Refuge Youth Weekly Update
December 23rd, 2015
Merry Christmas! Advent Week 4, Love
As we prepare our homes and lives to host and celebrate with family and friends this holiday I've been thinking about what it means to prepare our hearts for Christmas. Although we may have all the gifts, the cookies are baked, the house is clean and decorated, are we ready to welcome and receive the King of Kings?
And going into the house they [the wise men] saw the child with Mary his mother, and they fell down and worshiped him. Then, opening their treasures, they offered him gifts, gold and frankincense and myrrh."
Mark 2:11
I love the example of the Wise Men at this first Christmas, specifically the way they worshiped. They were guided by the star and were lead straight to the baby Jesus in Bethlehem, and they knew what was coming! They were intentional about the worship, they went straight to Jesus! Then when they arrive we see that they were prepared to worship, they had extravagant gifts to offer the Lord! They had prepared gifts for the King, well before they arrived we see that they were ready to worship Christ. And finally, though they intentionally sought out Christ, and though they were prepared to worship, once they were in his presence they were still overwhelmed, they fell down and worshiped in spontaneity. The presence of God brought them to their knees, they may not have expected this reaction, but their preparation lead to sincere and genuine worship!
I pray that over the next few days we could follow the example of these wise men. That we would intentionally seek out ways to worship Christ, that we be come to Him, through church or quiet time, prepared to receive Him, and, finally, that God would move us to genuine, sincere worship. I hope that despite the busyness and all the activity the holiday brings, we would not see Jesus as an obligation on the way to Christmas, but rather, we would be prepared to give Him our best, just as the wise men gave such extravagant gifts!
Let us remember the great love that God has for us, a love so great that he sent his son to born a human, that he would one day die for each of us on that cross. As we remember God's love let's be prepared to worship Him because of it. Truly we love and worship Him because He first loved us.
I hope to see you all at one of Journey's Christmas Eve services tomorrow where we can come together and worship the King who has and is to come!
Quick Updates:
-Winter Camp: details below!
-Refuge on Break: Reminder that this Sunday, December 27th we have no SLUG and no Ignite meetings. Everything is back on the following Sunday, January 3rd.
-Guy's Bible Study is off tonight (Dec. 23), but back on next week (Dec. 30).
Christmas Eve Services at Journey, 7 & 9pm
This Sunday Single Service at 10am // no slug, no ignite this week
Middle School Winter Camp
This will be an incredible experience for our middle schoolers (6th-8th graders). We join several area churches and hundreds of middle school students on the mountain in Challenge, CA at Woodleaf Retreat Center where there will be a guest worship band, guest speaker, crazy games and activities, and a chance to grow in your faith! This weekend could literally be life-changing!
For more details check out the registration form here. Registration for Middle School Winter Camp is due by January 19th. Journey Church's Parental Consent form is also required for this event, find the current '15-'16 year form here.
We are also looking for parent volunteers to help lead and be drivers during this awesome weekend! Talk to Matthew if you're interested!
High School Winter Escape
Winter Escape will be an awesome weekend for all high schoolers (9th-12th grade). Part retreat, part ski trip, Winter Escape is a time to disconnect from everyday and spend some time connecting with God through worship and with each other. Enjoy a cabin near Lake Tahoe, times of great worship, and a full day on the slopes of Heavenly Ski Resort. Spots are limited, sign up soon! The cost is $155 per students and includes lift ticket and rentals for the weekend.
For more details check out the registration form here. Registration for High School Winter Escape is due by February 14th. Journey Church's Parental Consent form is also required for this event, find the current '15-'16 year form here.
We are also looking for parent volunteers to help lead and be drivers during this awesome weekend! Talk to Matthew if you're interested!
Guy's Bible Study
We have just began a mid-week Guy’s Bible study; this study is geared toward High School guys and is a great time for us to get together and study God’s Word together. It’s never too late to join, we've just begun a study through the book of Galatians. Meet at the Peet's Coffee inside Raley's at 25025 BLUE RAVINE ROAD.
-Guy's Bible Study is off tonight (Dec. 23), but back on next week (Dec. 30).
Refuge Student Ministries
Email: refuge@journeychurchhome.org
Website: journeychurchhome.org
Location: 450 Blue Ravine Road, Folsom, CA, United States
Phone: (916) 983-4648
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/pages/Refuge-YM-at-Journey-Church/153825327973387?fref=ts