River Valley Life Teen

Strawberry Time!!

2012-01-26T09:32:00.000-08:00

2012 Life Teen Spring Semester Schedule

2012-01-01T12:13:00.001-08:00

Advent

2011-12-03T23:07:00.000-08:00

Christmas Project

2011-11-16T18:36:00.000-08:00

All right guys! River Valley Life Teen will be helping a family in need this Christmas. Starting this Sunday, Nov 20, and running through Dec 11, the last night we meet before Christmas break, we will be collecting toys for all ages toddler-18yrs old. There will be a box set up in the parish center this Sunday, so bring a gift in leave it in the box or drop off at the church office anytime during the week before 4:00 pm. Let's give a family a great Christmas this year. Spread the word to those who are not on facebook about this event.

Emma Weidman at the Northside Choir Follies

2011-11-15T08:17:00.000-08:00

WAY TO GO EMMA! WE ARE SO PROUD OF YOU FOR USING THE TALENTS THAT GOD HAS GIVEN YOU!!!! YOU ARE A BEAUTIFUL YOUNG LADY- INSIDE AND OUT!

Reminder No life Night!

2011-11-05T11:51:00.000-07:00

Just a little reminder tomorrow night we will meet at Pizza Warehouse from 6:30-8:00 for a little social time. Come out if you can play some games, eat some pizza, hang out with your friends. Hope to see you there!!

Life Teen Spooktacular 5k run/walk

2011-10-27T18:26:00.000-07:00

This Saturday Life Teen will host a costume 5K/1 mile walk out at Chaffee Crossing, it's not to late to get registered for this event. Registration/check in will start at 7:00am and the race beginning 8:00am prizes will be awarded to the best male and female costume. Also we will have a kids 12-under 400m dash with prizes awarded to the best costume. Come out and support the youth of River Valley Life Teen while getting a little exercise. Here is the course map.

One day retreat to New Life Ranch

2011-10-04T08:26:00.001-07:00

On Saturday, October 15, we will be taking a one day retreat to New Life Ranch in Siloam Springs. The cost is $40 per person and includes one meal, and an all day adventure in team building, obstacle course, and high ropes. Space is limited, so get in touch with Chuck as soon as you can!

Great Start!!

2011-09-20T19:16:00.000-07:00

Greetings from Life Teen. Wow! What can I say? This year is off to a great start! Kick off was a blast- 178 kids showed up to get this year kicked off. Thank you to the Knights of Columbus, who prepared a wonderful meal of burgers and dogs. Everyone had a great time playing games and getting to know each other.

This week, Mandy and Johnny got us introduced to this semester, which is over the sacraments and how we use them in our lives on a day to day basis. A big thank you goes out to Shaun and Melody Weidman, and Ignacio and Jill Guerra for preparing our wonderful meal. The night ended with a powerful and emotional prayer time. Lots of things were talked about so be sure and ask your kids about their night and what is going on in Life Teen this year.

The beginning of the year is always a little hectic. There are a lot of signups for various trips going on at once: Spring break ski trip; senior high youth rally; registration forms being filled out and turned back in; t-shirt and bumper sticker sales; and the 5k run 1 mile walk on October 29.

Lots and lots of things are happening in Life teen! Keep checking the blog and Facebook for updates.

We will not meet on Sunday, September 25. Please join us at the Parish Picnic/Fall Social at Columbus Acres for a delicious meal and lots of fellowship. If your teen needs service hours, they can earn some by helping us clean up at the end of the meal.

Our next Life Night will be Sunday, October 2.

God Bless,

Chuck

SPOOKTACULAR 5K COSTUME RUN

2011-09-12T10:48:00.000-07:00

I HEART IC

2011-09-12T10:45:00.001-07:00

Edge Parent News

2011-09-06T12:45:00.000-07:00

Dear Parents,

I would like to welcome your 7^th and 8^th grade teens to Edge. Edge is the junior high youth group- not a typical PRE program. Edge is for 7^th and 8^th graders who attend public AND Catholic junior highs. The goal of Edge is to involve your teen in various activities to develop their relationship with Christ, and to prepare them to enter Life Teen when they become 9th graders.

This program is growing by leaps and bounds! While that is very exciting, it also comes with its own set of problems. We usually meet every Wednesday from 6:30-8:00pm in the Parish center. As of right now, I only have enough volunteers to run Edge two times a month, or every other week. I am in desperate need of parent volunteers to teach lessons and to supervise the teens during talks and games. If you are able to volunteer, please let me know ASAP. Even if it is just once per month, it will help immensely!

On kick off night, we will be sending home a registration form with your teen. Please fill it out and send it back with your teen on the following Wednesday. No teen will be allowed to come to an Edge Night without a registration form with up to date information. Thank you for your help with this. This will be a big help in communicating with you and your teen this year.

Edge will kick off on Wednesday, September 14, from 6:30-8:00pm in the Parish Center with a fun filled night of games. I hope to see your teens there!

Blessings,

Chuck Becker

Life Teen Parent latter

2011-09-06T12:41:00.000-07:00

Dear Parents,

Welcome to a new year of Life Teen! As you know, we will kick off the fall semester this Sunday, September 11, from 6:30-8:00pm in the Parish Center. This semester will be about the Sacraments and how we use them in our daily lives.

