Wednesday, December 14, 2011
YIA to host Project Hospitality again this year!
Our Youth in Action class will be hosting Project Hospitality on Tuesday evening, December 20th. Our meal this year will include several hearty pot roasts with potatoes, onions, and carrots, fresh breads, salad, fried cabbage, sparkling cider and lemonade, and a yummy dessert and cookies for 14 men plus all our helpers. We would like to make this a tradition for our youth, as it gives us so much joy to prepare and serve the meal and to meet all the men, young and old, who come to join us for dinner. Last year was such a wonderful experience for us all that we couldn't wait to do it again!
Wednesday, November 16, 2011
Charitable works are in the works!
Youth in Action is gearing up for the Christmas season! The students have been hard at work planning charitable activities and fundraisers for local and global efforts that they feel good about. One such activity is our work on developing a fundraiser for the School in Abul, in South Sudan. A big thanks to Carolyn Redmore for introducing us to John’s story and the rest of the group that support him, including the Ishitakaa Refugee Food Network. Plans are in the works for developing a fundraiser that is both fun for the students to participate in, as well as something that they can plan without significant outside help. Look for news on that event soon.
The youth are also considering participating in Project Hospitality again this year. Last year was the first year we have hosted it. It was on December 21st, the longest night of the year, and we celebrated the wonderful evening cooking, serving, and getting to know some of the men that came to dine with us. We hope to do that again and look forward to planning the menu!
Finally, if you haven’t had a chance yet, please check out the portrait and self-portrait project the youth completed. Their artwork is hanging inside the glass case outside of the social hall. It was a several-week exercise in looking outward, inward, and exploring how God sees us. We have great artists in the group!
The youth are also considering participating in Project Hospitality again this year. Last year was the first year we have hosted it. It was on December 21st, the longest night of the year, and we celebrated the wonderful evening cooking, serving, and getting to know some of the men that came to dine with us. We hope to do that again and look forward to planning the menu!
Finally, if you haven’t had a chance yet, please check out the portrait and self-portrait project the youth completed. Their artwork is hanging inside the glass case outside of the social hall. It was a several-week exercise in looking outward, inward, and exploring how God sees us. We have great artists in the group!
Wednesday, October 19, 2011
A time to say goodbye
Our most important news this month is that Christina Choh left us to go with her family to Arkansas, where they will begin a new journey and a new chapter in their lives. We will miss Christina very much—her friendship, her captivating spirit, her artistic talent, her passion for books, and her empathy and sympathy for others. To celebrate Christina’s new adventure, we had a pizza party and movie night in her honor on Friday, October 21st.
Bon voyage, Christina! We will be praying and thinking of you during your journey and as you make new friends in Arkansas!
This month the youth have been continuing work on their portraits and how they envision themselves and in God’s eyes. Once that work is complete, it will be displayed on one of our bulletin boards. Look for it soon! They have also been working on focusing their creative talents in cards for shut-ins, a favorite activity they like to do, particularly during the upcoming holiday season. We have also been thinking and praying about ways that we might contribute to the mission project to build a school in Abul, So. Sudan.
Bon voyage, Christina! We will be praying and thinking of you during your journey and as you make new friends in Arkansas!
This month the youth have been continuing work on their portraits and how they envision themselves and in God’s eyes. Once that work is complete, it will be displayed on one of our bulletin boards. Look for it soon! They have also been working on focusing their creative talents in cards for shut-ins, a favorite activity they like to do, particularly during the upcoming holiday season. We have also been thinking and praying about ways that we might contribute to the mission project to build a school in Abul, So. Sudan.
Thursday, September 15, 2011
Fall activities commence for Youth in Action at FUMC
After a long, hot summer and lots of fun summer adventures, we are finally back for Fall at Youth in Action!
The Youth group has started off the year working on self-portraits, as well as choosing a partner and drawing their portrait. Then they will spend some time looking at their inner selves—their strengths, their skills—while also contemplating how others perceive them. Ultimately they will reflect on how God “sees” them. Later in September we will have a visit from Carolyn Redmore about our future collaboration with the Iskashitaa Food Harvesting Network. There are opportunities a-plenty for learning about other faiths with this work, as well!
