Gathering Info for BYG

JULY 18-22, 2012

BETHEL YOUTH GROUP



REGISTRATION COST: $150 DUE: in mid-November

ADDITIONAL REGISTRATION: $165 DUE: July

HOUSING: $180 est. based on $45/person/night x 4 nights

MEALS: $125 est. based on $25/day x 5 days

¬¬¬¬¬¬¬¬¬¬¬¬¬¬¬¬¬¬¬¬¬¬¬¬¬¬¬¬ ________________________________________

TOTAL BEFORE TRAVEL COSTS: $620



VAN RENTAL: $655 rental

dep. STL: 4:00 a.m. 7/18 $300 gas

arr. NOLA: 3-4:00 p.m. 7/18 $100 parking

dep. NOLA: 2:00 p.m. 7/22 ____________________________________

arr. STL: 1-2:00 a.m. 7/23? $1055 total van cost

1500 miles roundtrip



PROS: CONS:

Cost Leader fatigue, may require a motel night on the

way home

Freedom/control St. Louis departure time

Group bonding Comfort

Excessive group bonding

Space (and perhaps restriction on # attending)



AMTRAK: $220/person, based on half our tickets at adult cost (16 and over) and

half at child cost (15 and under)

dep. Centralia, Illinois: 12:25 a.m. 7/18

arr. NOLA: 3:32 p.m. 7/18

dep. NOLA: 1:45 p.m. 7/22 (missing the Sunday closing worship)

arr. Centralia, Illinois: 4:10 a.m. 7/23

OR:

Dep. NOLA: 1:45 p.m. 7/23 (requiring another hotel night and day’s costs, est. $70)

Arr. Centralia, Illinois: 4:10 a.m. 7/24



PROS: CONS:

Safety Missing closing worship or staying another night

Comfort (compared to Overnight travel

van or bus) Pick-up and drop-off in Centralia, about 1 ½ hours away

Group experience Cost (compared to van or bus)



BY AIR: $404/person, based on Orbitz estimates as of Oct. 8

Dep. STL: 6:00 a.m. 7/18 dep. NOLA: 6:45 p.m. 7/22

Layover in Atlanta, 3 ½ hours layover in Atlanta, 40 minutes

Arr. NOLA: 12:59 p.m. 7/18 arr. ATL: 10:47 p.m. 7/22



PROS: CONS:

Comfort Cost

Safety



BUS: $? (probably comparable to van cost)



PROS: CONS:

Less work for us Safety

Cost Comfort

Social networking with area youth Loss of control



PARTNERSHIP WITH UNITY/BEL-NOR:

They are attending the MYLE (Multicultural Youth Leadership Event) for the two days before the Gathering and taking a van. They have a total of 4 students attending, and we hope to share rooms to save money, as well as share fundraising, if we can work it out.



FUNDRAISING:

EASTER BREAKFAST PARTNER EVENTS WITH UNITY/BEL-NOR:

BETHEL FOLLIES Cajun Dinner at Unity?

Coordinator needed Something at Bethel?

OTHER IDEAS?



FIRST PRE-GATHERING AREA EVENT:

Sunday, Oct. 16, 6-8 p.m., $5/person

Trivia Night at Holy Cross, Creve Coeur

Let me know today if you are going, please.



ADULT LEADERS: Deb Bohlmann and Michael Kunz, with Claire Flesch (we hope)

QUESTIONS? Deborah.bohlmann@gmail.com or 314-583-3323 or check the Bethel Youth

Facebook page

Gathering 2012

Gathering link

Senior Breakfast, May 8, 2011, place TBD

We will gather to celebrate Karl Webster and Genevieve Schmoeker and Carson Pryor...hope you all can make it.

BYG May

It's that most stressful time of year for students everywhere. Take some time with Bethel Youth Group to share highs and lows, to laugh and pray together, to experience God's eternal love and peace among friends.

We are planning a birthday party event for the Bethel Sunday School children during the education hour, May 23. We need to create invitations, make a plan for what type of fund- or awareness-raising we want to do, and figure out party activities and refreshments.

Here is the info from the website for Free the Children:

http://www.freethechildren.com/getinvolved/youth/campaigns/campaigns.php?type=celebrate

Our senior breakfast for Robert Edwards is May 16 at Einstein Bagels on Clayton Road, 9:30. Meet me at church at 9:15 if you need a ride.

