Ministry Update - 11/14/11

Good Afternoon Parents!!

Some of this week's update will deal with ALIVE, but I encourage you to read through everything just to make sure that you're not missing any important info.  :)  If your child is not going to ALIVE, please remember to pray for the group going - that God would do some incredible things in the lives of our middle school students.

1) No Small Groups on Wed. 11/23
Due to Thanksgiving being the next day, I figure that some folks may be traveling, etc, so we will not be meeting at all on this Wednesday night.  Groups will resume on the following Wednesday, 11/30.

2) There is Middle School Service this Sunday, 11/20
Adrienne Cave will be leading the middle school service this weekend for those that are not going to ALIVE.  If your child is not going to OC, please make sure they still come to service this Sunday @ 11am!

3) Dress Code for ALIVE (optional - for fun)
In case you didn't make it to the ALIVE meeting this past Sunday, we're going to have a theme for each of the services at ALIVE this weekend.  It's completely optional, but I want to encourage as many of our students to participate as possible - just because it will be fun!  Here's the breakdown:

Friday night: Dress like a Rock Star / Rock a Mustache! - Grab your favorite shades, fedora, neck ties, etc and let's kick off the first night of ALIVE in style!
Saturday Morning: Scuba / Water Theme - Dig out your goggles, flippers, beach towels, swimmies, snorkels, etc and let's carry the theme of "submerge"!
Saturday Night: Wear Orange and/or Blue - These are our youth group colors, and we want everyone wearing them proudly for Saturday night.  We will be taking a group picture after the service, and we want to all be representing Submerge!  Feel free to be creative - hair, glow necklaces, shirts, glasses, hats, etc.
Sunday morning: PJs / Plaid / Superhero - Roll out of bed and into the Convention Center in your favorite Pajamas, Plaid, or Superhero attire and let's end the weekend with a bang!
 
4) ALIVE Forms & Final Payments
IF you have not turned in a permission slip for your child or the final payment, please make sure you do so ASAP so I can make sure that I have all of the necessary copies before we leave on Friday.
 
5) Departing Time
Please remember, we are leaving for Ocean City at 1pm on Friday.  Please make sure your child has eaten lunch before arriving at the church by 12:30pm.

If you have any questions about ALIVE or anything else, please let me know!  I'm looking forward to a great weekend!!

Again, please pray for the students & leaders that are going, and that this weekend becomes a huge catalyst for the future of Submerge!

Ministry Update - 11/9/11

Hello Parents & Leaders,

Here's your weekly update (hopefully limited to just one email this time)  :)

1) ALIVE Meeting - Sunday, 11/13 @ 10:20am
I need to meet with all of the parents of those going to ALIVE (just 9 days away!) so I can go over final details & arrangements.  Please meet in the Youth Chapel this Sunday, promptly at 10:20am.  Also, if you have any remaining balances due, please bring them in by this Sunday so I can wrap up the finances for the trip.  If you do not know how much your child has left, I can email it to you or show you tonight or Sunday.

2) Winter Meltdown Retreat
I have 2 open spots left for the WInter Meltdown retreat @ RVR - 1 boy's spot & 1 girl's spot.  If there is anyone else interested in going (or any friends), I need to know ASAP.  the spots will be on a first-come-first-served basis.  The cost is $150.

3) Sunday's Homework
I have started assigning "homework" at the end of our middle school service, that the students can do throughout the week for prizes.  This week's homework was to complete at least 3 days on the Quiet Time Sheet (available at the check-in table every Sunday).  If your child did not pick one up, they can grab one tonight at small group.  Please encourage them to work through these very simple devotions, and to make time in their week to do them.  The Quiet Time Sheets are a resource to help them begin a habit of connecting with God throughout their week (and not just at church).

4) Calendar Fundraiser
If you have any calendar money or extra calendars to turn in, please do so tonight!!

5) Upcoming Dates
November 13 - Final Payments for ALIVE
November 15 - 2nd Payment for Winter Meltdown
November 18-20 - ALIVE @ Ocean City, MD!!
December 4 - "Bring a Friend Day" (Special Blind BMX Stunt show @ Submerge)

Thanks to all of you for your continued support!!

Wyred Highlights Video

Check out the Highlights video from our Lock-In on September 30.  Make sure you expand the video to get a better look!

Big Day of Serving Details

Hello Parents & Leaders,

Here is the schedule for this Saturday's Community Service Day in Frederick, MD.

