Hilton Riverside

For all you heading to New Orleans this summer, you’ll be staying in the swank Hilton New Orleans Riverside, a mere .4 miles from the convention center! In the other direction, a mere .7 miles away is the world famous French Quarter. Hope your taste buds are ready! The hotel also has some nice leisure accommodations; pack accordingly.

Wait! It gets better… We over-budgeted for the hotel rooms and we think that will save each youth an extra $25!

More updates to come but this one is too good to wait. See you at church tomorrow!

The free will offering taken at the breakfast goes directly to the youth and it was very generous. $778 was divided amongst the youth who “worked” at the event, who ensured that the it went smoothly. This generosity on the behalf of the members of Faith Lutheran means that 6 out of the 16 youth going on the National Youth Gathering have less than $150 to raise!

Thank you to all who baked, volunteered, donated and ate. You encourage today’s youth to model your Christ-like actions throughout their lives.

Image by Getty Images via Daylife

• Egg Stuffing Party It turns out that the kiddies would be disappointed if the eggs they found in the hiding places contained no candy. SOOOOO, this Saturday at 8:30pm come to church to stuff eggs with candy. If there’s left over we might just get some too.

• Easter Egg Hunt This year things will be different. First, instead of having the kids gather in Fellowship Hall they will gather in the Sanctuary. Second, instead of coloring and vicar reading the Easter story we will have a short program and vicar reading the Easter story. Third, instead of the older kids to the south of the building, they will now be in a wooded clearing to the north of the building near the shed. All this to say, we need FLY help to hide eggs, direct children and parents to where they need to be and make sure everyone is having fun!

• Easter Breakfast Three things. 1) If you have not signed up to bring anything, we still need Egg Casseroles (bring 2), Milk (2 gal.), Jell-O Eggs (2 doz.), Juice (2 gal.), Baked Goods (3 doz.), Fruit (enough for 20 people). 2) We need your help during either  service AND the Sunday School hour. 3) If you are going on the National Youth Gathering trip to New Orleans, you need to be here. It’s one of the biggest fundraisers and for some of you that means you could have all your fundraising finished by April 04!

The honor goes to Deb Hackman who cooked the winning chili. In addition to bragging rights, Deb was honored to receive the chili champion apron, which will bear her name. Furthermore, Deb’s name will be added to the Golden Pot, a trophy reserved for only the best chili cooks.

The real winners were the youth, who raised $2,143, which was divided out to those who helped with the event. This event alone covers 14% of each youth’s travel expenses to the National youth Gathering.

Thank you chili eaters! See you next year.

• Chili Cookoff We’ve got some details for you now. So here they are for all youth willing and able to help with this crazy event:
  • Feb. 21 Instead of FLY, we are going to take a road trip to Grace Lutheran in New Albany to hang out with them at their chili cookoff and look at their youth room for ideas. We’ll leave at 2:00 from church and return around 9ish pm. Please let Leah and Peter know if you are NOT able to make this road trip!!!
  • Feb. 26 Chili Cookoff prep day is where we’ll set up the room: tables, chairs, electronic prep, kitchen prep, etc. We’ll start at 7pm and work for around 2 hours. This is open to all jr. and sr. high youth. This is a fundraiser activity for the National Youth Gathering.
  • Feb. 27 The big day! We’re asking that you arrive for the chili cookoff at 2pm. We’ll decorate, set up and run through the audio and visual and make sure that everyone is on the same page before our guests arrive. We are anticipating a full crowd, so we hope you are ready for this! This is open to all jr. and sr. high youth. This is a fundraiser activity for the National Youth Gathering. 
• FLY Night on February 28 might be a movie night, which means we will not meet at church. More details to come as this is very much up in the air.
• Easter Activities We will be doing Teen Tacos for the Lent Service on March 10^th. For this and other Easter season related events see the calendar below.
• National Youth Gathering. We’re going to the National Youth Gathering! The second installment was due February 15^th.  Please submit your payments if you have not already done so.

UPCOMING EVENTS for Middle School and High School Youth (you can also get this information 24/7 at http://www.faithlutheranbloomington.org/FLYevents.html)

Feb. 21: Field Trip to New Albany, leave at 4:30 return around 9pm.