On kick off night, we will be sending home a registration form with your teen. Please fill it out and send it back with your teen on the following Sunday, September 18. No teen will be allowed to come to a Life Night without a registration form with up to date information. Thank you for your help with this. This will be a big help in communicating with you and your teen this year.

Also on kick off night, I will be telling the teens about upcoming events for Life Teen, and Diocesan events. There will likely be many things your teen is interested in doing. The best way to stay informed is to visit our blog: www.rivervalleylifeteen.blogspot.com; AND, become friends with River Valley Life Teen on Facebook for the latest news. You can go to the church’s website at www.icchurch.com and click on Life Teen and Edge news, and it will take you to the blog also.

One of the most popular trips is the Spring Break Ski Trip. We will begin sign ups AT KICK OFF! Here are the details for this trip:

Dates: March 17-23

Cost: $670.00

Place: Breckenridge, Colorado

Payment schedule: Down payment of $225 no later than September 30

2^nd installment: $225 no later than November 20

3^rd installment: $220 no later than January 8

As in the past, we will be going with Christ the King. IC has ONLY 20 spots open that will be filled on a first come, first paid basis. One new requirement that you should all be aware of is that any teen who wants to go on any trip with River Valley Life Teen MUST attend at least 2 Life Nights PER MONTH. Failure to meet this requirement will mean that your teen will be unable to go on the trip.

We are in need of 7 adult chaperones to go on the ski trip with us. If you are interested, please email me at chuck@icchurch.com.

There will be a parent information meeting for the ski trip on Wednesday, September 14, at 8:15pm at Christ the King. It is not a mandatory meeting, so if you cannot make it and your child is going, just let me know and I will get the information to you.

We have several fundraisers in the works, and your teen can work these fund raisers to “bank” money to help with some of the cost of trips we go on. Attached you will find a list of some of the trips we will be going on this year. For all of you that have Confirmation kids, this year the March for Life is in January. Any teens that attend that weekend will receive 10 service hours. That weekend is an easy way to get half of the hours while having a good time. I’ve also attached a flyer for a 5K that is sponsored by River Valley Life Teen. We need all the help we can get to make this event successful!

If you are interested in helping out in any way, please get in touch with me. We are always in need of volunteers!

Blessings,

Chuck

Life Teen & Edge kick off dates!!

2011-08-16T19:57:00.000-07:00

"Summer Nights" Prime Rib Dinner

2011-07-27T13:40:00.000-07:00

Lynn Ta

2011-07-27T12:49:00.001-07:00

I know that many of the teens knew Lynn Ta from Christ the King, Trinity, or Northside. We received updated information about the prayer service for her family. It will be Thursday, July 28, at 6:00 pm, in the Christ the King Parish Center. If you are unable to attend, please prayer for the family of all of the victims of this terrible tragedy.

Long time, no blog

2011-06-17T00:16:00.000-07:00

It's been awhile since we've had a new post on here! We've been busy since Easter time with our Spring Retreat, the end of the school year, and my own children's activities. I had planned on making a summer schedule, but found it impossible to do with the teen's summer schedules. Instead, we are playing it by ear. We had a great group of teens attend our trip to the Shield's Farm, and we had a great time. We've started our summer Bible study. It's called Courage, and is all about having the courage to stand up for what you believe in- even when it means that you stand alone. If you are not friends with River Valley Life Teen on facebook, add us. That is where you will find the most up to date information about what is going on.

“The angel said to the women, “Do not be afraid, for I know that you are looking for Jesus, who was crucified. He is not here; He has risen, just as he said.” Matthew 28:5-6

2011-04-26T09:54:00.000-07:00

“Jesus took bread, and when he had given thanks, he broke it and gave it to his disciples, saying, “Take it; this is my body.” Then he took a cup, and when he had given thanks, he gave it to them, and they all drank from it. “This is my blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many,” he said to them. “Truly I tell you, I will not drink again from the fruit of the vine until that day when I drink it new in the kingdom of God.” Mark 14:22-25

2011-04-23T11:27:00.000-07:00

“Jesus called out with a loud voice, “Father, into your hands I commit my spirit.” When He had said this, He breathed his last breath.” Luke 23:46

2011-04-22T11:58:00.000-07:00

“But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.” Romans 5:8

2011-04-21T10:02:00.000-07:00

“Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new.” 2 Corinthians 5:17

2011-04-20T11:07:00.001-07:00

“We often suffer, but we are never crushed. Even when we don't know what to do, we never give up. In times of trouble, God is with us, and when we are knocked down, we get up again.” 2 Corinthians 4:8-9

2011-04-19T10:03:00.000-07:00

He was pierced for our transgressions, He crushed for our sins. The punishment that brought us peace was upon Him. And by His wounds, we are healed. Isaiah 53:5

2011-04-18T10:17:00.000-07:00

Hey there!

2011-04-09T16:46:00.000-07:00

What a busy couple of months it's been. We've been skiing in Breckenridge; rocking out to Fireflight, Abandon, Sanctus Real, and Tenth Avenue North; and screaming out lungs out on the coasters at Silver Dollar City at Young Christian's Weekend. It's been an awesome couple of months!
The next couple of months won't be slowing down any! We have a movie night, Easter, Spring Festival, and end of year party, AND our Spring Retreat coming up. See a complete list of events in the sidebar on the right of the page.
April 10: Life Night- Topic night with Chuck and Mandy. If you are attending the Spring Retreat, a $25 payment is due at Life Night. You will have the opportunity to sign up to work shifts at our booth for the Spring Festival. Please consider signing up- I will need lots of help! Mandy will also be talking to you about a Memory walk for little Leightyn Holmes on May 14. The cost is just $10 and every participant gets a t-shirt.
April 17: MOVIE NIGHT: We will be showing "The Passion of the Christ". I encourage you all to attend. This night will run until 9:00. We will not be serving dinner, but we will have some yummy snacks provided by the Nightwing ladies. No one under 18 will be admitted without a signed parental permission form. You can pick these up at the church office, or get one at the April 10 Life Night.
See you all tomorrow night!

