Westheights Student Ministries

REMINDER: Communuty Clean Up is Tonight!

6-8PM @ Westheights

Come dressed for the weather (unless its pouring we're still going ahead with it).

Market Economy

Warning: this post has nothing to do with market economies.

Gillian and I took a trip down to the Kitchener Market this weekend.  I haven't been in almost a year, and every time I go down to King St. I feel the same rush of emotions.  I love the smells, the business, the old world feel of people talking to vendors, laughing over the weather or arguing over prices.  It seems so medieval for us all to pack into a small space to buy everything you need for the week.

Get Lost!

Okay, I swear this is the only time I'll bug you guys about this.  The summer is coming up, your going to have free time on your hands and your probably going to watch some TV.  So I'm going to make a suggestion: watch LOST.

Junior High Community Clean-Up

Hey Junior Highs!  We have decided to bump the community cleanup on the calendar from this Friday to the following Friday, May 29th from 6-8pm.

What is the community clean-up you ask? Well, I'll tell you! We'll be working in teams to help make Forest Heights a better place to live. Whoever collects the most trash wins!  We'll have a celebration once we're done - expect games and snacks and fun!

Gloves and bags will be provided.  Please dress for the weather!

Let's work together to care for both God's creation and the people in our community!

Pitch and Praise 09:: Thanks for Coming Y'all!

So Pitch has come and left us again for another year.  Thanks for all of you who came, and a special thanks for letting me (Tom) continue to be involved in the video work.  It was amazing to see how God works in the midst of the chaos of such a weekend, and I owe part of that to your openess and willingness to let God move in your life.  I'm continually impressed with how much passion you all have for your relationship with Jesus and your desire to live as Radicals of Love.  I noticed that even though there are 2000 people at this event, the only 7 I wanted to hang out with where you guys!

Please head over to pitchandpraise.com and leave comments on the posts so we can improve the event for next year.  Personally, other then the freezing cold this was one of my favorite Pitches to be involved in.

Great Music: Joel Auge will rock your socks off!

Joel Auge (pronounced like O-J) is a friend of mine who used to be a youth leader in Oakville when I was growing up.  When I was bored he used to come to the church and play Foosball for hours.  Joel is not only a talent singer, songwriter, artists but he is one heck of a Foosball player! 

CHALLENGE 40:: You've Made It!

Way to go! You've reached 40 days!  *pats back*  Your challenge today is simple, but not easy.  Your to look back over the last 40 days and think of how God has shaped your heart, challenged your thinking and ignited (be happy not to hear that word for a while lol) your passion.  Write down how you can continue to grow in the future, maybe repeating or reusing some of the challenges you've tried over the last 40 Days.

What a long, strange trip its been eh?  Keep up the good work and live like you mean it!

Worship Night Tonight!

Don't forget... tonight at 7pm there is a worship event at the church as part of IGNITE!  Hope to see you there!

CHALLENGE 39:: Random Generosity

How tightly do you hold on to your money?  Do you save it relentless for college or a car?  Or are you a spender?  Do you love to get the latest gadget, clothes or music?

CHALLENGE 38:: Guerrilla Gardening

 Let's be honest, modern cities aren't the prettiest places on Earth.  I love living in Kitchener, but the beauty of our city isn't in its concrete.  I've always loved Kitchener because of the great art we make, the people and the feeling of simplicity this city has.  But on the downside, some parts are just plain UG-LY.

CHALLENGE 37:: I Surrender!

I've come to realize that giving up is undervalued.  I'm not talking about quitting on your homework or giving up playing piano.  I meaning REALLY give up.  I think we value fighting too much in our society.  We fight for our "rights", our need to be heard and often too much so for our opinion on things that just don't matter.  Do you hold grudges?  Do you stay "quietly mad" at someone after they've wronged you?  Are you just really sure your right all the time?

THIS is why Students are Awesome

Sara Watson, a design student in England has made her car disappear.

TWITTER-WHAAATT?

 Twitter is very cool, and a lot of cool people use it.  So we thought, WSM should use it to.  If you don't have twitter, its a micro-blogging service (think facebook without all the extra stuff).  You have to limit your entries to 140 characters or less, so it keeps it short and sweet.  You follow other people's tweets and they can follow you.  You can also follow organizations, bands, and interesting people which is a good way to find out cool stuff.

To sign up go to Twitter.com... It's pretty easy after that.  You can search for people to follow (including WSM_Kitchener) via the Find People button at the top.

CHALLANGE 36:: Let's Play A Game

Everyone knows that board games are awesome.  Yes, even this one.  Yet, we don't often play them these days.  Your challenge for today is play a game (hopefully a new one or an old classic) with your friends or family.  Some of my best memories growing up have been from playing games with my family and catching my brother cheating (Mark knows what he did).  Playing together is great way to experience community and embrace the joy of being with other people Jesus called the church to embrace.

Have fun, and remember: you can't win Risk without Australia.

Hey Ladies!

::YOU'RE INVITED::

Who:  You!  (If you are a girl... sorry boys!)

What:  MUG & MUFFIN - with special guest speaker and CRAFTS!  (You can't see me right now, but I'm hyperventilating with excitement!)  WE ARE PAINTING OUR OWN MUGS!

