NEW WAYS OF WORSHIP, STUDY & FELLOWSHIP DUE TO THE CORONAVIRUS
Although we are separated physically, we are still ONE in Spirit! The following adjustments are being made so that Youth Ministry continues:
- Sunday School will continue in a virtual format. Content will be sent out through text and email links, as a Facebook post, and HERE on our Youth Page! You can still watch the Bible Project videos at home with your family, and even download a PDF version of the fill-in-the-blank handout with questions. Consider doing this together as a family and then discuss the content together! You can even leave comments or questions through the Facebook Post. This week we are watching Philippians & Colossians. Link directly below and Download the PDF for the Handout or following along on the web version of the handout below.
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| philippians_colossians_handout_.pdf |
Philippians & Colossians Hand-Out - April 5, 2020
Philippians: The church in Philippi was the first Jesus community Paul started in Eastern Europe (Acts 16). Philippi was a Roman colony in Macedonia known for its patriotic nationalism. Paul faced resistance when announcing Jesus as the True King of the World, and his followers suffered the same fate, but they remained faithful. Paul wrote this letter in prison as a thank you for the gift he had received from their church through Epaphroditus. The Messiah poem in Chapter 2 is expounded throughout all the other sections of the letter with the point, “Your story is a living expression of the Jesus Story.” It begins with a prayer of gratefulness for the Philippians’ faithfulness, then moves on to stories about how his imprisonment has benefits. Dying for Jesus is not the greatest sacrifice for Paul – staying alive to start more faith communities is! Paul then urges the Philippians to take up this same mindset and to let their way of life be shaped by King Jesus. The Messiah Poem in Chapter two references Adam’s rebellion in Genesis and also quotes Isaiah’s suffering servant passage. It is a poem worth committing to memory as a condensed version of the Gospel story. Before becoming human, the Messiah pre-existed in a state of glory and equality with God. Unlike Adam who tried to seize equality with God, the Messiah chose not to exploit his equality for self-advantage but rather emptied himself of status, became a servant to all, and allowed himself to be humiliated. He was obedient to God unto death. He was resurrected and is now highly exalted as the king of all. All creation should recognize that Jesus is Lord to the glory of God the Father. Jesus is lifted up as God and as the example we should follow. Paul then goes on to tell 2 stories about how Timothy and Epaphroditus are good examples of living the Jesus life. He then uses his own life as an example – he has given up status to become a servant like Jesus. For followers of Jesus, true citizenship is in Heaven, where Jesus reigns as king. Paul challenges the Philippians to live in unity and to live without fear. He says that followers must focus their thoughts on what is good and true and lovely. All of life is a gift and we can choose to see beauty in every circumstance. He concludes by thanking them again, then sharing about how he has learned the secret of contentment: It is simple dependence on the One who strengthens him. Suffering is just a participation in the story of Jesus. Knowing Jesus is always a deeply personal transforming encounter.
Application:
Application:
- How does your own life story resemble the Jesus story?
- Revisit Philippians 4:8. We memorized this a few years ago. Re-memorize!
Colossians: Written by Paul from prison to a church in Colossae that was started by Epaphras. Paul had never even met the people, but was writing to encourage them, to address the issues raised by Epaphras and to challenge them to greater devotion to Jesus. It opens with 2 prayers of thankfulness for Faithfulness. He prays that they would grow in wisdom and spiritual understanding. Next comes the Messiah poem explaining who Jesus is. Jesus is the head of the new body of believers. Paul explains how his suffering in prison is a joy because he participates in Jesus’ suffering as an act of love. Jesus is creating a new multi-ethnic family in which to dwell (The Messiah in you, the hope of glory!). The Colossians were being pressured to turn away by two things – Mystical polytheism and Observance of the Laws of the Torah. These new Christians had grown up worshipping many Greek & Roman gods and simply were adding Jesus to this “collection.” The Jewish Christians were pressuring them to follow the Torah. Paul does not want them to compromise. The followers used to live in fear to these other spiritual powers but were now free to live in confidence of Christ. By joining their lives with Jesus, they were becoming a new humanity. They were challenged to “set your minds on things above, where the Messiah rules.” Jesus rules now from heaven and when He is revealed, we too will be revealed with Him in glory. Paul challenges them to live in the present as the kind of human they will become – to get rid of distorted sexuality, destructive speech, etc., and to become holy. The new humanity of mercy, generosity, forgiveness and love transcends the ethnic and social boundary lines of our world to create a people where this is no distinction of peoples – Messiah is in them ALL. The new Roman household would look really different – Jesus is Lord of the House, the wife respects the husband & the husband loves her & puts her needs above his own, children as called to maturity through patient, understanding parents, and slaves are to serve as if unto the Lord and are to be treated with respect as brothers and sisters in Christ. Paul concludes with the story of Philemon & his escaped slave Onesimus, asking the Colossae church to greet Onesimus as a beloved, faithful brother in the Lord. No part of human existence remains untouched by the loving and liberating rule of Jesus. We are invited to live into the New Creation now!