May Life Teen Calendar

2011-04-09T16:28:00.001-07:00

April Life Teen and Edge Calendar

2011-04-09T16:09:00.000-07:00

March and April News

2011-03-17T20:24:00.000-07:00

Life Night Sunday "The Resurrection of Christ"

2011-03-11T12:05:00.000-08:00

This Sunday is about the Resurrection of Christ. We are familiar with the Easter celebrations filled with bunnies, eggs and candy. We will dig a little deeper and find what the true meaning of Easter is. The teaching looks at the impact of the Resurrection on history as well as each individual life. Here are a few questions to help you get prepared for the Life Night.

Why is the Resurrection of Jesus a big deal? What does it mean to you?

How does Jesus rising from the dead affect your life?

How can we as a family make every Sunday a day to celebrate the Resurrection?

The Golden Rule

2011-03-02T11:18:00.000-08:00

Tonight's Edge night is to make the youth aware of the dangers and consequences of bullying others. The youth will understand that every person deserves respect because we are made in the image and likeness of God. Today's youth may be harassed at school and the harassment carries into social networking, text messages, phone calls and/or emails. We must challenge our youth to be Christ-like and stand up for the dignity of all people.

No Life Night 2-27-11

2011-02-26T19:55:00.000-08:00

Just a reminder that we will not be having Life Night tomorrow night the 27th. Come on out to the IC spaghetti dinner- it's always delicious!
We will meet again next Sunday, March 6, from 6:30-9:00 pm. See you then!

You Call This Good Recap

2011-02-20T22:09:00.000-08:00

This Life Night was about the suffering of Christ on the cross, known as the Passion. Far more than a movie, the cross is the place where Christ won forgiveness for our sins. Because we have a God who has suffered, we can TRUST Him in the times of suffering. Your teen had the opportunity to pray the Stations of the Cross and unite their own sufferings with the suffering of Christ. This, hopefully was a very powerful night for many teens. Take the time to talk and process the Life Night with your teen. Here are a few questions to get the conversation started.

1. What stood out to you in the Life Night? why?
2. Why do you think that Jesus had to suffer and die?
3. What impact does Christ's Passion have in your life?
4. What is the purpose of suffering? How can we unite our family with Christ?

You Call This Good The Passion of Christ

2011-02-20T11:26:00.000-08:00

Tonight starts the first of a three part series on the heart of Christianity: the passion, death, and Resurrection of Jesus Christ. Each of these nights will look different than a typical Life Night. This night begins with a light-hearted look at what we consider "good" and "bad" and how quickly we can change our minds about those labels. The teaching look at the events of Good Friday and why they are truly good. The majority of the Life Night is spent walking and praying the 14 Stations of the Cross.

Confirmation

2011-02-18T12:13:00.001-08:00

Good luck and blessings to our 75 Confirmation students!!! I hope you have a great night tonight.

Incarnation

2011-02-15T07:11:00.000-08:00

in·car·na·tion (ĭnˌkär-nāˈshən)- the Son of God was conceived in the womb of Mary and that Jesus is true God and true man.

We had a great Life Night on Sunday. We learned all about the incarnation of Christ, and how his death brings us hope. This coming Sunday's title is "You call this good?". We will be focusing on the passion of Christ.

The Branson trip and the Spring Retreat are both full. A $10 deposit is due for the Spring Retreat this Sunday, February 20, for all who are signed up.

This Thursday, February 17, is a mandatory ski trip meeting at 6:00 pm at Christ the King in Rooms 3 and 4. Please bring a copy of the front and back of your insurance card.

Wednesday, February 16: Edge Valentine Party from 6:30-8:00 pm in the IC Parish Center.

Life Night 2-13-11

2011-02-13T10:12:00.000-08:00

Finally! We are having Life Night tonight!!! Tonight's topic is the Incarnation and Daphne will be leading the evening. Confirmation students will practice tonight in the church. Please come over to Life Night when you finish.
If you missed the NET retreat, you missed out. We had a great time. The NET team was amazing.

Tonight is the last night to sign up for the Spring Retreat that will be held on May 20-22 at New Life Ranch.

The balance is due for the Branson trip also. I messaged you guys on facebook with the balance that is due.

Can't wait to see you guys tonight!

Edge

2011-02-02T09:52:00.000-08:00

There will be no EDGE tonight, Wednesday, February 2. We will meet next TUESDAY, February, 8, from 6:30-9:00 pm at the Christ the King parish center for the NET retreat. You will not want to miss this retreat! It's going to be awesome and tons of fun!

Life Teen: we will not meet on Sunday, February 6- we will meet on MONDAY, February 7, from 6:30-9:00 pm in the IC parish center for the NET retreat. PLEASE make plans to attend!!!

