Oasis Youth Group

I am very much enjoying the spring weather and hope you are too!  Sunday was a busy day in youth ministry – we had a leadership team meeting where we spent a significant amount of time evaluating the year and brainstorming ideas for next year.  The general consensus was that things are going well and we want to keep the same structure.  It has been a pleasure to get to know and work with your students, we are grateful you have chosen to partner in ministry with us as we pass along the faith.

I was very sweetly surprised by the baby shower this last Sunday – the students were so thoughtful and I felt so loved and appreciated.  It was wonderful to celebrate our soon to be new family member with the youth.  Thank you!

Thursday is my last day of work (unless the little girl comes early) until I return on August 19th.  Below I have listed all the upcoming events for May-August.  As you will notice we don’t have much planned for the summer.  In the past, summer has been a very “low season” of activity for the youth since many are busy going to camp, going on family vacations, hanging out with friends, etc.  This made it much easier for me to take maternity leave; Pastor Ken is taking my place on the mission trip and Pastor Betsey is taking my place running Adventure Camp (VBS for incoming 7th graders).

May

6th – Oasis 5-8PM: small groups at 5PM, youth group 6-8PM.  Ash and Bridget Boodel will be talking about advertising and media with the students.

13th – No Oasis – Happy Mother’s Day!

20th – End of the Year BBQ – 5-8PM – Joan has a fabulous BBQ menu planned ($4) and the leaders have many fun games planned for students with great prizes.  All students are invited to attend the entire time and bring friends!  We will have a send off for our graduating seniors and a prayer for our 8th graders transitioning into high school.

June

25-28 – Adventure Camp (for incoming 7th graders) – 1-3:45PM in the youth room.  Contact Pastor Betsey to sign up or for more information.

29th – All youth group trip to Silverwood – 9:30AM-7PM. Print off the form:  Silverwood Form with all the details or pick one up in the youth room or on the bulletin board outside my office.  Cost is $33/person.  Parents are welcome to attend and help drive (you will need to pay the entry fee as well).  All incoming 7th graders through graduated seniors and their friends are welcome to attend!  Contact Pastor Betsey for more info.

July

1st – Commissioning and Packing meeting – all mission trip participants are expected to meet in the youth room at 9AM to get T-shirts, fill out prayer cards, etc. prior to heading into the 9:30AM worship service to be commissioned.  Afterward there will be a packing meeting in the youth room until approximately noon.  Don’t forget to bring your sleeping pad (no air mattresses) and sleeping bag to pack up!

8th-14th – Mission Trip to Denver! Check out real time updates from the group on the mission trip blog: http://missiontrip.oasisspokane.com

August

16th – Mission Trip Slide Show – participants and leaders are invited to dinner at 6PM, parents and the congregation are invited to attend from 7-8PM (parents bring a dessert to share).  This will be a wonderful celebration of the mission trip – we’ll hear from students about the trip itself and watch a slide show.

19th – I will officially be back to work, so feel free to contact me with any questions!  I will be spending lots of time planning for the fall:-)

Thank you all for such a wonderful program year, it really is a pleasure and joy to work with your students.

Grace and Peace,

Katie

Well, we have seem glimmers of spring in our two 60+ degree days – lets hope we have a lot more of them in the future!  Next week is spring break for district 81, so I wanted to get the April blog entry in before anyone leaves town so you know what’s going on this month.

Highlight

The Progressive Dinner fundraiser for the mission trip this summer was a great success with all three groups filling up (one group even had an extra person).  A big thank you to all the parents and students who made that evening a success!

Coming up

We will not have regular Oasis the first two weeks in April because of spring break and Easter; however, small groups are each planning their own special events during the week – here is what is planned:

High school girls: On Saturday, March 31st at 6:30PM the girls are meeting at the church in the youth room for a Harry Potter movie marathon.  I believe it is a dessert potluck, so girls bring a friend and a dessert to share!  Contact Heather Marshall for more info (509-270-3284)

All boys (high school and middle school): on Saturday, April 7th from 12-4 the guys are meeting to play paintball at Virtual Assault (4103 E. Mission).  The cost will be $25 plus the cost of the paintballs (probably about $35).  Contact Mitch Boylan for more info (541-720-4412).