Application:
Application:
- We studied all of Colossians on our mission to Branson. Can you still quote Colossians 2:6-7? Re-memorize it!
- In this time of extreme closeness with our family members, how might we live into the house structure under the rule of Jesus that Paul describes? How does it help family dynamics?
Other Youth Ministry:
We will meet on Zoom this Sunday Night at 7pm. Be looking for a text message with the link on Sunday afternoon (if you want to invite a friend, you can share the link, but only share with other youth you trust - we don’t want cyber-stalkers to join our group!). You can join on PC, Mac, or by Phone, but if you use a computer you will have more tools. How to prepare: 1) Go to a room of your house or outside where it is fairly quiet. 2) Make sure you are wearing appropriate clothes as if you were going to youth group. You do not have to have a Zoom account to join the event, just follow the link. When you link in, you will be in a "waiting room" until you are admitted to the group. You will be muted, but you can unmute yourself whenever you need to speak (with a large group, things get noisy quickly!). Once in, go to the participant list and RENAME yourself with your grade number before your name (for example- "12 Kaylyn Murphy" or "7 Alex Triolo"). There will be PRIZES given for our games! Hope to see you there!
Open Zoom Hangout on Wednesdays from 7-8pm for our students. I am creating an Open Zoom Meeting where you can just come talk to your friends. I’ll be sending out the link through text shortly! You can enter the meeting with the same code from week to week and just talk to whoever is there. You won't have to be admitted to the room so you can come and go as you please! Mrs. Allison & other youth counselors may or may not be there!
**NEW** YouVersion Bible App DEVO titled “Facing the Unknown” - As human beings, we all seem to have this obsession with what the future holds. I mean, we realize we can’t know, but that doesn’t stop the very loud part of our brains that just wants to figure It out anyway. So, in uncertain times, how can we find peace when we just can’t know what will happen? The next five days can help us with that.
Check it out at the following link:
https://bible.com/p/25607225/4ae2179acc36e04a633c8517f694886d
Check it out at the following link:
https://bible.com/p/25607225/4ae2179acc36e04a633c8517f694886d
Our Adult Leadership Team for Youth Ministry members have been given a handful of students each to “Shepherd” during this season of change and crisis. They will send a text message or call your students about once or twice a week just to let them know that prayers are being said for them. ALT Team Members: Allison Milliron, Josh Milliron, Tanya Warren, Tamie Christmas, Michael Christmas, Alison Blades, Casey Blades, Denise Murphy, Casey Corkern, Greg Triolo, Marissa Triolo, and Drew Harrell. All ALT members have had background checks done, and I wholeheartedly trust and endorse each one. Please feel free to contact me if you wish to know more about the adult shepherding your youth!
Youth Praise Team & Music Lessons group gatherings are cancelled, however now is the perfect time to work on developing your skills! I challenge each of you to continue practicing and keeping track of your practice minutes (we still have a prize to give out for music lesson students and can begin a new challenge for regular students!). If you need to use the drums or piano, the church is still open to you. Just let us know you are coming so we can make sure the instruments get wiped down well. There are YouTube video tutorials that can help teach you in the absence of a physical instructor. You can also video-chat with your current instructors! NEW SONG: “Grace is on Our Side” by Vertical Worship: https://youtu.be/qXmGjup89q8. The default key for this is Ab, but the video is in B so we will be learning it in B. If you need to Capo G4, you can find the song in G as well. [Link to all three songs: https://1drv.ms/f/s!ArcRoj5NBB99gbR0RxmbRQAzTR9FDQ] We will be attempting to learn this for the summer mission.
- Youth in Mission and Service: If you know of anyone in need of service, please contact Allison. If it is something our youth can do safely, we may be able to help!
- OUR SUMMER MISSION is still on track as far as we know. As the weeks progress, we should know more, but as of now we are continuing to raise funds and plan as if it all will be well by July.
Please call or text Mrs. Allison if you have specific needs or prayer requests during this unsettling time. I am here for you, love you, and are praying that God pours out His protection as you put your HOPE in HIM!
Standard Info for Non-Coronavirus Times:
At First UMC, Amite we offer the following ministries with youth:
Sunday School
Every Sunday morning at 10am we offer Bible Study and video lessons for youth. Students receive incentives for daily Bible reading, Scripture memorization, and sharing their faith.
UMYF - United Methodist Youth Fellowship
Sunday evenings from 5pm-7pm we offer a time of Youth Fellowship which includes a meal. During the school year we rotate through the following activities each month: Bible Study Night, Small-Groups & Worship Night, Missions Night, Outreach Outing, and Fellowship Game Night. During the summer we meet at a different home each week for “Swim Study.”
