December Update

Sunday Schedule: 
Worship – 8:30AM & 11:00AM
Sunday school – 9:45-10:45AM
NightLife – 5:00-7:00PM (begins 8.27)

At a glance…

  • Advent Craft Festival is this Sunday night, Dec. 3. Ms. Katryn needs lots of hands to make this event happen! Let her know if you want to serve.
  • Youth Christmas Party is Dec. 10 immediately following 11:00AM worship until 2:30. Hope to see you there!
  • REZ Registration is live! Earlybird registration due Dec. 6, final registration due Dec. 13.

Advent Craft Festival

This coming Sunday, our Children’s Ministry is hosting the annual Advent Craft Festival. This is a fun event for the whole family, and you’ll leave with some fun crafts to help you prepare your heart and home for the Advent season.

We’ll begin with a potluck dinner in Parish Hall at 5:00 and move to the Gym for crafts at 5:45. There are lots of crafts to complete, so Ms. Katryn needs lots of hands to help our younger friends! If you are interested in serving, contact her kbancroft@churchstreetumc.org or (865) 256-46-36.

Youth Christmas Party

On Sunday, December 10, we will have our annual Christmas Party in the Youth Area. We’ll begin immediately following 11:00 worship and pick up will be at 2:30.

We’ll have a pasta lunch, sing Christmas carols, and have a White Elephant gift exchange ($5-$10 limit). See you there!

P.S. Any parents who would be willing to help set-up, please let Jenny know!

Resurrection Registration

Each January, we travel to Pigeon Forge for Holston Conference’s youth event, Resurrection. Join us January 19-21 as we join other youth groups for worship and fellowship. We’re staying in the Big Elk Lodge with Hearthside Cabin Rentals.

Earlybird Registration: Dec. 6 – $115

Final Registration: Dec. 13 – $135

To learn more, visit resurrectionyouth.com. And for questions, contact Jenny!

Resurrection Registration

Have you viewed our page on Church Street’s website? Check it out!

Jenny Cross, Youth Director
jcross@churchstreetumc.org

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November Update

Sunday Schedule: 
Worship – 8:30AM & 11:00AM
Sunday school – 9:45-10:45AM
NightLife – 5:00-7:00PM (begins 8.27)

At a glance…

  • Sunday Night: Advent Missions Night! Regular time — but make it festive! Wear your Christmas PJs and come ready to complete some service projects!
  • We had a great weekend at SLA! Click here to view the album: https://photos.app.goo.gl/HnSdCRYP3PyUCMhq6

Advent Missions Night

This Sunday night, we will have our annual Advent Missions Night during NightLife! We’ll be completing several mission projects to help serve our neighbors in need.

We will meet during the regular NightLife time (5:00-7:00). Wear your Christmas PJs! And bring your holiday cheer.

We’ll complete our projects, decorate the Youth Area for Christmas, and have breakfast for dinner. See you there!!!

Youth Ministry Meals

Each Sunday, we serve our students breakfast and dinner. We ask families to volunteer to help make these meals happen! The sign-ups are below. If every family signs up for one breakfast and one dinner each, we will have nearly every week covered!

Youth Breakfasts

Youth Dinners

 

Have you viewed our page on Church Street’s website? Check it out!

Jenny Cross, Youth Director
jcross@churchstreetumc.org

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SLA Info 2023

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SLA Info

Next week is SLA week! On November 10-12, we are heading to the mountains for a weekend of intentional worship, fellowship, study, and prayer.  It is one of the highlights of the year for many of us!  Please use the info below to prepare your hearts and minds for the days ahead. If you have any questions at all, email Jenny at jcross@churchstreetumc.org!

Schedule

Friday

5:30 — Arrival at Church Street (Youth Area) & Load Trailer

5:45 — Dinner in Youth Area

6:15 — Brief group meeting

6:30 — Departure for Camp Bays Mountain (Kingsport, TN)

 

Sunday

12:00 — Lunch at Bays Mountain

12:30 — Pack & Clean Up

1:00 — Depart from Locust Springs

2:30 — Arrival at Church Street

 

Packing List 

A printable/saveable version of this packing list is available below.  That way you can have your own checklist as you get ready!

