Items We Could Use for SERVE

// July 3rd, 2010 // No Comments » // Youth News

• Paint Brushes (1 1/2″ and 3″)
• Paint Scrapers
• Work Gloves
• Bug spray
• Sunscreen

We really appreciate the generosity of our congregation here at Bethel.  I don’t know of many churches who support their youth program like you do. Thanks for all that you do for us!!!

Summer Schedule

// June 4th, 2010 // No Comments » // Youth News

We gave everyone a summer schedule at our year end bonfire but there are a couple corrections. The date that says July 18 or 25th should actually be August 25th and there is another meeting on July 14th at Bethel Church at 7pm.  Here is a list of the dates and locations:

June 16^th 7:00pm

Bob & Lynn Swanson’s

Country Sales Furniture

12333 85^th Ave

Milaca, MN 56353

June 30^th 7:00pm

Joel & Melissa Terpstra’s

10803 125^th St

Milaca, MN 56353

July 14^th 7:00pm

Bethel Church

August 11^th 9:00am- 4:00pm

Day at the Lake

Meet at Bethel Church

August 25^th 7:00pm

Brian & Tara Weldon’s

7500 Dolphin Rd

Princeton, MN 55371

September 1st 7:00pm

Ignite Kick-off

Ignite Center

Year End Bonfire

// May 12th, 2010 // No Comments » // Events, Youth News

I can’t believe it’s already the end of the year. It’s amazing how fast a year can fly by without even thinking of it. We have had a great year this year and we always love to end it with our annual Year End Bonfire. We always have a lot of fun playing games, hanging out, and doing a bunch of random crazy stuff. Our Year End Bonfire will be held at Bethel Church on June 2nd and will start at 7pm. This night usually runs later that our normal time (usually 9 or 9:15pm) because it gets dark late this time of year. We like to end the night by gathering around the fire and sharing our highlights and impacts from the previous year. Everyone usually enjoys this time and it is a great way to wrap up the year and kick off the summer.

A Couple Weeks Off

// May 12th, 2010 // No Comments » // Youth News

We will be taking the next couple of weeks off from our Wednesday night service due to Baccalaureate services. We have students graduating from both Princeton High School and Milaca High School.  Corey Olson will  be graduating from Milaca High School and the baccalaureate service will be held next Wednesday (May 19th) at 7:30pm. We also have Emily Bullivant graduating from Princeton High School this year and their baccalaureate service will be held the following week (May 26th) at 7pm in the PAC.

We encourage all of our youth to come to these events to support our seniors and the role that they have played in our ministry.

OverSexualized

// April 13th, 2010 // No Comments » // Youth News

I just finished reading an article by Jonathan McKee and thought that it is something parents should hear. I remember back to when I was in high school and the things I was doing had a direct correlation to the music I was listening to and I don’t think it’s a coincidence. Music is a very powerful tool, that is why God created it and we use it to worship Him but of course Satan likes to twist good things and use them for his own purposes.

It really bothers me that music has become so bad lately because I LOVE MUSIC. I can sit and listen to music all day long and I will listen to any genre of it as well. Anyways here is a snippet of the article, he also has links to some of his other articles and I recommend you take the time to read them as well.

This past weekend I had the opportunity to preach about youth culture, then do a parenting workshop in a church in South Bend, IN. On the drive to the workshop, I decided to tune into a popular radio station to hear a sampling of what our kids were hearing, wondering if I’d hear many of the “Hot 100″ songs I’d been researching. After all, I know the top 10 songs kids were downloading. iTune shows us that at a glance. But I was curious what the radio was playing.

This particular radio station seemed like it was playing right from the “Top 10″ charts, because in the hour that I had the radio on, I heard almost every song that I had been studying.

After about an hour of listening… I felt like I needed to take a shower and wash off the filth.

Seriously. I study this stuff all the time, and yet I still am amazed how potent today’s music is with oversexualized lyrics. (Is oversexualized even a word? Nope. I just pasted it into WORD and it gave me a little red wiggly line.)

