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Tis the season for Youth Camps!

January 31, 2012 By Leave a Comment

By Youth Pastor Bryce Cooley

Middle School Camp – January 27 – 29, the middle schoolers went to Camp Alta in Alta, CA for iFit Winter Camp 2012. Beau, Rhonda and the other youth staff were as excited as are the students. This is the first middle school only winter camp we have ever done at CNC and I am excited to see how God worked through the Camp Alta staff and our leaders to grow our middle school students. Thanks to Beau, Rhonda and youth staff, the majority of students had to pay nothing for camp due to funds raised at the garage sale. If you would like more info about the camp itself that info can be found here.

High School Camp – February 17 – 20 – Our high school students will begoing just passed South Lake Tahoe to Zephyr Point Christian conference grounds. This will be our second year joining up with two other CMA churches to give our high school students a more solid and challenging camp experience. I can’t wait to see what God has in store for our students as we challenge them to be anchored to God’s word and share His love with their friends.

This winter season is going to be a season of rich spiritual blessings for our students. I am so excited for this. The growth I hear about and see in our students is awe inspiring and I can’t wait to see where our students are in even 6 months: leading small groups, leading worship, sharing their faith, serving in their community. These are all things the deGraaf’s and I are trying to foster in our students. We desire that our students would have a heart for the Lord and that heart would spill out into the community through acts of service and Love in Christ’s name. Please pray for our students this month.

Upcoming events:
Valentines Themed Bake Sale – February 12
High School Wintercamp – February 17 – 20
Lazer Tag All Nighter – March 9

Filed Under: Youth Groups

Youth Ministry

November 30, 2011 By Leave a Comment

By Pastor Bryce Cooley

Youth Ministry around the church middle school and high school has been changing over the last year.

REACT 22 | Under the middle school leadership of the deGraafs and the Rovenstines as well as some awesome youth leadership, our middle school group has tripled in size. From an average of 3 students to anywhere from 9 to 12. This has been a blessing for the students as well as the leadership. Exciting things are happening on Wednesday nights from 7:00 – 8:30. Know a middle schooler? Invite him or her to join us so they can react to the message of Christ.

REVEL 22 | We have toned down the high school group in order to minister more deeply and foster more challenging and uplifting conversations. Our goal is to turn our ministry outward. A ministry that not only changes the hearts of our students but in turn effects the neighborhoods and communities in which they live. We are helping our students discover the burdens they have for helping others and equipping them to do something about it. This is an exciting time in our youth ministry. I can’t remember a time when I have been so focused and so utterly dependent on God for direction.

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Fundraising
Fundraising season is in full swing in our youth ministry. We are starting raise money for Wintercamp 2012! January 27 – 29 the Middle School will go to Camp Alta and February 17 – 21 the High School will go to Zephyr Point. This is going to be a time of huge blessing, challenging and fun for our students. We can’t wait!!

We have many exciting service oriented fundraisers coming up for our students.

December 3 – 10a.m. – 2p.m. | We want to help people who would like to have Christmas lights put up but do not have the ability.

December 10, 22 and, 23 | We will have the Youth Pay-it-Forward Carol-a-thon Want us to sing at your house? Know someone who needs a little holiday cheer??? Let us use the voices God has given us to share the hope of Christmas this year. Hire us to sing to your family, your friends or extended family. All we ask is that you make sure those we sing to are home on the night you sign them up for between 6 and 9 p.m.

January 7 | Have Christmas lights up and need help getting them down?? Let us do that for you as well between 10:00 a.m. – 2:00 p.m.

January 13 | Like Steak? like Shrimp? Perhaps potatoes and salad? We are having a shrimp and steak feed on January 13. $20 gets you a steak unlimited shrimp as well as a potato and salad. Sound to good to be true? Buy a ticket early to make sure there is room for you.

Are you interested in any of these fundraisers? Contact Bryce (bryce@cnchurch.org or 916-572-9795) or sign up in Rudat Hall on Sunday mornings. Tickets for the Steak and Shrimp dinner go on sale this week.
Filed Under: Youth Groups

Green Creations

October 26, 2011 By Leave a Comment

By Pastor Bryce Cooley

It’s been a few months since our team returned home from Jordan but reminders of our time there are peppered through mine and Bethany’s home. Whether it be the gifts we received from Ahmed and Asma, a brother and sister from our class, trinkets we purchased overseas, photos we took or jewelry from the Non-Profit Organization (NPO) Green Creations.

