Last Day!

We're heading home today, but first we are going to a church unlike any the kids have ever known. We will be attending Liberation Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) in St. Louis, MO for their Hip Hop Service. Can't wait to see what it's like!

After the service we will be heading home and will probably arrive around supper time. See ya soon!

Day of Fun at Six Flags St. Louis!

Day 3 Schedule

After two days of hard work - day 3 features fun & relaxation.

7:00am – Wake up & Shower

10:00am – Leave for Six Flags, St. Louis

4:00pm – Leave Six Flags, St. Louis

5:00pm – Arrive Comfort Inn & Suites Chesterfield

6:00pm – Supper

7:00pm – Hang out & Swimming

10:30pm - Lights Out

Classic shots from the Mystery Mission Trip

Brian's had it. You'd think he could find somewhere more comfortable than the floor though. Nighty night!

Pure luxury! Webster Groves Christian Church provided us with free lodging, cots, mattresses and showers! Heaven on Earth!

Poor Megan - doing homework on the mission trip!

So far the boys have outperformed the girls by about 10-1 in the kitchen duties. We'll see what happens tomorrow.

Figuring out how much "kindness" to bestow on others at the "Random Act of Kindness" Lunch

The Mystery Mission Clue Book. Never leave a location without it!

Packaging pasta at the Food Bank - we look great in hairnets and gloves!

Day 2 Recap

It is night 2 on our Mystery Mission Trip. Today was a very long day filled with lots of travel, three mission stops, & a lot of tired people. (Kids and adults) We left Macon, MO at 7:00am and traveled to Columbia, MO. Our first stop was Woodhaven where we heard a presentation on their ministry and spent the morning landscaping two of their resident's homes. For lunch we had our "Random Act of Kindness Lunch" where we ate at a restaurant and offered to pay for a strangers lunch before our own. The kids were very frugal with their orders so they were able to give out extra random acts of kindness by blessing the waiters with generous and unexpected tips. This was very big of the kids since they could have kept the money for themselves.

We spent the afternoon at the Central Missouri Food Bank where we packaged bulk pasta into portions for over 6,000 people. Exhausting work, but rewarding. We are now at Webster Groves Christian Church in St. Louis, MO for the night. The kids have cooked a delicious meal of hot dogs and Doritos. (again, their choice) I bought some cherries, blueberries, and watermelon as a surprise for the kids - gotta get some nutrition in there somewhere!

I have a feeling the kids will be asleep earlier tonight - they are exhausted! Who knows what tomorrow will bring?!?!?

Orientation at Woodhaven.

The whole gang before heading out for the morning.

Landscaping is hard but rewarding work. The residents are developmentally disabled so they can't do it themselves.

So here we are in day two of Mystery Mission Trip 2009.

Last night we had a wonderful time with our friends from Macon, MO who held a BBQ and Boating party. A great time was had by all and many of our kids & adults got to go tubing for the first time. Awesome!

We woke up bright and early this morning (5:00am - yes, parents all the kids are up and moving!) and the kids are busy cooking a breakfast of eggs, bacon, & toast. (Their choice. The last challenge yesterday gave them $40 for breakfast and everything had to be fresh - nothing in a box or can. They only spend $21!)

Here is our schedule for the day:

August 7th -

6:00am – Wake up & Breakfast at FCC Macon, MO

7:00am – Leave for NBA Woodhaven, Columbia, MO

8:00am – Arrive @ Mission Site - Woodhaven, Columbia, MO

11:00am – Lunch, Columbia, MO

1:00pm – Arrive @ Mission Site – Central Missouri Food Bank

5:00pm – Leave Food Bank for supper challenge

6:00pm – Leave Columbia, MO for St. Louis, MO

8:30pm – Arrive Webster Groves Christian Church, St. Louis, MO

11:30pm – Lights out @Webster Groves Christian Church

We appreciate your prayers as we go out to serve in God's world today.

Melanie

Macon, MO - staying here tonight.

Testing out the pews in Macon, MO

Sunset in Missouri on night #1.

Making FLY lunches at First United Methodist Church in Marion, IA

Our whole group on the first mission stop of the trip.

FLY lunches ready for delivery.

At Culver-Stockton College in Canton, MO trying to identify campus buildings for Clue #6.

Welcome to Mystery Mission Trip 2009! Be sure to check back often for updates on where we are and what we're doing. Because technology has advanced to the point where the kids have phones & ipods on them which they could use to check the schedule to see what's next, I will only be posting bits of our trip at a time.

So for now - here is our schedule for the next few hours! Check back often for pictures and updates of our journey!

9:00am – Meet at MCC
10:00am – Prepare FLY lunches for Marion Cares @ FUMC, Marion, IA
12:30pm – Arrive Mt. Pleasant, IA for lunch
2:30pm – Arrive Culver-Stockton College, Canton MO
5:30pm – Arrive FCC Macon, MO – drop off luggage

The MCC ladies taking off for General Assembly in Indianapolis. More pictures to follow.

