Zombies, Nine Square, and Contentment?

Lock-ins...crazy things really.  As we were preparing for last week's senior high lock-in, Chase and I went over the schedule.  He finished with, "And at 5 am, we'll settle in and they can sleep for a bit if they want."  For a moment I thought I heard that wrong...or maybe Chase was just harassing me.  But as I looked at his face I knew this was no joke.  The optional "sleep time" was scheduled from 5 am to 7 am.  Really??  Yes, lock-ins are crazy things...but really awesome things too because they mean Epiphany's youth have some serious TIME to spend in Christian community.  Time for games, time for prayer and worship, time for Bible study, and time for getting to know each other a bit better.  And as always it is great to see a group of students from different schools and with different interests come together because of the one thing they all have in common - they are all followers of our awesome God. 
 

Lots of fun with our new 9 Square in the Air Game.  Think back to the those days on the playground playing Four Square - it just got higher and bigger!  Just one of our DCE's hidden skills - PVC pipe construction!






 
After a Nerf War, the students headed out on a mission to find the antidote and escape the zombies.  We followed a series of clues, searched for hidden defenses, and fought off the zombies.  Sound fun?  Oh yeah!  But it also led to an awesome discussion on team work and how we can do more for the Kingdom of God when we work together as the Body of Christ.  Way cool stuff!



Our study for the night focused on Philippians 4:11-13 and the theme of contentment.  We talked about how contentment is a tricky thing...especially in a world that tells us we must need more to be happy.  More money, more stuff, more friends, more, more, more...  But in Philippians 4:11-13, Paul gives us the secret to contentment -

I am not saying this because I am in need, for I have learned to be content whatever the circumstances. I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want.  I can do all this through him who gives me strength.

And the secret is that simple - Jesus.  When we have Him, we have enough.  No matter what our circumstances we can be satisfied...content.  In the end the victory is won and our salvation is assured because of Him.  And that is more than enough...in that we can be truly content.  

And so, we are content and we praise God for an awesome night, for students with endless energy and for a young DCE who stays up all night so the old youth worker can sleep from 5 am to 7 am :-)


15 Days!

I always seem to be running late, so way too often I am dropping my daughter off at school with seconds to spare.  As we wait in the car line, we do the count down...t-minus 5 to the tardy bell.   Somehow we've managed to get through the year with only one tardy...a minor miracle.  Today I heard that it is t-minus 15 days till the end of school.  Wow, I can't believe summer is almost here!  Hopefully you've started to make plans for a fun and restful summer for your family. 

At Epiphany, we've been planning and praying for the summer for months.  Mission trips, reading club, Vacation Bible School, and more...we are looking forward to an awesome summer of youth and children's ministry.  Most of all we pray it will provide lots of opportunities for you and your child to connect with Jesus and grow in your faith.  We thought we'd start a blog to share some of the stories and pictures of the summer.  We hope you'll check in often.  Enjoy those last 15 days and have a blessed end of the school year!