The majority of our time in Jordan was spent in Amman, the capital city. However, for a day and a half we visited some field workers in Aqaba, along the Red Sea. It was amazing to see the impact they were having on the community around them. Bethany and I became fast friends with a couple named Luke and Joselyn, field workers who began the NPO Green Creations. Their heart for the Muslim woman they ministered too was exciting to see as well as the creative way in which they were doing it.

Green Creations is an accesories store (wallets, watches, ear rings, necklaces, purses etc). But this is not your normal run of the mill product. All of their products are made by hand from recycled materials (sea glass, paper, plastic, aluminum). Each piece is made by a Muslim woman they employ. These woman work out of the Life Center in Aqaba and use the money they earn at this job to cover medical bills, education costs and food. This job has given them a voice in their family as well as a second family in the woman they work with.

As I walked into the Life Center I was directed to the second floor. Opening the door, I was welcomed by 12 smiling faces of woman meticulously crafting jewelry. The detailed work these woman do with such limited supplies is a site to see. Many of the woman do not speak English so I was introduced by Luke Glaze the field worker in charge. The woman all smiled and joked in Arabic as I walked around and videotaped, trying not to be my typical clumsy self. Later on Bethany came in and I was told by Luke that all the woman were captivated by her beauty. Bethany had a wonderful time walking around and seeing what each woman was doing.

Earlier I mentioned that we had jewelry from Green Creations that reminds us of our time in Jordan. We didn’t buy jewelry but we bought it home to sell in order to raise money for the ministry being done there. In November, I have been given an exciting opportunity to share about Green Creations at church and will have some of this jewelry for people to purchase to support the good work being done in Aqaba. I hope you can get behind this; it has been a blessing doing our part.

The Green Creations facebook page can be found here.

In Christ,
Bryce
Filed Under: CNC News, Youth Groups

Upcoming Youth Events

September 28, 2011 By Leave a Comment

September 30 – HS Sleepover Sabotage

October 7 – HS Youth Corn Maze

October 14 – MS Food Faceoff (6-9 p.m.)

November 18 – MS/HS Students Thanksgiving Meal for Parents

November 12 – MS Pre-Bakesale Baking Party

November 13 – MS/HS Thanksgiving Themed Bakesle

November 25 – HS Youth Help with Neighborhood Meals

Wintercamp

Middle School: January 27 – 29 (iFit, $100)

High School: February 17 – 20 (Anchored, cost TBA)

Summer Camp

Middle School: June 16 – 21 (iFit, $100)

High School: June 10-15

Check the youth website for more detailed information on these events!

Filed Under: Youth Groups

Lessons from Abby

August 25, 2011 By Leave a Comment

 By Youth Pastor Bryce Cooley

My wife Bethany and I have a new puppy. Her name is Abby short for Abacus. Abby is a Wirehaired Terrier Schnauzer mix. She is small but not annoying, full of energy but likes to snuggle and very loving. I try to take her on 2 or 3 short walks around our complex a day. She loves being outdoors and is constantly running to smell every bush. Unfortunately, she is running in place because Abby weighs 12 pounds and I weigh in at around 220, making it difficult for her to make any headway. Abby will often bolt away from me only to get yanked back when her leash is fully extended and the look at me as if to say “Why did you do that?” Other times in her frantic motion forward you will hear her panting and hacking as the leash compresses her tiny esophagus.

Many Christians live like Abby. Frantically running about trying to do everything we can, getting exhausted, over extended and sore. Like Abby, we try to test our limits, we will see how far we can push the boundaries before we feel the backlash. This works out through questions like: “How far can we go before it’s considered sex?” “How much can I drink before I’m drunk and it’s a sin?”

Now these questions in and of themselves are not wrong. The determining factor? Motive. Are you trying to figure out how far you can go so you can “have some fun” with a clear conscience or are you trying to set up healthy boundaries in your life? Boundaries good, pushing the limits dangerous. Any parents who has said to their children, “don’t touch, it’s hot,” only to watch their kids touch the stove knows what I am talking about. How much greater would it be if they simply listened and were obedient.

If Abby did that, she would pant less, receive treats and positive verbal affirmation. If a dog receives that from me, how much greater will our rewards be from the God who love us?

I’m not saying obey God to see what blessings you receive. I’m saying seek God’s presence in your life. Don’t dart out of it and come back limping. Stay with Him, abide in Him, let His Spirit transform you into the image of His Son. Stop pushing the limits, listen to His voice through His Word through proper teaching and prayer.