Middle school girls: on Saturday, March 31st at 6:30PM the girls are meeting at the church, then going to Bluberry frozen yogurt, and to watch a movie at Nichole Webber’s home (2415 E. 48th) with both the leaders (Nichole and Amanda).  Bring money for frozen yogurt.  Contact Nichole Webber for more info (509-868-3889).

April 1 – No Oasis (spring break)

April 8 – No Oasis (Easter)

April 13-14 – 30 hour famine for middle schoolers.  Sign up with Katie and pick up a fundraising packet on the bulletin board outside my office.  Feel free to invite friends!  We will be joining Shadle and Whitworth Presbyterian churches for some fun events.  Meet at the church at 5PM Friday, the famine will be over and you can go home at 3PM on Saturday.

April 14-15 – Service weekend for mission trip participants (this is mandatory!).  Meet at the church at 4PM, we will be done after the 2nd service on Sunday, around noon.

April 15 – Oasis service night!  We will all meet at the church at 5PM for a quick dinner before heading out for our service project.  Make sure you have filled out a general permission slip at some point this program year, if not print one off the website and bring it with you.

April 22 – Regular Oasis!  Small groups at 5PM, youth group from 6-8PM.  We’ll be talking about peer pressure during content time.

April 29 – Regular Oasis!  Small groups at 5PM, youth group from 6-8PM.  We’ll be joining the rest of the congregation for a chili feed as we dedicate the new fellowship hall (the rest of the evening we’ll have our regular activities).  There will be a few other snacks for those who are not chili fans.  Middle schoolers will continue the conversation on peer pressure and High schoolers will have a discussion time about homosexuality and what the Bible has to say with Pastor Betsey.

Ways to get involved

1)  On Wednesday, May 2nd we are having a leader appreciation dinner to say thank you to all the voluneer leaders who help out at Oasis.  We need parent help!  Usually the dinner is at someone’s home, different parents contribute different parts of the meal (so the host doesn’t have to cook) and some parents contribute $ toward gift cards for the leaders (last year they were all given $20 gift cards to AMC theaters).  If you would be willing to help out in some way, contact our youth ministry Elder: Ash Boodel (ashboodel@gmail.com).

2)  We could use some help driving on the service night – if you’d be willing please contact Katie (katie@hamblenpres.org)

3) Continue to pray for the youth ministry at Hamblen, for the leaders and for the students.

I pray that your spring is off to a great start and that you have been able to enjoy the couple of beautiful days we’ve had so far – and may we have many more to come!

Grace and Peace,

Katie

I don’t know about you, but I am tired of snow (though grateful that we didn’t have too rough of a winter) and ready for spring!  I anxiously await more green showing up and little blossoms of new growth – signs of life to come.  Sometimes I have to slow myself down because I am constatly waiting for the next step rather than fully enjoying the present moment and all that God has to teach me NOW.

Highlights

February was a good month at Oasis.  We had consistent numbers of students and we hope for the same as we go into March.  We kicked off our sex and relationship series, which will continue through March.

Coming up

1)  March 4th 5-8PM - Oasis: small groups 5PM, youth group 6-8PM.  Talking about healthy relationships

2)  March 11th 6-8PM – Sky High sports – we will NOT be meeting at the church for Oasis tonight, please drop your student off at Sky High Sports (the trampoline place) 1322 E. Front Ave.  The cost is $20/person and includes 2 hours of jumping.  You can drop your student off at 5:45 and pick them up at 8PM.  Friends are welcome, but EVERYONE must have a signed waiver (you can download them on the website: http://spo.jumpskyhigh.com or pick one up at the church).