The Youth group has started off the year working on self-portraits, as well as choosing a partner and drawing their portrait. Then they will spend some time looking at their inner selves—their strengths, their skills—while also contemplating how others perceive them. Ultimately they will reflect on how God “sees” them. Later in September we will have a visit from Carolyn Redmore about our future collaboration with the Iskashitaa Food Harvesting Network. There are opportunities a-plenty for learning about other faiths with this work, as well!
Friday, April 15, 2011
Paper Cranes for Japan
As part of our acknowledgement of Lent and Earth Day combined, we spent two Sundays learning how to fold origami paper cranes for a project to benefit Japan. StudentsRebuild.org and DoSomething.org teamed up and called for 100,000 paper cranes to be made by students across the U.S. and the world. For every 1 paper crane made, $2 are being donated by the Bezos Family Foundation to Architecture for Humanity for the rebuilding efforts in Japan after the March 11th earthquake and tsunami. The 100,000 cranes collected will be permanently used in an art installation for Japan, as a gift from students around the globe, so they will not be discarded. In a call to action, our youth folded and collected 206 paper cranes. That is $412 collected for Japan! This includes efforts by Christina Choh, who had asked to do a demonstration for art class at school and as a result brought in a large bag of folded cranes from her classmates at Basis to add to our collection. Congratulations to all our youth for their patience in learning to fold these delicate creations and for being excited to participate in the project!
Movie Night!
Youth in Action celebrated with lots of fun activities this month! One of them was Movie and Pizza Night, held on Friday, April 1st. We used the comfy couches and the big-screen TV in the Wesley Room to relax and lounge while we devoured several pizzas, soda, and watched The Sandlot. What a great movie! Lucinda and Isaac also joined us for the evening and we all played games and laughed and had fun. It was a terrific night to release some of the stress from school and life, and we hope to do it again soon!
Sunday, March 6, 2011
Where the waves meet the shore is where you’ll find all the *Action*
Imagine for a moment a young child sculpting a sandcastle on a beautiful sunny and warm day at the beach. The rising tide creeps toward her as she concentrates on her art form through the afternoon and its lengthening shadows. You might say that this impending meeting of the waves and the shore is the mother of all catastrophes—the tsunami hazard zone, or maybe the End of Days for those imaginary inhabitants of her sand fortress.
On the stormiest of days, the waves crash into the shore in a manner that is anything but graceful. In much the same way, the coalescing of different faiths is not an easy task to assume. At the best of times this is a terrific challenge. But on Saturday, March 5th, Youth in Action made a valiant effort to start making connections with people of other faiths. I am so proud of them for taking that momentous first step toward this challenge and for wanting to do it in the first place. They planned a wonderful day at the park and we had a great time. Their games were enjoyed immensely by the youngest members of our church. And don’t you agree that food just tastes better when it is eaten outside with friends? Granted, our turnout wasn’t quite what we expected, but we had an enormously fun time flying kites, getting them stuck in the trees, and throwing our cares to the wind (literally). Congratulations to Madeline, Mary, Kunhee, Christina, Andrea, Cristian, and Tony for planning such a terrific day and for injecting their energy and vibrant spirits to our church family. And a big thank you to all their parents who provide us with their unending support.
Regardless of high or low tide, where the waves end and kiss the sand they often leave behind little gems from the sea—mussel shells, sand dollars, strings of deep yellow, glossy, bulbous kelp. And sometimes this momentary meeting leaves behind little rivulets of slow-moving sand and seawater, carving channels back to their Creator. Sometimes these rivulets are blasted away with bigger waves carrying rock and shell debris, leaving behind something more reminiscent of miniature Grand Canyons, full of wonder and breathless beauty and inspiration.
On the stormiest of days, the waves crash into the shore in a manner that is anything but graceful. In much the same way, the coalescing of different faiths is not an easy task to assume. At the best of times this is a terrific challenge. But on Saturday, March 5th, Youth in Action made a valiant effort to start making connections with people of other faiths. I am so proud of them for taking that momentous first step toward this challenge and for wanting to do it in the first place. They planned a wonderful day at the park and we had a great time. Their games were enjoyed immensely by the youngest members of our church. And don’t you agree that food just tastes better when it is eaten outside with friends? Granted, our turnout wasn’t quite what we expected, but we had an enormously fun time flying kites, getting them stuck in the trees, and throwing our cares to the wind (literally). Congratulations to Madeline, Mary, Kunhee, Christina, Andrea, Cristian, and Tony for planning such a terrific day and for injecting their energy and vibrant spirits to our church family. And a big thank you to all their parents who provide us with their unending support.