Music Lessons for Praise Team: Children, Youth, & Adults
Wednesdays from 5:30 – 6:30 p.m., musicians from our adult and youth praise teams offer music lessons to children 4th grade & up, youth, and adults. The lessons are a six week commitment, and are offered for acoustic guitar, electric guitar, bass guitar, chords for keyboard, and drums. The lessons are not comprehensive, but instead focus on everyone learning to play one of the songs from our praise teams. If a person desires full, comprehensive lessons on piano, guitar, etc., professional music instruction should be sought outside of these lessons. The music lessons for praise team are free, but an extra donation to the church is requested. Also, students of acoustic guitar, electric guitar, and bass guitar need to provide their own instrument and amp for electric instruments.
Sunday Drive, our Youth Praise Team
On Wednesday evenings from 6:30-8:00pm our Youth Praise Team meets for leadership training & rehearsal. The team is open to youth who are intermediate level musicians and singers (vetted by a casual audition), and to youth who are interested in being sound technicians and media technicians. Skilled adult musicians provide guidance. This is a high-commitment group and regular attendance is mandatory to remain a member. Sunday Drive plays for Sunday Worship Services once a month and for a Youth gatherings on Sunday evenings.
Retreats, Lock-ins, & Special Events
Throughout the year we have special overnight events including the Back-to-school retreat the first Friday/Saturday after school begins, a Christmas Party, an annual Lock-In, and a Spring Retreat.
Confirmation
Our Confirmation class takes place every year for 6 weeks starting in October and ending in December when our participants are confirmed in front of our church body. During these 6 weeks, our confirmands learn and understand what it means to be a follower of Christ. Confirmation is open to children 6th grade and above.
Youth Summer Mission
Each summer our youth participate in a week-long summer mission in July. The mission location for 2020 is St. Simon's Island, GA the week of July 11th-17th, 2020. Please Click HERE to go to the Summer Mission Website Page.
Sunday School
Every Sunday morning at 10am we offer Bible Study and video lessons for youth. Students receive incentives for daily Bible reading, Scripture memorization, and sharing their faith.
UMYF - United Methodist Youth Fellowship
Sunday evenings from 5pm-7pm we offer a time of Youth Fellowship which includes a meal. During the school year we rotate through the following activities each month: Bible Study Night, Small-Groups & Worship Night, Missions Night, Outreach Outing, and Fellowship Game Night. During the summer we meet at a different home each week for “Swim Study.”
Music Lessons for Praise Team: Children, Youth, & Adults
Wednesdays from 5:30 – 6:30 p.m., musicians from our adult and youth praise teams offer music lessons to children 4th grade & up, youth, and adults. The lessons are a six week commitment, and are offered for acoustic guitar, electric guitar, bass guitar, chords for keyboard, and drums. The lessons are not comprehensive, but instead focus on everyone learning to play one of the songs from our praise teams. If a person desires full, comprehensive lessons on piano, guitar, etc., professional music instruction should be sought outside of these lessons. The music lessons for praise team are free, but an extra donation to the church is requested. Also, students of acoustic guitar, electric guitar, and bass guitar need to provide their own instrument and amp for electric instruments.
Sunday Drive, our Youth Praise Team
On Wednesday evenings from 6:30-8:00pm our Youth Praise Team meets for leadership training & rehearsal. The team is open to youth who are intermediate level musicians and singers (vetted by a casual audition), and to youth who are interested in being sound technicians and media technicians. Skilled adult musicians provide guidance. This is a high-commitment group and regular attendance is mandatory to remain a member. Sunday Drive plays for Sunday Worship Services once a month and for a Youth gatherings on Sunday evenings.
Retreats, Lock-ins, & Special Events
Throughout the year we have special overnight events including the Back-to-school retreat the first Friday/Saturday after school begins, a Christmas Party, an annual Lock-In, and a Spring Retreat.
Confirmation
Our Confirmation class takes place every year for 6 weeks starting in October and ending in December when our participants are confirmed in front of our church body. During these 6 weeks, our confirmands learn and understand what it means to be a follower of Christ. Confirmation is open to children 6th grade and above.
Youth Summer Mission
Each summer our youth participate in a week-long summer mission in July. The mission location for 2020 is St. Simon's Island, GA the week of July 11th-17th, 2020. Please Click HERE to go to the Summer Mission Website Page.
FORMS:
If you are a new Student, please fill out the following Student Information Form:
| student_information_form.docx |
Parents are asked to fill out a medical waiver as well as other permission forms. These are all included in the following Parent Packet. Please download and fill out if your student is participating on a regular basis.
| basic_parent_packet.docx |