6:15am        Meet @ Crosswind (Please arrive at this time, so we can depart on time)
6:30am        Depart for Frederick, MD (the van is pulling out at 6:30, no later)
7:00am        Check-In @ Harry Grove Stadium
8:00am        Kick-off Rally
8:30am        Depart for Projects
12:00pm      Lunch & Devotions
3:00pm        Block Party Celebration
4:30pm        Head back to Crosswind
5:30pm        Parent Pick-Up @ Crosswind

A few things to be aware of for the day:
1) If you have not completed the appropriate forms for this event, your child cannot participate.  Please check your inbox for an email from Pastor Mark so you can print off the forms, or pick them up tomorrow night (Wednesday) before or after Small Groups. 
2) Please make sure your child is dressed based on the weather for the day, that they are wearing comfortable shoes (not flip flops), and clothes they can get dirty.
3) Lunch is already included in the cost of the event, so there will not be a need to pack a lunch or drinks (unless your child would like to carry extra bottles of water).
4) If you have any other questions, please let me know.

I'm looking forward to a great day, and a great opportunity for our middle school students to serve the Frederick community!

Wyred Information Packets

If you are just now finding out about the all night lock-in that is coming up on this Friday (September 30), don't worry - you're not too late! :)  Just make sure you download an info packet at mycrosswind.com/submerge, and fill out the Conduct Contract & the Emergency Medical Release Form (along with $10) before you come on Friday.  If you need extras, we will have them available at the check-in table when you arrive.  Make sure you also read over the Info Sheet, so you know what to bring and what to leave at home.

If you have any other questions, email us at the address printed on the post cards & the info packets.  See you all on Friday!!!

New Lock-In Activities!!

Here are a few things that we have been "showing off" that will be featured at the upcoming lock-in on Sept. 30. 

The Angry Birds will be making a special appearance next Friday in a unique round of Dodgeball as well as Angry Birds Shoot-Out. 

In Dodgeball you will be able to hurl an 8" plush Angry Bird at an opposing team and take aim at your friends instead of just little green pigs. In Angry Birds Shoot-Out, you will get to shoot small sized birds at various target and see how many pigs or pop stars you will be able to take out!

We will also have Fruit Ninja Kinect for the XBOX 360 where you can perfect your skills at slicing various fruit with your whole body!  There's even a multiplayer mode where you can challenge your friends! 

If you haven't gotten a packet already, download one at mycrosswind.com/submerge and shoot us an email so we can get an idea of how many people to prepare for.  Invite your friends, and don't miss out on the best lock-in you will ever experience!

Lock-In Poster & Info Packet!!

Hey everyone!  I'm getting really excited about our upcoming Lock-In on September 30.  It's going to be one of the BEST events of the year, so make sure that you don't miss it...and invite your friends! 

Also, here is the poster that you can print out and share with your friends (just click on it to enlarge) or you can pick up some invite cards during our middle school services, and pass them out too.  Whatever you do, DON'T MISS THE BEST LOCK-IN YOU WILL EVER GO TO!!!


Each week during our middle school services (Sundays @ 11am) & our Small Groups (Wednesdays @ 7pm), I will announce a new element that will be appearing at the Lock-In.  Make sure you come hang out with us so you can get a first look at the pure awesomeness of Wyred 2011.

If you need to download an info packet, you can find it at mycrosswind.com/submerge.  Just scroll down to the "Coming Events" and download the PDF link.

Middle School Lock-In!!

We're doing a lock-in on Friday, September 30 from 7pm-8am for all students in grades 5-8!!  Here's some of the brief info on it, but you can download the info packet at www.mycrosswind.com/submerge.  Pick up some promo cards during our Middle School service this week & pass them out to your friends!  

*(Click on the image to enlarge it and get a better look.)

Ministry Update - 8/24/11

I just have a quick update for you...

1) Youth Revival Service - This Sunday is the trip to Phoenix, MD (right outside of Hunt Valley) for a special youth service.  There will be several different churches represented and it will be a great way to kick off the new school year.  If your child can participate (and any friends), please let me know ASAP so I can work out travel arrangements for everyone.  We are leaving the church at 5:30 and should return around 11pm (if the arrival time is a concern, please let me know).  The only cost is a few bucks for food if we get the chance to stop somewhere on the way home.

2) Pizza Party - To kickoff our Fall Small Groups, we are going to have a Pizza Party on Wednesday, September 7 @ 7pm.  This will be a great chance for students to start to see who their small group leaders are going to be, hang out with friends, and have a lot of fun! 

