Wednesday, June 18, 2008

"Tuesday Nights Together"

One of my favorite things about youth ministry is the cylical nature of the school year. Students grow and graduate, new students are always coming in. Activities vary according to the season and school year.

Last night was our first event with the new class of JH students. During the summer we shift to "TNT" (Tuesday Nights Together), a less structured format which includes having dinner at a different students home each week. It's fun for the kids to host the group, gets the parents involved, and it helps us to get to know their families better.

So, last night was the first one of these for the summer. I was pretty excited that all of our incoming 6th graders were in attendance; I am eager to see them all get plugged in and make a successful jump from children's ministry to youth ministry. Our hosts did an incredible job with the food and planned out several fun games to get the kids interacting.

The game that turned out to be the biggest hit was a frozen t-shirt contest, with four teams each competing to be the first to unfold and put on a t-shirt that had been soaked, then frozen. This challenge was much more difficult than it first sounded, let me tell you!

That t-shirt was frozen into a solid rock, and it was hilarious to see the teams trying different strategies to manipulate it: banging it on trees, bouncing it off the ground, pressing it against their backs for body warmth, etc. Eventually, one team got their shirt opened and then on, but even then the other kids didn't want to give up!

We finished off the evening with a devotional from Ephesians 5, followed by ice cream and cookies. I can't wait till next week!

2 comments:

caljoy said...

I love the T-shirt game. I bet on a hot night like last night they were begging to be the one to wear it

Anonymous said...

Well done! CONGRATULATIONS to ALL Grads!

Hey young Grads
good show I say
you've done it now
you've showed us how

You've had some good times
You've made some good friends
now some will go off
to do it again

So good luck in college
You can do it
Have a real wild time
but don't over do it

Try to make friends fast
many of the early ones
will be the ones
who last

Unless you love
to get up early
don't schedule your classes
way too early

And try to get to class
as much as you can
you'll be glad you did
then you'll deserve a cold can

But try not to party
too much before class
you'll more likely attend
and you won't be an ass

If you fail the easy Calc
don't take the harder one
just keep your eye on the ball
between all the fun

You'll be entering
sort of a fantasy land
of reading, writing, and thinking
with those who can lend a hand

So, do your best with grades
but at least finish the task
and soon another graduation
will come at last...

So
CONGRATULATIONS
GOOD LUCK
and HAVE FUN!!!


:)
.