Silver Dollar City trip information

2011-01-17T17:27:00.000-08:00

January Service project

2011-01-11T21:15:00.000-08:00

LIFE NIGHT CANCELLED

2011-01-09T13:54:00.000-08:00

Hey everyone- Life Night and Confirmation classes are canceled for tonight, January 9. We do not want to take the chance on having you guys out driving if the snow continues. See you next week- January 16.
Reminders:
Sign up for the Spring retreat on May 20-22 at New Life Ranch. You will have an opportunity to earn "money" towards a trip through fundraisers.
We still have tickets to Silver Dollar City available for $80.00. Email, call, or facebook Chuck for info.
THE BALANCE FOR THE SKI TRIP IS DUE NEXT SUNDAY, JANUARY 16. Contact Chuck if you do not know your balance.

Weekend Extravaganza

2011-01-02T19:34:00.000-08:00

Alright guys TOMORROW is your last chance to get money and paper work in for weekend extravaganza. There is paper work at the church office, so swing by fill it out and turn in your $40 to be able to go.

Happy New Year

2010-12-28T22:53:00.000-08:00

I can't believe that 2010 is a few short days from being over. One thing is for sure. I never pictured how God would bring me to this place in my life. If you had told my wife 3 years ago that I would someday be a youth minister, she would have laughed at you. Three years ago I didn't think God was calling me to serve Him in the youth program. I thought it was something I would never do. Never say never, because God will always prove you wrong!
God has done great things in my life in 2010. Accepting the position of the youth minister was definitely one of the easiest decisions Mandy and I faced. We knew beyond a shadow of a doubt that God was leading us here. During these past 4 months we've been blessed by the Life Teen youth ten-fold. Sure, there have been some times of heartache, but we've seen God's hand in each and every hurt.
I couldn't ask for a better group of people to take this journey with. Thank you all for being a part of it! I'd like to ask that you continue to pray for myself and the Core Team each day. You are all in our prayers daily.

Life Teen will start again on January 9, and Edge will start again on January 12. I'm looking forward to seeing you all soon, and I hope you have enjoyed your break. See the January and February calendars on the right hand side of this page for upcoming events. We still have some discounted tickets for the Silver Dollar City trip. If you'd like to go, but missed the deadline let me know.

Merry Christmas

2010-12-21T19:47:00.000-08:00

On behalf of the Core Team, I'd like to wish you all a very Merry Christmas. I hope you will all take time to reflect about what the birth of Christ means for each of us. Jesus was born to die for our sins. Born to die. I think of the birth of my own children and gain even greater respect for Mary and Joseph and their willingness to serve God.
I'd like to share a blog post from www.lifeteen.com called A Lectio Divina Christmas. This post discusses taking time to really reflect on God's word and taking time to pray. I hope you will take time to read it, and then take time to reflect. What the authors writes about is similar to what I do each Sunday morning at 2:00 am when I go to the Adoration Chapel. If you've never been, I encourage you to go and spend some time in peace with our Lord.
Life Teen will start back up on January 9, and Edge will start back up on January 12. Enjoy your break!

Blessings,

Chuck

Life Night 12-19

2010-12-19T10:38:00.000-08:00

We are having a Christmas party tonight! There will be live music (compliments of the Life Teen band- they have an awesome line up of music), open gym, ping pong, and friends! Join us for a night of fun to end this semester!

DOES God exist???

2010-12-14T21:45:00.000-08:00

It's another hi-jacked post from Mandy!
Have you ever wondered why atheists spend so much time arguing about the existence of something they don't even believe exists? I've heard an atheist say that they are trying to help us poor idiotic people who believe in something that isn't real. But I believe there is an even bigger reason. I think atheists are just waiting for us to convince them otherwise. I mean, if atheists can argue and explain their point away, won't it make them feel better about not believing? In fact, I don't think they can escape the possibility of God and that's why most atheists are so argumentative and confrontational.
Have you ever met someone like that? You can encounter them anywhere. A person doesn't automatically believe in God just because they go to a private school, or attend church functions. And as Father Eddie said, you will encounter them more often throughout your teen and early adult years.
So how do you respond to someone who questions you about God? Our first reaction might be to get angry with them and call them names and put them down. Honestly though, people like this need God's love in the worst way. If we don't show it to them, who will? So you can start by telling them what you believe as a Catholic. Don't quite know? It's the creed that we say every Sunday at church. (You know, the one you could say in your sleep because it's just a habit?? Maybe we should all REALLY pay attention to what we are saying when we profess our faith on Sundays!) Then you could point out some other reasons to believe in God: (and you should expect an argument, but you will still get them thinking!)
1. Jesus is the most specific evidence of God. You can look at any religion and see that Muhammad and Buddha and others referred to themselves as prophets and teachers; but, none of them claimed to be equal with God. Jesus did. Several times in the Bible, he tells us that anyone who believes in Him believes in God. And Jesus backed this claim up with proof. He did things no ordinary human could do. He performed miracles and healed people. People followed Him, because He was constantly meeting their spiritual needs.
2. Look at the make up of the human body. DNA, cells, the brain. How could every cell be so intricately detailed and complex? The brain is able to take in a plethora of information at one time and sort it into valuable and invaluable information.
3. How was our universe designed and how is it sustained without a Divine Creator? Big Bang theory? Really? How is it that the Big Bang theory made the earth exactly the right size, with the right amount of air and water (fresh and salt), the perfect distance from the sun- with seasons....... Still believe in the Big Bang? Who started it? Who made it happen?
4. Laws of Nature. The sun rises and sets every day. The earth rotates in 24 hours. Every day. Gravity remains the same. And my favorite? The speed of light is the same- even in a different galaxy it remains the same.