3)  March 18th 5-8PM – Oasis: small groups 5PM, youth group 6-8PM.  We’ll be talking about sex with middle school students (what God intends) and talking about boundaries with high school students (AKA “Chart night”)

4)  March 24th 5-8PM -  Progressive Dinner put on as the primary fundraiser for the high school mission trip to Denver, CO.  If you are not helping out with it, we’d love for you to sign up to attend!  It will be a fun evening with great food.  $35/person, sign up in the narthex of the church or e-mail Katie (katie@hamblenpres.org)

5)  March 25th 5-8PM – Oasis: small groups 5PM, youth group 6-8PM.  Tonight Pastors Ken and Betsey will be joining the group and facilitating discussion over tough issues found in scripture: sex outside of marriage, homosexuality, abortion.

6)  April 13-14 – 30 Hour Famine – This year we will have middle school students  participate in the famine.  We will be partnering with some other churches for much of the famine, but will be sleeping at our church.  Pick up a flier at church if you are interested – friends are welcome!

Get Involved

Pray – some specific prayer requests:

1)  Pray for the leaders who work with your students – that they would have energy and find good ways to connect witstudents.

2) Pray for God’s continued direction of the youth ministry – that God would continue to guide me (Katie) as the leader and provide vision and direction.

3)  Pray for other families who may be struggling as they parent their teen through these difficult years.

Thank you for your prayers and your continued support of the youth ministry.  I am honored to partner with you in ministry to your student(s).

Grace and Peace,

Katie

We are off to a good start for 2012.  During the month of January we had various volunteer leaders share their faith stories with the students in hopes that students could get to know leaders better, identify with different leaders’ journeys and begin thinking about their own faith journey.  It is important to recognize how God has been present and active in our lives, how He is using our circumstances to shape us – something we must pause and intentionally recognize.  I am grateful for these leaders willingness to be vulnerable and share the good and the difficult with our students.

Coming up:

1)  February 5 – No Oasis – enjoy the Super Bowl as a family!

2)  February 12 – Oasis – At 5PM students will be delivering cards and cookies to shut-ins from our church.  We will have a regular Oasis schedule from 6-8PM.

3)  February 19 – No Oasis – This was originally scheduled to be a 4 day weekend, and I imagine many of you have family plans – enjoy!

4)  February 26 – Mission prep meeting from 12-1:30 in the youth room.  Parents will need to attend the first 30 minutes to go over details of the Progressive Dinner.

- Oasis will follow a regular schedule this evening.  We will be kicking off the Sex and Relationships series this week.  If you have questions regarding the details of the curriculum, please contact me (katie@hamblenpres.org or 448-2909).

How to be involved:

1)  Help drive students as they deliver Valentine goodies to the shut ins on February 12th – e-mail me (katie@hamblenpres.org) if you are interested.

2)  Continue praying not only for your students, but also for the youth ministry at Hamblen and its leaders as we partner with you in ministry.

Blessings to you and your family this winter!  Please feel free to call or e-mail if you have any questions or concerns.

Grace and Peace,

Katie

Just a quick reminder that meals are $4 per person per night.  Some of you already paid for the year for your student – thank you!  If you paid for the first semester, but still need to pay for this semester, the total is $55 (we reduce the cost if you pay all at once).  If you have more than one student in programs at the church that provide meals (Fish, KICK or Oasis) we charge $3/person/meal.  If you plan to pay per semester, your total would be $45/student.  Joan does a great job of providing some delicious meals on a tight budget, and we are so grateful for her!  She tells me the fund needs to be replenished, so I’m passing the word on – please either send $4 with your student for dinner at Oasis or a check to pay for the semester.  Thank you!

Katie

Time does fly when you’re having fun – it is difficult to believe we are this far into our program year, welcoming 2012!  We had a great first semster at Oasis, with about 35-40 different students that we see on a monthly basis (they are never all there the same week, but that is how many different students we see regularly).  The youth ministry team is excited for the new year and all it will bring!