Love and peace,

Deb

May Operation Communication

A message from our friend at Enteam, Ted Wohlfarth:

The Operation Communication workshop on May 16 starts at 1:30pm at the Islamic Community Center at 4666 Lansdowne Avenue, Saint Louis, MO 63116

High school students are invited to come. The workshop will be about 1.5 hours.

www.enteam.org

Dear BYG and friends:

Wow! It's been a long time since I posted anything on our blog!

This weekend we have another Operation Communication opportunity. www.enteam.org

Sunday, Feb. 21, at Al Salam Day School on Weidman Road in Ballwin from 2:30-4:00. Pastor Yancey has become a fan of our cross-faith project, and he will attend and give you a ride, if you need it. Meet him at Bethel before 2:00.

We made Valentines last week during youth group. If you missed it, I will mail it out next week. Feel the philos/agape/love, baby!

Peace,

Deb

Halloween for Hunger links

Free the Children website with Halloween for Hunger instructions:
http://we.freethechildren.com/get-involved?campaign=halloween-for-hunger

Operation Food Search website with food drive instructions:
www.ofsearch.org/how_help/food_drive.html?
PHPSESSID=ee46fe54d07f56e22862896c750aec4d

Words of Faith, Peace through Games

Dear BYG:
This morning we heard Pastor Yancey tell his story of ministry and faith. He said his central understanding of God in Christ is that he came to bring us life.
This afternoon, Amy, Carson, Miriam and her German exchange student Franzi joined with 14 other youth from Jewish and Christian Science faiths to play games and explore the possibilities for building peace in our world. Thanks to Bill Pryor and Sherman Lee for volunteering to drive.

NEXT WEEK: We will be distributing pamphlets around the neighborhood to notify them we will be picking up food during Halloween for Hunger (4-6 p.m. on Saturday, October 31.) We also need help at church during the blood drive, assisting our blood-givers with snacks and TLC. Anyone who is over 16 can donate blood, with parent permission.
We are missing Pastor Rebecca's story of ministry and faith during education hour, but we will invite her to share with our youth group one day instead.

From today's Gospel lesson in Mark 10:
Jesus said, "Whoever wishes to become great among you must be your servant, and whoever wishes to be first among you must be slave of all. For the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.”

All about life this week,
Deb

God's Words of Peace

Today we ate hamburgers (thanks for grilling, Michael!) and chips and grapes, and agreed that beginning next month we will return to our 9:30-10:30 meeting time.
Amy, Miriam, Robert, Sherman and Deb discussed plans for future BYG Sundays and First Sundays.
We read Bible verses about peace, and prayed for peace in our lives, peace in the lives of others we know, and peace in the world.
May you experience peace in your life this week as only Christ can bring.
-Deb

October Events:
Sun, Oct. 4: First Sunday
Movie Day...more info to come

Sun, Oct. 11:
9:30 in Bethel library
Peace Building Begins in Our Hearts
October service event: Halloween for Hunger/Free the Children


Sun, Oct 18:
9:30 in undercroft with Adult Forum
Pastor Bill tells his faith story.

IMPORTANT EVENT:
Operation Cooperation with ENTeam
http://www.enteam.org/html/programs/faithbased-programs.html
2:00 at Principia High School
13201 Clayton Road
We will meet with high school students who are Jewish, Muslim, and Christian Scientist to play games and build a more peaceful world. Brenda Light, Maya's mom, is one of the facilitators. This is the first of four meetings this school year.

Sun, Oct. 25:
9:30 in the undercroft with Bethel's adult forum
Pastor Rebecca tells her faith story.

BYG Week 2: Making Peace

We gathered for pizza and prayers of whirled peace.
www.pinwheelsforpeace.com will take you to the website with the pattern and directions for making pinwheels that we decorated and wrote on with our prayers for peace in the world.
We talked about St. Francis of Assissi's message of peace in relationship and action that we experience in Christ. http://www.prayerguide.org.uk/stfrancis.htm
We also discussed the invitation to join with believers around the world to pray together for peace at noon on Monday...but if you missed it, your prayers still count! Check out the website:
http://www.odysseynetworks.org/Causes/Peace/tabid/178/Default.aspx

Next week: Bethel would like to hire some of you as workers in the nursery during the 11:00 service. If you are interested, there will be interviews at 10:00 in the nursery space downstairs. You would be working two at a time, making $20 each for about 90 minutes on duty. I know we have lots of experienced babysitters in BYG, so I hope you will be willing to offer your gifts to the congregation in this way (and get paid for it, too!)

Many blessings this week! I would appreciate it if you would subscribe to this blog to get weekly updates on BYG.