  • sleeping bag or twin sized linens
  • pillow
  • Bible
  • water bottle
  • warm clothes, casual clothes (bring a flannel if you have one)
  • pajamas
  • shoes for walking & hiking
  • coat, gloves, & hat
  • rain jacket (just in case)
  • towel
  • toiletries
  • snack to share (individually packaged please!)
  • chargers

Packing List

 

Additional Info

  • Late Arrival/Early Departure — If you have a conflict and need to either arrive late or leave early, please let Jenny know the specifics by Wednesday, November 8.
  • Release Form — Everyone must complete release forms for both Church Street & Bays Mountain.  Please use the links below to access them.
  • Rooming — Students will be sleeping in bunk rooms with 8 individuals per room. We will all be in one lodge.
  • Sickness Policy — If a student becomes ill while we are at SLA, we will contact parents and ask that you plan to come and pick them up.

Church Street Youth Annual Release Form

Bays Mountain Waiver

Preparing for SLA

Our prayer for this weekend is that it would be one of restoration, connection, and hope.  SLA stands for Spiritual Life Advance, and we are believing that God will grow our faiths as we spending time with Him away from the pressures of everyday life.  Here are some ways you can intentionally prepare your hearts and minds for this special time.

  • Prayer — Spend time in intentional prayer leading up to SLA.  Ask God to be with you and protect you, to help you learn and grow, to heal brokenness, and restore joy.  Lift up anything on your heart to Him!
  • Worship — We have a worship playlist of all the songs we will be singing over the weekend.  Listen to it over the next couple of weeks! Listen here.
  • Reflection — Consider where you find yourself at this point in the school year.  Worn out? Excited? Hopeful? Discouraged? Disconnected? Stuck? Energized? Bring those things to Him and come to SLA aware of where you are in your life.
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October Update

Sunday Schedule: 
Worship – 8:30AM & 11:00AM
Sunday school – 9:45-10:45AM
NightLife – 5:00-7:00PM (begins 8.27)

At a glance…

  • Regular NightLife this Sunday!
  • This Sunday we will volunteer with the Children’s Ministry’s Fall Festival from 4:00-6:00. And let Jenny know Sunday morning if you want to have dinner from 6:00-6:30.
  • SLA is just around the corner!

Fall Festival – This Sunday!

On Sunday, October 29, we will have an adjusted schedule.  We will volunteer with Children’s Ministry’s Fall Festival. The event will be from 4:00-6:00 in the Magnolia Lot (moved to the gym if it rains). We’ll help with Trunk or Treat, leading crafts, and manning bounce houses.

We are having a zoo themed trunk for Trunk or Treat. Feel free dress like your favorite animal, or wear your own Halloween costume.

If you are interested in having dinner together from 6:00-6:30, let Jenny know during Sunday School this week!

SLA Info

SLA is a little less than a month away! We are so looking forward to spending time together in the mountains November 10-12.  You will receive an email with lots of information in a couple of weeks, but for now, mark these things down!

Friday Arrival: 5:30 at Church Street (dinner provided)

Sunday Return: 3:00 at Church Street

All drop-offs and pick-ups will take place in the youth area!

Football Parking Fundraiser

For each of Tennessee’s home football games, we have the incredible opportunity to park cars on our campus and raise money for our Youth Department and Youth Choir. Each weekend, we tithe (give 10%) of our earnings to a Parking Lot Maintenance Fund, and the remaining is divided evening between the two groups.

It requires a significant amount of volunteer support to make this fundraiser work, and we ask all families to volunteer for at least two shifts during the season. Please use the link below to sign up and learn more.

We need lots more hands to make this season happen. Please check out the sign-up and find two shifts to serve.

Football Volunteer Sign-Ups

Youth Ministry Meals

Each Sunday, we serve our students breakfast and dinner. We ask families to volunteer to help make these meals happen! The sign-ups are below. If every family signs up for one breakfast and one dinner each, we will have nearly every week covered!

Youth Breakfasts

Youth Dinners

 

Have you viewed our page on Church Street’s website? Check it out!

Jenny Cross, Youth Director
jcross@churchstreetumc.org

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August Update

Sunday Schedule: 
Worship – 8:30AM & 11:00AM
Sunday school – 9:45-10:45AM
NightLife – 5:00-7:00PM (begins 8.27)

At a glance…

  • No NightLife this week.
  • We need LOTS more help for the first home game on September 9.
  • Don’t forget to complete our surveys & Annual Release Form!
  • Parents – we’d love your help with our meals on Sundays!