Coming up:

1)  January 8th 5-8PM – Oasis kicks off for the year.  Small groups will be preparing cards and cookies that will be delivered to Hamblen shut-ins in February (5PM).  This month various leaders will be sharing their faith stories with the youth during the discussion time.

2) January 15th 5-8PM- Laser Quest!  We will meet at 5PM for a quick dinner before heading down to Laser Quest.  The cost is $15/person for 2 games.  Friends are welcome but need to bring a signed permission slip (you can print one off on this blog).  We’ll be back to the church by 8PM.

3) January 22nd 12-1PM – Mission Prep Meeting – it is the first meeting of the 2012 summer mission team.  Parents need to attend this meeting, we will be planning the progressive dinner that will take place March 24th.

4) February 5th – In past years we have planned a super bowl party, but found that many students attend one with their family, so this year we have cancelled Oasis and encourage students to hang out with their families.

Ways to be involved:

1)  Drive to Laser Quest – We will need parents to help drive to and from Laser Quest.  Please e-mail me (katie@hamblenpres.org) if you are willing to help drive.

2) Attend the mission prep meeting if your student is going on the trip – all parents of mission participants are required to help out in some way with the progressive dinner.  If you show up at the meeting, you get to decide how you are involved!

3) Pray – I assume you already do, but keep on praying for your teen and the youth ministry at Hamblen, prayer is powerful!

Blessings to you and your family as you start off this new year.  May you come to know Jesus more in the coming year and continue to grow in faith and trust in Him.

Grace and Peace,

Katie

I cannot believe it is already approaching the end of 2011!  The first part of the program year always flies by.  We got off to a great start this year and have really enjoyed your students.

Highlights

We sent 9 students to the middle school retreat and 13 to the high school retreat.  All reportedly had a wonderful time!  The middle school retreat got off to an interesting start with a church overnight on Friday since the roads were so bad, but the girls seems to love that experience as well.  The high school students had a great time as well – the girls lucked out and got to stay in the lodge (not something they should get used to:-), and the guys enjoyed dressing up as ninjas for the games:-)  The first pic is of the students (and two of our leaders) who were brave enough for the polar bear plunge!

I was not able to attend the middle school retreat and therefore don’t have pictures to share, but here are a few things from the high school retreat:

Coming up:

1) Monday, December 5th 4PM – Mission Trip Applications Due!!  The applications, questions, med forms, contract and deposit are all due into me by 4PM today.  If for some reason a student needs an extension please e-mail me to let me know and get it in ASAP.  If you need a new application I can e-mail one to you (katie@hamblenpres.org).

2)  December 11th 5-8PM – Oasis Family Christmas Party!  Students should wear the ugliest Christmas sweater they can find (there will be a competition); Joan is preparing a fabulous holiday dinner for us, and there will of course be fun holiday games.  This is a great event to invite friends to.

3) No Oasis again until January 8th.  Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!

May you and your family enjoy the Advent season as we anticipate and celebrate the birth of our savior!

Grace and Peace to you,

Katie

I am not sure how many of you may have heard through your students (I announced last Sunday), but Brad and I are expecting our second child to arrive in May!  We are very excited for this new life and all it will bring.

We have a lot coming up this Sunday and in November!

Highlights

We have had 46 different students attend Oasis since the kick off in September.  We are off to a great start and are really enjoying your students!  The new leaders are doing a fantastic job of connecting with students, I am grateful to have them as partners in ministry.

Coming up

1) Mission info meeting – This Sunday, October 30th 11:45AM in the youth room.  We will have applications available and will discuss the location of the trip and answer any questions you might have.  Parents and students are encouraged to attend.  If you cannot make it, drop by the office to pick up an application and e-mail me any questions you might have. 