Upcoming decisions: what to do with our meeting time. Those of us who were there this week are leaning towards returning to the 9:30 a.m. Sunday time. We also need to plan for our First Sunday Fun and choose a mission emphasis for October.

May the peace of Christ rule in our hearts and in our world.
Love,
Deb

Time to Get Going: Be the Change

It is time to resume our school-year schedule for BYG (Bethel Youth Group) and our mission of letting Jesus shine in our lives and our world.
We are trying a new schedule for the month of September:
Sundays from 12:30-2:00 in the undercroft.
We will start with a light lunch and roll from there. This week includes viewing highlights from the Gathering and discussion of goals and hopes for the year. Next week we will do a more detailed survey and schedule for the year.
Peace be with you! I hope we will see you in BYG!
Deb

Bringing Back the Gathering (Sunday 8/30)...

The official date for the youth group to bring back the Gathering to Bethel will be Sunday 8/30.   There will be two parts to that event:

1. 9:30 -- Worship service (the only service that day) -- highlights include sermon/message to be delivered by the youth group, and jazz-themed music for the service
2. 10:45 -- Hospitality Hour with a multimedia presentation by the youth group -- highlights include photo slideshow, videos, music and dancing from the Gathering

Here's an outline of what needs to be done, who's doing it:

1. Organizing the Sermon/Message -- Miriam will be contacting everyone to gather their reflections.  The goal is for the youth to share their reflections and tie them together for the sermon/message.  (We should try to representative of the entire Gathering experience, and include snippets from the bus journey, the Civil Rights Museum, our Servant Event (chopping down trees), listening to the speakers, hotel life, Closing Worship, etc.
2. Scripture Readings for the Worship Service -- To make the service as cohesive as possible, let's use the main texts from the Gathering itself.  [Miriam or Sherman to get this to Pastor Bill]
3. Music for the Worship Service -- The Bethel Band will provide music for the worship service.  The plan is to use hymns from the current hymnal (in Center Celebration style).  In addition to that we'll use jazz charts used at the "Jazz" event at Unity Bel Nor (from June), generously supplied by UM-St. Louis Chancellor Thomas George (who played piano that day).  Musicians from the youth group will join in.  We'll also try to select a couple of songs played at the Gathering's mass events.  [Sherman will coordinate this]
4. Hospitality Food and Beverage - This will be hosted in the Fellowship Hall, to coincide with the multimedia presentation. [This task needs volunteers]
5. Multimedia Presentation Content -- Organizing photos and video into a slideshow, along with other musical selections (dancing optional) from the Gathering's mass events.  [Amy will coordinate this]
6. A/V technical support -- Supply and install the projector (Albert Webster's), set up the playback device (Lilly Webster's laptop).  [Albert and Lilly Webster]
7. Anything else? -- Please chime in (by commenting to this post or emailing Sherman) if this outline missed anything we need to plan/coordinate.

Follow Bethel Youth at the Gathering...

Many thanks to all who have supported the youth throughout the year in the Sunday morning sessions, monthly fellowship meetings, fundraisers and of course, at worship.

At long last, the Gathering trip is about to begin.  And in the spirit of relationship and connectedness, please check out a new sibling youth group blog to follow our Gathering trip:

http://byg-jjj2009.blogspot.com/

In case you need help unpacking that?  It stands for Bethel Youth Group - Jesus Justice Jazz 2009.

Now off for a quick nap before heading to our bus stop (Hope Lutheran - St. Charles)!

What's Still Incomplete?

We're almost ready, but here's a list of what still needs to be completed:

General:

• Everyone -- Read the updates carefully from after the last group meeting.  Click here
• Everyone -- Read the FAQ (Frequently Asked Questions) entry.  Click here

Contact Info:

• Need cell phone numbers for Daniel, Haley, Karl
• Need emergency contacts and numbers for Genevieve, Rebecca and Todd

Forms:

• Need photocopy of insurance form for David Owen
• Need signature from Carson and Haley's mom on one form.  (It's on all the other forms -- just a clerical glitch.)
• Need all forms for Genevieve, Amy, Sherman, Rebecca and Todd.  (*** I'll work on mine as soon as I finish updating the blog! ***)

For the bus:

• DVDs
• Icebreaker activities

Generic stuff to do:

• Wash the t-shirts from Central States Synod, and the STL congregations ("STL NOLA") -- Amy/Sherman to do this
• Mark the Jesus, Justice, Jazz water bottles with Bethel Youth Group labels -- Amy/Sherman to do this.  (Yes, this means you don't need to buy water bottles)
• Make lunches for the outbound bus trip -- Stierholz/Websters to do this
• Buy breakfast/snack supplies -- Pastor Rebecca/Pastor Todd to do this
• Transportation to/from Hope Lutheran Church in St. Charles -- everyone to insure their own transportation or coordinate car pools

Post Lock-In Update (7/7 Meeting)

At 7/7, I learned about "Spoons" and "Sardines", one of which I watched, the other I only heard about.  Sounds like the Lock-in was a blast, and many thanks to Rebecca and Todd for hosting it.