NightLife

NightLife this past week was good for the soul. Spending time around the table, worshiping together, and having small group discussions was a joy.  We meet from 5:00-7:00 in the Youth Area and have a $5 dinner each week.

If you are new to NightLife, we hope you’ll consider taking the NightLife Challenge and commit to being with us 4 weeks in a row to see if it’s a good fit for you. (We think it will be!).

Please note: there will not be NightLife on Sunday, September 3 due to Labor Day Weekend. We’ll be back on September, 10!

Kick-Off Follow Up

This past Sunday night, we celebrated a new year of Youth Ministry altogether in Parish Hall. We shared a meal, worshipped together, and heard about what we have in store for this year.

Below, you’ll find the links to our forms/surveys. Please take some time to fill those out (it won’t take long!) to help us plan for the year ahead.

As always, if you have any questions, reach out to Jenny at @jcross@churchstreetumc.org.

Annual Release Form

Student Survey

Parent Survey

Football Parking Fundraiser

For each of Tennessee’s home football games, we have the incredible opportunity to park cars on our campus and raise money for our Youth Department and Youth Choir. Each weekend, we tithe (give 10%) of our earnings to a Parking Lot Maintenance Fund, and the remaining is divided evening between the two groups.

It requires a significant amount of volunteer support to make this fundraiser work, and we ask all families to volunteer for at least two shifts during the season. Please use the link below to sign up and learn more.

We need lots more hands for the first game on September 9!! Please consider volunteering. Shifts will be 8:45-1:15 and 12:45-5:15!

Football Volunteer Sign-Ups

Youth Ministry Meals

Each Sunday, we serve our students breakfast and dinner. We ask families to volunteer to help make these meals happen! The sign-ups are below. If every family signs up for one breakfast and one dinner each, we will have nearly every week covered!

Youth Breakfasts

Youth Dinners

 

Have you viewed our page on Church Street’s website? Check it out!

Jenny Cross, Youth Director
jcross@churchstreetumc.org

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MAD in the City 2023

MAD in the City Info

MAD in the City is almost here!! We are looking forward to a week of serving our city together. Below, you’ll find a packing list and general schedule.

Here are some important notes I’d like to bring to your attention.

  • We are staying overnight this year! Girls will stay in Youth Sunday School rooms, guys will stay in adult Sunday School rooms on the main level of the CLC across from the Gym.
  • 5:00 PM Sunday drop-off. Bring yourself and all your gear to the Youth Area on Sunday night.
  • 5:00 PM Thursday Pick-Up. We will dismiss from the Youth Area on Thursday afternoon.
  • If you have to depart and return at some point, please text or email Jenny that info before Sunday.
  • On Monday, some of our group will attend Urban Air with Wesley House. I’ve attached the waiver for that event below. Please print waiver and bring with you on Sunday!
  • On Tuesday night, we will have a pool party at Holston Hills (thanks, Osborns!!). You’ll need a swim suit and beach towel!
  • On Sunday night, you’ll be assigned a crew that you will work on all week. (For those of you who sing in choir, this is similar to the crews on Choir Tour!) Some crews will be: Breakfast, Supplies, Lunch, Activities, Runners, Dinner, etc.

MAD in the City (which stands for Making a Difference in the City) is a way for us to intentionally be the hands and feet of Jesus in our own community. We will be working with Wesley House Community Center, Beacon of Hope, Emerald Youth Foundation, Operation Backyard, and many of the ministries within Church Street. Students will have the opportunity to engage in a wide variety of mission work. Join us in prayer as we ask for protection, stamina, joy, and impact as we do our best to love our neighbors well.

As always, if you have any questions, send them my way! Looking forward to a great week together!

Grace and peace,

Jenny

P.S. You will probably receive another email or two from me before the week is done.

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Senior Spotlight – Jackson McNutt

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One of our favorite things about the spring semester each year is celebrating our graduating seniors.  Welcome to the Senior Spotlight series for the graduating class of 2023!  Our seniors answered interview questions earlier this semester and it has been so much fun learning their answers! Check back in each week to get to know our seniors better and help to cheer them on as they wrap up high school and prepare for their next steps.

Meet Jackson McNutt!

What high school are you graduating from?
Knoxville Catholic High School
What are your plans for next year?
I want to be a car mechanic
What is your favorite bible verse?
I don’t have one
If you could choose one meal to eat for the rest of your life, what would it be?
Cheeseburgers and fries
If you could give some advice to your younger self, what would it be?
Try to remember things better
What are your top 3 favorite movies?
101 Dalmatian’s, Cloudy With a Chance of Meatballs, The Avengers
What is your top book recommendation?
Ready Player One
What is your favorite Church Street memory?
The resurrection retreats
What are you most excited about going into the next season of your life?
Learning about something I am interested in
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Senior Spotlight – Rachel Duncan

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One of our favorite things about the spring semester each year is celebrating our graduating seniors.  Welcome to the Senior Spotlight series for the graduating class of 2023!  Our seniors answered interview questions earlier this semester and it has been so much fun learning their answers! Check back in each week to get to know our seniors better and help to cheer them on as they wrap up high school and prepare for their next steps.

Meet Rachel Duncan!

What high school are you graduating from?
West High School
What are your plans for next year?
I plan to go to UT and study Plant Sciences with a minor in Design Studies.
What is your favorite bible verse?
Philippians 4:8-9
If you could choose one meal to eat for the rest of your life, what would it be?
A breakfast burrito with green chile
If you could give some advice to your younger self, what would it be?
Don’t overthink things
What are your top 3 favorite movies?
My Cousin Vinny, While You Were Sleeping, The Quiet Man
What is your top book recommendation?
All Creatures Great and Small by James Herriot
What is your favorite Church Street memory?
The scavenger hunt we did at mad in the city last summer
What are you most excited about going into the next season of your life?
Taking interesting classes and meeting new people!
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Summer Update 2023

Weekly Schedule: 
Worship – Sundays, 8:30AM & 11:00AM
Sunday school – Sundays, 9:45-10:45AM
Bible Study – Wednesdays, 10:00-11:00AM

Hello friends! What a JOY it was to serve alongside so many of you during MAD in the City last week. I cannot really put into words how special the week was. Thank you for serving with generosity and enthusiasm. I’m so proud of you and grateful to be in ministry with you.

If you want a look at what MAD was all about, click below to see the photo album!

This week, our schedule is light. But join us for Bible Study! And we lift up all our students who attend year round schools who are returning to their regular schedules over the next couple of weeks. You can do it!

  • Bible Study – Wednesday from 10:00-11:00. Join Jenny on the porch as we continue our Wesley Prayer Challenge.

MAD Photo Album

Looking Ahead

Mark your calendars for these exciting upcoming events! As always, if you have any questions, contact Jenny!

July 25 – Hang Time (5:00 PM in the Youth Area)

August 6 – Smokies Game (2:00 PM at Smokies Stadium)

August 13 – Promotion Pep Rally (9:45 AM in the Gym)

August 20 – Confirmation Orientation (9:45 AM in the Youth Are)

August 20 – Youth Kick-Off (5:00 PM in Parish Hall)

August 27 – First NightLife (5:00 PM in the Youth Area)

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Senior Spotlight – Alana Johnson

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One of our favorite things about the spring semester each year is celebrating our graduating seniors.  Welcome to the Senior Spotlight series for the graduating class of 2023!  Our seniors answered interview questions earlier this semester and it has been so much fun learning their answers! Check back in each week to get to know our seniors better and help to cheer them on as they wrap up high school and prepare for their next steps.

Meet Alana Johnson!

What high school are you graduating from?
West High School
What are your plans for next year?
Double Majoring in Musical Theatre and English at Western Carolina University
What is your favorite bible verse?
1 Corinthians 13:4-7
If you could choose one meal to eat for the rest of your life, what would it be?
Stefano’s Pizza and Cinnamon Sticks
If you could give some advice to your younger self, what would it be?
Don’t value other people’s opinions over your own happiness
What are your top 3 favorite movies?
Love Simon Booksmart Brave
What is your top book recommendation?
One Last Stop
What is your favorite Church Street memory?
8th grade choir tour in New York
What are you most excited about going into the next season of your life?
Making new friends
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