Spaghetti and VBS

Somerset Beach Family Camp:: Those of you who participated in the service experience at SBC's Family Camp did a FANTASTIC job and deserve a BIG thank you!  You made a huge impact on the kids you worked with and you carried a large burden of leadership that the adults normally have to struggle to find people to do. You were well behaved and respectful and independent and so much fun to be around!  Thanks to everyone who made for a great week at Camp. SBC thanks YOU. :) 

To check out all of the pictures Melanie was snapping during the week, click on here. 

Spaghetti Dinner:: Monroe FM needs your help!  Saturday, July 24th (THIS Saturday!) from 4-7pm the church is hosting a spaghetti dinner for the community. The teens have been asked to help serve and bus tables. Wear your SPIRITFIRE tshirts and come ready to help out! (and invite friends and family to enjoy the dinner--it's $8 for adults and $5 for kids)  

Let Melanie know ASAP if you're able to help! 

Vacation Bible School::  VBS is quickly approaching and guess what?? They need YOUR help too!  (You guys are such great helpers, after all!)  If you're willing to help out in any way for VBS come to the planning meeting THIS Sunday after church! 

VBS starts Sunday August 8 and goes through Friday August 13. Each night the programs run from 6:30-8:45pm 

If you're able to help and will be at the meeting, email Pam Kaufman at kaufcrew@sbcglobal.net

Schedule for Family Camp

Click HERE to view the week's detailed schedule. 

8-8:30  Breakfast (Cedar Center A-Frame)
9:30-12:00  Kids' Morning Programs (Fieldhouse)*
12:15  Lunch (Cedar Center)
1:00-5:00  Free Time OR Work Group Rotations** 
5:00  Dinner (Cedar Center)
6:45-9:00  Kids' Evening Service (Fieldhouse) 
9:30-10:45  Evening activities vary***




*Each morning from 9:30 to noon, the teens will divide and conquer--helping out in the kids' programs--nursery and elementary.  If their help is not needed during this time, they will head to the teen service which is from 10am-noon.

Division of leadership groups (morning and evening services): 

Nursery: Megan, Ashley, Brooke, Brittany and Michaela

Kids: Chris, Rob, Devan, Isaac, Harry, Katie

**Each afternoon, the teens will either be enjoying free time or they will be a part of the one group of 4 students "on call" if any need arises.  We will predetermine who will be in which work groups. Each group will be on call one afternoon for the week (either Monday, Tuesday, Thursday or Friday).


***This is our tentative plan for late evening activities:
Monday @ 9:30 bonfire at Kevin and Melanie's site
Tuesday:  free time until curfew (to be determined)
Wednesday:  HUGE teen service!
Thursday @ 9:30 bonfire at Kevin and Melanie's site
Friday: head home after the evening service




And again, check the Packing List!  Don't forget your s'mores. :D
For all the info on Somerset check their website: somersetbeach.org

Gearing up for Family Camp

Summer Servanthood Experience. Family Camp at Somerset Beach Campground is FAST approaching! We hope you're ready for a week of fun and service--experiencing God--meeting new friends--learning to lead--and more!  Come out with your families on Sunday, July 11th at 2pm for our church picnic (bring a dish to share!)  Then stay for the week in the tents on Kevin and Melanie's campsite. Parents are welcome to visit any day of the week (for free--if you mention you're from a Free Methodist Church.) Pick up will follow the Friday evening worship service which starts at 7pm and ends around 8:30-9:00. Parents, please join us for this Friday evening service!  


Don't forget to check the packing list!! (girls: take note of the clothing guidelines!)


Any questions, let us know!  


Youth Group TeeShirts:  They're IN! And they look totally awesome!!  You can pick up your tshirts when you come out to SBC Sunday July 11th for the church picnic!  If you need to know how much you owe, let Melanie know. 


Independence Day:  No Youth Group this Sunday, July 4th. 

Mini Golf Summer Celebration

Summer Celebration! To usher in the start of summer vacation, we're heading to Old Town Golf and Sportland in Monroe (6724 N Monroe Street, Monroe, MI 48162) THIS Sunday! Meet at our house at 5:00pm. We will need parent drivers to help us make the short trip. Parents and siblings are more than welcome to join us in a round of mini golf. 

Prices:

Mini Golf 

6-12 years $4

12 and older $5 

Ice Cream (Independent Dairy), nachos, lemonade and more are available if you desire. 

A single size ice cream is $1.95, double is $2.80 (lots of malts, shakes and sundaes too!)

Batting cages and a driving range are also available.

So grab your friends (and parents) and join us from 5-7:30 Sunday

Youth Group Tshirts

Super exciting news!!!


We officially have a Spiritfire design created by a Graphic Design Artist and we have receiving pricing information. I'm loving the design and I'm excited about the low prices offered! We have sizes and requests from a few of you already, but if you wouldn't mind please respond to this email (even if you've already signed up!!) Parents and anyone else interested are more than welcome to purchase Spiritfire gear as well!



So here's what we need you to do:

1. Check out the emblem that will be printed on black shirts/pants, etc.

2. Reply to me (by Wednesday) with the items you would like to puchase (tshirt/sweatshirt/sweatpants) and the sizes for each.

3. We will let you know when we need the money.

4. Wear your Spiritfire gear with pride. :D



T-shirts - $7.00 ea.

Hoodies - $19.00 ea.

Zip Hoodies - $21.00 ea.

