February Youth Update

Dear Parents, Leaders and Students,

First let me thank all the parents and leaders who helped to make our Monster Lock In a great success. Thanks to you we were able to welcome over 65 youth to Messiah. Please don't forget that Acquire the Fire is also coming very soon. Last year we made a special purchase of tickets. We reserved 50 places! We’re confident we can fill them. That is why, if a student attended our Monster Lock-In, they earned a $25 discount toward ATF. Our registration fee covers the ATF ticket--regularly $62--as well as transportation, Pizza Friday night, Breakfast at church, and Lunch and Dinner out on Saturday. (We can also offer the same scholarship to those with demonstrated need. We don’t want lack of cash to keep you away, so please talk to me. Thanks)

Of course, Lent is right around the corner. This Lent, Messiah will again offer a number of mid-week ministries. These ministries are intended to enhance our journey together with Jesus toward Holy Week. (Look for other opportunities as well, such as our Lenten Reconciliation service, in the March Newsletter.) This month look for the following:

Phat Tuesday Pancake Supper, Tues, Feb. 5th, 5:30-7:00pm
Messiah’s Confirmation Class will again serve a delicious “All You Can Eat” meal of pancakes, sausage and fresh fruit. There’ll be special fun for the kids and live music for your dining enjoyment. Tix are $6 per person, or $4 per person for families or groups of four or more. Tickets will be on sale at Coffeehour, or call the church, or e-mail info@messiahepiscopal.org to reserve your space. All proceeds go to fund the Confirmation Class Annual Retreat.

Teen Challenge Comes to Messiah
Youthnites in February will focus on “Being--and Breaking Free--from Drugs and Alcohol.” As part of that focus, the Teen Challenge choir will be featured in Sunday worship, on Feb. 10th, to share their story of breaking free from drug and alcohol addiction through Christ. We have also reserved 20 spaces for Messiah parents, teens and youth leaders to attend, “A Night to Know the Truth” with MN Teen Challenge on Monday, Feb. 25th. Look for more info in the bulletin.

Wednesday Gather & Grow Nites for Lent begin Feb. 13th
Gather & Grow Nites meet Wed, Feb. 28th through March 19th. We’ll begin with soup together at 6pm, followed at 6:30 by Adult Christian Education, Festival Choir, Kidz Klub (K-5th gr), and Youthnite. Childcare is provided.

Family Formation on Gather & Grow Nites
Family Formation is the Adult Education focus for Gather & Grow Nites during Lent. We’ll begin with an overview of the Church & Your Family on Feb. 13th, followed by two weeks on Spiritual Disciplines for Families (Feb. 20 & 27th). We’ll then spend another two weeks (March 5th & 12th) unpacking a Messiah Parental Tool Kit: Tools to help our kids be Christ Centered, Healthy, Safe and Free from Drug and Alcohol Abuse. We’ll conclude Gather & Grow Nites in Holy Week with an Inter-generational Seder Supper on March 19th.

I invite you all and trust that many will take advantage of these excellent programs, all made possible by our wonderful lay leaders.
Blessings,
+Dave