Dare2Share, Winter Jam & MORE

1)  The most important thing right now is to check the previous post for essential Dare2Share.  Go there NOW! 

I need you to turn in your fees for Dare2Share NOW.  Kevin & I paid well over $300 from our own bank account and we really need to refill it asap.  Again, check the previous post for specifics on the finances.  (Your total due including registration & hotel is $67.  If you received a scholarship the total is $18 plus the cost of your registration.)

2)Lent started last Wednesday but it's not to late to join the season of preparation for Holy Week--remembrance of Jesus' death & resurrection!  Use the 40 days of Lent for prayer, repentance of your sins, and fasting in order to connect more intimately with Christ and learn to appreciate his sacrifice more deeply.  You can fast from tv. internet. desserts. pop. a certain video game. facebook. Anything that uses up most of your time.  Give that up for Jesus.  He gave up his LIFE.

3)  Mail your Dare2Share financial sponser letters THIS WEEK!  The more people you send those letters to, the more likely you will receive money to help with Dare2Share costs!  It's worth the cost of the stamp, people!  

4)  Chris Fenrich:  can you bring some snacks next Sunday?

5) Winter Jam concert information.  The concert featuring 7 different Christian music groups is Saturday March 14th @ 6pm.  Doors to the EMU convocation center open @ 5pm.  Depending on how many of you are interested we could probably go as a group and carpool.  Tickets cost $10 at the door.  Tell me THIS week if you're interested!!!!  

For more info check out this website:

http://events.nbc4i.com/ypsilanti-mi/events/show/85831290-winter-jam-2009

Super Important Stuff

Dare2Share  Today I confirmed our hotel for Friday night, April 3rd.  If you'd like to check out all the Hyatt Hotel has to offer feel free to check out the website:  http://schaumburg.place.hyatt.com/hyatt/hotels/place/index.jsp

There's a continental breakfast (which means no money spent on breakfast Saturday!), a pool, a fitness center, free parking, and more! 

I was able to secure an excellent price for our rooms by booking on Hotwire.  The only thing that's not so great about booking this way is that the total cost is immediately charged to your credit card (instead of at the time you check in at the hotel).  

Sooooooooooo, I'm going to need you guys to pay up as quickly as possible.  If you are able to pay your registration THIS Sunday as well as the newly added hotel fee, that would be wonderful.  If not, we'll work it out. :)  (I have a bunch of letters already printed that you can mail out to friends and family to help raise the money!)  Here's the deal on the finances:

Registration fee:  $49 (unless otherwise noted to you)

Hotel fee per person:  $18

Food costs:  $25 (should be more than enough to cover your meals, but bring more if you eat a lot!)

Souvenir/Personal spending:  bring however much money you wish to spend or not spend on Dare2Share paraphernalia (look it up...dictionary.com :D)

Go ahead and have your parents check out all this information and if anyone has questions, you know how to reach me. 

Making up for lost time

1.  In case you're wondering, I'm finally feeling better.  Thanks so much for your thoughts, prayers, messages, and concerns.  You guys are great!   Sorry we had to cancel last week...but believe me...it was definitely for the best!  ;)

2.  Dare2Share:  I have officially registered for Dare2Share.  These are the people who are on the list:  Chris K., Shelby, Stephanie, Megan, Katie, Travis, Olivia, Pastor Dale and myself.  Everyone (except Shelby) now owes me money since we paid for the registration out of our pocket.  So the sooner you can pay me, the better (like maybe on Sunday???)!  Remember it's $49 unless you have been informed of a scholarship.  More details about the trip will come!

3.  Valentine's cookies:  this coming Sunday is the Sunday we are going to be passing out the beautiful Heart Sugar Cookies to the ladies in the church.  If you can be in church this Sunday I know it would make it that much more special to the ladies to have YOU passing the cookies out to them.  (Sunday school starts at 9:50am.  Church starts @ 11:00am.)  

4.  Snack:  is anyone willing and able to bring some drinks and munchies for youth group this Sunday?  Let me know ....or we might go hungry. ;)  

5.  Bibles:  bring them on Sunday.  5:30pm-7:30pm  Be there! :)

Winter Retreat and such

1.  Thanks for hanging out at the "Souper" Bowl party last night!  We all had a blast...eating the snacks everyone brought, decorating amazing cookies, and of course watching the game!  

2.  Are you remembering to get into the Word? You know...the Bible, God's Word, Scripture.  Try to spend at least 15 minutes a day reading it, coming up with questions, trying to understand it, working through it, seeing how it can apply to YOUR life, asking God what HE is trying to say to YOU.  

And way to be bringing your Bibles to all SpiritFire events.  We won't necessarily use them every single time, but we want you to have them available so we can work together to understand the Bible and so you can get better and better at navigating through its pages.  

3.  Winter Retreat is THIS Weekend!  I'm pumped! :)  We'll be leaving from the parsonage at 5:30pm on Friday and returning on Sunday around 3pm.  Make sure you've eaten dinner when you arrive on Friday.  Oh, and lunch will be served at SBC on Sunday afternoon!  And triple check the packing lists I gave you all to be sure you have what you'll need!!  Any questions?  Ask me!

4.  Finally, I need to know your final decision about Dare2Share as of THIS Thursday!!!!   Thanks to everyone who has informed whether or not they are attending.  There are still a few people I'm waiting on so get back to me RIGHT AWAY! :)