We got lots done at the parents' meeting and we're almost totally ready for getting on the Gathering bus.

But we're not completely ready... so here are a few points, and they're all important:

• We finally know more about our Service Project.  I wish we had one more meeting before the Gathering to discuss, but since we don't, please carefully read our our "Service Project" blog entry.  Please note that we go into New Orleans as partners (with locals) in rebuilding the city, and be prepared to receive God's Spirit as much as we are bringing material supplies and labor.  Click here.
• What are we supposed to bring?  I've cobbled together a Pack List, based on suggestions from the Gathering site, plus what we know our group has discussed.  If I've missed anything, please comment to that blog entry... I'll update the list.  Click here.
• We had many good questions from both parents and youth on 7/7 (and at earlier meetings).  I've captured them in a  FAQ (Frequently Asked Questions) entry.  Again, if anything is missing, please comment and I'll to the list.  Click here.
• As much as I've collected everything in blog format for easy reading, I'm also trying to jam everything into an Excel workbook version so it's easier to read/print offline for Ready Reference.  It's the least up-to-date of everything so count on me posting several versions of the document.  Please check for accuracy, especially of contact information (like phone numbers).  Click here.

Pack List

Here's a suggested pack list -- this list started from the Gathering website, click here -- customize where you see fit.

General Stuff to Bring:

• Bible (You'll be receiving a special Gathering Bible when you arrive in New Orleans.)
  
• Journal and pen
  
• Money for meals (about $100 for the week)
  
• Money for Sunday offering
  
• 4-6 outfits
  
• Comfortable walking shoes
  
• Pajamas (be considerate of roommates)
  
• Bathing suit (if your hotel has a pool)
  
• Gathering t-shirt
  
• Sweatshirt for the AC
  
• Any medications prescribed to you that you might need 
  
• Book or magazines to read 
  
• Cards or other free time activity stuff 
  
• Hat and sunglasses (you will be walking outside quite a bit) 
  
• Snacks, cereal bars, etc… 
  

Stuff for Servant Life Day:

• Closed foot shoes (tennis shoes or boots)
  
• Sunscreen and insect repellent
  
• Re-usable water bottle.  [Sherman has purchased aluminum water bottles from the Gathering website and will bring on the bus.  Click here]
  
• Knee-length shorts (no short shorts)
  
• Backpack
  
• Camera (optional)
  
• Work Gloves
  

What NOT to Bring:

• Expensive belongings
  
• Drugs, alcohol, and medications not prescribed to you
  
• Firearms, knives, weapons
  
• Glass bottles
  
• Laser pointers, air horns, matches, lighters
  

FAQ (Frequently Asked Questions) for Youth and Parents

Q:  When do we leave?

A:  We must be at Hope Lutheran Church in St. Charles by 5:30 AM on Tuesday 7/21.  The address is 1975 S Old Highway 94, St Charles, MO 63303.

Q:  When do we return?

A:  We are scheduled to return to Hope Lutheran Church in St. Charles on Monday 7/27 at 2:00 AM.  That's late night Sunday / early Monday morning

Q:  What paperwork do I need to fill out?

A:  See a list of all required forms:  click here 

Q:  What about the group covenant that we worked so hard on?

A:  For the "mandatory" covenant clauses from the ELCA Gathering committee, click here

     For the Bethel-added (or Bonus) Covenant, click here

Q:  What project did we get assigned to for our Service activity?

A:  For our ServantLife project, click here

Q:   What do I need to pack?

A:  See a list of all items we'll need for the trip:  click here (new entry coming soon)

Q:   How much money should each youth pack?

A:   About $100 for meals and souvenirs.

Q:   How many meals will that cover?

A:   Total of  7.  (Tue=1, Wed=0, Thu=1, Fri=2, Sat=2, Sun=1)  Other meals are already included as part of Gathering/Metro St Louis Coalition-Youth planning.  These 7 meals will be fast food stops during the bus trip, or 'open meal times' during the Gathering itself.

Q:  What about breakfasts?

