Don’t forget to bring your appetite; we’ll have hamburgers, hot dogs, chips, etc. We’re asking different grades to bring different foods to help out. 6th & 9th grade bring drinks, 7-8th grades bring chips, 10-11th bring desserts, & 12th bring dips and appetizers. We’ll provide the hamburgers, hot dogs, buns, plates, cups, ice, etc.

The whole family is invited! If the whole family doesn’t come, parents can make arrangements to pick youth up at the Knoxville Boat Club at 8 PM.

Don’t forget to bring your food items, we would hate to run out and only have hotdogs!

Lisa Rotton is the coordinator and contact person for this event.

Please R.S.V.P by calling 521-0287 or emailing mgamble@churchstreetumc.org.

You can register for the Camp Out by following this link.

• April 7 – Pam Reeves and Charles Swanson to talk about legal issues (parents are invited and encouraged to attend this session).
• April 14 – Various college students to talk about many aspects of college life.
• April 21 – Lucy Tyler to talk about housing, living with roommates, and other interpersonal relationships.
• April 28 – Doug Tyler will talk about the psychological issues surrounding going off to college.
• May 5 – Jenny Darden and others to wrap up what has not been covered.

Community Worship - 

Change WAR! to help Imagine No Malaria - As of Sunday night, the high schoolers are winning the Change WAR, but just barely! Collectively we have saved 33 lives with the money gathered so far. Our goal for lent is to save a total of 80 lives. Keep bringing in that change and remember that paper money counts negatively in your competition’s jar.

Help for Parents: Running the Rapids - Dr. Kevin Leman has been a favorite of Church Street parents for many years. Sue Isbell has led countless groups helping parents navigate the journey of raising kids. Running the Rapids is one of Dr. Leman’s offerings for the parents of teenagers. Ginger Holladay and others will be facilitating a group through this study March, 3, 10, 17, & 24 on Sunday evenings during the time that youth are in Nightlife. Lent provides a great opportunity to commit with others to become a better parent and remembering that your needs are important too.

KARM Camp Out - Church Street youth know how much I LOVE lock-ins, so much that I haven’t done one in ten or so years. However, KARM is doing all the work this time, and it a cause that I can support. April 26-27, KARM (Knox Area Rescue Ministries) is hosting their second annual Camp Out at World’s Fair Park to raise money and awareness about homelessness in our community. We are going to join them. There will be lots of fun, concerts, food, games, and teaching times from the stage. Then we will spend the night outside at the park. Don’t worry, my first question was about security and safety, and they have an extensive plan in place. The cost is $30 and we will be done by 9 AM on April 27. For more information you can visit KARM’s website at: http://www.karm.org/campout.

You can register for the Camp Out by following this link.

College Bound - Acceptance letters are arriving and decisions are being made. It is a busy time for students and families with a student starting college for the first time. We would like to provide some resources to hopefully ease the process for both students and families.

• For graduating high school seniors we would like to gather on Thursday evenings beginning March 7, 7 PM, at Panera in Bearden. We plan to meet March 7, 14, 21, and April 4. and possibly continue if the group wants. We will have guest speakers and group discussions. We plan to cover topics like: how to deal with roommates, over commitment, Greek life, religious communities, legal issues, alcohol & parties, time management, and faith issues you are sure to be confronted with.
• For parents we plan to have a couple of Sunday school classes in April to cover the emotional issues with your child beginning college as well as legal issues that you may not have thought about. Look for more information in the coming weeks.

Basketball Banquet - Put Sunday, April 11 on your calendar. We will have a lunch banquet to celebrate the season. More information coming soon.

The cost has also changed. It is now $25, not $40. If you have already written a check, I have not deposited them yet and you can pick your check up and write a new one if you like.

I am reopening registration until Thursday. If you would like to join us, please respond to this email. Thank you!

Change WAR! to help Imagine No Malaria - As of Sunday night, the high schoolers are winning the Change WAR! However, collectively we have saved 17 lives with the money gathered so far. Our goal for lent is to save a total of 80 lives. Keep bringing in that change and remember that paper money counts negatively in your competition’s jar.

