Christpower 2008

Hey Everyone,

I know it's been a while since I posted anything. Sorry about that. But, hey...the Christpower Application and information are finally here!

If you don't know, Christpower is a week long service/retreat experience that happens annually in Russellville, MO in July. This year it will be held during the week of July 13-19.

Christpower is open to any high school student and is a tremendous opportunity to deepen your faith. Due to the popularity of the program, I expect the week to fill up fast. I would recommend that you read the cover letter, fill out the application, take care of the pastor referral letter, and send it in with the deposit right away.

Here are the links: (please download all of these)

Cover letter: http://www.fileden.com/files/2007/4/11/974826/Christpower%20Cover%20Letter.doc

Application:http://www.fileden.com/files/2007/4/11/974826/Christpower%20Teen%20Application.doc

Pastor Referral:http://www.fileden.com/files/2007/4/11/974826/Christpower%20Applicant%20Referral%20Letter%20from%20Pastor.doc

Hope to see you there!

Shannon

Just Because You Can

Here's a little bit of fun to liven up your day!

Upcoming Events

Hey Everyone,

Here is a short list of some things coming up in the coming weeks:

Sunday, August 26 - Confirmation Large Group Session - Cafeteria, 9:30am
Monday, August 27 - Prayer, Praise, and Taquitos - Haven, 7pm
Sunday, September 9 – Confirmation Large Group Session - Cafeteria, 9:30am
Monday, September 10 - Youth Bible Study - Parish Life Center, 6pm
Monday, September 10 - Prayer, Praise, and ___________(random food item) - Haven, 7pm
Sunday, September 16 – Confirmation Small Group Session - Time and Location TBA
Diocesan Youth Rally - Helias High School, 10am-6pm
Sunday, September 23 – High School World Youth Day
Monday, September 24 - Youth Bible Study - Parish Life Center, 6pm
Monday, September 10 - Prayer, Praise, and ___________(random food item) - Haven, 7pm
Sunday, September 30 – Confirmation Small Group Session - Time and Location TBA

I'll update this soon. Let me know if there's something here you'd like to participate in.

-Shannon

Prayer, Praise, and Roly Poly

Join us on Monday, August 13th for another installment of Prayer, Praise, and some random food item. This time around, we'll munch on some delicious Roly Poly sandwiches. This will take place in the Haven (above Selinger Centre) from 7:00-8:30pm.

This will be a fun evening of offering our prayers to God, singing our praise to God, and eating sandwiches made from ingredients that were created by God. It's a stretch, but just go with me on it.

Be sure to bring your friends. All high school students are welcome!

Prayer, Praise, and Chicken Wings!

Come spend some time with us this coming Monday night, July 30, for "Prayer, Praise, and Chicken Wings". We'll meet up in the Haven (above Selinger Centre) from 7-8:30pm. Come and eat all the chicken wings you can handle. Other snacks and drinks will be provided.

This is just a chance to come, hang out and spend some time offering your prayers and your praise to God. This activity features a pretty laid back environment, AND it can be your first opportunity to see the newly-furnished Haven.

Any and all high school students (including those going to be freshmen this year) are welcome to come.

Float Trip RESCHEDULED

Due to the fact that there was only one person signed up for original float trip, we have rescheduled it for July 23-24.

This trip, which will cost only $40, will take us to Eminence, MO. We will leave around noon on Monday, July 23rd, stay overnight at Shady Lane Cabins, and float 12 miles on the Current River the next day. Once the float is complete, we'll travel back home. We plan to arrive at approximately 8pm.

Here is a link for the permission slip: PERMISSION SLIP

Here is a link for the flyer: FLYER

The deadline to sign up for this trip will be Sunday, July 15th.

If you have any further questions, contact Shannon by e-mail or by phone at 636-7002.

Canoe Trip

Hey Everyone!

This year's canoe trip is swiftly approaching. The dates will be June 26-28. The trip will cost $75. That includes everything but your meal on the way there and the way home.

