{Snaz Youth}

The night started out with a quick hangout time while the Glenda and the leaders set up the games and (with great difficulty) hooked up the technology.  When everything was in working order Glenda got everyone everyone organized for the Snaz edition of Minute to Win It.

The first challenge of the night was to move an Oreo cookie from your forehead to your mouth using only your facial muscles.  Much laughter and hilarity ensued as everyone’s face simultaneously began to twitch.

The next challenge was a bit more complicated.  The contestants who hadn’t been eliminated put a pair of pantyhose containing a tennis ball over their head and tried to knock down a line of water bottles.  The funniest part of this game wasn’t the awkward positions required to knock down the bottles, but rather the way the contestants hair looked afterwards.

The third challenge was to empty an entire box of tissues one at a time with one hand in under 60 seconds.  A massive amount of screaming took place during this activity, with those screaming the loudest placing first.

After throwing the huge pile of tissues around a bit the fourth challenge began.  The remaining five contestants had to stack six Wagon Wheel Candies on their foreheads without any falling.  None fell; mainly because most were eaten instantly after leaving the box.

After stuffing themselves with candy the contestants next had to blow a ping pong ball from one cup filled with water to another.  Dylan (a trumpet major) was the expected winner.  After a very tense three seconds it became clear that Anna and Kaio were far in the lead.

The sixth challenge was called “Junk in the Trunk.”  Contestants had a tissue box filled with ping pong balls strapped to their back; which they had to empty without using their hands.  This resulted in a lot of jumping, shaking, and laughing.  (There is video evidence, and it will be kept for blackmail purposes.*)

The remaining two contestants then went on to the final challenge.  The final two were: Kaio and Victoria.  Their last challenge was to unwind ribbon….. and then wind it around their arms.  This made both of them look like disabled birds desperately trying to take flight.

After the final contest the winner was declared to be Victoria who went home with a massive tub of candy.  Everyone then did a quick clean up and headed into the rainy night for home.

-DM

* I’m kidding, but you knew that.  Also, the photos from this awesome event are on Facebook and in our Photos.

Cookie Face

The night began, as usual, with a relaxed hangout time as the night’s ragtag youth band warmed up.  Courtney then called everyone upstairs without moving a foot from her piano stool by making good use of the church’s powerful sound system.  When everyone was present she began the worship music.

After the singing Glenda gave some announcements concerning the May Rally and about the upcoming week.  Courtney then shared a Nooma video that she had watched and loved.  The powerful message that the video shared was that God can be more easily heard in the silence.  (The link to it is on our “Links” page.)  After the message, Courtney prayed.

Following the prayer, everyone went downstairs and Victoria organized a game that got everyone laughing and smiling.  After Victoria’s game, dodge-balls were released and a hangout time began before it was time for everyone to go home.

- DM

Anna

Some nights, leaders just need a break.  Tonight was one of those nights.

When the youth arrived tonight Courtney was ready with Disney’s “Tangled” and popcorn. (Many thanks to Jumbo Video for generously donating the popcorn!)

Tonight was also the election night for the NYI Council.  Instead of voting on each candidate in each category as in previous years; this year the council and president were elected on a yes/no vote.  So, ladies and gentlemen, here are your NYI Council members:

• • Jr. High Rep: Kristin Coughlin
  • Sr. High Reps: Victoria Wright, Luca Stetson, Rebekah Jackshaw
  • C&C Rep: Daniel MacDonald

Your returning interim president is Courtney Gallant.

- DM

Tired Courtney + Happy Victoria

The night started with the usual relaxed hangout time and intense game of hardcore foursquare.  Matt, bored with the usual way of playing foursquare invented a no hands version and Devon was put temporarily out of action by a stray ball.

Following the hangout time Courtney started a game of “fruit basket” to test the attendees memory followed by “pool noodle fruit basket” to test their memory and their manual dexterity (and their pain threshold) with a paper pool noodle.  Smiles, yelling, and lots of laughter filled the room.

Then everyone followed courtney upstairs for praise and worship.  Elliott then gave his message on change.

After the inspired message Elliott paused and choked up before announcing his resignation to a quiet room: “For the last several months I have sensed God leading me to something new and different.  After a lot of prayer with [my wife], our family, Pastor Bob, and others, I have resigned from my role as youth pastor in order to follow God’s lead. This step of faith has been difficult and I’m already feeling the painful loss. But, as difficult as it is, we are confident that this is God’s leading.  I’ll be finishing up the sick leave that the church has given me until mid-April and will spend the last couple of weeks in April preparing for the transition.  I will continue in my role until April 31.
I can’t even begin to put into words how grateful I am for my years serving here. I have so many great memories and friendships and wonderful feelings confirming God used me here. These have been incredible years for me! From working with teens to teaching adults to building the small group program to becoming closer to Jesus. It has been quite a ride! I am a better person and deeper thinker and a more committed follower of Jesus because of my job and my friendships with you guys. When I think of our church I know I am blessed.”

Following this moving announcement was a hangout time before everyone said goodbye for another week.

- DM

Elliott giving a message

Youth began on the 26th with the usual laughter filled hangout and foursquare time downstairs.

At seven the night moved upstairs to witness Courtney’s attempts at reading the announcements in Elliott’s handwriting (resulting in confusion and hilarity) before starting the worship songs.

Following Courtney’s last song and closing prayer Elliott started the message with a game of simon says to illustrate the next lesson in the “He Did What?” series.  The message was based in John chapter five around the healing of the paralyzed man on the sabbath and focused on the difference between rule-following and Christ-following.

After the message the group split as the Sr. Highs followed Justin and Glenda upstairs to discuss the message and the Jr. Highs followed Elliott and Janice downstairs for an intense game of pool noodle hockey.  As the leaders declared a winner and patched up the inevitable scrapes from such an awesome game the Sr. Highs rejoined the group for the next game: Target Practice.  Target Practice (a new game) involved hurtling marshmallows at the other teams targets in a hard fought battle to win canteen money.

When the marshmallows were picked up and the basement put back to normal the canteen was opened and foursquare was restarted until parents began arriving.

Snaz Uth was finished for another amazing night.

Justin laughs before serving during foursquare.

-DM