Penn Valley Youth

Pool Party Postponed

Due to the cool temperatures and raining weather tomorrow night's pool party will be postponed.  The future date will be announced via email in the next few days.  Enjoy the night with your family or friends.

BNYC / Momentum Transportation

URGENT

Many of you have asked questions about transportation for BNYC/Momentum, to which I have had to give general responses.  This is unfortunatley due to a number of difficulties I have had this year in scheduling transportation.  I hope to give you a full report on Wednesday and send a detailed packet home with everyone planning to attend.  I will also post the same information her on this site as soon as I can.  However, in order to make final arrangments, I need to know how many people are attending.  I have access to an online list from CE National that has the names of all of our registered attendees, this list does not show anyone who is planning to attend but has not yet registered. I need to hear from you by sunday if you are planning to attend, but for some reason have not registered for BNYC/Momentum.   Thanks for your help and patience.

Pastor Mark 

New! Sign up for events Online

Yep it's that simple.  You can now add your name to an event sign up list online.  Heres how it works.

1.Click on the calendar to the left.

2. Choose the event you wish to attend.
(Not all events will have sign up lists.  Youth Group and regularly scheduled events or events that take place at the church like the concert do not require a sign up.  But trips like the Beach Trip, Six Flags, Rafting, the Phillies Game etc will have sign up lists.)

3. Click the sign up link.

4. Enter your Name, Email address , and that you accept the invitation to attend.
(there is also a place to choose the number of attendees, so if you plan to bring a friend you can enter them that way or they can sign up themselves.)

It's that simple.

*As this is just starting I don't expect that everyone will sign up this way, but I would like to move in this direction for the fall.  And eventually run all of our sign ups online this way.  So please check it out and try it out.

REUNION IS COMING!

Reunion is coming December 1st!

I am really looking forward to REUNION.  If you missed the first one, don't miss this one.  It is going to be a great time, and yes we have some new suprises in stoor.  I hope to see you there.  Bring a friend and be ready for a sweet night.

** If you have something you would like to hear about at reunion let me know.

Some Good News and some Bad News

So as the title might suggest there is a little good news and a little bad news wrapped up into this post.  I suppose the bad news first is the choice of most people, so here goes.

The Bad News:
This years response to small groups was not as strong as I had anticipated.  Numbers were very low and I suppose that reflects a number of things.  Unfortunately the groups will not be run as originally planned.  If you signed up for the Junior High Small group I am sorry to say it won't be happening this fall/winter, I would however encourage you to sign up again in the spring when we try for a second run.  If you signed up for a senior high group I will be contacting you directly to let you know where we go from here.  for those looking forward to small groups, I do hope to initiate them again in the spring with a slightly different twist.

The Good News:
I am getting closer and closer to being able to offer the Intern vs Intern videos online.  Check back regularly to see updates.  After a short hiatus the Intern vs Intern videos will return with new episodes after Thanksgiving. 

I suppose that is all for now.  I hope to see you all tomorrow night at youth group.

Reunion

We had an awesome night tonight at reunion.  I never knew Peter and Becky had it in them to eat the kind of stuff they did for the fear factor challenge.  That was awesome.  The room was smokin, the band rocked, and the highlighters were sweet.  I hope you had a great time and that you plan to bring some more friends for our next reunion.  It is coming December 1st.  Let me know what you thought of Reunion by posting your comments.  Thanks for a great night guys.

FYI

Just so everyone knows...
The Calendar to the left contains more than the three or so events displayed.  If you click where it reads "Penn Valley Youth Activity Calendar" at the top or "see all" at the bottom you will link to the full calendar.  Just wanted to make sure you didn't miss it.  There complete calendars thru November and additional dates through April.  Check it out. 
(Tuscarora dates and a Winter Retreat are posted.)

Updates

Here are some details for some up and coming events, just in case the email missed you.

1. Reunion

    Reunion is a gathering of our youth once a month for a corporate worship and activity/hang time.  This is a great opportunity for students to invite their friends.  A typical night will follow this basic pattern.  7:00 pm festivities begin, 7:15 the program begins 8:30-8:45 activity hang time begins, and 10:00pm we shut down for the night.  there will be food, activities, and a slightly different feel to the youth room.  We will also open the coffee house and provide time for open gym with some organized games and activities.  I think it will really be a great night.  I hope you plan to come and think about who you could invite that would really benefit from something like this. (Parents: I am looking for some volunteers to provide snacks for reunion nights.  Would you be available to provide some snacks?)

