Happy Thanksgiving! I am thankful for.....

Welcome Chris! Third week in a row that we have seen new faces. AWESOME!

We opened the last meeting discussing things that we are most thankful for. The same response was heard over and over. They were thankful for their family, friends, relationships and gaming systems. Even the youth group made the list!

I am thankful for our traditions. I am thankful that Luz, Andrew and Judy have unconditionally offered to help out with the youth group. I am thankful that I have a home to keep me warm and a car to get me places. I am thankful for the teens in the youth group they actually give us purpose. The way they are excited to try new things, have discussions about school and actually want to stand up for what is right. I can not ask for a better group of kids.

I am thankful for my memories. Especially ones that are from my days in the youth group. I look back on those experiences and try to form the same group. I am thankful for the support that we are getting from the parents and the church. I am thankful for the donations that we have received.

November 30 is the start of the advent season. A time that we need to spend preparing for the coming of Christ. Instead we are witnesses of a season that causes everyone to go insane with wish lists. This season may be especially harder on people because of the financial times. This time should not be about the gifts and when can we go shopping. Our main focus should be to get ready for Christ.

I love to give and love to make people happy. This season make it very easy. But the most important that we can do is to make sure that we are following God's will. Showing people that we appreciate them and they have a greater purpose. Consentrating on the birth of Christ, the Savior of the world. Refocus on Jesus's greatest commandment to love one another.

We will not be meeting on Wednesday Nov. 26. Instead you and your family will have the chance to attend mass.

Please use this time to make a difference. Donate to the food pantry, help a family in need or take a envelope from the Jesse tree. During this time keep others in your prayers.

Youth Group has fun and gets exercise!

Welcome Jessica!

Once again the youth group had fun during the regular meeting. We talked, play Never Have I Ever, and played Grog and even the adult leaders were running around. Thanks to Jacob for bring the pizza! The pizza hit the spot.

The next meeting we need everyone to bring something to snack on. If it is a frozen pizza or anything to be kept in the fridge please write on it YOUTH GROUP. For everything else I am getting a container and going to write youth group on it. We will also be accepting donations of containers Kool-aid. It is much cheaper than pop. This way we can also make just enough for the everyone that makes it to the meetings.

Bring canned goods for the food pantry.

The Wednesday before Thanksgiving we will not have a meeting. It is too crazy before the holiday.

Also the parish council and Father are working on creating space for the youth group. Their suggestion is to put a wall toward the back of the hall and make that our space. We can't wait!

What do you mean I went over my minutes?

Cell phones seem to be the root of most of the problems with today's society. People forget that there is a certain manners that comes along with cell phones. The cell phone companies have made the phones much smaller and made us think that they are much more affordable. Cell phones are used to save contacts with their important numbers. If anything happend to our cell phones would we be able to call for help? Do we know the number?

What is the good part of having a cell phone. It has made our children more accessible. We can call them find out if they are OK and where they are at. For a parent, this is a blessing. The phones have also been used to contact parents for rides or to ask permission to go somewhere. A parents dream right? Until they get the first cell phone bill with the extra charges because they went over the texting limits or have talked too long and surpassed the minutes allowed. During a youth group meeting we found out that combined as a group they have spent over $4000 in extra fees. $4000 are you kidding me!!!!!

In an effort to help the teens understand the effects they are having on a household we tried to explain what they could have done instead. Like $4000 would take a family of four to Disney world for 8 days, buy a nicer used car, or purchase a whole new wardrobe. But $4000 in today's world with the bad economy, we also explained that $4000 could mean a family would lose their home, lose their car, give up vacations and maybe even have to give up cable! We then challenged the teens to figure out what they services would they cut in order to save money.

In addition, people use the phones to talk to people while driving, eating at restaurants, and banking. Our church has even witnessed cell phones going off during Sunday Mass. People are even walking into shops and restaurants with the phone attached to their ear. It almost looks like they are talking to themselves. Why do they do it? Will you get a better table, bigger discount or better service because you look important?

I must admit that I even have fallen into the era of taking care of business with the cell phone. I have even told people that I am so busy that the only way to reach me is by my cell phone. When the phone rings in the car I begin searching for my purse to answer the call and realize that I am putting others in danger by taking my eyes off the road while driving. Besides nothing is that important that it can not wait five more minutes.

While growing up and attending college I learned that communication is the key to success. Success in friendship, relationships, in business and even with our neighbors. Even in church we learn that we need to talk to God through prayer. We also need to listen to HIM too. So starting in December we are going to work on communication. Youth group meetings are a time that we need to come together, get to know each other and realize that together with great communication we can do anything and solve any problem.

What would happen if tommorrow we did not have cell phones, cable, computers, internet and debit cards? Could we survive?

See you on Wednesday, 6:30pm.

Watch out for the Grog!!!!

Welcome to Allison and Alyssa.

The first Wednesday of every month we attend mass in the chapel. This gives us an opportunity to stay focused in our initial purpose of the group. It also reminds us that we are God's children and we all have a purpose for being here.

After the mass we went back to the church hall and had snacks and played Grog. Grog is a team building experience that had each team member focuses on helping each other and also having to accomplish a team goal. The team goal was to put back together the flashlight and get the Grog. The only problem was that the parts were hidden and stored in separate places around the building. The team had to find the parts and then connect with the other team member to put the flashlight back together. All without being tagged by the Grog. Big round of applause for Judy and Luz. They ran around and kept up with the teenagers. I must say I was very impressed. It was fun to watch everyone work together and yet stay away from the grog.

On Wednesday, November 12 we are going to work on more fun team building games. So come prepared. Wear your gym shoes!! Also bring in canned goods for the food pantry.

See you on Wednesday at 6:30pm.