August 2013 Vol. 1 Issue 1 A collection of the fruit we produce November 2014 Some Interesting Facts About Thanksgiving… The Guinness Book of Records states that the greatest dressed weight recorded for a turkey is 39.09 kg (86 lbs), at the annual "heaviest turkey" competition held in London, England on December 12, 1989. In the US, about 280 million turkeys are sold for the Thanksgiving celebrations. Americans eat roughly 535 million pounds of turkey on Thanksgiving. Going shopping?: Not if you're a plumber. Black Friday is the busiest day of the year for them, according to Roto-Rooter, the nation's largest plumbing service. After all, someone has to clean up after household guests who “overwhelm the system”. Gathered By Grace A note from Katie and Bryant What a great Trunk ‘n Treat! You all did a wonderful job helping with our BBQ fundraiser. A special thank you to the French family for making Pete’s Wicked BBQ. We are well on our way to making Mexico a success! As we move into a time of Thanksgiving, let us all remember to take time to be thankful for the things that mean the most to us- Our family, friends, school, church, and most of all, our AWESOME God! #weloveyou, Katie and Bryant Leaving a legacy: When Abe Lincoln declared Thanksgiving a national holiday, it was thanks to the tireless efforts of a magazine editor named Sarah Josepha Hale. Her other claim to fame? She also wrote the nursery rhyme, "Mary had a Little Lamb." Gobble, gobble?: Not so fast. Only male turkeys, called toms, gobble. Females, called hens, cackle. Born in the U.S.A.: Thanksgiving is not just an American holiday. Canadians celebrate it too. Except they do it the second Monday in October. What We’re Studying Social Justice “Injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere.” –MLK Jr. In the Bible it says that we were all created in the image of God. So why is it so hard for humans to understand? This fall we will attempt to engage in meaningful discussion about Social Justice, not just here in the U.S., but around the world. We will also attempt to put hands and feet on love as we go out into the community, to serve within and beyond our walls and to promote justice for all! Mark Your Calendar! November nd 2 - Youth Rally 9th- Youth Group 16th- Youth Group 23rd- Service Project 30th- Thanksgiving December 7th- HOG (No Youth) 14th- Christmas Party 21st- No Youth 28th- No Youth Happy Holidays! November Service Project We will have our annual Service Project to the Cobb/Douglas Mental Health Center on November 23rd. We will meet at the church at 4pm and plan to return by 7:30. Christmas Party Come join us on December 14th at the Brown’s House for our Annual White Elephant Christmas Party. Please bring a white elephant gift (no more than $5-10, or something fun around your house) and a side or dessert for the group to share. Outrageous Christmas attire is encouraged! Mexico Mission Trip 2015 April 44-April 11, 2015 Mark your calendars now for our Mexico Mission Trip! This is the 20th anniversary of our trip, so our goal is to send 20 youth missionaries to Mexico. Can we do it? Only if YOU say YES! If you feel God calling you to experience this trip-of-a-life-time and to change the lives of a deserving family, let us know. We have information and would love to talk with first time missionaries about what it takes to go on the trip. The Word September 2013 “A Thankful Heart” Psalm 68 is an interesting passage. It was intended to be used in worship by Israel as a song of victory and deliverance. It recounts the many difficulties they endured and speaks of them being afflicted, oppressed, helpless, sinful, and exposed to hurt and pain; yet this Psalm recalls that God provided for His people in the tough wilderness wanderings and in the days of bountiful blessing in the Promised Land of Canaan. In both the good times and the bad, God blessed them and cared for them. In this passage, His people recognize that and thank Him for it. Often in the bad times our eyesight gets foggy and we fail to recognize God’s hand of blessing. We focus on the negatives and let them pull us down. At times we may not even see any positives in our situation, but my friend, God always gives blessings even though they may not be readily seen. I encourage you to deliberately find things to be thankful for every day of the year. See God’s hand at work in your life and praise Him. Remember that daily He gives multiple blessings. Matthew Henry the great Bible commentator said, “So many, so weighty are the gifts of God’s bounty, that He may be truly said to load us with them.” Yes, face life’s difficulties, but focus on the load of blessings that surround you and thank God for them. Remember, a thankful heart is a joyful heart! Sunday School Boys: Meet in The Pit for some fun, manly discussion about a few lesser-known characters in the Bible. Girls: We will meet in our office for a Women in the Bible study, focusing on a few of our favorite God-loving women. ????? You may be wandering, what’s up with all the question marks. We spend a lot of time writing this Newsletter each month! We want you to be invested in the youth and to know what is going on, without your parents constantly reminding you… So here’s the deal- the first 5 people that come to Bryant and tell him the secret pass code, “New England Clam Chowder”, will get an all expenses paid group trip to the movie theatre to see the movie of their choice. Popcorn, candy and soda included! Game on! Happy Birthday! Aidan Jones 11/11 Hannah Gunter 11/19 Noah Hicks 11/27 *If you’re name is not on here, please let us know so we can add you! August 2013 Vol. 1 Issue 1 Sandy Springs Christian Church Youth John 15:16 “I chose you and appointed you so that you might go and bear fruit—fruit that will last…” At Sandy Springs Christian Church, the youth strive do just this- bear fruit that will last. From our annual Spring Break mission trip to Mexico to the relationships our youth make at Camp Christian each summer, they are leaving their mark and making a difference. Our youth program is not limited to Sunday evening youth meetings, but it is a program that encourages youth to encounter God in the everyday and to meet and accept others where they are in their own faith journey. The youth meet on Sunday nights from 4:30-7pm in Dunlap Hall. Come join us and please bring a friend! KATIE AND BRYANT GIBSON DIRECTORS OF CHILDREN AND YOUTH MINISTRIES 404-610-7588 [email protected]