free day here at Montreat we took a little drive and climbed (walked really - some even took the elevator) to the top of Chimney Rock.  It was a great afternoon.  The drive was good for our group - lots of conversation and laughing.  The weather was beautiful here - unlike at Montreat.  Chimney Rock is on the other side of ‘The Eastern Continential Divide” from the camp so while it rained there we enjoyed some sun!

Some were tired and sore and took the elevator the 26 stories up to the top.  Some were not so keen on the elevator - something about plunging to their death inside a deep cavern inside a little metal box - and decided to take the 20 minute walk.  All in all it was great!

From Montreat

Matt

It’s a peaceful Wednesday morning before our students have woke up and I’m sitting at “Brookside,” our little mountain cottage.  The conference is going great and we are all having a great time.  The students’ favorite aspect of the conference is the small group experience.  Each day, twice, we meet with 29 previous strangers and explore what it means to be a Christian Community.  At first, there was quite a bit of reservation.  The students were not that excited about being split up and meeting new people.  But now that they’ve had 4 small group meetings - they all agree - it’s great!

Our acommodations are more than adequate.  The students are even learning a bit about kitchen work as we prepare most of our own meals.  Curiously, when I asked a few to wash dishes they were stumped when they couldn’t find the undercounter appliance they were accustomed to.  They didn’t do too bad for first timers with a sponge and a dish pan.

We’re about half way thru the conference and we’re having a great time.  Keep up the prayers.  I believe God is doing great things here at Montreat and our students are in the midst of it.

From Brookside - Matt

Glad to have such a good crowd at this morning’s Prayer Breakfast at Chick-Fil-A.  Rebecca was the first to arrive.  Last week she was the only one to arrive!  Today she was joined by Bennett L., Paul, Bryan, Sam, an Will F.  Latecomers Will E and Leland almost missed us!  But they made it in time to share about their chemisty pizza project.  8 for Breakfast (plus me) is great!  We won’t meet next week as I’ll be on vacation.  We’ll see if we can meet later on - and later too!

Maybe we should all skip the chicken minis and hash browns and just have milkshakes like Paul, Bennett, Sam and Will F.  The Breakfast of Champions! 

Super fun was had last night.  Thanks to everyone who brought friends.  Thanks to the Hardys and the Turners for bringing dinner - the pizza and subs were yummy.  See the other photos in the media gallery.

It was a great end to the school year.  Thanks for such a great 2 1/2 months of Sunday Nights.  We’re going to have a great summer.

We’ve been having good mornings on Tuesdays.  Last week we enjoyed Chicken Minis at Chick-Fil-A in Evans.  Now, let me explain something.  When we say “Evans” we really mean “Evans.”  There are 2 Chick-Fil-A’s on Washington.  We were at the one by the new Target.  Some people went to the Chick-Fil-A in Augusta on Washington.  Hopefully, this will become less confusing as we go along.  Today, we met at Panera Bread near the old Target in Augusta.  However, I’m told that we lost yet another one en route.  Oh well, we did have 4 students brave the early morning and made it for prayer.  It was fun.  The cinnimmon bagel was popular.  However, I have to recommend the cobblestone.  It was delicious.

Next week - we’ll be meeting at the Chick-Fil-A on WASHINGTON in AUGUSTA.  This is between I-20 and Fury’s Ferry Rd.  6:45am-7:15am.  See you there.  If you need a ride to school after breakfast - let me know.  I’m probably going that way!

Matt