Youth Fellowship
December/January Youth Group News From Gabriele . . . .
Youth Group Food Drive:
Our youth have been a busy bunch, as usual, having fun and working on their outreach projects. They wanted to do something about hunger in our community. With this in mind, we decided to have a food drive for the Rutherford County Food Bank. We met in the Fellowship Hall on a beautiful Sunday after church for a quick pizza lunch and then with the awesome help of Ms. Lisa Beasley, we piled into two vans and headed out to Elizabeth Beasley's neighborhood, where we divided up into two groups, each working on one side of the street to knock on doors to ask folks if they would help us feed people in need in our community. We met some very friendly and generous folks and managed to collect 149 non-perishable food items. We had such success that our group will definitely plan another food drive in the future. Our youth wish to thank Jeff Schroeder (Martin Family Friend) who gifted our youth group with three professionally printed signs that we carried on our walk announcing who we were and that we were collecting food for the needy. We would also like to thank Julie & David Becker for loaning us their green garden wagon, which was very helpful in carrying the food items as we went door-to-door. Our youth each wore a CCC tie dye shirt that we made in a previous youth group fun time gathering.
Youth Choir:
During our Wednesday night youth group gatherings we enjoy our time in lifting up our Lord and Savior through praise & worship songs. We have quite a collection of songs that we sing together, some of which we have sung in front of our congregation. Thank you for letting our youth share their joy of Christ through song.
Youth Group Celebrates Former Youth Leaders Upcoming Joy:
Not long ago our youth group received news that our dear friend and former youth leader, Jessica Sherrod and her husband John, are expecting their first child. What a blessing! Ms. Jessica was able to join us for Wednesday Night Pot Luck / Youth Gathering where we surprised her with a time of celebration..... News has it that this past week Jessica went into labor and gave birth to baby Noah. Jessica, John & Baby Noah are all doing fine. Praise God for this awesome blessing in their lives!
Lock-In Fun:
A few weeks ago we had another youth lock-in. The theme for this lock-in was "Invite a Friend" and that they did. Daniel, Colt, Deona, Samantha, Michelle, Kayla, and Payton joined our youth group for loads of fun. We had movies on the big screen, praise & worship singing, youth lead games, snacks, and a few devotionals......and very little sleep. One of the highlights of our lock-in was a visit from congregation members Mamie & Gary who hosted a "Homemade Pizza Making" time for dinner. Yum!! I'm told that on Saturday most of our youth spent the day sleeping...as did their youth leaders.
Cindy's Family Hair:
A few weeks ago while taking care of some daily errands in town, I noticed a sign at a new business called Cindy's Family Hair that said, "$10.00 Haircuts". Coincidentally it was time for me to get my hair cut, so I stopped in to check it out. While Cindy was cutting my hair we got to talking about our youth group and all the wonderful outreach projects they are involved in...long story short, Ms. Cindy is supporting our youth group by placing our CCC Cookbooks in her shop for her customers to purchase. If you are in need of a hair stylist please check out Cindy's Family Hair and thank her for taking an interest in our youth group.
Cindy's Family Hair
Hair Care For The Entire Family
2704 Lascassas Pike
Murfreesboro, TN 37130
(Lascassas Area-Next to Dollar General)
615-890-0609
Note: Does your little girl have an upcoming birthday? You might want to check out the birthday party packages available at Ms. Cindy's shop. The birthday girl and ten of her friends can celebrate in style. The party consists of an updo hairstyle, make-up fun, dress up fun in pretty gowns followed by a fashion show. Party includes a birthday cake. For additional information contact Ms. Cindy.
New Youth Library:
In looking at our youth library, we noticed that the majority of the books are very old, outdated and in disrepair. We figured it was time to update and bring our youth library into the present, especially since many of our youth have required school reading assignments and many of them simply enjoy reading as a past time. We moved the library to the upstairs hallway of the education building, making it more accessible to all of our youth. Our next step will be to set up the library much like how our adult library is set up...for easy checkout of the books. Youth supporters, Ann & Jim Burkhalter, donated funds to our youth group in which we used to purchase books from the Goodwill in Franklin. The books are in almost new condition and the prices ranged from $1.99 - $2.99 per book. A great deal indeed. Books were purchased suitable for ages K-12th grade. If you have books that you'd like to donate, please drop them off at the church with a note attached stating that it is for our youth library.
Blanket & Shawl Ministry:
Message from Janet Mills. . .