God desires a relationship with us. He pursues us through emotion, music, words, a gentle breeze, a close call, a crisis, and happy times. God took on the form of man through Jesus and accepted the punishment for each and every one of our sins.

God is not going to force you to have a relationship with Him. He could if He wanted to. But instead He has given us proof of His existence so that we can seek Him and respond to Him. If you will truly open your heart, you will feel it. The curiosity, the gnawing, the wondering of your heart- and your mind- to know who God really is. He's right there waiting. You can be forgiven and fully accepted by God- all you have to do is ask Him. He loves us all so genuinely. He's always there, waiting for you.

It's like Father Eddie said- If believing in God was equated to making a bet, what would you have to lose? You'd gain eternal life if you took the bet. If you don't take the bet, you will be condemned to hell. That's not a gamble I'm willing to take.
I began to tell you about my dad this past Sunday. It's a story about how my best friend saved my dad's life. I'm being honest when I tell you that my dad should not be alive. We are lucky that he had a regular appointment with his doctor, Dr. Jennings. She noticed something during a routine test and put him on medicine to slow his heart rate. My dad was scheduled for a heart cath a week later. We got to the hospital, he got all ready and we were sent home. Intensive care was completely full and the doctor was afraid that he might be put in the situation where my dad needed to be in ICU and wouldn't have a bed. I thought of my dad as a ticking time bomb. We still didn't know exactly what was wrong, we just knew it was something. We went back to the hospital for the heart cath the next week. Again my dad gets all prepped and ready....and we get told he may not be able to have the procedure. Something to do with some sort of levels that were too low. Luckily they decided to run the test one more time, and his levels were high enough for the procedure. My mom and I walked to Wendy's for lunch and enjoyed visiting.The doctor called just as we walked back into the hospital and said he was ready to see us. We really thought that the doctor would tell us that they did a balloon procedure to remove some minor blockage. Boy, were we wrong. What the doctor told us was that we were very lucky to have this man (my dad) with us. I have to tell you that we laughed when he said it. You see, my dad is a jokester- he is rarely serious, and we thought he had put the doctor up to saying something funny. We noticed that neither the doctor nor my dad were laughing. The doctor was serious. Over the next 30 minutes, the doctor would tell us that my dad needed a quadruple bypass. He used my Sweet Bay cup to illustrate what was wrong. I was stunned. My dad wasn't old enough to have heart problems. He has always been healthy. And the risks began to hit me. Thoughts of losing my daddy. Thoughts of my children losing their Poppy. I was so overwhelmed. So I prayed. As I prayed I began to feel a peace spread through me. When I went back in to recovery, my dad, mom, and sister were visiting. My sister needed something out of her car, and my dad convinced my mom to go with her. It was at this moment that my dad spoke to me with words that could have only been directed by God. He told me how he was not scared at all. He told me how he was at peace with what was going to happen- whether it meant the surgery would go well, or whether it meant he would go "home". It was a very sweet and tender moment that my dad and I shared. And one we haven't spoken of since. It's something that the two of shared; and something we both remember very well. What that did for me, was give me even more strength to help my mom as we faced reality. They didn't let my dad leave the hospital for fear that he might have a massive heart attack before surgery. (Yes, it was that serious. Literally, he should have all ready had one.) Three days later, on a Monday, my dad had open heart surgery. He had quadruple bypass. That basically means that all four arteries that supply blood to the heart were blocked. And not just blocked, but REALLY blocked. If I remember correctly, the numbers were 88%, 87%, 91%, and 90%. During a quadruple bypass, the doctor goes in and grafts arteries from another source in the body. In most cases, they use arteries from the legs. After the graft the arteries, they stop the heart and replace the blocked arteries. That was the moment that I felt any sort of panic during the surgery. Imagine someone telling you that your father's heart is not beating. I spent that time praying for my dad and the doctor's and nurses. My dad's recovery was amazing. He was released from the hospital on his birthday. It was a wonderful birthday present too. The best friend that saved my dad's life wasn't the doctors, the nurses, my mom, or any other human. It was God. All through this ordeal, He had shown me how His hand was protecting my dad. Starting with our amazing doctor and friend Dr. Jennings; having a nurse we knew take care of him before and after his heart cath; having the dad of a longtime friend of Katie's be the heart surgeon; feeling peace and comfort during the entire time. He had provided just the right people in my life. (This was during the time just after Karena and I had become so close, and she had gone through something similar with her father). God had been there with us. His hands were holding us the entire time. He never left our side. And He's still with us today.
So, does God exist? Yes. Open your heart and allow Him to move through you.

I want to end with a song by Tenth Avenue North. They will be at Silver Dollar City for a concert during the weekend we are going. (Click on the name of the song to watch and listen.) "By Your Side"

God is good. All the time.

Mandy

Edge, December 15

2010-12-14T20:36:00.000-08:00

We are having an Edge Christmas party! Snacks,drinks, open gym, ping pong, games, and a movie. Open to all 7th and 8th grade students. Come and hang out with your friends!
After this week, Edge will not meet again until January 12.