Let me give you a glimpse at some of these top songs I heard.

To read the rest of the article click here

Parents update for 3/17/10

// March 18th, 2010 // No Comments » // Youth News

This week we had an Agape feast.  Many of our youth worked really hard to bring other youth.  In total we had 35 youth at the feast.  We had plenty of food and the kids ate well.  There were a lot of great conversations and I think that the visitors felt welcome.  After everyone finished eating, Jason Vermeer joined Jason Ruis and Marly in leading a time of praise and worship.

Thank you to everyone who prepared food for this feast and we could not have done it without you.  All the food was delicious and we had more than enough.

Next week we finish the To Save a Life series.  The hope is that the youth will continue to look for the hurting and be willing to help them.

Remember that we will not be meeting on March 31 because of Spring Break.  We encourage you to use this night as a family night.

-Geoffrey Bazuin-

Parent Night

// March 12th, 2010 // No Comments » // Youth News

Parents you will get the chance to hear Jolene DeHeer, a nationally known motivational and inspirational speaker, at a parent get-to-gether on Thursday, April 22 at 7 p.m. at Bethel Christian Reformed Church. Her theme that night will be “The challenges parents face in today’s teen culture.”

The event is co-sponsored by the church youth leaders of Princeton and Rum River Life Choicees.

Teen Rally

// March 12th, 2010 // No Comments » // Events, Youth News

The opportunity of a lifetime awaits you on Wednesday, April 21 at 7 p.m. when you will get to hear nationally renowned motivational and inspirational speaker, Jolene DeHeer, at a teen rally for grades 9-12 at Bethel Christian Reformed Church in Princeton. She will motivate you, inspire you, encourage you, and entertain you. She will touch your life and heart forever. The evening will begin with music by a really great local band. The rally is co-sponsored by the church youth leaders of Princeton and Rum River Life Choices.
Email Jason Ruis for details.

Parents update for 3/10

// March 12th, 2010 // No Comments » // Youth News

This week in continuing our To Save a Life series our purpose was to show them that God can actually use our small acts of service for the hurting and lonely to save peoples lives and change the world.

We started the night by having a back scratch circle so everyone got to have a relaxing back scratch.  Following that we played a game called Ships and Sailors in which commands were called out and the youth had to follow the command.

Next we watched a clip form the end of the movie where Jake reads Jonny’s letter.  In the letter Jonny is thanks Jake for saving his life.  Following that, I (Geoff) shared some stories about me and how I came to be who I am now.  Next, the youth watched a video of a drama where a girl is falls in love with God but then is distracted by friends and others and she is brought down.  At the end of the drama when it seems that all hope is lost God fights for her and he saves her.

Next we split into family groups and discussion.  Following that Jason gave the first half of his message at the end of which we watched a clip from the movie Freedom Writers where they toast for change.  We then gave all the youth a chance to propose a toast for change with sparkling apple juice.  When that was finished Jason finished the message.

To finish the night we prayed and gave the youth a chance to grab challenge cards and to write letters of encouragement to each other.   Also we announced that next week we will be having a potluck.  Every youth was assigned a dish they were in charge of.  We asked them to bring as much food as they felt called to bring.  Each youth was also encouraged to invite people they see who need some one or who are alone and hurting so if everyone does this we could need a lot of food.

Geoff’s Group – Main Dish

Rachel Ruis’ Group – Salads (of noodle or lattice variety)

Troy’s Group – Fruit

Rachel Bazuin Group – Dessert

Jeremy’s Group – Beverages

I hope everyone has a good weak and encourage your kids to invite the lost and lonely for next week.

-Geoffrey Bazuin-

Taking a Week Off

// March 8th, 2010 // No Comments » // Youth News

Ignite will not be meeting on Wednesday March 31st due to Spring Break. Take the time to spend some extra time as a family and enjoy the extra night available to you. We will resume meeting the following Wednesday (April 7th) with the start of a new series.