YOUTH FELLOWSHIP IS GOING GREEN

This will hopefully be one of the last Youthletters that you will be receiving by mail! In order to preserve resources and funding (by reducing mailing costs) we will be emailing the Youthletter and posting it on the First Presbyterian Church Website at http://www.firstprescranford.org/. Please email Melissa Layfield at mel1978nj@yahoo.com so that you can be on the email distribution list.

THREE GREAT EVENTS ON ONE PERMISSION SLIP!

This December is chock full of exciting events and signing up has never been easier! Please fill out the attached permission slip and return it to Melissa Layfield so we know what you will be participating in! Those that are caroling on December 6^th can return the permission slip that evening.

GET IN THE CHRISTMAS SPIRIT WITH CAROLING – December 6th

The children, adults, youth and families here at First Pres. will be going to visit with the Friends at Home (members of First Pres. Cranford who are unable to come out to worship), including Cranford Extended Care Center, Clark Rehabilitation Center and Sunrise Assisted Living in Westfield to share God’s love and to spread some Christmas cheer! YOU are invited to come and sing along! We will meet in the Thomson Youth Center at 2:45pm, go caroling and then return to the church for a pizza, drinks and dessert. We anticipate that the event will conclude at 5:30-5:45pm.

ALL CHURCH CHRISTMAS CELEBRATION – December 13th

Join us for a First Pres. traditional December gathering of friends and famly, The All Church Christmas Celebration!!! On Sunday December 13^th we will meet at 5pm in Bates Hall for food, music and fun! Bring your choice of desserts, casseroles and salad molds to add to the potluck buffet. We will have a table for Youth Fellowship to sit at and afterwards, we will volunteer our services to make sure everything gets cleaned up and put back together after this festive celebration. Keeping with tradition, we will also be leading the favorite and somewhat competitive singing of the “12 Days of Christmas”!!!

COMBINED YOUTH FELLOWSHIP PARTY AND COOKIE SWAP – December 20th

Sunday December 20^th will be our last Youth Fellowship of 2009 and we will celebrate with a combined Middle and High School Fellowship party and cookie swap. So bring a batch of your favorite cookie (no need to bring too many) and a copy of the recipe. We will copy the recipe and make a take home recipe book so you can make all of your favorites! Fellowship will be from 6pm to 8pm that evening.

SERVE AT THE CRANFORD-ELMORA SOUP KITCHEN AND BRING A PARENT/ GUARDIAN ON DECEMBER 20^th or FEBRUARY 7th

Come and volunteer at the Cranford-Elmora Soup Kitchen! Youth Fellowship staffs all of the volunteers for FPC Cranford’s Team 2. On soup kitchen days we meet in front of the education building at 1pm and return between 4:30pm and 5pm. The Cranford-Elmora Soup kitchen is a great way to meet new and old friends and serve the hungry of Elizabeth, NJ.

The leaders of this important ministry feel that it is important for parents to understand what the Soup Kitchen is truly all about and will be requiring that a parent/guardian attend Soup Kitchen once with their youth in 2009 or 2010. Please sign up to attend on either December 20^th or February 7^th. Contact Melissa Layfield to let her know when you will be participating. Should you need to attend on a different weekend, arrangements can be made.

If you have not turned in a 2009/2010 Soup Kitchen Permission Slip please contact Melissa Layfield to get a copy!!!

Please mark your calendar with the following 2009/2010 Soup Kitchen Dates:

December 20^th

February 7^th

March 28^th

July 4^th

August 22^nd

October 10^th

November 28^th

January 16^th

HIGH SCHOOL FELLOWHSIP - For Such a Time as This –

Presbyterian Youth Triennium – July 20^th to 24^th 2010

So often, our High School youth request an opportunity to connect with youth from other churches.  This summer will be the ultimate opportunity to do just that at Perdue University in West Lafayette, Indiana at the Presbyterian Youth Triennium from July 20^th through 24^th. 

Every three years the Presbyterian Church (USA), Cumberland Presbyterian Church and Cumberland Presbyterian Church in America gather thousands of Presbyterian youth and adult youth leaders together for worship, play, music, community building, and Bible study. This is known as the Presbyterian Youth Triennium or PYT! PYT is for young people entering or completed high school (approximately age 14-19 years old by July 20, 2010). Adult Advisors must be 21 years of age by this date. 

The theme for the 2010 Triennium is “For Such a Time as This” from Esther 4:14. The theme will be developed throughout the week through daily presentations, worship, prayer, recreation, and small groups. A theme grid, or guide, to the primary scriptures, liturgical elements and theological questions can be found on the website.

The cost for this year's PYT is going to be $409 and this includes housing, meals, conference T-shirt and all programming. The cost of airfare is additional.  In previous years, scholarships have been available to youth attending and there will be more details regarding funding to follow!

Please contact Melissa Layfield ASAP for more information regarding PYT.  Check PYT out on the web at http://www.presbyterianyouthtriennium.org.  This is a once in a lifetime opportunity that you do not want to miss!!! 

FIRST PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH OF CRANFORD YOUTH FELLOWSHIP

DECEMBER ACTIVITIES PERMISSION SLIP

TO: PARENTS OR GUARDIANS

I hereby give my permission for ______________________________________to attend (check off activities that will be attended):

_____ CHRISTMAS CAROLING – Dec. 6^TH in Cranford and Westfield; Meet at 2:45 in the Thompson Youth Center

_____ VOLUNTEERING AT THE ALL CHURCH CHRISTMAS PARTY – Dec. 13^th FPC Bates Hall; Meet at 5pm

_____ COMBINED FELLOWSHIP PARTY AND COOKIE SWAP – Dec 20^th FPC Room 302; from 6pm to 8pm

In case of emergency:

Parent(s)/Guardians______________________________Day Phone_________________

Cell Phone_________________

Other_________________________________________Day Phone_________________

I hereby release the Youth Fellowship leaders and volunteer drivers from any and all liability of any kind or nature from my child(ren)’s participation in these activities.

Signed________________________________________________(Parent(s)/Guardian(s))

Date___________________

Address________________________________________________________________