October 2008
Monthly Archive
This was written Marcia Zgirta, The Director of Women in Middle School. Please note how nice I am to leave in her comment that girls retreat was better than the guys… I am so nice! Tim
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Hey to anyone interested in all things Tim Mauriello. He asked me to write a short bit about the Middle School Girls’ Fall Retreat, which was equally as wonderful as the guys’ retreat and probably even more so since we had 170 total on our retreat, compared to 130 on the guys. Our destination was Country Lake Christian Retreat Center in booming Underwood, Indiana. We began with a stirring charge by our speaker, the incredible Melody Boyer, to not listen to the lies perpetrated by the media, our culture, and Hollywood on what look is pretty, what kind of person is valuable, and what kind of behavior is cool. It was fun watching the girls tear into teen mags, glamour mags, people mags and make posters displaying the ostentatious lies presented to them in their daily diet of media. The girls themselves were amazed at what they saw when they put it all together.
Then we broke for an afternoon of low ropes course challenges by small groups, and free time including boating, sports, crafts, facials and hang time. The facial/make-up room seemed to be the most popular, followed by the boats.
The next two sessions with Mel focused on who we are, how God has gifted us, and how we can enjoy and thrive in the natural bents that God has given us. The girls soaked it up. Then, were dismissed to spend a directed hour with God thinking and praying through what they had learned over the weekend.
We also spent a great deal of time processing through questions and thoughts in our small groups.
All in all, a great time was had by all. Well, except for those who are culinarially inclined. The meals were not the highlight of our time.
Respectfully submitted by Marcia.
So the soundsystem fried my laptop (very thankful it’s under warranty) which leaves me blogging from my iPhone. You’ll have to excuse any typos.
Free time was great, great weather and awesome fun just being guys together.
Session 2 starts great with the guys really into the worship. Started with let the praises ring then went a little old school with “my glorious” I can’t believe we think of that as old school! Craig shares a bit from jis heart. From the inside out finishes the first set. Really was a powerful moment there as we worshipped.
Kyle is up. Starts strong talking about how we all mess up but god gives us gifts anyway. Romans 12. I am gifted by god. How do we approach these gifts? We need to get real. At this age these guy think they are all that, but we need to get real about who we are. They way we do and the we figure pit what our gifts are is in community. The point of these small groups is to me real an honest with these guys.
We are all gifted and important to the body. We can’t focus on how other people are gifted and wish we were like them. God did not intend you to be the guy sitting next to you. He made you the way you are.
Use your gifts. It’s a lie that middle school men can’t use their gifts to further gods kingdom. Then as we use our gifts we start to communicate with god in a whole new way.
Another great message. Short and to the point. Perfect for these guys.
On to worship set 2. Give me Jesus, holy is the lord, one way.
Then time in small groups to discuss the message. I just love processing these things together in groups.
Things got off to a fun start with Craig’s re-written “smells like teen spirit” though the fun stop came to a screaching halt as a guitar stopped working and we had to change a cable. so, we started over and all was good. I introdced Kyle, who I am so excited is speaking this weekend, including random questions from students and it was time to worship. Two songs, too loud. We gotta figure out how to keep the volume under control in this old barn!
Kyle starts with a great idea of having the guys respond like spartan warriors! so cool! then he just brings the gospel thunder with the big idea that “I am forgiven by God” I’m a little late posting so I am missing some of the finer points, but he did a great job and set the tone for a weekend that will be manly as well as the in your face truth of scripture. Very cool.
the guys seem like they are more into the music in the second set, and I’m up after we finish this song, so I better go! Let god arise!
So, since we have web access (even though its slow) I think I’ll blog from the retreat. Of course, Iwon’t be able to post about the girls trip as they are a few hundred miles away.
Things went very well at church, checking in 300 students and leaders! A huge testimony to the team’s organization and the quality of our leaders.
The bus trip was going great until we slamed on the breaks and came to a dead stop. A truck had just jack-knifed in the road and was blocking both lanes! We were a onl a few hundred yards behind. hd we been maybe 10 seconds earlier we may have been involved. After an hour wait all three busses stopped at a rest area and we still made it to the camp in time to get luggage to cabins and mae it to lunch.
God is good and we’re here!