Vigil Against Violence
In the past 2 years the violence in Chicago has become a serious issue. During that time, 190 children, 18 or under, have been killed and slightly over 2600 children have been wounded. Zack Mill's church, Hyde Park Union, is involved with many other churches, the city of Chicago and other volunteers to stop the violence. This picture is outside Hyde Park Union and it lists the name of each child who has died. As you stand before it, it makes the mayhem a reality to you. Our Blanket Ministry has decided to make some blankets for the mothers of children who are killed. It is difficult to express in words, the value of such outreach. This group cares because we should all care. We should give thanks for our wonderful women who are helping bereaved women in Chicago. Reaching out and giving the gift of comfort in the form of a blanket is a beautiful offering. Thanks to all of them.
Janet Mills
Thank you Janet for your message and kind words. My heart is also warmed by the work of the ladies of our Blanket & Shawl Ministry. They are indeed a very dedicated group. I am amazed at how many blankets and shawls are turned in and the level of commitment to this ministry. Each time we meet, I come away energized and uplifted by these ladies. They are a wonderful joy to share time with.
Save The Date For Our Upcoming Blanket & Shawl Ministry Workshop:
I am happy to announce that after I attended the Fiber Festival at Cannonsburg this fall, I met Denise Haley from Denise's Fleeces at Redbud Farm. Denise teaches at the Willow Oak Center for Arts & Learning. She teaches the art of spinning fiber on a spinning wheel to make yarn and she also dyes yarn using materials from nature, such as beets, onion skins, and berries, to name a few. I have arranged for Denise to hold a workshop at our church on Saturday, January 15th for the ladies and youth of our Blanket & Shawl Ministry...as well as any interested congregation members.
Blanket & Shawl Ministry Hands-On Workshop
Spinning Fiber Into Yarn / Dying Yarn Using Natural Fibers
Saturday, January 15, 2010
10:00 a.m. - 1:00 p.m.
Cost: $15.00
Space is Limited So Register Early-
Contact Gabriele Martin at 615-962-5297
Update: Ms. Denise will also have available for sale - wooden drop spindle plus 100 grams of white peruvian roving in a kit. Cost of kit is $15.00 . Note: bring a notebook & pen to class.
Compassion and Giving the Gift of Warmth:
This past Thursday evening was a very special time because we had the blessed opportunity to give the gift of warmth to all the ladies who attend counseling sessions through the DVP program at Central Christian Church. For the past several months the ladies of our Blanket & Shawl Ministry decided to make winter hat & scarf sets to give to people in need throughout the cold winter months, and this past Thursday was the day of giving.
With the assistance of Virginia Beasley, I set up a table outside the parlor in our education building, filled with all the beautiful hat & scarf sets. When the hour approached the DVP ladies began arriving. As they entered the building we invited each lady to come to the table and choose a hat & scarf set as a gift from the ladies of our Blanket & Shawl Ministry. I wish you could have experienced the joy these ladies had in picking out their hats and scarves. They were all very appreciative and asked us to share their thank-you's with the ladies who made the hats and scarves. It was indeed a very heartwarming experience to see these ladies at the end of the evening head out into the cold winter evening .......a bit warmer than when they arrived. Thank you Blanket & Shawl Ministry ladies for putting your God given talents to work for the good of others.
Our Youth Group's Giving Plans:
Each year during the holiday season, our youth group has made great efforts in assisting with the needs of families & elderly folks of the Domestic Violence Program (DVP), by making their Christmas a little brighter- and this year is no different. In speaking with Angela (DVP Youth Councilor), we found out that all the mother's with children were quickly paired up with sponsors - Praise God! But we also learned that there were still six elderly people and one developmentally challenged young adult who needed to be sponsored. Trusting in the Lord, and knowing we needed to be a light in someones life, our youth group decided to step out in faith and sponsor all of them. With the assistance of some very dedicated congregation members who are always eager to get involved with the outreach work of our youth, we will be able to bring a bit of joy to the struggling elderly in our community during the Christmas season.
Update: Thank you Eve & Art Hardin, Darlene Bowman, Debbie & Charlie Williams, Lisa Beasley & Girls, Carolyn & Floyd Wilson, Dr. Robert Hopson, & CCC Youth Group for working together to provide Christmas for six elderly folks, one family, and one developmentaly challenged young adult. Thank you for letting God's light shine through you this holiday season. You are a big blessing to many! Praise God!