Where:  Westheights Community Church

When:  SATURDAY MAY 30 @ 10AM

How much:  Only $10... so worth it!

Please let me know if you can make it and I will contact Teresa Maki.  Sr. highs, we have an event that afternoon, so come early and stay through the day.  Maybe we can grab lunch somewhere?

DID YOU KNOW??

Hey did you know that on any post on wsm.westheights.org you can post comments?  Yep, that's right we're actually letting you tell us what you think about what we post.  It can be anything, whether you like something or dislike it, how it challenged you or even just a smarty comment.  Just click on the little comment link at the bottom of each post and type away.  All you need is an email address (let's hope you have one of those by now... common it's 2009).

CHALLENGE 35:: Something To Think About

Ever heard of Penn and Teller?  They are a comedy duo who do a lot of stuff with illusions... maybe you have seen them on TV somewhere.  Wikipedia notes that they are often associated with atheistim (basically the belief that God does not exist).

CHALLENGE 34:: Dear Diary...

Have you ever tried to start keeping a diary or a journal?  Every spiritual disciplines book I have ever read has stressed the importance of "journalling" (that's one of those words... who took that noun and said it could become a verb?!  "Journalling" doesn't really offend me... but the word "dialoguing"? Oh brother...  I admittedly say stuff like that trying to be quirky, but once it becomes commonplace, or worse... "Christianese"... blah!  Maybe it just bugs me when it's used super casually?  Like, "Well Bob, that's an interesting question.  Why don't we get together and dialogue about that over coffee?"  Okay, rant over.)

CHALLENGE 33:: Puts a new spin on "you are what you eat"

Check out this blog:  30on30challenge.blogspot.com

I feel so humbled by this guy's amazing dedication!

CHALLENGE 32:: Saturday Stroll

Go for a walk in the rain.  Wear a raincoat or bring an umbrella if you want... or just get wet!  Think about the renewing power rain has.  Why did God design the world the way he did?

GROUP 4:: David W, Brad, Erika, Brooklyn & Michelle

Alex spent a day doing things for one hundred different people.  Some thing included helping an old lady cross the street, sewing blankets for homeless people and making breakfast.  Alex was a kind person and did this often.  Alex felt it was her duty to help people.  She didn't expect a thank you for the people but they always gave her one.  

One day Alex helped an old man pick up some papers he dropped in the subway.  He was so thrilled he went on and gave a homeless lady his sandwich. That homeless person was so thrilled she gave half the sandwich to a boy who was crying.  Things like this kept going on and on.  This one good deed that Alex did helped many people, big and small, women and men, kids and adults.  Who knows - maybe that good deed will come back to her.

GROUP 3:: Brittany, Josh, Jordan & Caitlin

Jennifer walked off the set in tears.  She had just been fired from Star Trek.  She didn't "need" this movie.  She had lots of money but the publicity of being fired would be terrible.  There would be rumors in the magazines, starting tomorrow.  She could see them now... "Morrison fired from Star Trek.  What's the secret?  Is there somebody special?"  Next to it would be a photoshopped picture of her making out on set with the producer.  As she walked out the door of Set #3 with her clothing she saw a man sitting on a park bench with a shopping cart.  "Well at least I'm not like him.  He has nothing."  

But then she thought again, "At least he doesn't get all the publicity, paparazzi and rumors."  But she quickly stopped dead in her tracks.  

"How could I be so selfish?  He has nothing."  She walked to the man and handed him a $20 bill. "Oh thank you you so much ma'am."  

GROUP 2:: Jared, Daniel, Kiana, Shaun, David & Gabrielle

**Note:  This is only a sampling of what was written by Group 2, who opted to make a list.  Is it censorship?  Maybe.  Do I have a choice?  No.  :)  This group was very creative and very philosophical, but also a little... morbid.

What I really enjoyed about this group's list is that they grasped different ideas than anyone else.  They seem to ask, "What does it mean to be truly selfless?" and "Is doing what is best for the 'greater good' more important than the individual?"  They come to some interesting conclusions (with their tongues planted firmly in their cheeks, I think).  What do you guys think about this?  What does the Bible say?  I'm sure they would love to hear your thoughts!

GROUP 1:: Jenna, Stephen, Isaiah & Cameron

One day Bob decided he was going to help others for 24 hours!  He started by making a very yummy breakfast for his family.  They really appreciated that!  The second thing was helping one of his co-workers.  Bob helped him finish a project that needed to be finished soon.  This took Bob until lunch time.  For lunch, he went to a soup kitchen to help serve lunch to men, women and children without food to eat.  Bob was nearing the end of the day when he saw a man working in the field behind his home.  It  looked like he needed some help.  Bob went over to him and asked if he needed any help.  He did so Bob helped him launch his spaceship out of his own backyard.  When Bob got home he told his wife that he had a great day serving others and that he wants to do it again soon.

JUNIOR HIGH Story Assignment

On Sunday, April 19th the junior high students were given this assignment:

"If you spent 24 hours ONLY doing things for other people, what would that look like?  In your teams, take a few minutes to write a short story together about someone who spent a whole day only doing things for others."

The following week, everyone presented their stories.  Everyone worked so hard, and each one turned out to be so interesting and different... we had to post them online!  Hope you enjoy what each group came up with.