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Peakland UMC Youth Program
Peakland United Methodist Youth Activities are open to all youth
in our congregation and
community in grades 6-12.
Our mission is to provide a safe Christ-Centered atmosphere for
Christian youth to have fun and fellowship while enriching their
faith. We promote building our youth into strong and effective
leaders and disciples through the many facets of the program.
Peakland United Methodist Youth
Leadership
The Youth Leadership Team and Adult
Leadership Team plan, develop and oversee the PUMC youth programs.
All youth are invited to be on the YLT and adults on the ALT.
The leadership allows the youth and adults to define the needs of
the youth and provides for the development of leadership skills for
our youth.
Advisors and youth parents are a vital and necessary part in
providing leadership and support to our youth as they continue their
Faith
Development.
EVENTS
(Use links below to go to details)
The classes are really, really good and you are wanted as a
member.
They start at 9:45 - the High
Schoolers meet in room 210 and the Middle Schoolers in room
211.
Are you at least 14 years
old? Are you willing to help
record the 11:00
a.m. service on a rotation basis?
If you can answer “yes,” please call the church
office or Scot and Krista Wilson (385-6076)
before
December 23.
Guatemala
Video
and other mission reports
Special links for youth
from General Board of Missions
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November
2008
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Cultivate a Grateful Attitude in Your Teenagers |
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The timing is ironic: After briefly pausing to count
all our blessings this month, we’re immediately
bombarded by a lengthy onslaught of consumerism and
wish-fulfillment.
According to the Journal of Consumer
Research, the worse kids feel about themselves, the
more obsessed they become with buying stuff. And
because self-esteem takes a big hit during
adolescence, countless retailers and brands are
vying for the attention of teenagers trying to
purchase their identity. |
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Author John Rosemond says that while adults
generally attain 10% to 20% of the things they
desire, kids are accustomed to receiving about 80%
of what they want. And parents often make sure their
teenagers aren’t deprived of any luxury. No wonder
materialism has such a strong hold on kids today. |
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The problem is that “stuff” can’t meet our deepest
needs or heal our hurts. Only God, the giver of all
good gifts, can do that. Being content with—and
grateful for—what we have is rooted in this
knowledge of the source of all our blessings. God
not only promises to meet all our needs but commands
us to give thanks in all circumstances, even the
tough ones. As parents, you can help teenagers be
grateful for what they already have and help them
start to see the blessings in challenges and
adversity. Use this issue of “The Parent Link” to
talk to your kids about being thankful and
content—two things everyone can work on this time of
year. |
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Here are some practical ideas
for instilling a sense of gratitude in your
teenagers. Try them this month as a family to
enhance your Thanksgiving celebrations:
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Keep a gratitude journal
together. Regularly write down things—big or
small—for which you’re thankful, even during
tough times.
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Offer a fresh perspective.
Have family members each write their names on a
piece of paper. Pass around the papers, and have
each person write down what they’d be thankful
for if they were the person named.
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Bring proof of your
thanks. Add a twist to Thanksgiving
dinner by having everyone bring to the table
three objects for which they’re thankful. These
objects represent: 1.) something new this year,
2.) something intangible, and 3.) something
basic to their lives. Take turns sharing your
objects.
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Serve others.
Volunteer as a family to express your gratitude
and to foster generosity. Watch for more about
service opportunities in next month’s newsletter
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Buying things is a priority for most young people.
But
a recent survey also shows that
feeling appreciative
can diminish materialism’s impact.
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The average teenager has about $90 in discretionary
money
each week.
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71% of kids ages 8 to 18 say they’d be happier if
they had
more money to buy more things.
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75% of teenagers say they like to share their
favorite things
with other people. The same number say they like to
do favors for
friends or family, even when they’re busy.
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76% of teenagers say that a list of things they have
to be
thankful for would be very long.
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Great Questions
to Ask Your Kids
Get teenagers talking about ways to incorporate
gratitude into their lives all year long.
1. How content
are you? Would your life be better
if you had more money or more stuff? Explain.
2. What are
you most thankful for, and why?
What would you do if these things were taken away
from you?
3. When is it
hard for you to be thankful?
What kinds of things are most difficult to be
grateful for, and why?
4. How is it
possible to “be thankful in all circumstances”
(see 1 Thessalonians 5:18)?
5. How does it
feel to be appreciated? How do you
express thanks to others?
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PRAY THAT:
1.
God will give your teenagers
a genuine “attitude of gratitude”
for all the many blessings he provides.
2.
Your teenagers will discover
how to be content no matter
what they have and no matter what challenges life
brings.