Summer Trips Info

Youth Trips Info

Hello all! I hope you are having a fantastic summer break! We have youth trips coming up - below you will find information regarding the

General Assembly trip and the Mystery Mission Trip. If you have any

questions please contact me ASAP. (In case you were wondering, yes it is too late to cancel unless you have died, are severely injured,

or are in jail. :-)

Melanie

____________________________________________________

General Assembly

(Cassie D, Sammie D, Lexi G, Althea, Megan, Melanie)

Schedule: Wednesday July 29—meet at church at 6:00am

Stop for lunch—arrive at Camp Camby at 4:00pm http://www.campcamby.com/

General Assembly—Thursday—Sunday

Arrive back at MCC—Sunday, August 2nd—evening (will call when approaching)

What to bring: One pair of nice clothes and one pair of “work” clothes for each day. Money for food and souvenirs. Sleeping bag—pillow– towels—toiletries—camera

____________________________________________________________________

Mystery Mission Trip

(Cassie D, Avery D, Sammie D, Lexi G, Alexis D, Elliott K, Joseph D, Drew V, Brian, Melanie, Althea, Lynn, Ian (?)

Schedule: Meet at the church at 9:00 am on Thursday, August 6.

We will return to the church mid-afternoon on Sunday, August 9.

(We will call when we are approaching)

What to bring: A pair of work clothes and a pair of regular clothes for each day.

Sleeping bag, air mattress, toiletries, & towels, spending money for souvenirs, camera.

Keep up with us! Check www.marionchristianyouth.blogspot.com for updates,

pictures, and information while we are away!

Camp Registrations are now Past Due!

Get your camp registrations in to Melanie ASAP! Download camp registrations and find info at http://www.uppermidwestcc.org/ministries_camp.html.

~~ALSO~~

Please turn in registrations for the General Assembly & Mystery Mission Trip. These trips are in danger of being canceled if we don't get more participants registered.

Lift Up Your Voice!

On the first Sunday's of the month beginning in February be ready for some fun singing along with the elementary Sunday school children, as well as, listening to their wonderful voices as we all praise God together during fellowship time. Some of the tunes will be familiar classics to you and the children may ask you to help them sing along. Please support our youth during this praise time of ten minutes prior to Sunday school dismissal.

Holy Express Sunday School Announcement-

Happy New Year and Welcome Back to your HOLY EXPRESS SUNDAY SCHOOL!

We have many exciting lessons for your children in 2009! We continue our learning with the story of Jacob's ladder, Leah and Rachel, the parable of talents, and the wise and foolish builders. The children will be involved in crafts, games, music, art and making ice-cream in a bag. Be sure to be here each Sunday for all the learning and fun!

Don't forget to bring your Bible, offering and learn those memory verses! You can earn Wollars for bringing your Bible and stickers for learning your memory verses. You will receive a prize if you are in attendance and can say your memory verse for each rotation. We had one person this fall earn a gift certificate for free bowling time with the family! WOW how neat is that! Everyone has a new start and can earn a prize for attendance and verses learned for January though Mid-March!

The memory verses are as follows:

1/4 & 1/11 - Genesis 28:16b - Then he thought, "The Lord is certainly in this place. And I didn't even know it."

1/18 & 1/25 - 1 Corinthians 13:7 - "Love always protects. It always trust. It always hopes. It never gives up."

2/1 & 2/8 - James 1:17a - "Every good and perfect gift is from God."

2/15 & 2/22 - James 1:22 "Be doers of the word, not hearers only."

3/15 - 3/22 - John 20:31 - "These are written down so that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God. If you believe this, you will have life because you belong to him."

You can practice looking these verses up in your Bible and saying them to your parents!
Let's meet at the Holy Express Depot each Sunday for lots of fun!

-Christian Education Ministry Team

2009 Plans Announced!

Here are some dates and events to put on your calendar!

Junior Retreat (Grades 3-5) April 24-26
Christian Conference Center
Registration Forms can be found here http://www.uppermidwestcc.org/FormsBrochures/Youthstuff/2009%20Events/JUNIOR_CHIRHO_RETREAT_FORM_09.pdf
Cost: $30.00
Registration is due to Melanie by April 1st. Financing available if needed, just let Melanie know.


Chi Rho Retreat (Grades 6-8) May 1-3
Christian Conference Center
Registration Forms can be found here http://www.uppermidwestcc.org/FormsBrochures/Youthstuff/2009%20Events/JUNIOR_CHIRHO_RETREAT_FORM_09.pdf
Cost: $30.00
Registration is due to Melanie by April 7th. Financing available if needed, just let Melanie know.

Vacation Bible School - June 7-11
5:30-8:00 pm
Theme: To Be Announced
Volunteers needed! Mark your calendars now!

July 27-Aug. 3 - General Assembly (Indianapolis, IN)
All ages welcome! Youth - meet new friends and reconnect with ICYF friends!
Children & Youth: $100.00
Adults: $150.00
(Does not cover food for the week)
Please contact Melanie if you would like to attend.

Aug. 6-9 - Mystery Mission Trip
Where are we going? We're not telling but we can guarantee that we will have fun and serve others at the same time!
Cost: $50
Registration forms available soon.
Adults: Chaperones and drivers needs. Mark your calendars and contact Melanie if interested.

Camp Dates will be released soon!