3) Fall / Winter Events - If you have not received a Coming Events Packet, you can pick on up on Sunday (I will have them available at the sign-in table).  Please make sure you get one, so you can start preparing for our upcoming trips.  Once you get your packet, please hand in the Participation & Payment Form so I can start to get an idea of how many students will be attending each event.  I specifically need to know who can participate in The Big Day of Serving (in Frederick on Oct. 8) by Sept. 7.

4) Parent Meeting - I will be having a Parent Meeting on Sunday, September 11 @ 9:30am in the Youth Chapel.  This meeting will only last an hour, and I will be covering in more detail the Fall & Winter events, as well as other activities on the calendar.  Please try your best to make it to this meeting.  If you can RSVP back to me, that will help me make sure I have enough materials for everyone.

That's it for now!  Thanks for your continued support of Submerge.  As always, if you have any questions about any of the events or details of our ministry, please let me know.

Thanks!!

Ministry Update - 8/15/11

Hello Parents & Leaders!

Now that VBS is behind us, I found myself with a few moments to breathe and shoot out a quick Middle School update.

1) Pool Party -  This Saturday, August 20 from 12-4pm @ Adrienne's house.  Dress Code: Boys wear swim trunks & t-shirts, Girls wear a one-piece swim suit if you have it, or a t-shirt (not white) over your swim suit if you don't.  If you can drop off your child & pick them up from Adrienne's, that would be the best scenario, but if you are unable to do that, I will have a limited amount of space with me in the van.  If your child needs to ride with me: a) let me know soon so I can make sure I have room in the van, b) have them at the church by 11am, c) pick them up from the church by 4:45pm.  There is currently a 30% chance of rain that day, so I will keep you posted as we get closer to the event.

2) Youth Revival - Sunday, August 28 @ 6:30pm.  There is a special Youth Service happening at a church in Phoenix, MD at the end of this month (and right before school starts).  The Guest Speaker is good friend of mine, Anthony Braswell -  the same speaker that was at Youth Camp back in July (for those that went).  This will be a great way to kick-off the beginning of the school year and to give our students a "spiritual re-charge" before they head back to the classrooms.  Please let me know if your child would like to go so that i can make sure I have transportation worked out for everyone.

3) Small Groups - Don't forget, there are no Wednesday night groups for Middle School until September 7!  Enjoy the next few weeks of the summer before life gets "back to normal" (at least I hope it does!)

4) Parent's Meeting - I am going to move the date of the Parent's Meeting until sometime in September (NOT August 28).  I know that everyone will be busy getting things ready for school to start, and the last things most of us want is another meeting to go to.  :)  Stay tuned for the updated time & day of the meeting.

That's it for now!

Pastor Mark

Ministry Update - 8/3/2011

I just wanted to let you know about a few really quick things:

1) Communion Sunday - This Sunday is the first Sunday in August, so there will be Communion in the main sanctuary during our services.  Please remember that your child or middle school student should sit with you during worship & communion, and they will be dismissed during the announcements to head back to the youth chapel (kids will head down to the kid's chapel).

2) Wednesday Small Groups - Tonight is the last week we will meet on Wednesdays until after school starts.  We will start our small groups back up again on Wednesday, September 7 & 7pm.

3) Parent Meeting - I am tentatively planning a Parent Meeting for Sunday, August 28 @ 10am in the Oasis Room.  I will have copies of the calendar for the new school year as well as a list of different events & activities that will be going on throughout the year.  Please mark your calendars now for this date.  If it does not happen at 10am, it will be a luncheon that will take place right after the 11am service.

4) Pool Party - We are having a middle school pool party on Saturday, August 20 from 12-4pm at Adrienne's house in Westminster.  Please mark your calendars for this date too!

That's it!  See you this weekend!

Pastor Mark

Bowling Details

This coming Wednesday will be our LAST Wednesday evening group until after school starts (in less than a month - parents may now rejoice). To celebrate, we are going to go bowling at the Thunderhead alley in Taneytown.  Here is the schedule for the night:

5:45pm            Meet at Crosswind
6:00pm            Leave for Thunderhead
6:30-8pm        Bowling
8:00pm            Head back to Crosswind
8:30pm            Parent Pick Up

If any of you are able to help drive/transport kids over, that would be super great - since the high school ministry has the van down in TN for the week.  If you can help drive, please let me know so I know how much room we have available (I will even pay for your bowling!)  Thunderhead has great prices on Wednesdays throughout the summer, so your child will only need about $10.