Regardless of high or low tide, where the waves end and kiss the sand they often leave behind little gems from the sea—mussel shells, sand dollars, strings of deep yellow, glossy, bulbous kelp. And sometimes this momentary meeting leaves behind little rivulets of slow-moving sand and seawater, carving channels back to their Creator. Sometimes these rivulets are blasted away with bigger waves carrying rock and shell debris, leaving behind something more reminiscent of miniature Grand Canyons, full of wonder and breathless beauty and inspiration.
Sunday, February 13, 2011
Youth in Action hosts an Interfaith Potluck!
Over the last several weeks we have extended invitations to our own congregation at FUMC, to Congregation Chaverim, to The Islamic Center of Tucson, and to a local Interfaith group and members of the Sikh faith. If you are reading this as a member of another congregation, please contact us if you would like to join us for a fun Saturday potluck at the park!
What: Food, fellowship, and fun for all ages—- young, old, and in-between! Hosted by Youth in Action at FUMC.
Where: Udall Park, Ramada #6 (see map below).
When: Saturday, March 5th, 11:30-1:30 pm.
Why: To have fun and get to know new friends from different faiths!
Please bring your own table settings and a dish to share according to the first letter of your last name:
A-H: Appetizers (salads, pastas, etc.)
I-P: Main dish
Q-Z: Dessert
Drinks and Eegees treats will be provided!
Hope to see you there!
What: Food, fellowship, and fun for all ages—- young, old, and in-between! Hosted by Youth in Action at FUMC.
Where: Udall Park, Ramada #6 (see map below).
When: Saturday, March 5th, 11:30-1:30 pm.
Why: To have fun and get to know new friends from different faiths!
Please bring your own table settings and a dish to share according to the first letter of your last name:
A-H: Appetizers (salads, pastas, etc.)
I-P: Main dish
Q-Z: Dessert
Drinks and Eegees treats will be provided!
Hope to see you there!
Sunday, January 9, 2011
Project Hospitality hosted by youth
On Tuesday, December 21st, the youth and their parents did something tremendous with their overwhelming positive energy. It was FUMC’s regular night to host 14-16 homeless men for Project Hospitality, and the youth had stepped up to the challenge by hosting it for the evening. They had planned a wonderful meal, consisting of homemade chicken and rice soup, Hawaiian sandwiches, salad, fruit, bread, sparkling cider, and sack lunches for the men to take with them the following day. The group pulled it off without a hitch! The greatest challenge, however, was the fact that there was a gas leak at the church, and we couldn’t use the kitchen to cook the food. We made due with a large toaster, a microwave, and some quick thinking by our wonderful parents who were on KP duty with us. It was a night full of fellowship and fun. We can’t wait to do it again next year!
A big thank you to the Brunenkants, the Chohs, the Dunlaps, the Clarks, and all of our youth!
A big thank you to the Brunenkants, the Chohs, the Dunlaps, the Clarks, and all of our youth!
Monday, January 3, 2011
Holiday meals delivered to Casa de los Ninos
You will be happy to know that on Christmas Eve, approximately 5 - 6 large boxes of holiday-themed, non-perishable food, in addition to a 20-lb frozen turkey and 2 oven roasters were delivered to the Casa de los Ninos Administrative offices! They used this food to meals throughout the holidays at the Casa de los Ninos Crisis Shelter. The Crisis Shelter is a safe-haven for children 12 and under who have been in abusive or neglected families. They distributed what was leftover to the other families that they serve in Tucson and the surrounding area. Several people in the administrative offices came out to our car and helped us carry the boxes in, and were so thankful to all of you for your donations. They expressed this repeatedly. So a big thank you to all of you for answering the youth's call for donations for this type of service. God Bless!
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