 

2. Web Site

    The web site will be updated later today with some new dates and details about upcoming events and opportunities.

 

3. Small Groups

    Remember to bring back your small group sign up cards or get a new one from Pastor Mark on Wednesday.  The cards should be turned in to Pastor Mark's foyer Mailbox or to Beth or Michelle in the office.  Small groups will start in a few weeks and you will recieve a phone call from your group leader with more details about the when and where.  Groups will meet twice a month in the homes of some families from our church.

 

4. Helpers for moving.

    I had sent an email for helpers last week, looking for some students to help Kathy Otto move from her home.  So far we have four but could really use a few more.  Dan F. Maddie K. Ashley and Andrew R. are my current workers.  Would you have any time to join us today for a couple of hours.  We plan to leave the church at 3:30 and return by 5:45.  Simply reply to this email if you would like to help out.

 

5. College Visitation Trip.

    After Much consideration and discussion we have chosen a date.  January 11-16.  We plan to do a midwest tour visiting colleges all along the way.  If you have interest please contact me ASAP. Sign ups will be registration forms will be available on wednesday.  The trip is open to Juniors and Seniors. We will plan to stay on campus as much as possible for lodging and meals but students should be aware that costs may include lodging, food, and fuel for the trip.  Cost will be determined after college visits have been finalized.  (ballpark might be $100-$150 but his is purely an estimate)

 

6. NAC

    NAC details are available online at http://www.cenational.org/Youth/NAC/NACIndex.asp

    The first rally is November 4th.

 

7. Barnabus

    If you are interested in Operation Barnabus the reference forms are now online

www.cenational.org/obsite/obHome.asp?homePageLinkCode=home

 

 

8.  Wawa Hoagie Coupons

    Hoagie coupons are available for sale.  Contact Rick and Christine Sames for coupons and more details.  information sheets are avaialble at church.

Welcome back from the Welcome Retreat

Welcome back!  What an awesome weekend! It's official we had our largest retreat ever.  A grand total of 67 people participated in what may go down as one of the best welcome retreats ever.  What a retreat.  I will never look at snack packs or bananas quite the same way.  I am confident that I can now relate to hamsters in a much more personal way (i.e. Nuclear Globes).  And the term Atomic Wedgie has a whole new meaning.  Whatever stands our to you from the weekend I know this to be true...   We have an awesome youth group.  Each one of you bring something special and unique to this group and I feel lucky to have each on of you as a part of this group.  Savor the memories and hold tight to what God did in your heart.  Get ready becasue he has even more in store for you as you seek to live in the this world but not of it, a life distinctly different, on mission for him in the world, at home with your brothers and sisters here at PVY.

I hope some of you will take a few minutes to post some of your favorite memories and moments from the 2006 Welcome Retreat.

Also check out the photo gallery.

Welcome Retreat is coming!!!

It has been a little while since the last post found it's way to the web, so here goes another one.  I have been busy getting ready for the welcome retreat this weekend, and I really think you are going to have a great time.  I have been working with Wade and Brian L. this week to get some sweet things lined up. We will have some of your old favorites, as well as a few new spins that i am sure will make for a great weekend. 

Those of you who might be concerned about the weather, the most recent report that I saw suggested the rain might hit friday and sunday and leave us with a really nice day on saturday.  Either way we will have a great time.  Anyone remember looking for my wedding ring in the rain on a saturday night a few years ago... or was that on a sunday morning...?  I really can't remember but that is no suprise to any of you.  My memory filing system is very weak. 

Word to the wise.  Pack an extra sweat shirt or jacket and at least one extra set of dry clothes.  If it does rain you will thank me, if it doesn't, you will forget all about it.  (wave of the hand) "These are not the droids you are looking for."

On a more serious note I believe God can use this weekend to be a transformational experience for you and hope you will come with a heart ready and open to all that he has for you.

See you tonight at Youth Group.