Speak Series: Marked with His Image

This Sunday we looked again at the creation story, but while last week we focused on what we learn about God as a creator, this week we focused on the creation of humans made in God's image.  To get us started we divided into two teams.   Each team chose (in secret) one person to make a paper copy of.  They traced this person and colored it to look as much like the real person as possible.  After each team completed their task, they showed their paper copy to the other team and they had to guess who it represented.  Both teams did a great job, and the opposite team easily identified who the copies were supposed to be. 

It is easy for us to initially think of being "made in God's image" to be something like this paper copy we created of each other.  But that is not really what the Bible is getting at, is it?  To be made in God's image doesn't mean we are godlike or divine.  It doesn't even mean we look physically like God.  To be made in God's image means that we are to reflect God in the world.  We are to be loving, caring and honest people.  We are to seek justice and help those in need. 

We also looked at Matthew 22:15-21.  Here we are reminded that we are supposed to give to God what is God's.  Like a coin, we bear God's image and belong to God, therefore we are to give ourselves to God!  As a reminder, we each took a penny to keep with us through the week to remind us that we are to bear God's image and reflect God in the world.  How have you reflected God in the world this week?  Comment on this post with your responses!

Don't forget: Youth usher this Sunday for the 11am service.  Email me if you are able to help.  See you next week for Sunday school and FUSION Gathering! 

FUSION Lock-In!

We had a great time at our lock-in on Friday night!  We began the night with painting two of the walls in one of the youth rooms!  It's looking great!  We will have to do a few touch ups later, but it was a great start to redesigning the room.

 

After painting, we had some snacks and then baked 6 mini loaves of banana bread for the hospitality ministry!

 

After baking, we grabbed our Bibles and headed to the Sanctuary for a devotion on Matthew 5:14-16 and how God calls us to reflect God's light to the world!  We spent time sharing Scripture passages aloud that mean a lot to us, then we each lit a candle to remind us to reflect God's light in the world.

After our devotion, we played Gorgon--an absolute favorite game among FUMC Youth!

Then is was time for popcorn and a movie before falling asleep!

Saturday morning we had breakfast and cleaned up while we watched the end of Rio since most of us fell asleep before the movie ended! We had a great evening full of fellowship, service and fun!

Speak: Obeying the Call

This Sunday at FUSION Gathering, we began a new series called "Speak: Obeying the Call".  Throughout this series we will explore the lives of men and women in the Bible who grasped God's call and how we can do the same!  Our first lesson in this series was all about how great God is, and how valuable we must be because we are God's creation!  We started with a chalk board reflection of what you think is one of the coolest things God has made.  Then we divided into two teams and had to put 6 of the world's most expensive paintings in the world in order of value.  We realized that one of the most important factors in deciding the value of a painting is the artist.  Similarly, if we think of God as an artist, we see that his creation is extremely valuable...and that includes us!

We spent some time traveling to different exploration stations where we focused on the topics of "God is everywhere", "God is all-knowing", "God is all-powerful", and "God is eternal".  There were things to read and do at each station as we learned more about who God is.  Before leaving for the evening, we spent some time outside in more of God's creation playing a favorite game called SPUD.  I wonder...what do you think is one of the coolest things God made?  Comment on this post with your responses.

 

 

Don't forget the LOCK-IN is this Friday!!!

Let me know if you will be attending!

Connect Series: Transforming

This Sunday was our last in our Connect Series.  After having dinner and an introduction to Hand Bells with Sarah Critzer, we took at look at Exodus 34:29-35 when Moses comes down from the mountain and his face is glowing from his time spent with God!  To get us into the story we did our own little makeovers with lots of different props to see which team could come up with the most creative outfits for their "models".  We then talked about what the Israelites might have thought when they first saw Moses glowing.  We talked about some ways that people "glow" now after they've spent time with God (smiling, dancing, singing, etc.).  After reading Isaiah 64:8, we used play-doh to form a symbol or sculpture that represents something we think God wants to change in us or something that we think God is calling us to do.  The youth really took their time praying and thinking about how God is calling them to live their lives.  We made things like a person praying, a Bible, a fish, a heart, a cross and a music note!  Before closing in prayer, we each received a glow bracelet.  This reminds us that like Moses, when we spend time with God and grow closer to God, our lives will glow and shine for all to see as well! 

Don't forget to come out to Farmville Miniature Golf this Saturday for our Haiti Mission Team fundraiser!

Connect Series: Never Forget

This Sunday we read about when the Israelites constructed an idol of a golden calf while Moses was up on the mountain (Exodus 32).  After God had been present with the Israelites in the pillar of clouds and fire, guiding their path, the Israelites seemed to forget about God and start trying to rely on themselves again.  We discussed ways we can continue to remember God and be in relationship with God.  We created our own little scrolls of what we need to remember about God and tied them up like a mezuzah!  How are you reminded of God and God's presence in your life?  Comment on this post with your responses!