The Lull Before The Storm

Another week is in the books here in the Youth Ministry Office at Holy Family.  In this installment we'll be taking a look back at the Parish Picnic, a special inside look into the upcoming leaders meeting, and much much more!  Here we go...


Looking Back:


A quiet week from my office this time around.  School is in full swing, but we're a a couple weeks out from running full steam ahead here.  Why is that?  It's good to give kids a chance to get re-acclimated to the swing of things with school and extracurricular activities before we get going so they don't feel overwhelmed.  I already have La Salle students telling me their typical day is coming home from school, doing homework until nine, and heading to bed by ten, to do it all over again the next day.  Wow.  And this is from a guy who's not playing sports with the time that eats up.  Moving on...


Tuesday last week was easily the highlight of my week, featuring Theresa (my lovely fiancee) moving down to Yakima and in with some friends from Reach.  She'll be starting school at YVCC this month, having transferred from Wenatchee Valley Community College.  She's less than a year from being through all of her prerequisite credits to apply for a nursing program (leaning towards WSU through YVCC to earn her BSN--like all the cool acronyms?).    It's SO good to finally have her here in town!  Welcome home Theresa!


Wednesday was quiet in the office...until about 6:30 pm, when we kicked off our first, everyone-is-here (almost) practice for the soon to be Wednesday Worship Wonder Band (I just made up that name right now, and we're keeping it) for youth group and retreats this year.  It was a great beginning for us, and I look forward to continuing to develop chemistry with these guys, and to pray with them and the kids this year.


Thursday was a great productive day, and generally my favorite weekday!  Why is this?  Thursday night volleyball at The Ark.  I'll get to that more in a bit.


Friday we celebrated as a parish staff with a Back-To-Work-BBQ @ Father Cesar's house (in the evening after work).  One of the obvious and apparent things I've learned quickly here, is that the staff at Holy Family really enjoy each other.  People make a point of going to things like this regularly, and just sharing the gift of self with each other.  It feels a lot like a microcosm reflecting the overtone of the Parish as a whole.  It's good to feel like I'm home here.  Thanks everybody!


Saturday (what happened to my day off?  I cleaned the bathroom and...) I came down with a few warriors to setup some tents for the Parish Picnic.  Our one hour job was easily completed in a little more than two.  Which leads to...


Sunday was our Parish Picnic.  If you didn't come, you missed out big time!  We roasted TWO whole pigs, and people brought sides in all shapes and sizes, and it was pretty much all around amazing.  We had games setup for the little kids, including a scavenger hunt, water slide, and bouncy castle.  If I had to hazard a guess, I'd say we fed a couple hundred people that afternoon.  A very special thank you to Theresa, and all of the young people who spent the day with us keeping water jugs full, garbage cans empty, and kids supervised.  


Looking Forward:


This coming week feels very much like being in the lull before the storm.  We are so much on the verge of getting started, but with TONS of detail work yet to be done.  At the top of the list, learning to update my page on the Parish Website.  If you follow that link, you'll see it really needs some love.


Today I'll be spending my afternoon making phone calls and meeting with a student planning and facilitating our Halloween Festival for his Senior Project this year.  


Wednesday is the "Double Whammy" with a leader meeting and music practice to follow for the WWWB (the new acronym for the newly christened band).  The meeting is to go through expectations and material for the coming year, and to go through safe environment training.  I can't say how much I'm looking forward to working with this crew this year!


Thursday is the Monthly Diocesan Youth Ministry Meeting with youth ministers from all over the diocese.  On the table is Diocesan Youth Convention in November, Middle School Retreat in October, and Summer Ministry for next year.  Have a topic you'd like to have discussed at this meeting?  Shoot me an e-mail


Saturday is the Diocesan Liturgy Meeting for parish music ministers.  I'm not technically a parish music minister, but I do music for mass at a dozen or so retreats each year, so it's important for me to be up to speed.  I'm actually really excited to get a good look at some different takes on the new Liturgy we'll be rolling into in November, and in case you missed it, we're already using the Sanctus with the updated words in line with the Bishop to begin gradual integration into the new text.


