Liberty Crossings Youth

Wow. Is it really almost time to go back to school? Here’s my personal Top 5 List from this summer:

5. We said goodbye to Pastor Keith. Weird to put a “goodbye” on a Top 5 List? Well, think about it. For a lot of our youth, this was the only pastor they had ever known. Keith was such a blessing to our youth and our church family, bringing us all together and building us up for whatever happens next. Now he’s focusing on some writing and music projects and we can’t wait to hear how God uses his gifts next! So saying “bye” to Keith meant that we get to support him in his next season of ministry. What a great way to say how much we love Keith!

4. We welcomed Pastor Wade! Wade Griffith came to us from Trinity UMC in Tuscaloosa. He’s already joined us scraping paint off of a house in Woodlawn and on our rafting trip.  He’s also a big gamer, so look for him on XBoX Live!

3. We scraped, primed and painted several house across Birmingham. What a blessing to be used by God to help neighbors in need. Tons of our youth participated throughout the summer. Big thanks to Urban Ministries for helping us make this happen.

2. Vacation Bible School was a hit! Kudos to our youth who did such a great job in skits, running video and sound, and leading groups of children all week long. We’ve got great leaders in our group.

1. FUN!! The scavenger hunt at the mall, Zombies vs. Humans, swimming at Liberty Park’s pool, the Relient K concert, the swim party with the youth from Genesis UMC, dodgeball versus the youth from Mountain Chapel UMC, video games in the youth room….we’ve had a lot of fun throughout the summer.

As much as I loved this summer, God has great things in store for us this fall. I cannot wait to be a part of it. I hope you’ll join us!

Still In One Peace,

Bart

Sunday, June 6: Pool Party @ Liberty Park neighborhood pool!! You can meet us at the church around 5:30 pm or just head on over the pool around 6 pm. Dinner is provided. We hope to see you there!

Tuesday, June 8: Painting Ms. Haynes’ home. Allison Morhard and Bart Styes will lead a team of youth to our first day of work on this home in the Avondale/Crestwood area. It’s not too late to sign up! Contact Bart asap!

Wednesday, June 9: Mallrats Scavenger Hunt. We’ll meet at 11 am at the Brookwood Village food court. Youth will divide into teams and be given a list of pictures to take around the mall for points.

Saturday, June 12: Bushel Ministry Pickup Week 1. We will make sure members of our church who sign up for East Lake’s Bushel Ministry get their baskets of fresh produce.

Be sure to check the Upcoming Events Page too!

LinC (Living in Christ) – Sundays @ 9:30 am – we’ll discuss the latest music, movies, news and current events through a biblical lens

Youth Band Rehearsal – dates/time TBD – for musicians of all levels, meets in the Worship Center

Youth Night – Sundays @ 6 pm – fellowship, games, and light group discussion with food, meet in the youth area

God of Rock Series – dates/time TBD – youth who want a “no experience/no talent/no problem” environment are welcome to attend. We’ll make music or just listen while we learn more about rock and roll and its influence on Christian music. Each day we will also explore a topic found in our favorite songs using our Bibles

Urban Ministry – Tuesdays June 8, 22 & July 19, 26 (tentative) – we’ll be working on a home in the Birmingham area through Urban Ministry. We will need at least one adult volunteer each day

Market Basket Ministry – on Saturdays, begins June 12 – we’ll pick up bushels of produce from East Lake and deliver to members of our church. Each bushel purchased by our church supports East Lake’s inner-city market and community

Reflections on Holy Week – Wednesday

Do you ever turn into the “Me” Monster? Someone else is talking and instead of actively listening, you’re really just waiting until you can tell them something about yourself? Or anytime something bad happens to someone, your immediate thought is, “Wow, I’m glad that didn’t happen to me.” Or something bad does happen to you and you cry out, “Why does this always happen to me?!”