December 12 Life Night

2010-12-12T11:07:00.000-08:00

The topic for tonight is The Existence of God. Pizza is on the menu for dinner. Kyle, Amy, and Loretta will be leading our night. We will be having a scavenger hunt, so bring your detective skills!
Don't forget to sign up for Weekend Extravaganza and our Branson trip.
Weekend Extravaganza is January 22-23 in Little Rock. The cost is $40 and the deadline to sign up is January 2. This is a fun-filled weekend!
The Branson trip is April 1-3. We will attend 3 concerts at Silver Dollar City throughout the weekend. The cost is $80- this includes a two day ticket to Silver Dollar City and a 2 night stay in a hotel. SPACE IS LIMITED! In order to secure a spot, you must pay a $40 down payment by December 19- which is next Sunday. We will be signing up for both events tonight at Life Teen.

Dare you to move

2010-12-07T18:34:00.000-08:00

This is Mandy hi-jacking the blog for a bit. Today I watched a memorial service for a baby that was 128 days old. Something the pastor said really struck me today. He was talking about how easy it is to tell people to pray about it, put it in God's hand, and trust God when it is not you in the situation. I thought about how many times I have said that to someone without ever really considering how I would react in the same situation. I'd like to say that I would trust God with an unshakable faith.

But I begin to wonder if I might react like Peter when confronted with reality and fear. Peter. The man who denied Jesus three times when Jesus needed him the most. Peter. The rock of the Church. If that isn't irony, I don't know what is. 1 and 2 Peter are two of my favorite books to read. It's in your face rules to live by. Peter doesn't sugar-coat it.

In 1 Peter 4, Peter pretty tells us that we have spent too much time in a "God-ignorant" life- a life without God. He includes example of partying night after night and reckless behavior and says that it is time to be done with it for good. He tells us that our old friends don't understand why we aren't joining in with them anymore- and that you are going to be chastised for it. But he also reminds that they are the ones who will be called on the carpet for their own behavior in front of God.

In 1 Peter 5, he tells us that the devil is poised to pounce on us at any minute. What I love most is his reminder that we are not alone in suffering- there are Christians all over the world suffering too, and some of them are suffering worse than we are. And the reminder that God's good plans will be revealed in HIS time.

The book I want to focus on is 2 Peter. He starts out telling us that there will be people who try to pit us against each other. They will be people on a downhill slide into destruction who will take a whole group of mixed up believers, who don't know right from wrong, with them. This makes me think of how Chuck has said that when we all walk through the parish center doors- We are Life Teen. WE have to guard against the people who try to form divisiveness in our group. WE are the ones who must work to end divisions and differences and work to find similarities. Starting with the fact that we are all Catholic Christians.What kind of difference are you going to be? Will you be of the world- just to fit in. Or will you be of Christ and glorify Him in all that you do? So in the words of Switchfoot, "I Dare you to Move". (Click HERE view a video and listen to the song.)

December 5 Life Night

2010-12-03T13:00:00.000-08:00

The Life Night this week will be lead by Johnny and Christie Banning and Ronny and Daphne Dahlem. The topic is "Call to Action: Discipleship". On the menu are hot dogs and chili, and chips.

Don't forget that we are selling discount cards after each mass this weekend. If you would like to sell, just let me know. You will get credit for each card you sell after mass.

I'm gearing up for the lock-in tonight. Can't wait to see you all there! Come with a good attitude and ready to have some fun!!!

Three reminders:
Branson trip- April 1-3- Sign up and pay a deposit of $45 by December 19. After December 19, the price goes up fro $80 to $100.

Ski trip installment of $300 due by December 19.

March for Life- January 22-23 in Little Rock- Sign ups have started. Cost is $40 and the deadline for signing up is January 2.

Edge, Lock-in, and Advent

2010-11-28T13:14:00.000-08:00

Edge this Wednesday night, December 1, from 6:30-8:00pm in the Parish Center. Chuck and Mandy will be leading the night.

This Wednesday is the deadline for lock-in paperwork and $10 fee. I know that some junior highs are having dances this weekend- come after the dance! You can enter the lock-in up until 10:30pm, but there will not be any entry allowed after 10:30pm. If you are coming, but not spending the night, your parents MUST get in contact with me ahead of time.

I can't believe we have all ready begun the season of Advent. This is one of my favorite seasons in the Church. The lighting of today's candle signifies hope. As Catholics, we have hope for the second coming of Jesus, and Advent is a time for us to really focus on Christ. Here is a little article of the First Sunday of Advent.

Have a great week! I hope to see you all on Friday!

Thanksgiving

2010-11-22T08:58:00.000-08:00

What an awesome Life Night we had last night!! Thank you to everyone who participated in the skit- it was amazing!
I hope you will all think about how evil enters into your life. Is it through facebook? Music? The language you use? Pornography? Alcohol? Lying? Gossip? The list goes on and on. It's hard to make the right decisions sometimes- especially when you are a teenager. Trust me, I remember!
Just remember that if the Devil isn't working on you, he has you right where he wants you.
God is always with you-- He never leaves your side. Even if you turn your back on Him and make bad choices.....God is always waiting for you to call out to Him. We have such an awesome God!
It reminds me of a song by Tenth Avenue North (who will be at Silver Dollar City in April) called "You are More".

Here is a sample of the lyrics: (Click here to watch the video)
"Cause this is not about what you've done,
But what's been done for you.
This is not about where you've been,
But where your brokenness brings you to

This is not about what you feel,
But what He felt to forgive you,
And what He felt to make you loved.