Help for Parents: Running the Rapids - Dr. Kevin Leman has been a favorite of Church Street parents for many years. Sue Isbell has led countless groups helping parents navigate the journey of raising kids. Running the Rapids is one of Dr. Leman’s offerings for the parents of teenagers. Ginger Holladay and others will be facilitating a group through this study March, 3, 10, 17, & 24 on Sunday evenings during the time that youth are in Nightlife. Lent provides a great opportunity to commit with others to become a better parent and remembering that your needs are important too

KARM Camp Out - Church Street youth know how much I LOVE lock-ins, so much that I haven’t done one in ten or so years. However, KARM is doing all the work this time, and it a cause that I can support. April 26-27, KARM (Knox Area Rescue Ministries) is hosting their second annual Camp Out at World’s Fair Park to raise money and awareness about homelessness in our community. We are going to join them. There will be lots of fun, concerts, food, games, and teaching times from the stage. Then we will spend the night outside at the park. Don’t worry, my first question was about security and safety, and they have an extensive plan in place. The cost is $30 and we will be done by 9 AM on April 27. For more information you can visit KARM’s website at: http://www.karm.org/campout.

College Bound - Acceptance letters are arriving and decisions are being made. It is a busy time for students and families with a student starting college for the first time. We would like to provide some resources to hopefully ease the process for both students and families.

• For graduating high school seniors we would like to gather on Thursday evenings beginning March 7, 7 PM, at Panera in Bearden. We plan to meet March 7, 14, 21, and April 4. and possibly continue if the group wants. We will have guest speakers and group discussions. We plan to cover topics like: how to deal with roommates, over commitment, greek life, religious communities, legal issues, alcohol & parties, time management, and faith issues you are sure to be confronted with.
• For parents we plan to have a couple of Sunday school classes in April to cover the emotional issues with your child beginning college as well as legal issues that you may not have thought about. Look for more information in the coming weeks.

Lucy’s Perspective - This past weekend I attended our Confirmation retreat at Lake Junaluska. It was a lot of fun! Usually on the weekends I enjoy sleeping in, but this weekend was worth the early mornings! During the time I was there I became very close to my classmates. During our free time, we would always meet in the hallway and hangout.  Our time together was sort of our bonding time.  We have gotten to know each other way better. It has been such a great experience! I think  this has been the best part of confirmation!  In between all the fun, I enjoyed learning about my Methodist heritage and sharing Jesus.  I also enjoyed spending the weekend with my parents.  All these things put together, along with some beautiful snow, made this trip extra special. Our class started out being shy toward each other and  now we are like a family.

Mom’s Perspective - The greatest earthly blessing I believe you ever receive is a precious baby that God entrust you with – but only for a short while. You look to the Heavens in awe and just can’t believe the amazing gift you have been given.  You watch her grow and pray that you are doing all the right things.  You hold her hand and try and lead her to be the best person possible.  This past weekend at Lake Junaluska , my daughter held my hand and showed me truly the best things in life.  I listened to my daughter talk about Jesus and his love – and not to her family, but to people she really didn’t know very well.  I was overwhelmed at how she spoke.  She wasn’t a little girl anymore.  She was her own person with her own ideas and opinions.  I was so proud of them.  I was so thankful to have the opportunity to watch her in this spiritual setting.  Thankful to give communion to each other. Thankful for Church Street and all that it offers. It was wonderful sharing this experience with Lucy and the other families.  I believe the weekend touched all our hearts. I will always cherish those memories.

Pancakes! for Shrove Tuesday - We made a spontaneous decision last night to gather tomorrow night, Tuesday the 12th, at IHOP on Lovell Road…5:30 PM for pancakes as we prepare to enter the season of Lent. All are welcome. PLEASE RSVP to Marc so that we can have some idea of how many to tell IHOP will be joining us. You can text Marc at 604-8239.

Change War! for Imagine No Malaria - The youth council met yesterday to discuss several things, one of which was how the youth department would join our church in raising money to support the Imagine No Malaria campaign in efforts to rid the world of malaria by 2015.

It was decided that we would sponsor a “change war” for the 40 days of Lent. It will be a contest between middle school and high school. We are asking individual youth to collect change and bring it in weekly to collect in two large glass jars. The age group that collects the most change may win. The kicker is…if someone puts paper money in your change jar it subtracts from the change total for the group associated with that collection jar. By way of example, Thomas Stubbs made the first change contribution of $1 in change last night, and another high schooler have me a $5 bill to put in the middle school collection. So, as it stands the high school is winning with $1, them middle school has -$5 and the total collected for Imagine No Malaria so far is $6. Make sense? If not, who cares!?!?! It all goes to a good cause, just bring the money in!

