WHAT: The last 8th grade challenge. Hosted by St.Cletus Lifeteen
Lake Williamson is the home to a one-of-a-kind high ropes course. Unlike a typical high ropes course, where group members complete the challenges one at a time, groups at Lake Williamson complete challenges as a team. Teams will work through the series of challenges with their facilitator. Checkout the course at http://www.lakewilliamson.org/teambuilding.html
WHEN: Saturday May 9th, 2009
TIME: 11am-7pm ( Bring a sack lunch to eat on the road)
WHERE: We will car pool from St.Cletus to Lake Williamson Retreat Center in Carlinville, IL
Cost: $10 (plus money for dinner on the way home)
PICK-UP: 7pm St.Cletus parish hall
WHO: All 8th grade students of St.Cletus
Questions: Call Bob at 314-623-5258 or email hamer@saintcletuschurch.org

NAME: _____________________________

PHONE:____________________AGE:______

EMERGENCY PHONE#___________________

I hereby release the Church of St. Cletus from any liability to lost items or injury to my child resulting from this field trip sponsored by St. Cletus Youth Ministry-Life Teen, on May 9, 2009 I accept full responsibility for any harm that may occur to my child while under the supervision of the adult chaperones.

(Parent signature is required for all students under 18 years of age)

__________________________

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So as we all know this last weekend was Luke 18. Which means a lot of work. And just like in the past it did not disappoint in all of the busy work.  A lot of work went into planning it and a lot of work went into the weekend so I just wanted to say thank you to all of those who worked on it; it was a great success.

Now for the purpose of this blog. Saturday night I came back from work to see all of you guys in adoration, and Timmy walking out of the can. He and I decided to go check on the set up for the “God’s Love” talk and the warm fuzzies that followed.

During Bob’s talk, I was talking to the Cori Team about what was gonna happen and what to do. And Ross said something to me that just shook me deeply. After I was done telling them what to do, he asked me if he could go down to the church because he didn’t get much time during adoration and he “just wanted his Jesus time.”  For him to say something like that just knocked me down. I think that Luke 18 is really for all of us; while, yes, it’s meant to be for 7th and 8th graders, it should also be used for the high school kids as well.  I don’t think that we use it as that.  So to hear this from Ross made me think that maybe there is hope that you guys do take something out of it, other than being tired.

Personally this weekend was a learning experence, and it was a chance for me to rebuild friendships that have lost some of their flame and I made some great new ones. I have deeply missed seeing all of you on a weekly basis, so hopefully that will change during the summer.

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I was looking forward to last Thursday for weeks. I love any chance I get to spend time in praise and worship and Adoration, and love even more when I can do so in my own church. It’s such a great feeling to be there with my God and let all of my worries melt away and just spend the entire hour and a half praising Him.

Or, at least, that’s what was supposed to happen.

Once I got there, however, I couldn’t focus at all. My mind was all over the place, thinking about my girlfriend, then work, then Life Teen, then my plans for the weekend, then the package that I was tracking, then the temperature in the building, then what time The Office was supposed to be on and if it was new that night, then that I needed to trim my fingernails, then how hungry I was, and then all of that stuff in reverse. I just could not, for the life of me, concentrate and put my all into the experience.

All that I was able to bring that night was my presence. Not much more. Legend has it that Woody Allen once said, “Eighty percent of life is just showing up.” It is in moments like last Thursday, that I really hope that to be true. I really hope, and I really believe, that my presence alone is occasionally enough to satisfy God. It wasn’t the best effort I’ve ever given, and certainly not my best result, but I was trying.

I think it’s important to remember that quote when we’re our best laid plans don’t go as well as we’d hoped. Sometimes, in many situations, just being there is good enough.

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When I was in the car today, I found myself listening to Dog Named David’s “Circus” over and over. It talks about how love makes us do crazy things.

I ran away with the circus,
Since I fell in love with you, since I fell in love with you.

I feel like this describes my life since I first started LifeTeen. I realized how in love with God I was, and I decided to “run away with the circus.” I went to lifenights, attended Noon Mass each week, and went on retreats. Some of my friends didn’t get what had changed in me – but I knew. I had fallen in love with God, and I had given up my past in order to run away with the circus, in order to live my life for God and to show my love for him through LifeTeen.

I’m just a clown in your circus
Ever since you caught my eye, ever since you caught my eye.

Since high school I have moved on to the next verse of the song. Not only have I “run away with the circus”, but I’m now a “clown in the circus” – I have joined Core Team.  I’m no longer just a bystander, but I’m now part of the main act. It’s up to me, and my fellow “clowns” to keep the teens interested in the circus, to keep them so in love with God that they want to come back week after week.

It’s not always easy. It often requires me to step out of my comfort zone. But each week I remember why I’m doing this. I’m doing this because I’m in love with God, and I’m doing this so that hopefully the teens will also want to run away with the circus and join me in experiencing God’s love.

What’s keeping you from joining the circus?

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STEUBENVILLE
ST LOUIS MID AMERICA
When: July 16th- 20th
Leave Thursday evening comeback Monday morning

What: A weekend retreat put on by Steubenville University. There will be two thousand high school students from around the country in attendance. There are only 30 spots available for this retreat I will take people on a first come first serve basis.
Who: All high school students

Where: Missouri State University in Springfield, MO

Cost: $150 (includes conference fee, t-shirt, two overnights)

Deadline: April 30th must have deposit in; balance is due by July 1st
Register Online at www.stlyouth.org/steubenville click on week 2.

For more information call Bob at 314-623-5258 or email at hamer@saintcletuschurch.org

Steubenville Retreat (Send to Church office c/o Bob Hamer) please register online and turn this in to Bob with your deposit.

Name___________________ Phone #_______________________

Email___________________ Deposit $30 Checks Payable to St.Cletus

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