Circuit celebrations

There are many facets to our martial arts ministry that works with and through the Outreach Board at Praise.  Of course there are the martial arts classes we offer at Praise through what we call, “Trinity Martial Arts Club.”  Additionally, many of you know about “Breaking Barriers.”  It even has its own website at www.Sinbusting.com  Now there are additional ministry opportunities that we are making through our coordinated efforts with FCA (Fellowship of Christian Athletes).  With our primary goal being to share the Gospel with those outside of our church, we are finding new ways to reach out to the unchurched in the community.  We are now partnering with other martial arts schools in Fort Wayne to start Bible study groups at many satellite locations throughout our hometown.  The FCA breakfast on May 2^nd is to kickoff that effort and educate local martial artist business owners about the benefits of starting Bible study groups within their own facilities.  Then, once a month we will hold a Circuit Celebration which will gather all these local Bible study groups together at Praise for a big group event (something like a youth group on a larger scale).  Not only will this effort bring the community into our church, but we are looking to build relationships with those who come through our doors.  Our ultimate goal is to introduce people to Jesus and provide a home for the unchurched where their faith can be cultivated, nurtured, and grow.  Because of this program, we have already had people at our worship services that may never have otherwise attended at Priase.

Breaking Barriers

Last month (April) Pastor Brown presented his “Breaking Barriers Live” Christian martial arts presentation at both Bethlehem Lutheran Church and also the Euell Wilson Center in Fort Wayne for underprivileged youth.  This month he will be presenting at Woodburn Lutheran School in Woodburn, Indiana, Town & Country Lutheran School in Sacramento, California, Lutheran High School in Elk Grove, California, and for an Upwards Basketball end of year awards ceremony to take place in Sacramento, California.  See www.SinBusting.com for the upcoming schedule and pictures of past performances.

“Down the road” – a few future youth events for Summer 2009

Youth events for May, 2009

Youth group schedule

Now that our Lenten schedule is over for 2009, our regular youth group meetings will resume beginning may 1^st.  325ers meet the first Wednesday of the month 5:30 – 6:30 (next on June 3^rd), the Jr. High meet the 2^nd and 4^th Wednesdays of the month from 5:30 – 6:30, and the Sr. High meet each Wednesday evening from 7-8pm.

Mad Ants Basketball

Being that confirmation retreat 2009 was my first experience with a confirmation retreat at Praise, I have no other years to compare my experience.  However, I can tell you that if camps in subsequent years go as well as this one did, I’ll be a very happy pastor.  Not only did the event run smoothly and without incident for the nine confirmands and two adult chaperones, but the benefits to the weekend were plentiful and many.  We arrived at Camp Lutherhaven on Friday and stayed until Sunday.  The accommodations they had for us were nothing fancy, but the bunk beds and hot water in the showers were more than I had experienced at other cams in the past.  Therefore, I was quite pleased with the facilities.  This weekend we were joined by several other LCMS Lutheran congregations who were also there for a confirmation retreat.  This gave the event more energy and allowed our confirmands to have their faith strengthened by being encouraged by about seventy others their own age – all of whom were there for the same purpose.  Of course we had a lot of fun and spent a significant amount of time with team-building and cultivating relationships.  However, it wasn’t only fun and games at the retreat.  We all engaged in multiple spiritual events including bible study, daily life application, small group discussions, prayer time, singing, and the youth even created the message for the worship service we had on Sunday.  I came away from the weekend with a greater closeness to both God and the confirmands of Praise.  I was very proud of all of our youth and now feel even stronger than I did before about how blessed I am to be called here to serve such a wonderful group of kids.  To all the confirmands, it’s an honor to be your pastor!

JUNIOR HIGH CAMP

August 2^nd – 5^th I, Pastor Brown, will lead the Junior High on a camping to a Christian music festival at Six Flags Amusement park in Darien Lake, New York.  There has been a lot of information in previous newsletters outlining the particulars of the trip.  However, one major detail has just changed… the price.  Praise God for His work through the Lutheran Foundation.  This foundation has just given our Junior High youth a thousand dollar grant to go on this trip.  This means that the price for everyone has just been cut in roughly half.  Instead of a trip that used to cost slightly under two hundred dollars, we are now, depending on how many people attend, looking at a trip that will cost less than one hundred dollars per person.  With fundraising, I don’t anticipate financial matters to be a concern for anyone.  Please register through me, Pastor Brown, ASAP so that we can be as informed as possible and make the most accurate advance preparations and plans for our trip.  We will meet on May 13^th during the normal Jr. High youth group at 5:30 to give everyone an update on the trip details and answer any questions parents or youth may have concerning the event.