A:  Breakfast is included as part of our hotel stay.  Worst case scenario is that there are long lines at the hotel breakfast.  For that contingency, Bethel will provide cereals, milk and bagels (Thanks to Pastor Rebecca for organizing that.  And thanks to Albert Webster for providing the lunch for the outbound bus trip.)

Q:  What about snacks?

A:  Bethel will also provide some snacks for hotel life, but each youth should feel free to bring their own (and plan to share with others)

Q:  Will the group eat all meals together?

A:  Based on different categories:

• While traveling:  can break out in small groups, but must return to the bus on time
• At the Gathering:  breakfasts -- in our hotel rooms, or at hotel breakfast area, but must meet as group prior to the day's first activity
• At the Gathering:  lunches -- on your own, but must observe the buddy rule
• At the Gathering:  dinners -- the group will dine together every night.  That will be one of the main reflection times each day (along with the "Final 15")

Q:  What should the youth have with them at all times?

A:  Here's a list:

• Emergency Contact Card -- to be provided by Bethel
• Water bottle -- probably to be provided by Bethel
• Energy bar or snack -- something that doesn't melt in the heat (i.e. NOT chocolate) that can help especially during the service event or long time between meals
• Cell phone (or buddy up with someone who has a cell phone)

Q:  What can our youth do in the last days before the Gathering?

A:  Another list:

• Think of a bus icebreaker activity
• Bring DVDs to share on the bus
• Read parts of the Gathering website.  Even with all of our youth events we didn't get to cover everything.  Something we really missed was preparation for the Servant Event.  It's not just us going to give of ourselves to "the needy."  We are needy also, and we get the chance to partner up with people in New Orleans to help reclaim God's Creation (especially since our Interest Area is The Environment).  Look at the special entry on ServantLife:  click here  (provide link)

Q:  What about worship opportunities?

A:  There are two opportunities for full Gathering worship -- at the Opening Worship (Wednesday evening) and Closing Worship (Sunday morning).  There will also be daily worship, also with Communion, at 7:30 am and 9:30 am daily.  We won't be able to that on our ServantLife Day (Thursday).

Q:  What about community life?

A:  There are many activities planned for us, including dances themed by decade, "Generation Idol" based on the "American Idol" format, and much more.  The official Gathering site says it best:  click here

Q:  Can we bring iPods or portable games (Nintendo Gameboy, Sony PSP, etc.)?

A:  Yes, but everyone is responsible for their own property.  And... on the bus you will not be allowed to wired to your device for the entire trip.

Q:  What if my question is not addressed here?

A:  Please comment to this post, and someone will include the question and a response in this FAQ entry.

Our Service Project: Creation Care (#44)

Updates:

• The ELCA Gathering organizers just released details about the service project that Bethel Youth Group has been assigned to:  #44 Creation Care.
• Fortunately we do not have to fill out any additional release forms.
• Please recall that our youth group chose "The Environment".  We did some discussion during the year on this with only part of the group.  Here's the page for the entire lesson: Click here
• Our servant day is Thursday 7/23 (which is the first full day of the Gathering)

Here's the skinny on what we need to read before we leave:

• Read ServantLife information document first:  Click here
• How does my project fit in my interest area:  Click here
• Creation Care (Bethel's project):  Click here

All of the above links are available at the home page for Project Descriptions:  Click here

Here's some important reference information for ServantLife:

• ServantLife Home Page:  Click here
• ServantLife FAQs (frequently asked questions):  Click here
• ServantLife What to Wear:  Click here
• ServantLife Blessing:  Click here

Fundraiser Switch-Around Time

Dear BYG,
Sorry to disappoint, if you were planning on big fun for the car wash, but for several reasons I have decided to cancel it. Instead, we will do a little prep during the lock-in for another easier, faster, simpler fundraiser, if that's okay with your leaders! I will bring everything you need then.
Peace, out,
Deb

Post-Pool Party Updates (6/22)...

Most of us had a great time at the pool party at the Meiners house, and again, many thanks to them for their generous hospitality.

There are three major things to remember after our discussions at the pool party, and they're all posted as different blog entries:

1. 'Jazz' Event (6/28): Car Pool, Anyone?
2. Forms, Forms, Nothing But Forms...
   
3. The Lucky Seven Lock-In (7/7)
   

Please be sure to read each of those articles and leave a comment with your availability/response. 

I'm trying out a new feature of the blog -- comments -- and we'll see how this works.  Don't panic if you don't see your comment right away.  I've got them set up that I need to moderate the comments...  that means comments will be visible only after I approve them.  (For now I'm being conservative and don't want strangers to leave comments.)