We can do the same thing when Christ asks us to do something that we don’t want to in our lives. We don’t want to love our enemies. There is a great reason why they are our enemies in the first place! We don’t want to stand up for our beliefs if they are unpopular. Why take the hit when we can keep silent and fit in? We’ve made it to the top of the heap and we want to stay there. We are popular, powerful, attractive, well off, secure, loved. And we don’t realize how ugly that makes us or how far that is from Christ’s final moments.

In the same way the chief priests, the teachers of the law and the elders mocked him. “He saved others,” they said, “but he can’t save himself! He’s the King of Israel! Let him come down now from the cross, and we will believe in him. He trusts in God. Let God rescue him now if he wants him, for he said, ‘I am the Son of God.’ ” In the same way the robbers who were crucified with him also heaped insults on him.
Matthew 27:41-44 (NIV)

“Too often, especially among Christians, we become insular and sectarian. Our faith fortifies our prejudices instead of expanding our reach towards others. When matters turn for the worse, the ugliness of our souls is too often revealed. We scapegoat and, forgetting the lesson of the Good Samaritan, we become indifferent to the suffering of others.” – Eddie Glaude, Jr.

The ugliness of my soul is too often revealed. I have to admit that when I am challenged, I can get nasty. I fire off an email written while I was angry. I figure out a reason why I am right and they are wrong and then I use that to justify my behavior and condemn theirs. And I put myself above all others.

Jesus said, “Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing.”
Luke 23:34 (NIV)

This painting reminds me that even as Christ was mocked, he was still Christ. Concerned for his mother and his friends, blessing the thief at his side, even forgiving those who gambled for his clothes.

Too often Jesus suffers without me. I disregard his teachings. I abandon what I see as his lost causes and hopeless cases. I turn my back on my friends. I scheme at how to get back at those who have wronged me. I put myself first, which is me at my worst. I give Jesus every reason to come down from the cross and tell God that I am not worth saving. But even still….he lays down his life for me. And he lays down his life for you.

At our worst, Christ is at his best.

Which shirt color do you want for our Discovery Weekend shirts? Everyone who attends will get one! Voting ends Sunday, March 7th at 11:59 pm.

This Sunday evening, we’ll watch the game at the home of Brooklyn Clark.

Party starts at 5:15 pm and food will be served.

The address is 7533 Kings Mountain Road. See you there!

December 2009 Youth Calendar

Wednesday, 9th – We will have our regular youth schedule this Wednesday.

Sunday, 13th – Super Happy Fun Time Awesome Game @ 6 pm
Improv games and stupid human tricks win points and awards (sort of). Parents are welcome to attend for the laughs or participate as judges. As always, no wagering please.

Monday, 14th – Prayer Breakfast @ 7 am
Let’s begin exam week with prayer as a priority. Contact Bart if you would like to help by bringing food or arriving a little early to set up for the students.

Wednesday, 16th – Brain Food & Caroling
Contact Bart if you would like to bring the following: trail mix, sliced fruit, peanut butter, granola, etc. before supper. $3 pizza for dinner and then we will go caroling.

Sunday, 20th – Christmas Dinner @ 6 pm (at the church)
Dress: Nice Casual
Bring a Dirty Santa gift (up to a $15 value)
Bring a Christmas Angel gift (Contact Rhonda Hardwick @ 529-8001 for more details)

Monday, 21st – Hang Out & NCAA Tourney Finale @ 10 am
All youth are invited to hang out at the church until 5:30 pm today! Bring your video game consoles, favorite games, music, snacks and $5 for pizza.

Tuesday, 22nd – End of School Celebration @ 5:30 pm (meet at the church)
We’ll head to PlayStation in Trussville from 6-9 pm
$2 for a Skate Pass and $2 for Each Game of Laser Tag
Contact Bart if you will drive and chaperon our youth for the evening.

Wednesday, 23rd – No YOUTH Activities
Sunday, 27th – No YOUTH Activities
Wednesday, 30th – No YOUTH Activities

Ski Trip Group:
Monday, 28th – Ski Trip Departs @ TBD
Thursday, 31st – Ski Trip Returns @ TBD