Youth Sports Camps

Basketball · Cheerleading · Football · Martial arts · Soccer · Tennis · Track · Volleyball · Cross country

With my past and current involvement in karate it is easy to see my enthusiasm and passion for the martial arts.  However, my zest for sports isn’t just limited to those holding a martial flavor.  I’m a firm believer that we all need to be holistically healthy, and this means pursuing a healthy body as well as mind and spirit.  Physical fitness is important and is capable of being obtained in a wide variety of different ways.  I want to encourage our youth to get involved in any sport or physical activity that interest them.  The upcoming camp next month provides a variety of such opportunities.  The camp is offered through Fellowship of Christian Athletes and I, Pastor Brown, will be helping to lead the camp and taking our youth.  Senior High are encouraged to come and help lead Bible studies & small groups (huddles) during the camp and will not be charged if volunteering.  3^rd – 5^th grades are able to attend June 8^th and 9^th.  6 – 8^th grades are able to attend June 10^th and 11^th.  To register, see Pastor Brown or go to www.NorthernIndianaFCA.org, click on “camp,” “local camps,” and then “download the 2009 power camp Brochure.” 

Confirmation Sunday

We are very proud of the hard work and great accomplishments that our four final year confirmands have made over the last three years at Praise.  I, Pastor Brown, especially have been proud of our 8^th graders as I have spent the last year working with them each Sunday studying Luther’s Small Catechism and its six chief parts.  On Sunday, May 31^st we will celebrate Confirmation Sunday and these four confirmands, Cory Daman, Christian Nitz, Emma Anger, and Matthew Gumbert, will take their first communion.  Being one of our scheduled “youth Sundays” they will also lead much of the readings throughout the service and present their confirmation papers in lieu of the traditional style sermon.  Since this day also falls so near the end of Sunday School for this year and is close to when our Senior High graduates end high school, we will also give special recognition during our services to all those graduating this year in some way, shape, or form.  We’re proud of all of the accomplishments of our students at Praise and want to support and encourage them as they move forward to take the next steps in the lives that the Lord has set before them.

            After the services are over, there will be a small confirmation banquet immediately following.  This banquet is for confirmands and their family guests.  Thank you to the 6^th and 7^th grade confirmation class and their families for arranging this banquet for the 8^th grade class.  Questions about the banquet can be directed to Jennifer Engelsrud or Pastor Brown.

Enhancing our worship

We’re trying a few new things at Praise.  Hopefully some of the changes we’re making are received as enhancements to your worship experience and not a hindrance.  Please know that much thought and prayer has gone into these new efforts.  The following are a few items you may have noticed recently or will no doubt notice in the near future:

Worship cart – We are in the process of obtaining a worship cart for us to use during worship.  In the near future this cart will be conveniently available just behind the chairs as you enter the sanctuary area and will hold the following items:

• Prayer cards – a convenient way to submit your prayer requests to the pastors
• Envelopes – to use for offerings (for visitors or those who forget their regular offering envelops)
• Pencils/pens
• Visitor gifts – a way to welcome first time visitors.
• Busy bags – filled with items for young children during worship.
• Bibles – available for those who forget their own Bible.
• Yellow visitor information cards – collecting information not available on our friendship pads.

Kiddie Busy Bags – In March Allene Tew, a dedicated participant of the THUMBS group, fashioned a large number of bags for Praise.  This was, of course, before she went home to be with her Lord just a short time ago.  These bags will be a wonderful reminder of all the many ways in which Allene served God’s kingdom.  These bags, being filled by the THUMBS group, contain a variety of items to keep kids busy during the worship services.  If you have a child that would enjoy one of these “busy bags,” please see a Spiritual Care member during any service.  The bags are located in the back of the worship area for now, but will soon be located on the worship cart once it is built.

Friendship pads / visitor cards – Yellow visitor information cards are a good way for us to obtain a lot of information from folks that is not asked of them when filling out our red friendship pads.  We’ve already been using these yellow visitor information cards for the last month.  Please try and notice the people next to you who fill out one of these yellow cards.  It’s a good way for you to observe that someone is a visitor and needs a little extra special attention from our members.

Gifts for visitors – Thanks to our Outreach Board, who is working very hard to connect with those who are not yet members of Praise.  They have put together gift bags which are filled with our new church brochures, magnets that have a picture of our church, pens, and a Praise coffee mug.  Visitors can receive a gift bag either at the new Praise Welcome Center or when we distribute them before each service.  Looking for those carrying these gift bags is another great way to identify visitors so you can make a connection.

Bibles – We cannot stress enough the importance of centering our lives around Holy Scripture.  The Bible, God’s Word, needs to be an integral part of our everyday lives.  How much more then should it be a central part of our worship?!  Therefore, starting in June, we are encouraging our members to come to church with their Bibles in hand (we recommend New International Versions).  Also, we want to try and cut down a bit on the amount of paper we use in the bulletins.  Starting in June we will not print the Bible readings in the bulletin, but only show them on the overhead projector and read them directly from our Bibles.  Of course we want to provide Bibles for visitors and those who may occasionally forget their Bibles at home.  Bibles will be available on our new worship cart beginning in June.

Again, our purpose is to enhance your worship at Praise.  All of these new items have gone through Spiritual Care and the church council.  If you have any questions, suggestions, or concerns, please don’t hesitate to contact one of your pastors or a Spiritual Care member.