We'll be floating ten miles each day for two days on the Current River. Once again, we'll be staying at Timber Lodge, which features air conditioning, bunk beds, a game room, a campfire ring, and a lot of room outside to play whatever game you choose.

If you would like to go, please send a check for $75 (made out to St. Peter Church) and a completely filled out permission slip in to the parish office (216 Broadway, Jefferson City, MO 65101) by Sunday, June 17th. To see a permission slip, click here.

To see the flyer, click here.

If you have any questions, contact Shannon either by e-mail at scerneka@stpeterjc.org or by phone at 573-636-7002.

NCYC information, forms, and video

Hello Everyone,

Here is the necessary information about the National Catholic Youth Conference (NCYC) in Columbus, OH. Again, the dates are November 8-11th, 2007. Your forms (Participant and Medical Application) plus your $200 payment are due in to St. Peter parish offices no later than Sunday, May 20th. If you have any questions in the next week, please call me at 573-220-8424. Here you go:

NECESSARY FORMS:

Participant Application

Medical Application

IMPORTANT PAPERS:

Promotional Letter

Itinerary and Cost Breakdown

WEB LINKS:

Promotional Video

Main NCYC Website

Let me know if you need anything else,

Shannon

P-O-P-P-L-E Promo Video

Go with us to Columbia for a Popple concert on Wednesday, April 18th. The show starts at 7pm and goes until 8:30pm. We'll probably leave at around 5pm from St. Peters, get dinner in Columbia, and go to the show.

Permission Slip: http://www.fileden.com/files/2007/4/11/974826/Popple%20Concert%20-%20High%20School.doc

1...2...3...DODGEBALL!!!

Hey Everyone,

We had a great time playing dodgeball last night. About 15 teens showed up and got a decent workout. Some got bored and ended up trying to get locked into the freezer (see picture below).

Be sure to join us for our next Youth Group gathering on Tuesday, April 24th. We'll be putting on our "poker" faces for an evening of "Texas Hold 'Em".

Here are some pictures from last night:

DODGEBALL!

Join us on Tuesday, March 27th for DODGEBALL! We'll play starting at 6pm in the Selinger Centre Gym (212 Broadway in Jeff). Pizza and drinks will be provided and we'll be done at around 8pm. Be sure to bring your friends. Contact Shannon if you have any questions.

2007 National Catholic Youth Conference (NCYC)

Join us over the dates of November 8-11, 2007 for this exciting event for Catholic teens!

Matt Maher Live at CCHS - Just Like You

Come see Matt Maher at the Newman Center in Columbia on Friday, January 26th at 7:30pm! Tickets are $10 at the door. See Shannon for details.

Chris Padgett and Jesse Manibusan dance off

This video comes from the National Conference on Catholic Youth Ministry, held in Las Vegas, Nevada November 30-December 3rd of this year. Chris Padgett and Jesse Manibusan are both Spirit and Song artists, have keynoted many youth rallies and conferences, and are among the most popular Catholic performers in the country. The singer is Joia Farmer, performing "Live 4 You" from her latest CD, Before and Afterlife. Enjoy!

The Loss of a Friend

When I was in high school, the youth ministry programming for the Belleville Diocese (where I lived) was organized asthe Catholic Youth Organization or C.Y.O. Our diocese did a great job of offering faith-building opportunities for high school students.

One of the things that made our diocese great was that each deanery had it's own youth ministry organizational structure as well. It's like a state and it's counties. These deaneries provided additional youth ministry events to help us get closer to God and connect with the life of the Church.

The lay person in charge of our diocese was Mary Hirl. Mary was a lively woman who cared deeply for the teens and their faith. She worked very hard and is partly responsible for my entry into the world of youth ministry.

Mary Hirl passed away today. I don't have more details than that, but the news makes me very sad. Please keep Mary and her family in your prayers this week.

