This Sunday, members of our Junior Forum and Forum youth groups will help lead worship! Guided by our lectionary readings from Psalm 16 and John 20:19-23 and using liturgy from the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.)’s UWorship Resource, we will consider how the Spirit of God calls us into leadership and discipleship. Music, prayers, Scripture, contemplation, and fellowship, all in the service of God. We hope you can join us in the Sanctuary or online.

Download the Bulletin Here: _OOW Youth Sunday 04-12-26.docx

• Nursery (Infants – Age 3) The nursery is open! We have a wonderful group of high school students who are excited to take care of babies and toddlers during the service.

• Stepping Stones (PreK – 5th grade) Children will begin on the lawn this Sunday for Stepping Stones and then join families in the sanctuary to celebrate World Communion.

• Junior Forum (6th grade – 8th grade) Junior Forum is back on Sunday mornings at 10:00 AM. The youth will head down to the Forum Room with Maggie for games, food and discussion. Friends are always welcome.

• Forum (9th grade -12th grade) Forum is back on Sundays at 7:30 PM in the Forum Room. Join Rev. Will for snacks, games and a break from your busy week. Friends are always welcome.

This week we will be reading the story of how God chose David to be King of Israel. This is a wonderful lesson that reminds us that “The Lord does not look at the things people look at. People look at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart.” 1 Samuel 16:7  We will be doing a science experiment, playing games and getting crafty.  Come join the fun!

JUNIOR FORUM  

Junior Forum and Forum had a great discussion last Sunday with artist and activist Willie Baronet about his Ripley Chapel art installation “We are All Homeless” and the concept of home.  If you haven’t had a chance to explore the exhibit, it is open to the public Mondays-Fridays, 9:00 AM–3:00 PM through November 19th. Entry is found on the Vine Street side of the church.  

Junior Forum’s next opportunity for community service is coming up on Saturday, 11/20 when we will be teaming up with the Family Action Network for their Thanksgiving Basket Drive.  Watch your email for more details.

FORUM  

Forum and Junior Forum had a great discussion last Sunday with artist and activist Willie Baronet about his Ripley Chapel art installation “We are All Homeless” and the concept of home.  If you haven’t had a chance to explore the exhibit, it is open to the public Mondays-Fridays, 9:00 AM–3:00 PM through November 19th. Entry is found on the Vine Street side of the church.

This Sunday Forum will be taking to the trees with an excursion to Tree Top Adventures in Canton, leaving the church at 11:15 AM and returning around 3:15 PM.  If you are still interested in going, it’s not too late. Please complete the RSVP and we’ll let you know if there is still space available.  No evening Forum for 11/14.

Forum will also have an opportunity for community service on Saturday, 11/20 when we will be teaming up with the Family Action Network for their Thanksgiving Basket Drive.  Watch your email for more details.

Dear all,

We’re well into the swing of things of 2021! It’s hard to believe that January is almost over, but here we are, through the darkest nights of winter and full steam ahead towards Spring! The following are our offerings this week in Church youth groups:

• Forum will be meeting at the usual place and time (7:30-9:00 pm in the Reno Garden parking lot. Dress warm!). We’ll be discussing the allocation of funds from the Janice Wilson Youth Directed Fund, and we want you all to come ready to talk about where that money should go in the community! If you’re interested in advocating for the money going towards a particular organization, please come prepared to give us an overview of the organization, how the money would be used, and why we as a Church should support this cause! If you need a starting point, we’ve prepared a short list of organizations to check out as possible recipients, but don’t feel limited to these options:

Refugee Immigration Ministry (RIM)

Woburn Council for Social Concern

Outdoor Church

Lowell Transitional Living Center (LTLC)

UTEC  

The Children’s Room

Year Up

Mass Coalition for the Homeless

Mission of Deeds

Youth Villages

Haley House

More details, and reminders, to follow via text. We count on seeing you all there!

In addition to our regular offerings, we are happy to announce that I (Jake) will be starting up weekly meetings with our different youth groups, beginning next week (1/25)!

