Weekly Update// Pastor Will
Hello, friends,
This weekend marks one of my favorite annual events - our Youth Beach Retreat. As the name suggests, it's a weekend getaway at the beach! We'll kick things off on Friday evening, heading to the lovely El Caribe Resort in Daytona Beach. Before checking in, we'll make a pit stop at Chick-fil-A for dinner to fuel up. The evening will be a chance for us to connect, go over some guidelines, and share a message before calling it a night.
Saturday kicks off early with breakfast and another message, followed by a day of sun and fun at the beach. We'll break for lunch and then dive back into the action. Around 4 p.m., we'll head back to the room, freshen up, and prepare for dinner. Personally, I usually try to squeeze in a much-needed nap. Then it's off to dinner, followed by ice cream. 🙂 The night will conclude with another group session and a presentation of the Gospel. While we're here for fun, we never lose sight of the true reason we come together - Jesus!
Throughout my years in youth ministry, one constant has been the ever-changing nature of youth culture. Trends come and go, from social media platforms to music groups, but the longing for community remains unwavering. It may take different forms, but it's always there. Much like our Community Groups, my hope for our youth is to build meaningful relationships with each other and with our leaders. Not all of these connections will endure, but I believe some will become strong and reliable. When life throws its inevitable storms our way, and as Jesus reminds us, they will come, our youth will have loving and trustworthy individuals, be they friends or leaders, to turn to if needed. This retreat is an opportunity to nurture these relationships, and I'm grateful for the love, support, and trust you, as a church, place in me to do so.
As I mentioned in last week's letter, there's a lot happening within our church family. Next weekend, on Sunday, October 1st, we'll transform our campus for the Rummage Sale, and that's when we'll begin accepting drop-offs. Later in the month, on October 27th, our Children's Ministry will host the Fall Festival, featuring bounce houses, a hayride, trunk-or-treat, delicious food, a DJ, and much more! We'll provide further details as the date approaches.
In this Sunday's worship service, we'll continue our series on the parables of Jesus. This week, we'll delve into two different parables - the Parable of the Lost Sheep and the Parable of the Lost Coin (though I believe Pastor Chris is going to quibble with those titles as part of the message). If you're able to join us for worship in person or online, we look forward to seeing you then!
Until then, take care and God bless!
Warm regards,
Pastor Will