-Shannon

Make a Difference

In the Gospels, Jesus calls us to look after the poor and marginalized members of our society. The problems in our world, however, can be so overwhelming, that we can often feel like there isn't anything we can do. Using the gifts God gave us, though, is how we are called to serve God and the Church. Teenagers can help to create a better world simply by saying yes to God's call. Click here for stories of teens making a difference in their communities. The link and the stories come to us courtesy of Disciples Now.com.

Preparing for Mass?!?!

Hey Everyone!

Did you know that there's a rhyme and reason to what readings you hear at Mass?

The First Reading always come from the Old Testament. The exception to that is during the Easter Season when those readings always come from the Acts of the Apostles.

The Responsorial Psalm is always done in response to the First Reading. For instance: If the First Reading is about how God saved the Israelites from some sort of peril, the Responsorial Psalm will probably be a song of praise and thanks to God for getting them out of trouble.

The Second Reading always comes from the Epistles (letters).

The Gospel Reading always comes from one of the Four Gospels (thanks Captain Obvious!) It will often reference the First Reading. For instance: Let's say the First Reading comes from Isaiah 61: 1-2:

The spirit of the Lord GOD is upon me,
because the LORD has anointed me;
He has sent me to bring glad tidings to the lowly,
to heal the brokenhearted,
To proclaim liberty to the captives and release to the prisoners,
To announce a year of favor from the LORD and a day of vindication by our God,
to comfort all who mourn;

If that's the case, you're likely to hear Luke 4: 17-21:

He came to Nazareth, where he had grown up,

and went according to his custom into the synagogue on the sabbath day.

He stood up to read and was handed a scroll of the prophet Isaiah.

He unrolled the scroll and found the passage where it was written:

"The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he has anointed me to bring glad tidings to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim liberty to captives and recovery of sight to the blind,

to let the oppressed go free, and to proclaim a year acceptable to the Lord."

Rolling up the scroll, he handed it back to the attendant and sat down,

and the eyes of all in the synagogue looked intently at him.
He said to them, "Today this scripture passage is fulfilled in your hearing."

There is a beauty and an interconnectedness to the readings at Mass and, as Catholics, we believe that Jesus is present in The Word. Truly, Jesus IS the Word.

If you would like the readings for an upcoming Mass, you can find them on the U.S Bishop's website. All you need to do is bookmark:

http://www.usccb.org/nab/index.shtml

Doing this will help you to be more prepared to participate in the most important thing we do as Catholics, the Mass!

The Great High Street SCAVENGER HUNT!

Join us on Wednesday, November 15th for a fun evening filled with great detective work, cool prizes, food, music, and prayer. The Great High Street Scavenger Hunt will commence at 6pm at the St. Peter Parish Life Center. The hunt will take us up and down High Street looking for clues, competing against other teams of youth, and collecting great prizes.

Once we're finished, we'll head back to the Parish Life Center for food, music, and prayer.

Although this event is being planned as the once-a-month Youth Group activity for St. Peter Parish teens, any and all high school students are welcome to join us.

For more information, contact KellyBezler at 584-6701 or kbezler@stpeterjc.org You can also contact Shannon Cerneka at 636-7002 or scerneka@stpeterjc.org

Unrealistic Lifestyle or Sainthood

St. Dominic Savio...lived in Italy...followed the teachings of Christ and the Church with unbelievable dedication...died at at 15 from tuberculosis...15 YEARS OLD!!

Click here to read more...could this be you?

Senior High Youth Rally!!

Hey Everyone!

Be sure to get signed up for the Jefferson City Diocesan Youth Rally on Sunday, October 15th. The Youth Rally, which will feature Andrew Hoyt from Notre Dame, is an exciting day where teens from all over the diocese gather to grow in their faith, meet new friends, worship God, and have fun. If you want to go, call me at 636-7002 or e-mail me at scerneka@stpeterjc.org. The information is listed below: