The Relevant Youth
October 2011
In This Issue
CS Glow-in-Dark Costume Dance
CR Corn Maze
CS Leadership Weekend
Listen! For Girls Only
Sanctuary
Meal Tickets
Recommendation Letter Requests
Quick Links

October Events 

CROSSROADS

1- Grate Patrol 5am, RSVP! 

2-Tune-Up 9-10:30am

Crossroads 5-7pm

8-10- TFC Fall Church Retreat 

9-NO TUNE-UP/CROSSROADS 

 16- Tune-Up 9-10:30am Crossroads 5-7pm

19-Core 7-8pm in SG 114

20- LISTEN 6:30-8:30pm    

22- Uproar-Corn Maze! 1-5pm

23-Tune-Up 9-10:30am
Sanctuary 5-7pm
30-Tune-Up 9-10:30am 

Crossroads 5-7pm


CORNERSTONE

2-CREW 9-10:30am      

Cornerstone 6:30-8:45pm

8-10- TFC Fall Church Retreat 

9-NO CORNERSTONE/CREW

16-CREW 9-10:30am   

Cornerstone 6:30-8:45pm

20- LISTEN 6:30-8:30pm 

23-CREW 9-10:30am      

Sanctuary 6-8:30pm
28-GLOW DANCE 8-11pm $5
30-CREW 9-10:30am   

Cornerstone 6:30-8:45pm

 

NO YOUTH EVENTS Oct 9th! 

We will be at the Parish Retreat from Oct 8-10. There will not be any Sunday morning or evening activities. We will see you on Oct 16th!

Cornerstone Dinner Servers Sign Up! 

House Party Sept16
We need 3-4 parents each Sunday night to help serve. Cornerstone dinner from 6-7:15pm. It entails setting up some tables, putting out drinks, collecting money, and passing out food. If you are interested, click the calendar. Password is server. Or you can email.

Crossroads Dinner Servers Sign Up! 


Arrive at Southgate @ 4:45pm and leave by approx. 6pm. Help to set-up and deliver purchased food (like pizza or Chipotle) and bottled water to the students in their small group rooms. Collect $5 from each student who is eating. Work with approx 4-5 other adult volunteers. (You are sent an email during the week before with detailed instructions.) You are not involved in clean-up at the end. If you are interested click here to sign up on the calendar. Password is server. You can also email if you can help. 

 

Youth Family Dinner Needs You! 

House Party Sept16
Each Tuesday night our 75 volunteer leaders known as the Youth Family gather for dinner, fellowship, teaching, and training. If you would be interested in helping provide a main dish, salad/bread, or dessert. Click here to sign up on the calendar. Password is cook. Or email.

Middle School Core 

Oct 19, 7-8pm in Southgate 114
For students that are interested in growing in discipleship and leadership.

 

 

CR/CS Bumper Stickers! 


Are you looking for something cool for the back of your car, truck, or RV? Back this year, by popular demand, oval CR and CS bumper stickers! How can you own one for yourself? Buy one for $1 or WIN one at CR/CS event!
Confirmation Class
When is it happening??

There will be a 10-session Confirmation class beginning December 4, 2011. The Confirmation service will take place March 4, 2012. The class will be taught by David Gustafson.

 

12/04/2011

Session 1

12/11/2011

Session 2

12/18/2011

Session 3

12/25/2011 No class (Christmas Day)

01/01/2012 No class (New Year's Day)

01/08/2012

Session 4

01/15/2012

Session 5 (Note: MLK's Bday is 1/16; this is a long holiday weekend)

01/22/2012

Session 6

01/29/2012

Session 7

02/05/2012

Session 8

02/12/2012

Session 9

02/19/2012 No class (Breakaway weekend)

02/26/2012 Session 10 (Last class)

03/04/2012 Confirmation Service
Greetings!

 

It's the season of Mums and Pumpkins, Apples and Spices, Sweaters and Raking. Also---Parish Retreats and Corn Mazes, Worship and Dancing! Yes - October has it ALL!

Thank you to all of the parents who were able to attend the Sept. 18 Parents' Meeting! For those who were unable to attend but wonder...

Who we are and why we exist? Read on-

The Falls Church Youth Ministry Office has 7 full-time staff, 2 Fellows working part-time and 1 high school intern who works on Wednesdays, 8:30am-3pm. We have 3 separate (but complimentary) departments, middle school, high school and college. Our middle school program is known collectively as "Crossroads" and our high school program is known as "Cornerstone." College is known as "College."

  • Jim Byrne is the overall Director of The Falls Church Youth Ministry office and all staff is under his guidance and leadership.
  • Betsy Christian is the Assistant Director of Crossroads and middle school women volunteers.
  • Eric Garner is the Coordinator for the boys in Crossroad and middle school men volunteers.
  • Mike Steenhoek is the Assistant Director for the boys in Cornerstone and high school men volunteers.
  • Laura Smethurst is the Coordinator for the girls in Cornerstone and high school women volunteers.
  • We also have a "Fellow" in our office for both Crossroads and Cornerstone. Ryan Levis is the Crossroads' Fellow and Michelle Wolfe is the Cornerstone Fellow working in the YM office this year. They work directly under the full-time office staff.
  • Chad Barlow is the College Coordinator and has now established his physical office with us.
  • Micah Parks, a high school senior at The Madeira School has an internship with us this school year, working on Wednesdays from 8:30am-3pm.
  • Marti Alderfer is the Administrative Assistant in the office, assisting Jim Byrne and each department.  

