YOUTH MINISTRY

Summer Fun at the Playground

Hey WWW Families!  Do you want to stay connected with other church families throughout the summer?  Do your children want to play with their church friends?  How about if we get together on Tuesdays at 6:30 p.m. at a playground for a bit each week?  This will be an informal gathering.  Come when you can.  We aren’t planning food or a formal program.  This is a time for the kids to blow off some steam and for the adults to say “hi” to each other.  We expect lots of people to attend some weeks and on other weeks, there might not be many.  Watch the weather.  If you feel like the weather isn’t good for the playground, it is ok not to attend, but official announcements about cancelling the event due to the weather might not occur.  We want this to be a low stress, fun activity.      

We will start on Tuesday, June 17, 2014, at 6:30 p.m., at the playground at the Washburn Elementary School. 

This isn’t just for WWW families….any families can attend.  Invite your friends!

Seven Celebrate First Communion!

Celebrating First Communion on October 6th were:
Sophie Filipczak, Joseph Leino, Brian Maki, Mitchell Martinez, Beverly Martinez, Peder Overby and Bradley Pederson.

Pictured L to R:  Mitchell Martinez, Bradley Peterson, Brian Maki, Beverly Martinez (with Novia, the cat - who did not take communion), Sophie Filipzcak, Peder Overby and Joseph Leino.

News from our Confirmation Class

Emily Belanger, Anakin Lampson, Emma Leino, Liv Overby and Phillip Thompson are having their first unit of Confirmation taught by Wendie Libert. They are working together to determine a need in our community,
and planning a way to help meet that need. This is a Service Learning Project. Keep these young people in your prayers! Also, these five young people are singing in Messiah's Choir! Director Tom Yost is thankful  to have the new voices and all of us are thrilled that these young people are sharing their gifts with us.  Yeah!

Vacation Bible School Report

Seven kids affiliated with Messiah went to Vacation Bible School hosted by Bethesda Lutheran church in Bayfield. The theme was "Faith Alive". Camp staff from Luther Park in Chetek, Wisconsin arrived in Bayfield on Sunday, July 7th—just in time to meet the volunteers and families for a potluck supper.
Then, every afternoon that week, the kids sang infectiously sin-gable camp songs
led by hip and cool young counselors, played new games—some even INSIDE the
sanctuary (Church Pew Battleship was a big "hit"!), made crafts, ate snacks, and learned about God, faith, and the bible. One of the kids on the way home after the last day said, "Can we do that again?" A great time was had by all…as they were led by the Holy Spirit!

Bible Camp Report

Two middle-schoolers from Messiah, Kachina Houle and Liv Overby, went to Luther Park in Chetek, Wisconsin during "Nocturnal
Week"—June 23-28. Nocturnal week was for kids who like staying up late and sleeping in. As the week progressed, campers stayed up later each night. The last night they went to bed at five am and got up at 2pm—just in time for breakfast! Those crazy kids! :-) Liv and Kachina had a great time around the campfire each night singing songs, talking the night away, making new friends and growing their faith. Both Liv and Kachina were excited and thankful to be able to experience a week of fun and fellowship.

If you’re thinking about going to camp next summer, check out Luther Park at www.lutherpark.org or outdoor ministries of the ELCA on the ELCA website. 

Youth Summer Mission Trip June 23 - 28th!

On Sunday, June 23rd, thirteen youth and three adults started their journey to "Come to the Table" South Min-neapolis Day Camp. Pastor Dan Zei, Karla Raade and Pastor Nancy drove to the cities along with seven Grand View youth, plus Lauren Belanger, Marynn Brehm, and Amy Yule from Messiah. First Lutheran, Port Wing sent Charlotte and Libby Stemwedel and Sam Jackson. This year the group slept on the floor of Spring House Minis-try Center which is where day camp was held. Our teens shepherded the day-campers, getting them where they needed to be throughout the day. During the evenings we went to a water slide, saw Jesus Christ Superstar, saw the move "42" about Jackie Robinson, and explored the twin cities. Many thanks to all who donated offerings to ecumenical youth during last year’s Lenten sea-son. Many thanks also to Ardys Davis who let us use her van.