• Forum members are invited to join me at 8:00 until 8:30 am every Monday morning for half an hour to talk about anything that’s on their mind. Come drink tea, coffee, or whatever gets you up and going in the morning and chat with friends before school starts! The link to that meeting is https://us02web.zoom.us/j/84282731911?pwd=NDFvTm15czB1L2RNYjlLbHJQQXR1Zz09.
• Middle school youth group members are invited to join me every Wednesday from 6:00 – 7:00 pm for game night! We’ll be playing games like Minecraft, Among Us, and Fall Guys, and welcome any suggestions for other games we might bring in! Please join our official Discord server at https://discord.gg/SSTEENtV4h. Hope to see you there!
• Stepping Stones are invited to join me from 3:30-4:00 pm for a weekly themed science experiment! We’ll be tying themes from the Bible to each experiment, so come to learn a little and have some fun! The link to that meeting is https://us02web.zoom.u/j/86471652610?pwd=eXI4ZXdKNVNKZnUzbkpRUnBVR0FvQT09.

As always, we thank you all for your continued support through all of this. The children and youth of the Church are so lucky to have such a passionate and caring congregation to call their spiritual home.

Best,

Jake

This week, the children will be learning all about John the Baptist (and how he ate locusts!) They will also learn all about the baptism of Jesus and what it means to become a child of God. I encourage you to read the story together as a family (and if you need a bible in a different translation, let me know). The story comes from Luke 3:1-18.

Here is a great activity for you to do as a family: Take turns rolling a die. If the number rolled is even, list that many things you love about your family. If it is odd, list that many things that you would like to change for the better in your family. Help each other out—no winners and losers!

Take a moment this week (perhaps a couple of times) and say this prayer together as a family: We give you thanks, God, for your servant John the Baptist. Help us to hear his message to change the things in our lives that need changing so we can be as prepared as possible for Jesus. AMEN.

Middle School

This week’s lesson is entitled “Jesus Unleashes the Potential of the Least” and it comes from Mark 1:16-20 and Luke 9:1-11. In this lesson, students will discover how to see God’s potential in ordinary circumstances, relationships, and even themselves. They will study Jesus’ calling and sending out of ordinary fishermen as well as a modern-day example of someone who saw potential in the world’s poorest children. Students will practice the art of seeing potential and be challenged to embrace and encourage it in others. So often we forget that each one of us is given gifts and talents from God that we are unaware are gifts. I encourage you to ask your middle school student “What things do you feel you are good at, or enjoy doing?” This will help them to think about how they can use what they are talented with to help others.

We are still looking for a few adults who love Middle School Students to join our teaching team. If you have any interest or know someone who might, please let one of the current teachers know or email ben.pulaski@gmail.com.

Just as an FYI, we will not have class on January 26th.

Forum

This week’s lesson comes from Matthew 15:21-28 and it helps students recognize themselves in the story of the Canaanite woman and her persistent faith. Despite being one of the least in New Testament society by Jewish standards (a Canaanite woman), Jesus responded to her petitions of faith. Whether we feel like we measure up to today’s cultural standards or not, Jesus always welcomes us into his saving love when we reach out in faith. Be sure to ask your High School Student: What makes them feel like they belong in your family? With friends? At youth group? At school?

Confirmation Class

We are over halfway done with a year long process of confirmation. Please continue to pray for those youth discerning the decision to join the church. Here is a list of the students in the class: Sarah Campbell, Mabel Carpini, Emma Scipione, Jamie Balfanz, Jackson Tresselt, Alex Sansom, Shannon Miranda, Ben Wilson, Henry Wilhoite, Trevor Mahoney, Steven Rozmanith, Whitney Bohne, David Dodge, and Lulu Girotti.

Midterm Breakfast-Middle School and High School

Wednesday, January 22nd Starting at 7 am in Chidley Hall

The week of January 21st, the high school students will be taking their midterms. As a way to make sure that they are well fueled, the youth leaders will be making and serving them breakfast on January 22nd starting at 7 am. Any high school or middle school student is welcome to join us. Come by for 10 mins or the whole time. We will also have quiet space available for anyone who wants to cram, I mean study, a little more at the last minute.

Ski Trip

January 24th-26th, there are 22 students and 5 adults heading up to Waterville Valley for a weekend of

community building, skiing, ice skating, swimming, firework watching, snack chomping, staying up late, and learning what it means to be the light of the world. Please keep them all in your prayers.