In the weeks to come we have:

• 9/14/11--Leader Meeting
• 9/21/11--Registration Night
• 9/28/11--Kick Off BBQ
• 10/05/11--First Group!

Quote of the Week:

"When death dies all things live."

Michael Gungor--From the new song, "When Death Dies" from his band's (called Gungor) new album "Ghosts Upon The Earth" released next week.  If you've not checked them out, please do.  Just look at the link above with the video for this song.  Easily one of the most (if not the most) dynamic Christian Band today.  


Tweet of the Week I:

"I need to remember that the Bible says to mourn with those who mourn. It doesn't say to fix them."

Rick Atchely--Pastor in Fort Worth Texas

Tweet of the Week II:

"Zumba instuctor is Ripped! So, I guess I should hide this twinky in my pocket? #zumba #NOintimidation"

Mary Bielski--Catholic Speaker and Youth Minister

Tweet of the Week III:

"Greatness is not a function of circumstance. Greatness, it turns out, is largely a matter of conscious choice, and discipline. #GoodToGreat"

Eric Porteous --Central Director for Lifeteen




Ten Things I Think I Think:

1. I think we should Picnic here at Holy Family more often.  Next time, roast goat!
2. I think that the DYM meeting Thursday will be interesting in regards to what gets talked on/decided for summer ministry in the diocese going forward.  This could be a pivotal meeting for us.
3. I think that it's unfortunate that the Diocesan Middle School Retreat and our Halloween Festival are the same weekend.  I'm slated to be doing the music for the retreat, so I'll end up missing out on the festival I'll be helping to plan.  
4. I think it's important to note that with our leader meeting here on Wednesday, I'll be missing a meeting at La Salle that I wouldn't miss for anything else.  They'll be talking about how to pull in more students in an open forum of community members and staff who are in a position to make an impact on just that.  
5. I think that we need to find a clever way to mark the holes for the volleyball net posts.  I failed miserably at finding the second hole yesterday when I went to set it up.
6. I think I'm pretty stoked to continue on with guitar lessons again this week for students wanting to learn to play.  Also teaching bass simultaneously, all Wednesday evenings @ 5:30 to 6:00.
7. I think I need to give a special shout out to Tim from the Sunday Evening Band.  Great voice, reliable guy for years in the group, brings his A Game each week.  Thanks for making that group better by being a part of it!  
8. I think I still owe Carleen some music to check out.  Add that to my list for this afternoon.
9. I think the heat in Yakima is a little more brutal after a year in Oregon, and it showed when I was drenched in not fun sweat all day yesterday at the picnic.
10. I think these are my non ministry thoughts:
1. I think playing in two different fantasy football leagues is interesting.  Going into tonight's game, in one league I need the Patriots Defense to outscore their Kicker by more than 35 points to win my match, pretty bleak.  In the other, the only way I lose is for Brandon Marshall to score 48 more than the same kicker I'm rooting against for my other league...hmmm...
2. I think Matt Hasselbeck is not the first player to see his Career being revived by leaving the Seahawks, as sad as that is to say. He played well yesterday despite losing.  It was (as odd as this is to say too) the running game holding them back.
3. I think Thursday night volleyball is often times the highlight of my week.  Semi-competitive friendly games in round robin style in a christian environment is a lot of fun.  Thursday nights at 7 pm at the Ark out on Ahtanum and 86th Ave., across from Ahtanum Pioneer Church.  Come on out if you like.
4. I think I'm ready for fall.  Too hot this past week.
5. I think I'm ready for Football (you couldn't tell right?)
6. I think daily mass rocks my world every time.  If you can go, go.  Even if it means 6:30 am, or going to Saint Joe's to go at noon.  More Jesus is what we need.  Always.