One Day Retreat - Join us February 23 for our first ever One Day Retreat. A whole weekend retreat crammed into one day. The theme for the day is Manifesto and we will work through our personal beliefs, some of what the UMC believes, and also beliefs that the Christian church as a whole hold true. Marc will be the speaker for the day. Our music will be provided by Stereo Radio, or at least a portion of them. Check them out online for a sneak preview. Here is a copy of the downloadable flier with more information. Registration is due this coming Sunday, but is appreciated earlier.

Help for Parents: Running the Rapids - Dr. Kevin Leman has been a favorite of Church Street parents for many years. Sue Isbell has led countless groups helping parents navigate the journey of raising kids. Running the Rapids is one of Dr. Leman’s offerings for the parents of teenagers. Ginger Holladay and others will be facilitating a group through this study March, 3, 10, 17, & 24 on Sunday evenings during the time that youth are in Nightlife. Lent provides a great opportunity to commit with others to become a better parent and remembering that your needs are important too.

Girls’ Basketball - Our girls’ basketball teams are having a great season. The Night Furies won their first game this weekend and have come so close to winning others. We are very proud of the progress that they have made. The Protestant Princesses are certainly making the mark on the league. So far they are undefeated and are having a lot of fun while playing. If you haven’t had the chance to come see the girls play, it it great fun and they REALLY appreciate the support. You can find dates and times that they play at the following link. FYI, they play each other on February 23 at 1 PM. It would be awesome to fill Concord’s gym with support and love for our girls. https://sites.google.com/site/westknoxbasketball/schedule.

College Bound - Acceptance letters are arriving and decisions are being made. It is a busy time for students and families with a student starting college for the first time. We would like to provide some resources to hopefully ease the process for both students and families.

• For graduating high school seniors we would like to gather on Thursday evenings beginning March 7, 7 PM, at Panera in Bearden. We plan to meet March 7, 14, 21, and April 4. and possibly continue if the group wants. We will have guest speakers and group discussions. We plan to cover topics like: how to deal with roommates, over commitment, greek life, religious communities, legal issues, alcohol & parties, time management, and faith issues you are sure to be confronted with.
• For parents we plan to have a couple of Sunday school classes in April to cover the emotional issues with your child begining college as well as legal issues that you may not have thought about. Look for more information in the coming weeks.

For most of us, this is not our favorite subject. We much prefer, and quite naturally I might add, to reflect upon the obviously new and beautiful parts of life. We enjoy the prospect of future plans and hopes and dreams. We like the Jesus who heals, forgives, and loves. We love the story of the resurrection. We are Easter people!

Lent provides us with the opportunity to question, to worry, to grieve and to wonder as a time of personal reflection and conviction.

Ash Wednesday is on February 13 this year, and on that day we literally mark the beginning of this journey of sacrifice in Lent.  It is a time to remember that we are dust, and to cleanse ourselves of sinful habits as we prepare to be renewed with the sunrise on Easter morning. We are offering three opportunities on Ash Wednesday to begin a Holy Lent. They are:

7-8 a.m. Imposition of the Ashes at the Nave Altar

We hope you will come by the church on your morning commute–with your family, or on your own.  This time is meant to be “drop in.”  When you arrive, find your way to the Nave and take a place at the Nave altar to receive the ashes on your forehead and spend as long as you would like in prayer.  We will provide a short devotional card for you to take with you.

Noon, 6:30 p.m. Ash Wednesday Service in the Nave

These are our usual Ash Wednesday Service including music, liturgy, preaching, and imposition of the ashes. The 6:30 service will include a “Moments with All God’s Children” so that we can teach children the significance and begin putting the “Alleluias” in the box for the next 40 days. 

Will this be the year when you observe a Holy Lent? Are you willing to reflect on your mortality and receive the incredible gift of joy with the story of resurrection? What will you give up this year?  Chocolate? Eating Out? What about “giving up” malaria by saving your lunch money once a week and contributing to the Imagine No Malaria campaign? Or, will you take something up? Exercise? Flossing?

–Rev. Sarah Varnell