2) Corn Maze – This Sunday, October 30th 5-8PM.  We are all meeting at Hamblen at 5PM for a quick dinner, then leaving the church promptly at 5:30PM to head to the Amazing Corn Maze in Hauser, ID.  The cost is $8 and students will need to have the general permission slip filled out (print it out from this website – it has it’s own page).  Friends are welcome but need permission slips.  I still could use one or two more drivers, so let me know if you are available.

3) Ganado Camp Christmas Project – During the month of November we’ll be collecting items to send down to the Ganado Presbyterian Church (where we did our mission trip last summer) that will be given out to members of the community at Christmas.  We are not asking the congregation to donate, just students, so it is important that they participate and donate items.  On November 20th during Oasis the students will pack up all these items to send down to Ganado.  Items needed:

Warm socks, scarves, caps, aprons, toiletries (shampoo, soap, lotion), thermal wear, gloves, barettes, combs, brushes, Ben Gay, bandaids, nail clippers, medium sized fabric bags, cough drops

You’ll notices that these are all items we consider to be basic necessities, not Christmas gifts, but this is what the people in Ganado need.  There will be a box outside the youth room to collect these items leading up to November 20th.

4) Spalding fall retreats – The middle school retreat is November 18-20, registrations are due no later than Sunday, November 13th.  The high school retreat is December 2-4, registrations are due no later than Sunday, November 27th.  We do not want money to be a reason a student cannot go, so talk to me about a scholarship if it would be helpful.  We will need parent drivers for both retreats, so please e-mail me to let me know when you might be willing to help drive.

5) Oasis game night – on Sunday, November 27th (the Sunday following Thanksgiving) we will have our annual game night!  We plan to play “bigger or better”, so students will be going outside for a time, make sure they dress appropriately.  We have a fun night planned and hope students will be there and bring friends!  Dinner will not be provided that evening (we like to give Joan a night off), so we are asking students to bring snacks to share.

Ways to get involved

1) We need help driving!  I need at least one or two more drivers for this Sunday to the corn maze, and we will need parents willing to drive to fall retreats and home from fall retreats.  E-mail me (katie@hamblenpres.org) if you are willing to drive for any of those events.

2) Take your student shopping to purchase items for the Ganado Camp Christmas – we all know they will not remember to do this if you don’t help them out:-)

3) Pray – prayer moves mountains (and teenagers:-) – never underestimate the power of prayer:-)

I hope you are enjoying this beautiful Spokane fall weather with the gorgeous leaves!  May you see God in new places this fall season.

Grace and Peace,

Katie

Fall literally blew in on Sunday!  I love summer, but I am ready for sweaters, pumpkin bread, changing and falling leaves.  Fall in Spokane really is beautiful, and I am glad it is here!

Highlights

We had a great kick off to the year at the luau on September 18th – we had 70 people there (30 youth and their families).  Thank you all for coming to kick off the year, meet leaders and hear about what we have planned for the year.

Coming up

1) Our fall retreats are being planned and put on by Camp Spalding this year (in previous years all the area youth directors put them together).  The middle school fall camp will be November 18-20; the high school fall camp will be December 2-4.  Spalding will be sending out an e-mail advertising this camp – however, you are encouraged to sign up through me (Hamblen) – you save $15 and we will provide the counselor for our own cabins.  It will be a great weekend – click Fall camps 2011 to download the registration form.

2) Sunday, October 2 – each month small groups will be doing some sort of service project together.  This Sunday small groups will be meeting at the church at 4:50 (leaving promptly at 5PM) to do some yard clean up for an elderly couple in our church.  We will only be there for an hour (or a little less), so dress appropriately and bring work gloves.

3) Sunday, October 30 – We will be going to the corn maze again this year!  We’ll meet at the church at 5Pm for a quick dinner before taking off for the corn maze.  Students will need the general permission slip filled out (you can print it on the page titled “permission slip”) and brought that night.  The cost is $8/person.  I will need help driving, so if you would be willing to help drive let me know (katie@hamblenpres.org).