While Crossroads, Cornerstone and College are separate departments or ministries, they do work together to compliment and support each other. The entire office staff meets together at least once/week to pray, coordinate and plan. The purpose of the Student Ministries of The Falls Church is to bring glory to God by fostering an environment that will allow the youth to dedicate their lives to Christ and mature in their walk with Him. We desire to see adolescents grow faithful to the Lord with the support of their community of peers and the discipleship of the Youth Family.

 

Marti Alderfer

703-574-4390 

marti@thefallschurch.org  

GLOW Costume Dance!  

Start practicing your dance moves for the awesome Cornerstone glow-in-the-dark costume dance coming up on October 28 from 8-11pm in Nicolson Hall. In addition to having a great time with your friends, the $5 ticket will raise money for the Nicaragua Feeding Program. Get your tickets at the door or Cornerstone. Wear a costume that is fun, glows, and is appropriate. 

Crossroads Corn Maze! 

October Uproar
On October 22nd, we will take a bus to The Plains, VA, to explore a real corn maze! Bring a friend with you to experience the craziness! We'll meet at the church at 1pm and return by 5pm. The cost is $20 and pre-registration is required. For more information, please contact   Eric or  Betsy.

CS Leadership Weekend



Students in 10th-12th grade are invited to join us for a weekend of spiritual growth and leadership training from Nov 11-13. This is a great opportunity to learn what it means to be a spiritual leader and serve the Lord at home, school, and Cornerstone. Leadership Weekend Registration Form
Listen!
Listen Flyer For Girls Only...
Grades 7-12. Thursday, October 20, 6:30-8:30 pm in Nicolson Hall. This fall's topic is "Beauty Redefined." Listen to the message around us - it's hard to recognize the difference between truth and deception. What is true beauty?  We will take one evening in the fall (Thurs Oct 20) and one evening in the spring (Thurs April 19) to talk about what it means to be God's woman in today's culture. $5 at the door covers materials and snacks. Bring a friend with you!

Youth Worship Night

Sanctuary    

In the main sanctuary, October 23, Crossroads and Cornerstone will be having a combined time of worship led by students and for students from 6-7pm. Come hear how God is working in the lives of your friends. There will be dinner and small groups. According to the below schedule:

Crossroads Dinner/Small Group 5-6pm

Cornerstone Dinner/Small Group 7-8:30pm 

MEAL DEALS!  

Meal Cards for CR/CS Dinners
Are you looking for an easy way to take care of paying for the dinner at Crossroads or Cornerstone? We are introducing a meal card that is good for all Sunday nights throughout the year. You can purchase them at the youth office or on Sunday evenings at Crossroads or Cornerstone. For $100 you get your very own golden ticket, which gets you dinner each week. Don't lose your ticket because it costs $5 to replace it! These are super stylish but are not transferable. Make checks payable to The Falls Church.
Recommendation Letter Requests...
 
Jim says...

Weekly, I am asked to write reference letters for schools, jobs, scholarships. I usually like doing them, but some become difficult. Most times I do not have the information I need, to do an excellent recommendation letter, in the time requested. Many times enclosed school forms are not filled out completely or signed. I find myself, at 5:00am, looking up online the address for an admissions office or the address of the requester, in order to fill out their potion of the recommendation (which I did today). Also, I find myself having to put the recommendation aside until I get a signature. I'm not sure you want it sitting in the youth office for a week.

The request to write a recommendation needs to be in writing- not a comment in the hallway of church or a phone call- that says "I need a recommendation letter by next week- can I pick it up at CS?"  One phrase I always remember--- "Not in writing--didn't happen."

 

Here's what I need to write good reference letters:

 

1. At least three weeks' notice. 

2. Who is the letter is about - your full name spelled out correctly- not nicknames or assumptions.

3. Full contact information should be included - cell phone, address, school presently attending, parents' names.

4. Which youth programs the person has attended - Cornerstone, Work Trips, Fusion Leadership-etc. - with basic dates and years.

          Yes, I know you went on the New Orleans Trip or helped at Fusion, but give me the year(s) and any other specific, noteworthy contributions/service you may have provided.

5. Who the letter is to go to.

6. Envelopes that are CORRECTLY addressed to the school's admissions office, etc., with postage stamps included. Today, I must walk to 7/11 and find a stamp. Help me, help you.

7. Any forms printed off with the upper portion filled out completely and SIGNED in the right spot. It's important to give me the right forms, not the teacher forms. Please double check.

8. If not mailed, it is your responsibility to pick them up, do not ask the youth staff or office to deliver it to you at Cornerstone or wherever you may be.

9. Please indicate if there are any special requests, like signing the back of the envelope or anything that may be missed. 

 I want to give you my best!

Help me help you! And always, pray for God's will!

Jim