You are more than the choices that you've made,
You are more than the sum of your past mistakes,
You are more than the problems you create,
You've been remade."

This Thanksgiving, be thankful for the gift of salvation that He has given to us; and for the gift of forgiveness for our sins we received from the sacrifice Jesus made for us. I am thankful for a loving and powerful God, and I am thankful for being blessed by each and every one of you. Happy Thanksgiving to you all! I'll see the Edge kids on December 1, and the Life Teen kids on December 5.
Don't forget that paperwork for the Lock In is December 1. We don't have another Life Night before then, so you will need to take the paperwork and your $10 fee to the church office.

Important Life Teen and Edge Info

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Attention skiers!!! The first installment of $300 on the ski trip balance is due by December 19. The remaining balance for the ski trip is due no later than January 11, 2011.

Lock-in: 8:00 pm December 3 to 8:00 am December 4 for 7^th-12^th graders. The cost is $10.00 per person to cover the cost of food and drinks. Deadline for paperwork and payment is December 1- no exceptions. No entry after 10:30 pm. Bring a pillow and sleeping bag….if you dare!! Questions? Call or email Chuck.

9^th-12^th graders- 3 concerts and 2 days at Silver Dollar City in Branson: Fireflight, Sanctus Real, and Tenth Avenue North will be in concert at Silver Dollar City for Young Christians Weekend. Cost is $80.00 per person for a 2 day ticket to Silver Dollar City, and two nights in a hotel. You must reserve a spot and send in a down payment of $45.00 by December 19 to lock in the price at $80.00. After December 19, the price increases by $20 per person. Space is limited, so reserve your spot early. See Chuck for more details!

9^th-12^th grade students: Join us for Weekend Extravaganza in Little Rock January 22-23, 2011. Cost is $40.00 per person. The co-founder of the ’40 days for life’, Shawn Carney, will be the featured speaker. On Sunday we will attend the Rosary and Mass for Life at the Statehouse Convention Center and then participate in the March for Life in downtown Little Rock. Deadline for registration is January 2, 2011.

Upcoming Edge schedule: Edge will meet in the Parish Center from 6:30-8:00pm on December 1 and December 15. NO EDGE on November 24, December 8, December 22, or December 29.

Upcoming Life Teen Schedule: Life Teen will meet in the Parish Center on November 21, December 5, December 12, and December 19 (social night with Life Teen Band). NO LIFE TEEN on November 28 or December 26.

Power Pack Your Prayers!

2010-11-12T11:41:00.000-08:00

Pack power into your prayers by jamming it with expectant thoughts:

“God. I know that you are planning something wonderful.”

“God, I don’t know how you are going to solve my problem, but I know you have something in mind and I thank you for it.”

“God, you are going to use me in ways that I do not know, but I expect you have something won...derful around the corner!” AMEN!

No Life Night on November 14

2010-11-11T13:57:00.000-08:00

There will not be a Life Night on November 14. Confirmation classes will still meet.
Please say a prayer for all of the teens who will be attending the Region X conference this weekend in Little Rock.
See you all on November 21!!! Have a great weekend.

Lock in!!

2010-11-05T21:51:00.000-07:00

Ladies Auxiliary Bazaar

2010-11-05T07:56:00.000-07:00

The Ladies Auxiliary is having their annual Bazaar this weekend. They need some "teen"power Sunday at noon to help clean up the Parish Center. You will earn service hours for helping. Life Teen and Edge are wanted and needed!! Call me if you have any questions!

Nov 7 Life Night

2010-11-02T21:19:00.000-07:00

Connected

Prayer is at the heart of a relationship with Jesus. Jesus not only calls us to pray, He also teaches us how to pray through His words and example. This night looks at the call to pray in a culture that demands instant communication and feedback. We have a game called "Cell Phone Olympics" so bring your cell phones. The Life Teen band will also be there playing some songs for us, then we will close the night out with Adoration in the church.

Bourbon Street Chicken

White Rice

Corn

Red Bliss Potatoes

Home-style Yeast Rolls

Cookies chocolate chip and oatmeal raisin

A huge thanks for this dinner that is being

Donated by Golden Corral and Roger Schmidt!!

A big thank you to everyone who came out and helped with the car wash. It was a huge success, and we will have totals soon.

EDGE NIGHT NOVEMBER 3

2010-10-30T22:10:00.000-07:00

EDGE HAS BEEN CANCELLED THIS WEDNESDAY NIGHT (NOVEMBER 3). Set up will be going on for the Ladies Auxiliary Bazaar that will be held this next weekend in the Parish Center. Please spread the word to everyone! If you need service hours, you can come to the Bazaar on Saturday or Sunday to help.

Reminders

2010-10-28T13:49:00.000-07:00

A reminder to everyone- EDGE and LIFE TEEN- Car wash this Saturday and Sunday!
Find me so you can sign in to get credit.
If you signed up to help at 5:00 Mass, be there at 4:30.
If you signed up to help at 10:00 Mass, be there at 9:30.
If you signed up to help at the Noon Mass, be there at 11:15. (this mass is very crowded so people arrive early for it!!)
See you Saturday and Sunday!
Remember- No Life Night on Sunday, October 31. Our next Life Night is Sunday, November 7, and the topic is "Being Connected" through prayer. This is one night that I'm going to ask you to bring your cell phones to Life Night!