$3.00 for shoe rental
$1.00 per game
$1.00 per slice of pizza
$1.00 for drinks (i believe)

We plan on playing at least 2 games, so make sure your child has at least $5 to cover those costs.  Food & drinks can obviously be optional since we're only going to be there for an hour and a half.  Try to let me know if your child will be going, so I can try to make sure we enough vehicles for transportation.  If you have any questions, let me know!

A Few Quick Things...

1) The trip to Cunningham Falls that was scheduled for this coming Saturday has been postponed until further notice.  I have to wait until my sprained ankle gets well enough that I can at least walk without limping & do some mild climbing.  The trip will be re-scheduled until late August or early September - it's all dependent on how the healing goes.

2) There is much to do between now and the start of the school year regarding Submerge.  Please keep me & the ministry in prayer as we look to recruit more leaders to help on Sunday mornings, small group leaders for Wednesday evenings (starting in Sept), and nail down the direction and calendar for the upcoming school year.

3) The next event on the calendar is a Pool Party on Saturday, August 20 from 12-4pm.  The location will be announced once I have worked out the details.

4) Wednesday evening "youth group" will only meet two more times during the summer - this coming Wednesday, July 27, and next Wednesday, August 3.  We will be taking a break for the remainder of the month, and restarting with our small groups on September 7 @ 7pm.

I hope everyone's summer has been going great!!

Pastor Mark

Quick Update!

I just had a quick update for you regarding the middle school schedule - there will be NO group for middle school next Wednesday night, July 13.  I will be away at Youth Camp for the week, and no one will be available to do anything with the students.

There are also 2 upcoming events for the month of July:

Trip to Dorney Park - Thursday, July 21: cost will be about $30 plus money for meals & drinks throughout the day.  More info will be sent out after July 17.
Trip to Cunningham Falls - Saturday, July 30: Cost will be about $5.  More info will be sent out after July 17.

If you or your child would like to attend either of these events, please let me know so I can begin to make travel arrangements.

Thanks!

Pastor Mark

Car Wash Details!

This Saturday, June 25 is a Car Wash to help support some of our summer activities.  If you can come out and help wash cars, or bring your car to be washed - we would love you forever :)  We will be at the Hampstead Wendy's from 10am to 2pm.

Here's the schedule for the day:
9:30am               Meet at the church
9:45am               Arrive @ Wendy's
10am-2pm          Car Wash!!
2pm                    Head Back to Church
2:30pm               Parent Pick-Up

A few notes about the day:

• Wear clothes that you won't mind getting wet (our new shirts should be in before then)
• Pack a lunch & eat a good breakfast (we won't be able to break for lunch at the same time or for very long)
• Tell everyone you know to come out and help support us! (and to bring their dirty - or clean - cars!)

We need adults & students to help us out, so please let me know if you or your child can participate.

Guy's Night Details

This Friday evening from 7-11pm, there will be a Guy's Night for all of the current middle school students.  It will take place here at the church, and we will mostly be playing video games and doing some "capture the flag" variations with nerf guns. 

Here's a small list of what to bring:
a SMALL nerf gun (see attached images - these normally run about $7-$8 at Walmart or Target)
your favorite Xbox 360 or Wii video games
Snacks or drinks to share (bag of chips, bottle of soda, etc)

*please make sure anything you bring (nerf guns & games) is properly marked so as to avoid confusion later.

Also, the plans to go see Green Lantern have been scratched.After reading some reviews on the movie "Green Lantern" from pluggedinonline.com, I have decided NOT to include this in our evening activities today.  The review leaves enough question and doubt in my mind, that I do not feel comfortable taking our middle school students to see it.  It may turn out to be a good movie, and it may be something that you would enjoy seeing with your child or feel comfortable letting them see.  I simply do not have enough knowledge of the exact content of this movie to merit making it a "youth group activity" without seeing it for myself.

If you have any questions, email at submerge58@mycrosswind.com.

Let the Journey Begin!

Welcome to the blog for Submerge Middle School Ministry!  This site will be used to keep you updated on events, activities, announcements, news pertaining to Submerge.  There may even be the occasional devotion or article posted that could be helpful.  Keep checking in every now and then and see if anything is new - especially when it comes to any important changes regarding events/activities.

I hope you find this a helpful tool is staying connected to what's going on with our Middle School Ministry.  If there's anything you think we can do to make things easier or better, please let us know.  If you have blog account, please "follow" our blog so updated posts can be sent to your account.

I'm excited to see how things will develop and grow as Submerge takes it's place as a part of Crosswind Church.  I hope you're ready to "take the plunge"!