4) Sunday, October 30 – Mission 2012 informational meeting.  We will meet in the youth room at 11:45AM that morning – both students and parents are encouraged to attend this meeting (even if students are not completely sure they want to go).  We’ll talk about the upcoming trip details (what we know so far), introduce the leadership team and answer any questions you might have.

Ways to get involved

1) Volunteer to help drive to the corn maze on October 30th – just e-mail me and let me know how many seatbelts you have available.

2) Pray – for your student, for the youth ministry at Hamblen, for Oasis and the leaders.

May you feel God’s blessing and presence surrounding you and your family this fall!

Grace and Peace,

Katie

I hope everyone is enjoying the continuation of summer weather, especially when it took so long for summer to arrive in Spokane!  Although the weather indicates summer, we are gearing up for fall around the church.  All the children and youth programs will be kicking off this next week.  You should have received a letter describing some small changes for youth Sunday School and Oasis this year as well as the kick-off Luau.  But just in case you didn’t, here are the highlights:

Sunday School

This year we are encouraging older youth (high school) to either volunteer to help in children’s Sunday School or work in the nursery, then attend worship at 10:30.  Middle school youth are encouraged to attend worship with their families at 9AM, then will be dismissed by the pastor after the sermon to go to the youth room for donuts and sermon discussion – how does it apply to their lives?  Our hope is that youth are worshiping with the congregation and this is one new way we are trying to encourage that.

Oasis

The schedule for Oasis is changing a bit, though it still includes all the same elements.  If your family prefers to have dinner together on Sunday evenings we have arranged the schedule in such a way that you can have your family dinner, then drop your student off at Oasis at 6:30PM when the actual program begins.  Our first Oasis with the regular schedule is September 25th.  We hope the new schedule gives your family options:

5:00-5:45             Small Groups (divided by age group and gender) 

6:00-6:30             Dinner ($4/meal)

6:30-7:00             Middle school – content

                                   High school – game

7:00-7:30            Middle school – game

                                   High school – content

7:30-8:00             Worship

8:00                         Program ends

Kick off Luau

Sunday, September 18th 6-8PM - please join us in your best Hawaiian attire!  We will have another scrumptious meal prepared by Joan Biddison and Tim and Kay Steinhilber.  Last year we had a huge turn out – 90 people (39 youth and 51 family members), so join us for another fun kick off to the year.  The dinner buffet will start shortly after 6PM ($4/person, $15/family).  At 7PM students will go with the leaders to play fun games while the parents meet with myself and Jay Lake (youth ministry Elder) to talk about the year and answer any questions you might have. 

Each year 2-3 parents are nominated to join the leadership team (we meet bi-monthly starting in November) to offer their insights into program.  This is the meeting where those parents are nominated, so if you would be interesting in representing the “parent voice” on the leadership team please come to this meeting (if you are unable to attend but are interested please e-mail me).

Parent are always interested in who the leaders are – you will have the opportunity to meet them at the kick off.  I’ll introduce each leader and have them share a bit about themselves.

If you plan to attend the luau – don’t forget to RSVP to me (katie@hamblenpres.org) by Thursday, September 15th so we know how much food to make.

Meals at Oasis

Joan Biddison does a great job of planning and preparing meals for our students at Oasis for a very reasonable price.  We charge $4/person per meal, however, if you are willing to pay ahead of time, you can pay $40 for the first semester, $55 for the second semester, or $90 for the year.  If you have more than one child attending programs at Hamblen that provide a meal (Oasis, Kick, Fish) we are reducing the price to $3/person to help with family costs (which would be $78 for the year).

I am excited for this new program year and for all that God will do in and through the youth ministry at Hamblen.  I pray that your students connect well at Oasis and that they grow in their relationship with Christ (wherevery they are in that relationship).

Grace and Peace,

Katie