Feb. 27: Chili Cook-Off 4-8 pm (National Youth Gathering Fundraiser)

Feb. 28: FLY 6-8 pm

Mar. 07: FLY 6-8 pm

Mar. 10: Lenten Dinner: Teen Tacos (National Youth Gathering Fundraiser)

Mar. 14: FLY 6-8 pm

March 15: Third installment for National Youth Gathering Due

Mar. 21: FLY 6-8 pm

Mar. 28: Easter Egg Hunt

Mar. 28: FLY 6-8 pm

Apr. 04: Easter Breakfast (National Youth Gathering Fundraiser)

April 15: Fourth installment for National Youth Gathering Due

May 15: Fifth installment for National Youth Gathering Due

July 17-21: National Youth Gathering “We Believe” New Orleans

• Chili Cookoff We’ve got some details for you now. So here they are for all youth willing and able to help with this crazy event:
  • Feb. 21 Instead of FLY, we are going to take a field trip to Grace Lutheran in New Albany to hang out with them at their chili cookoff and look at their youth room for ideas. We’ll leave at 2:00 from church and return around 9ish pm.
  • Feb. 26 Prep day is where we’ll set up the room: tables, chairs, electronic prep, kitchen prep, etc. We’ll start at 7pm and work for around 2 hours. This is open to all youth. This is a fundraiser activity for the National Youth Gathering.
  • Feb. 27 The big day! We’re asking that you arrive for the chili cookoff at 2pm. We’ll decorate, set up and run through the audio and visual and make sure that everyone is on the same page before our guests arrive. We are anticipating a full crowd, so we hope you are ready for this! This is open to all youth. This is a fundraiser activity for the National Youth Gathering. 

Here is a smattering of what’s coming up. I’m very psyched about the Super Bowl Party, thinking no ones going to wanna leave. And the chili cookoff is going to be pretty awesome, so make sure to check your calendars off. Here you go!

• FLY Unplugged! Last week was math night, this week Brooke’s guitar is unplugged to practice for Sunday School. Either way, bring the homework you have. From 5:30-7:30, you can hang out at 908 N. Woodbridge Dr. 47408. Snacks will be available but dinner will not be served. Questions? Call Peter at 345-7486.
• Superbowl Party! Make sure you come to FLY’s superbowl party at the spacious Hidden Falls Retreat Center near Bedford! Come to root on the Colts (we hope) and eat lots of food. Meet at the church at 4:30pm and bring soda, chips, salsa, or desserts enough to share. Any questions call Peter at 345-7486.
• Chili Cookoff This is one of the biggest fundraisers of the year, so if you are going to the National Youth Gathering you’ll want to make sure you are helping out! Of course this is open to everyone, and what we really need right now is your pot of chili or pan of cornbread. Sign up in the Narthex to make a meaty, veggie or “other” chili (these are your desert chilis, chili dogs, gummy worm chili and any thing you can dream up/find on the internet.).

• Math Night Sounds lame but it’s not. It’s a chance for you to do your homework (not just math) with FLY at Peter and Leah’s mansion. From 5:30-7:30, bring your homework to 908 N. Woodbridge Dr. 47408. Snacks will be available but dinner will not be served. Questions? Call Peter at 345-7486.
• Superbowl Party! Make sure you come to FLY’s superbowl party at the spacious Hidden Falls Retreat Center near Bedford! Come to root on the Colts (we hope) and eat lots of food. Meet at the church at 4:30pm and bring soda, chips, salsa, or desserts enough to share. Any questions call Peter at 345-7486.

• Chili Cookoff This is one of the biggest fundraisers of the year, so if you are going to the National Youth Gathering you’ll want to make sure you are helping out! Of course this is open to everyone, and what we really need now is your pot of chili or pan of cornbread. Sign up in the Narthex to make a meaty, veggie or “other” chili (these are your desert chilis, chili dogs, gummy worm chili and any thing you can dream up/find on the internet.).
• National Youth Gathering. We’re going to the National Youth Gathering! The second installment is due February 15^th.  Please mark your calendars!

UPCOMING EVENTS is available 24/7 at http://www.faithlutheranbloomington.org/FLYevents.html

Image by Getty Images via Daylife

The Youth Stock Market opened September 06 to worries about congregation confidence. You see with a building addition half way up and the American economy in a recession, many youth stock market experts were voicing concern.

But fear not youth and your parents. The early estimates from the first months returns are in and the Youth Stock Market is half way to its goal of $2000!

With three months remaining in the market, many analysts close to the market predict just enough to send youth to the National Youth Gathering!

Follow what we’re doing on Peter’s twitter account. He’ll be updating regularly throughout the week to give you the latest. The posts will also appear on his Facebook page.