Westheights Student Ministries

::Jr. High PHOTO SCAVENGER HUNT:: Friday, January 22nd

Clearly, we were not meant to go tobogganing.  The weather is certainly not cooperating... the hill at McLennan Park is currently covered in more grass than snow...

So instead we're going to have THE WORLD'S BEST PHOTO SCAVENGER HUNT Junior Highs!

Tom and Gillian's Blogs

 A much requested feature returns!  Tom and Gillian have new blogs, now on Tumblr.  Tumblr lets us post stuff more often, with cool new layouts so you can see new cool stuff.  We'll be posting cool photos, links to game and articles we like, posting our thoughts and general musings.  Tumblr is a free service, that acts kind of a combo between facebook and a blog.  Sign up if you want to follow us or just head to the link on the side.  Tom's is up right and now and Gillian's should be up with the next week or so.

To check out Tom's tumblr go to tomfenske.tumblr.com

::Sr. High 2010 Party:: Thursday, December 31st

Okay... so maybe this party has nothing to do with the Olympics (other than the 2010 connection)... but how cute are those mascots?!

Join us on Thursday, December 31, 2009 through Friday, January 1, 2010 in exotic New Hamburg for our Sr. High 2010 Party!!

::OPEN - Jr. High BIC Winter Retreat 09:: February 12-14

This year the BIC Junior High Winter Retreat will look radically different - and super awesome!!  We hope you will be able to join us in Richmond Hill from February 12-14th Junior Highs!

::Sr. High Christmas Party:: Saturday, December 19th

Join us on Saturday, December 19th for some good old-fashioned, wholesome fun that may or may not include drinking 7 Up and feeding cocktail weenies to one another!

::Jr. High Christmas Party:: Friday, December 18th

Get ready for our annual Christmas Party on Friday, December 18th!  Like always, there will be fun games, tasty snacks and good company!  As well, there will be awesome music.

WHERE:: WSM Room - Westheights Office Complex

WHEN:: Friday, December 18th from 7:00pm-9:00pm

WHAT TO BRING:: A snack to share and a wrapped gift for our gift swap (costing no more than $5)

Feel free to bring friends!  We hope to see you on the 18th for some festive fun!

Don't Forget: Lunch with the YouthBuilders this Sunday!

Hey everyone, just a quick reminder that we'll be having pizza after church this week to say goodbye and thank the YouthBuilders for all their hard work this week.  Be sure to bring $2, to help cover the cost of the pizza.  We'll be meeting in the Office Complex classroom from 12:15 to 1:15PM.

::Jr. High Bowling:: Friday, November 20th

If you would like to come COSMIC BOWLING with us be sure to RSVP ASAP to Gillian at gillianfenske@westheights.org or 519.741.1986 ext. 805.

::Jr. High FLEX:: NOVEMBER DECEMBER

Junior High FLEX will be held on Friday, December 4th from 7:00pm-9:00pm in the Office Complex at Westheights.

Reminder: Early Bird Rate for [re]treat 09!

The last day to get the early bird rate for [re]treat09 is this Sunday, Oct. 25th!  Be sure to get your form and cheque in to either Tom or Gillian this week so you don't miss out on such a great deal.  After this Sunday the rate goes up to $85 so don't delay.

Be sure to check out the post about [re]treat09 for more details about the event!

Meet the YouthBuilders!

Clockwise from top: Nathan Lambert, Andrew Martin, Ayla Kokbas and Ashley Ober.

The YouthBuilders are a team of post-high school students who are spending the next year traveling, teaching and building into the lives of students and leaders across the Brethren in Christ Church.  I had the awesome chance to be a YouthBuilder back on the 2003/2004 team and it's so cool to get to see this new batch come through now that I'm a 'youth pastor'.

The team is going to be at Westheights from Oct. 27th-Nov. 1st and will be helping out with Halloween for Hunger, as well as on Sunday mornings and at Weekly Meeting.  Some of you will even be 'lucky' enough to have one of them stay your house!

To learn more about the YouthBuilders experience check out their site as part of the work of the the Centre for Student Leadership.

(NOTE:: All students [junior and senior high] are invited to a farewell lunch for the YouthBuilders on Sunday, November 1st after church.  Bring $2 for pizza and come hang out with the YBs one last time before they head on to their next adventure.)

::Halloween for Hunger:: Saturday, Oct. 31st, 2009

 

    H4H is back!  Come out Halloween Night (that's Oct. 31st) @6:30PM and help us help the people in our community give to those who don't have enough.  Over 25,000 people in K/W access the Food Bank of Waterloo Region every year and we want to help keep them full going into the holiday season.  Last Halloween we collected over 1700 pounds of from over 600 houses.  This year, we're looking to cross a major threshold and go to 1000 houses!  Come as a family, as friends or just by yourself and feel free to dress up!