3.
Your family members can
focus on giving thanks
during the holidays, rather than on what they need
or want.
4.
Your teenagers won’t be consumed by materialism but
will find joy in
generosity and service.
Verse
of the month
I have learned how to be content with whatever I
have. I know how to live on almost nothing or with
everything. I have learned the secret of living in
every situation, whether it is with a full stomach
or empty, with plenty or little. For I can do
everything through Christ, who gives me strength.”
(Philippians 4:11-13)
If anyone ever had a right to complain, it was the
Apostle Paul. He endured persecution, beatings,
imprisonment, shipwrecks, an unnamed physical
torment, and probably martyrdom. Though he wasn’t a
wealthy man according to the world’s standards, Paul
had the one essential “possession”: an unwavering
faith in God, who provided for all his needs
“. |
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What’s Up
With Kids
When teenagers feel deprived
rather than
content, it affects
your whole family, as well as kids’ spiritual lives.
At
SimplyYouthMinistry.com, Chris and Beth Wagner
of the Center for Parent/Youth Understanding write
about some consequences of materialism—and how
parents can address the problem:
Materialism
has a way of creeping into our hearts unknowingly.
It often goes unaddressed. Teenagers and adults
alike feel that the next purchase will fulfill their
longings, only to make the purchase and still be
left feeling empty.
The
emptiness
builds up until we discover
a new “must-have,” and we hold out
hope that this item will
fill the void. The vicious cycle of
materialism continues.
Though many of us already know it,
God is the only one
who can fill this void. Only the
Holy Spirit can help teach us to become content with
the wonderful gifts that God has given us. Seeking
God’s will allows us to be aligned with his ways
rather than our own selfish desires. These are the
truths we must live out in front of teenagers. Just
as kids learn the materialism bug from our actions,
modeling Christ-like behavior demonstrates a life of
contentment and thanksgiving.
Affirm your
children’s worth and let them know they’re loved by
you—and by Christ. Let your greatest
gift to your teenagers be a reminder that not only
are they your children, but they’re also God’s
children who have new life through his life, death,
and resurrection. That’s a priceless, high-end gift
worth boasting about. |
 Peakland
Youth Events
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The Lynchburg District Youth KICK-OFF
- Heritage UMC from 5 to 7:30 p.m.
This will be a great event; youth will gather
from around the area, food is being served, there
are 2 bands playing and
the speaker is William Daniels from
Teens Opposing Poverty.
Call Susan at 944-8458
to go with the group!
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Grief Relief for High Schoolers
who have had a death affect their lives.
We’re talking
about ANGER.
Meet in room 205 from 6 to 7:30.
Pizza is
being served.
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Wonderful Wednesday:
Dinner: 5:45- 6:30
Program: 6:30-7:30
Come for games & good discussions!
Meet in room 211.
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Middle School Dance
will be held from 7:30 to 10 p.m.
Middle Schoolers;
bring your friends and come to dance.
$5 to enter and extra for snacks.
High Schoolers –chaperone and sell food (let
Susan know if you are able to
help.)
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To find out about the Youth
Program:
Website = www.peaklandumc.org
Email Susan at
swilliams@peaklandumc.org
Call Susan at 384-2791 or
944-8458
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Mission Event
– 3 to 7
pm We’re
helping PUMC members who can’t do their own yard
work.
Bring a rake and
gloves.
Meet at PUMC at 3, we’ll work, eat out (bring
$) & return by 7.
Sign-ups are needed – call/write Susan. Rain
date is this Sunday.
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Rain date for the
Mission Event – 3 to 7 p.m. (see
11/14)
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Wonderful Wednesdays
All Middle & High Schoolers are invited to
dinner at
Yellow Sub on Old Forest R. 5:45 to
7:15.
Meet there or call Susan for a ride.
Bring $!
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Friends are always welcome at any event!
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Happy Thanksgiving Break!!!
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Give thanks to God!
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A group of high school youth and adults served
in Guatemala
from July 6 – 13, 2008.
See the Youth Mission
Page
for video of their trip.
Special links for Youth:
Young People's Ministries/ the General Board of Ministries of the
United Methodist Church
This dynamic site will excite any young person looking for a
direction for life! Check out the
best that the church has to offer to youth on their way into service
of the Lord!
Top
The ultimate goal of each of Peakland
Youth activity/event is to provide the youth of Peakland with
knowledge, experience and support to increase their faith in God and
move forward in their faith journey.
Peakland UMC
Youth Program
4434 Boonsboro Rd.
Lynchburg,
VA
24503
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