Life lived in the unique limits that God has set for you is a life filled with joy, not absent of pain, but bearable through hope and grace and the knowledge that He has a plan.

I would love to see Christians falling in love with their Masters voice. Walking at His side and doing His work rather than choking themselves into exhaustion. It doesn’t have to be this way.

Coming Youth Events

  • Churchwide Talent Show September 2, 6:30 – 9:00 p.m.
  • Youth Group High School Concert – September 15, 7 – 9:00 p.m.
  • Dixon Corn Maze – October 7, 5:30 – 10 p.m., $15
  • WinterJam 2011 @ Arco Arena – November 18, $15

For more information about these events go to www.CNCYouth.org.

Filed Under: CNC News, Youth Groups
May 26, 2011 By Leave a Comment

Filed Under: CNC News, Youth Groups
May 26, 2011 By Leave a Comment

Filed Under: CNC News, Youth Groups
May 26, 2011 By Leave a Comment

Filed Under: Children's Ministry, CNC News, Youth Groups

Summer is coming!

April 28, 2011 By Leave a Comment

By Pastor Bryce Cooley

Summer Camp is on it’s way and I can’t wait! With Summer Camp just around the corner, it is fundraiser season. I want to let you know about stuff that is coming up over the next few months that can allow you to partner with our students in sending them to camp. The camp dates are High School June 12 – 17 and Middle School June 18 – 23. Each student needs to raise $350 dollars to go to camp; here is how you can help!

Fireworks booth sign ups – We are starting sign ups for the fireworks booth. Sign ups will be out every Sunday between May 1 and June 19, or until full. Make some money for your kids camp! For every hour you work you make $10 towards the cost of your designated student’s camp. Money will be credited to your account for camp and you will work to pay off the balance after camp is complete.

Family Movie Night - Friday, May 13 (and every 2nd Friday through July) at 5:30 – 8:30

There’s donation based activities with meals, face painting and photobooth included. Movie: “How To Train Your Dragon.”

Car Wash – Saturday May 21, 9:00 a.m. – 2:00 p.m. in the CNC big parking lot

Family Movie Night - Friday, June 10 (and every 2nd Friday through July) at 5:30 – 8:30 There’s donation based activites with meals, face painting and photo booth included. Movie: :”Tangled.”

There are some exciting things happening in our youth ministry, specifically in the area of our middle school ministry (REACT 22). Beau and Rhonda deGraaf have been added to the ministry team and are taking care of many of the midweek responsibilities. It is so exciting to get them involved, but why don’t I let Beau tell you a little of what we have planned:

“In praying about working with the middle school, God gave us many ideas. We changed the format of Wednesdays to hopefully get to know the students better and provide a wider learning experience. Games will now include a rewards system where students can earn points through memorizing verses, bringing friends, or serving each other. The normal lecture time is now small groups. The material we are using is “Teaching The Word Of Truth” by Donald Grey Barnhouse which teaches the essentials of the Bible such as salvation, faith, good works, eternal life. We plan to use the last half hour of Wednesday nights for teaching the students life skills they can use to serve. Fun events specifically for the middle school are planned as well as service opportunities. Since the changes have begun to take place, we have had positive feedback from the students. Please be praying for wisdom for the staff of the middle school, for growth for those students already a part of the group, and for those in middle school that we have been unable to reach thus far.”

This is going to be a great summer! Want to see the camp promo video? Check it out here.

 

Filed Under: Youth Groups

Help a HIgh School Student attend Wintercamp

January 25, 2011 By Leave a Comment

By Pastor Bryce Cooley

At this time fundraising for Wintercamp 2011 is in full effect. There are a few ways you can support our students and help them raise the money they need for camp.

  1. Silent Auction(January 30) – Many of you have already talked to me about adding things to our Silent Auction on Sunday, January 30, feel free to call me @ 916-572-9795 and I can give you more details. This is an auction of services as well art, trinckets & food.
  2. Family Movie Night – We are going to host a family movie night at CNC on Friday February 11 from 5:30 to 8. Bring your family out and watch a movie that is fun for the all ages. More info will be in the bulletins soon.
  3. Now that I am back we will continue selling cookie dough on Sunday mornings. Buy a tub of cookie dough and get a coupon good for another tub as well as discounts at many local vendors, all for only $20. That is two tubs of cookie dough and restaurant discounts for only $20.
  4. Sponsor a teen – Our students need help to get to camp. If you desire to help our students, contact me at the number above and I can tell you who needs help!
Filed Under: CNC News, Youth Groups Tagged With: ,
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