FLEX Cancelled!

IMPORTANT NOTICE!
Jr. High FLEX has been cancelled tonight. Sorry for any inconvenience! Jr. Highs - check below for more information about our next event... mini putt!

Jr. High Mini Putt Night

 

Friday, October 16th

7:00-9:00pm

600 Hespeler Road, Cambridge, ON  N1R 8H2
Cost: $10 per person (buy a ticket from Tom or Gillian)

[re]treat09:: nov. 13-15th

    Sometimes don't you just want to get away, stop what you're doing and just be?  [re]treat09 will give you the chance to do just that; a chance for Sr. Highs to be with friends, experience God in a new a refreshing way and have a lot of fun doing it!  Spend time in a fantastic chalet in beautiful Blue Mountain, complete with trails, a firepit and a HUGE hotub.  Registration is $75 by Oct. 25th and $85 after that.  Space is limited so sign up today by downloading the registration form after the jump and getting it to Tom and Gillian ASAP.  You can also spread the word by downloading the two images in this post just by clicking on them and getting the big version.  Just right click after that and select 'Save As...'

Friday Fun:: Plants vs. Zombies

Sorry, I know it's not Friday, but I got really sick this weekend and so this is late going up.

Plants vs. Zombies is one of the newest games from Popcap, the people who brought us Zooma, Bejeweled and a personal favorite in the Fenske house, Peggle.  It's a 'tower defense game' where your job is plot out a network of different plants to defend your house against an ever marching horde of zombies.  It's very random, but also very fun.  The coolest part is trying to plan ahead for the incoming wave and yet, keeping up with what's attacking you in the moment.  The graphics are cartoon-y, and the sound is well done and slightly creepy.  You can play it in your browser, or download it for PC or Mac.

Plants Vs. Zombies by Popcap

Glory in a Cup

    So I realized on the way to the office this morning that we are out of coffee.  I had a lot to do to get us ready for our first Weekly Meeting this week and so I knew I was going to need the Great Black Fuel.  Feeling the weight of a lack of a Cup of Glory, I devised a plan: I was going to Starbucks and nothing was stopping me.

    I took Gillian's order, jumped in the Aveo and headed down to Fisher Hallman and Ottawa, my location.  I was focused, I was determined, I was uncaffinated.  I often forget what Gillian wants so I kept repeating 'tall, nonfat latte... tall, nonfat, latte...' to be sure I would deliver what I promised.  I looked up at the barista and was about to repeat the recorded phrase when I noticed something.  I was looking for the listing of the coffee blends, so I may select my delicacy.  Above the listings of Pike Place and Sumatra, something was written, in wonderfully expressive chalk.  Pumpkin. Spice. Latte.

New Sr. High Discussion Series: the Jesus Manifesto, Starts Sept. 17th

Block Party 09:: Sept. 25th, 6-8PM

Yawnfest09:: Sept. 18-19th

Welcome back to WSM!

    Well it's that time of year again.  Time to dust off the old backpack, remember that new locker combo and say a fond farewell to summer.  Before you get all sad and teary, there's is good news!  A new school year doesn't have to be all bad... it means the return of WSM!  Yay!

New Things on the Way

As the summer marches on, we're excited about all the new things that we've got planned for the next school year.  Keep an eye on the site, as we'll be rolling out some new features and a new schedule within the next few weeks.

Enjoy the rest of the summer... we'll see ya soon!

CHANGE OF PLANS!!

Sadly, because of the RIDICULOUS weather report for today (even though it's sunny right now!) beach day is cancelled.  Because tall trees+swimming+lightening sometimes = death and the idea of golf-ball sized hail scares me, we have a new plan.

We will still be meeting at the church at noon and from there we'll head over to the Fenske residence for a BBQ/party.  After that, we'll head to Empire Studio 12 for the 3pm showing of TRANSFORMERS: REVENGE OF THE FALLEN.  Only have five bucks?  Don't worry... we'll cover the rest.  (Although popcorn or whatever is on you.)  Expect to be home at around 6pm.

This may not be what we planned, but it will still be awesome! 

sr. high big beach bash:: june 25th, 2009 1-6PM

Big Beach Bash 09 is coming soon, as in next week.  Here are the details:

When: Thursday, June 25th, 2009 1-6PM

Where: Elora Gorge Provincal Park

How Much: $5

Brings lots of sunblock, a towel and fun things to do.  Your $5 gets you into the park and pays for your food.

* The tubing has been shut down at the park due to excessive rain in the Waterloo area over the last little bit.  Sorry, but we have something else planned ;)

Oh, Dory.

For those of you in Sr. High, you know Dory.  Even if you haven't met her, you know her.  Dory is our friend Matt's cat.  She is a tank.  She is hilarious.

Don't believe me?  Click below.  *You need to have facebook...