Stone Soup Fundraiser
The Stone Soup Fundraiser is this Sunday, November 9th from 11-1 p.m.  There will be no Bible Bowl practice that afternoon.  I am asking those in Bible Bowl to be here at 9:30 a.m. with a crock pot of homemade soup to help set up tables and chairs.  If you are not in Bible Bowl, we would love to have your help.  Just be here early to set up and clean up.  If you want to bring something, please bring a dessert!   We will start serving at 10:30 a.m. and we should be done by 1 p.m.  This is our main fundraiser for Bible Bowl, so it is important that everyone be here to help serve.  Our other fundraisers are for summer camps and they will start up in March this year.  Also, the money raised will go towards our first Bible Bowl Competition in Flagstaff Arizona on January 23-25.  This is a costly trip due to the distance and housing.  It is also the only trip where non-bible bowl participants can come.  It is a youth rally for everyone and last year it was very well attended.  This will be our first attempt at having a small bible bowl competition there.  It will be a written test (the online version did not work out) in the afternoon for only 1 class.  Just for fun I may have a Blooklet competition as well.  Due to registration and housing, I will need to know by this Sunday if you wish to attend.  We plan to take around 30 people.   Please consider going, I believe you will really enjoy it!

Blessing Ball
The Blessing Ball (it is not a dance) will be on Wednesday night from 6-8 p.m. November 19 in the youth wing.  This is a special opportunity for our youth group to bond closer to each other.  We pass around a ball (usually a volleyball) to a person who has been a blessing to us in the youth group throughout the year.  I believe it can be an immensely powerful time if it is taken seriously.  There will not be class that night, just a meal and the passing of the blessing ball.  I want to encourage everyone to attend that night.  It is hard to recognize a friend if they are not present.  Also, for the month of December, we like to give everyone a chance to write a note to other students on the Blessing Wall in the hallway of the youth wing.  Please take the time to write an encouraging note to someone in the youth group.  Please do not use that time to be rude or sarcastic, it really messes up the wall.  We do want the youth group to be a safe place for everyone, but there are times when those that need and want to be the center of attention do things at the expense of other people.  It is distracting and often hurtful to

others.   I know people are at various stages of social development, so mixing the immature with the mature often causes tension.  I suggest that everyone try this month to be a blessing to those around them.  Be intentional in what you say this month as we encourage each other.

Holidays
Thanksgiving and Christmas are fast approaching, these next two months just fly bye, so it is often confusing what is happening with the youth group.  The main activities will be on Wednesday nights.  We are passing out Thanksgiving boxes on Saturday, November 22, and then a  middle school Christmas party on December 5th .  Also, on Saturday, December 6th we will be setting up Christmas lights for the light show.  There is the Christmas children’s play, and the light show on December 14, but I will share more about that as it approaches.  There will not be youth group on the week of Thanksgiving, November 26, nor will there be youth group during the Christmas break on December 24,31.  We encourage you to spend time with your family and friends.  I will also be out of town during that period.  Please enjoy this time of season!

News and Notes (11/05 – 11/11)
Wednesday – Youth 4 the city 6-8 p.m.
Friday – Youth Staff and parent meeting at noon
Sunday – Worship 8, 9:30 a.m. and 11 a.m.
Sunday – STONE SOUP FUNDRAISER, set up 9:30 a.m.
Monday – visitation with Zia middle school
Tuesday – Kidnapping with High school
Nov. 19 – Blessing Ball
Nov. 22 – Thanksgiving Boxes
Dec. 5 – Middle school Christmas Party
Dec. 6 – Christmas lighting

Birthdays
Someone told me that they had a birthday in November, could you please remind me again so I can post it here in the newsletter.

Parent Page
We are meeting this Friday at noon for a parent/staff meeting.  All are welcome, we will be laying out the upcoming activities for November and December, especially the stone soup fundraiser.  We will also go over the October activities and updates on what is happening in the youth group.  Bring your own lunch and we will meet in the youth wing at noon.  We usually stop by 1 p.m. so people can return to work.  I appreciate everyone stepping up to help with food for Wednesday nights, which has been going well, and our numbers have swelled to about 50 students each Wednesday night.  We could not do our Wednesday night youth group without the support of our parents.  Thanks for your help every week.  Our main fund raiser for Bible Bowl is this Sunday, and yes, we could use your help.  I am asking for EVERYONE to bring a dessert even if they are not in Bible Bowl.  The Bible Bowlers are asked to bring a crock pot of soup so we should have that covered, however, if that is something you really want to do you can bring one.  However, we do need desserts, lots of them.  Please plan for the whole family to eat that day.  We are only taking donations, and our goal is raising $5000.  God Bless, David