St. Therese Movie and Prayer night

2010-10-25T20:51:00.000-07:00

St. Therese Movie and Prayer night
I've posted this link on our facebook page also. The event will be held this Friday, October 29 at Sacred Heart in Barling. If you can't get the link to work and would like more info, give me a call or send me an email.

October 27 Edge Night

2010-10-25T09:50:00.000-07:00

Happy Monday everyone! This Wednesday, October 27, we will be having a social night at Edge. Join us in the Parish Center from 6:30-8:00 for fun and fellowship.
Be sure to sign up to help at the Car Wash we are having on Saturday, October 30 and Sunday, October 31. We will wash cars during the 5:00 pm, 10:00 am, and noon masses. This is a great way to earn service hours, or money towards an event you would like to attend. (We have the lock in coming up, as well as a trip to Branson in for a concert and Silver Dollar City in April and a retreat in the Spring!)

See you Wednesday!!

"For you were once darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Live as children of light for the fruit of the light consists in all goodness, righteousness and truth) and find out what pleases the Lord. - Ephesians 5: 8-10

It's time for a social night!!

2010-10-23T12:58:00.000-07:00

Tomorrow night, October 24, will be a social night at Life Teen. We've got some fun games planned, so come and join the fun!! On the menu are hot dogs and chili dogs, prepared by our fabulous cooks. Father Eddie will be there to jam on his guitar at the beginning of the night! Don't forget the "pumpkin decorating" contest that will take place on the heads of Ronny, Dale, and Micah.....it should be interesting!
We will be holding sign ups for the car wash on October 30-31 that is sponsored by Life Teen. We will be washing cars during the 5:00pm, 10:00 am, and noon masses. We need help washing and rinsing cars, AND holding buckets at the doors of mass for donations. This is an opportunity to earn lots of money towards a Life Teen or Edge event (ski trip, retreat, lock in, Search, Branson, etc), or to earn service hours. We will divide up the profit between the teens who come to work, so if you want to earn $$$ you have to be there to WORK!
Confirmation classes will meet as scheduled tomorrow night. I hope you can make it to OUR mass- Life Teen mass at 5:00 pm. It's a great way to start out our evening.

CAR WASH

2010-10-20T21:09:00.000-07:00

We need teens to work this upcoming event!

Edge Night October 20

2010-10-19T10:58:00.000-07:00

This Wednesday’s theme is: The Fiat. We will encounter Mary as a model of faith, and be challenged to follow Mary’s example and say ‘yes’ to God in our daily lives. The teaching will be done by Jennifer.

Please bring your Rosary to Edge on Wednesday.

October 17 Life Night

2010-10-15T07:17:00.000-07:00

The theme of this week's Life Night is 'Head, Shoulders, Knees, and Toes'. Our night will be lead by Chuck, Mandy, Donna, and Micah. This week we will be looking at why Jesus established a Church, how religion plays a role in your life, and what your role in the Church is. We've got a skit based on Acts 1:6-12-- look it up in your Bible!

On the menu this week are Loaded Nachos. Come hungry!!

Celebrating Life Teen birthdays this week Oct 17-23:
Juan Araujo
Emily Bedford
Ethan Echols
Bianei Aguilar
Sofia del Rio
Wish them a Happy Birthday if you see them around!!

October 13 Edge Night

2010-10-10T21:41:00.000-07:00

The theme for Wednesday night is the third person of the Holy Trinity: the Holy Spirit. Christie will be our leader for the night. Earthly power and strength are fleeting.....but the power of the Holy Spirit is eternal.

Do you know what the seven gifts of the Holy Spirit are??? Come to Edge Wednesday night and test your skills!

Here is one of my favorite prayers:

Come Holy Spirit, fill the hearts of your faithful and kindle in us the fire of your love. Send forth your Spirit and we shall be created. And You shall renew the face of the earth.

O, God, who by the light of the Holy Spirit, instructs the hearts of the faithful, grant that by the same Holy Spirit we may be truly wise and ever rejoice in His consolations, Through Christ Our Lord, Amen.

October 10 Life Night

2010-10-09T18:59:00.000-07:00

This week's lesson is "Call Me Mom". Loretta, Kyle, and Amy will be leading our night. We will make connections between our own mothers and Mary, the mother of Jesus. We will talk about some of Mary's titles, and look at what an amazing witness of faith Mary was. We will also talk about how we honor and respect Mary, not worship her.
We are going to say a decade of the Rosary, so be sure to bring your Rosary with you!

And, come ready to eat Famous chili with all the fixings!

Region 10 money is due now. If you haven't paid the remaining balance, please remind your parents and bring a check to Life Night.

Ski Trip!!

2010-10-08T20:35:00.000-07:00

Spring Break Ski Trip!

Date: March 19-25, 2011

Place: Breckenridge

Deposit of $100 is due now for a reserved spot. Only 3 spots left!

Total cost is $600- this includes lodging, ski lift ticket, and ski rental. If you have never skied, you must go to ski school. This cost is in addition to the base price of $600. I will update you when I get a price for this. I am looking in to going to Keystone for some snow tubing again. I'll update the price on that soon, also.

We will cook breakfast and lunch each day. Dinner is on your own- you can go out to eat with a group, or stay in and eat something in the condo.

Get with me ASAP if you are interested in going!

Welcome to River Valley Life Teen!

2010-10-07T10:39:00.000-07:00

I will post information about Edge and Life Teen on this blog- as well as information you need to know. Visit often, and stay informed!