Sweat Pants - $17.00 ea.



Pricing is for sizes Small – Extra Large add $1.00 for every x past xl

Packing list for SBC Service Week

• Bible
• Sleeping bag/extra blankets
• Pillow
• Clothing changes for 5 days plus extra
• note: girls must have bra straps covered by tshirt or thick shouldered tank tops
• Shorts must be modest (fingertip length preferred.) 
• If any item of clothing is not deemed modest by the youth leaders, the student will be asked to change
• Sweatshirt
• Jeans
• Socks 
• Tennis shoes
• Sandals/flip flops
• Pajamas--  warm and cold weather
• Bathing suit (no two-pieces, no low cut--cover-ups may not be white)
• Beach Towel
• Sunglasses
• Water bottle (labeled with your name!)
• Bath towel & wash cloth
• Personal medication—prescription or OTC (Please make Kevin or Melanie aware of these)
• Cell phones & chargers 
• Toiletries
• Soap
• Shampoo
• Hair Brush/Comb
• Deodorant
• Sunscreen
• Bug spray
• For personal time (optional):
• Journal/pens (for Bible/devos)
• Books
• iPods & chargers
• For recreational time (all optional):
• Spending money for the “Trading Post” (snack foods & SBC gear)
• Frisbees
• Baseballs/Softballs/Mitts/Bats
• Tennis balls/rackets
• Basketballs 
• Footballs
• Kickballs
• Personal snacks or snacks to share (OPTIONAL)
• Feel free to bring any additional food items you wish to have on hand for your own use or for sharing with the group--keeping in mind you will be getting three great meals a day from the camp!
• S'mores stuff or other fire roasting items 
• chocolate bars
• marshmallows
• graham crackers

----------------------------
*If an emergency arises, you have questions or concerns, or you need to contact your student for any reason, please don't hesitate to contact us.

*In addition, if any need or emergency occurs concerning your student, rest assured that you will be contacted immediately.
Contact Info: 
Melanie's Cell: 440.813.7025
Kevin's Cell: 440.813.5380

email: melanieeccles@gmail.com

Somerset Beach office: 517.688.3783

Directions and Contact info for SBC:
http://www.somersetbeach.org/index.php/contact/ 

SBC Details (and a little quizzing)

Kevin & Mel's Summer Plans. In case you missed the announcement this past Sunday, Kevin and Melanie are going to be working at Somerset Beach Campground for the duration of the summer. Since substitute teaching doesn't exactly pay during the summer months, we needed to find alternatives. This is the perfect one! We'll be back every Sunday for church and regularly scheduled youth group. During the week, Melanie will be working in the office at SBC and Kevin will be working with the youth programming staff. SBC is the camping ministry of our Southern Michigan Conference of Free Methodist Churches--so we hope to bring even more awareness to our teens and families about this great camp!

You will still be able to reach us at our cell phone numbers and our email addresses. Contact us if you need that info! 

Summer SERVANThood Experience. If you didn't read all the details about our summer service week at Somerset Beach click here.  To nail down our plans, we're going to need your registration forms asap. If possible, return your registration forms (signed by a parent) by this Sunday, May 30th. If you need more time to decide, please let us know.

• Pick-Up Times. We had had questions concerning "pickup times" at the end of the week. We would like invite ALL our parents to attend the Friday evening service at 7pm and then take your students home after they finish their nursery/kids' church duties. If you would need to just pick them up at the end of the night, the service will be over around 8:30/9 or you can make arrangements with us to pick them up earlier in the day. 
• COST.  The camp is generously going to cover the costs of each student's lunch and dinner meals!  How awesome is that?!  This will leave breakfast for us to supply.  Each individual will be responsible for packing desired breakfast items. (i.e. cereal, granola bars, fruit). There will be a small amount of refrigeration available for storing milk or yogurt, etc if needed. Any questions on food necessities, let us know!  THIS JUST IN: ALL of your meals will be covered for each day we're at camp. This includes those adult leaders who attend with us. Praise God for his provision. This means a week of service at SBC is FREE! 
• 
  
  
  Help NEEDED! Two full-time adult volunteers are still needed to attend this week of service at Somerset. Kevin and Melanie will oversee activities, but with their job responsibilities, the camp would also like 2 other adults on hand for the students to check in with during their free time, to spend the night in the gender-specific tents, as well as to work alongside the students on any given projects (i.e. assisting in morning VBS, working where needed in the afternoon, working in the nursery and children's service in the evening.) In addition, these adults will be a great help to have on hand as our teens process their service and leadership experience. 
  
  
  Please please consider working with our teens for the week of July 11-16. Anyone over the age of 19 is eligible to help.  Your meal costs will be covered by the camp as well and you would be staying in the tents with the teens. 

  
  
• For a detailed packing list as well as some important notes about dress code and essential contact info be sure to check out the SBC Service Week Packing List.
• Directions to the camp can be found on the website here. 

Bible Quizzing: Materials are IN!  We can get you hooked up with the listening cd as soon as you get us a blank cd or your person mp3 player. And be sure to get us your $5 if you haven't yet!

SpiritFire Tshirts: We are going to be ordered youth group shirts very soon. They should cost between $7-10.  A fantastic design was submitted by our graphic design friend and the students who came Sunday loved it!  They will be printed on black tshirts. Please get us your tshirt size asap if you'd like us to order you one of these great shirts!