PARENT NEWSLETTER #21
June 18, 2008
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CONTENTS
1, Tools for Parenting Teens
2. Links to Learn From
3. Inside Your Teen's World
4. Learn Their Lingo
5. A Little Encouragement..And Humor
6. Youth Activities
7. Pictures
8. Mission Info
9. Parent/Family Info
===========our sponsor===========

"GIMME FIVE"
by Les Christie
500 more ways to get your students talking
With more than 500 prompts, "Gimme Five" is sure to get your students talking, thinking, and laughing as they name their five things--foods they hate, situations that make them cry, favorite television shows, and much more.
Learn more and purchase "Gimme Five" here. <http://www.youthspecialties.com/shop/product_info.php?products_id=223>
*Save 30% off the retail price of "Gimme Five" when you purchase it at the YS Store and use coupon code YPNJE3. This offer expires 7/2/08.
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1. TOOLS FOR PARENTING TEENS
This excerpt is taken from "Gimme Five," which is more than just a great resource for youth workers. Here you'll find some ideas to get your teen talking.
HOW TO GET THE MOST OUT OF GIMME FIVE
This collection of icebreakers and discussion starters will cause your teenagers (and even you) to take a deeper look at who they are and what they believe. They will lighten the mood, stimulate discussions, build community, and get kids wrestling with a variety of issues. Among the more than 550 prompts inside are just plain fun icebreakers--some even a little silly. Others are serious and deal with issues many students and adults face. Either way, they're all perfect for the classroom, home, youth group meetings, small group settings, Sunday school, camps and retreats, long trips in a car or bus, classrooms--and more! You can use the material in Gimme Five anytime, anywhere.
Have fun with these prompts. Change them, play around with them, add details to them. Use them as points of departure and let your imagination run. Try to express what you're thinking and feeling. These icebreakers should be springboards into memories, thoughts, and experiences... Some prompts will cause laughter; some may invoke tears. These phrases will get your students laughing, debating, and thinking--and they'll learn a ton about each other in the process.
Some icebreakers are designed to stretch you, some to push you out of your comfort zone. Some force you to make difficult choices. Don't be afraid of them. Think. Use your creativity. Dream...
It's amazing how often kids respond to icebreakers in ways we never would have predicted. Part of the enjoyment of the icebreakers is discovering the journeys they take to come up with their responses. As you approach each icebreaker, consider possible follow-up questions (I provide a few examples throughout the book). Explore all the possibilities. Brainstorm ways to approach the questions. Ask yourself why you selected them.
If you were in a different time or place, would you still have responded in the same way? Why or why not? What if you were with different people? How might they affect your reactions?
[Here are just a handful of "Gimme Five" prompts you can use on a family road trip, over dinner, or while working in the yard.]
1. Gimme five inappropriate times to laugh hysterically
2. Gimme five flu symptoms
3. Gimme five of your favorite family traditions
4. Gimme five of the worst pets
5. Gimme five of the worst places to have hair on your body
6. Gimme five smells in your grandparents' house
7. Gimme five bands with at least one male and two female members
8. Gimme five TV shows that never should've been cancelled
9. Gimme five ways to serve an egg
10. Gimme five desserts you love
11. Gimme five types of "bad news" stories on TV
FOLLOW-UPS:
What percentage of the news is "bad news"? How do you feel about the amount of bad news on TV? Would you watch more TV news if there were more good news? More bad news? Why do networks report so much bad news?
12. Gimme five names you should never give a dog
13. Gimme five dream jobs
14 Gimme five of the lamest superhero names
15. Gimme five activities with age requirements
16. Gimme five summer jobs you wish you never took
17. Gimme five objects you shouldn't take into the bathtub
18. Gimme five possessions people often forget to pack
19. Gimme five objects that wash up on the beach
20. Gimme five vegetables people plant in their gardens
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Now the chairman of youth ministry department of San Jose Christian College, Les Christie has been asking questions like these during most of his 30-some years in youth ministry. Les speaks to teenage groups, trains youth workers around the world, and is the author or coauthor of 19 books--including another discussion starter from Youth Specialties, "What if...?"
<http://www.youthspecialties.com/shop/product_info.php?products_id=6>
Learn more about and purchase "Gimme Five" here:
<http://www.youthspecialties.com/shop/product_info.php?products_id=223>
*Save 30% off the retail price of "Gimme Five" when you purchase it at the YS Store and use coupon code YPNJE3. This offer expires 7/2/08.
**
2. LINKS TO LEARN FROM
Stickam - This live web cam community is the top video site for teens
<http://www.stickam.com/>
13-21 year olds spent $120 billion in 2007. Find out what they bought.
<http://www.emarketercom/Article.aspx?id=1006354&src=article1_newsltr>
3. INSIDE YOUR TEEN'S WORLD
...Random things you may not have heard about...
Join a chess community Wu-Tan Clan's RZA
<http://www.wuchess.com/>
The average teenager's iPod has over 800 illegal music tracks
<http://technology.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/tech_and_web/personal_tech/article4144585.ece>
4. LEARN THEIR LINGO
...Some slang and texting lingo for you to speak (or at least understand)
- chassy = 1. n. (derived from the "chassis" of a car) a very pretty female. A beautiful girl. "Check out that chassy over there!"
- chop it up = 1. Have a conversation "Aaight, get at me tomorrow and we can chop it up."
5. A LITTLE ENCOURAGEMENT...AND HUMOR
"If you raise your children to feel that they can accomplish any goal or task they decide upon, you will have succeeded as a parent and you will have given your children the greatest of all blessings."
˜ Brian Tracy
6. YOUTH ACTIVITIES
Youth Movie Night
Join the youth group as we kick back in the Vicarage to watch a movie on Wednesday, June 18th, from 5:30-8:00 p.m. Dinner will be served, but please bring a snack to share.

Dominican Republic Mission
Please pray for your mission team going to the DR to help build a clinic and restore relationships with our family in San Rafael on June 21st through June 29th. Thanks!

Renaissance Fun Park
Join St. Francis Youth on Wednesday, June 25th from 5:30-8:00 PM at the Vicarage. We will head out to Renaissance Fun Park to ride go carts and play miniature golf! The cost will be $15. We will eat at Sonic on the way to the theme park, so be sure to bring some extra money for dinner.
Louisville Bats Baseball Game
Join St. Francis Church at the Bats baseball game on Tuesday night, July 1st. The Louisville Bats will play the Indianapolis Indians at 7:05 p.m. If you need a ride we will leave the church at 6:30 p.m. We will enjoy fireworks after the game. The cost is $7 for your ticket and then any money that you will need for food. Signing up is a must!

Youth Bowling
The Youth will bowl on Wednesday, July 9th, from 5:30-800 p.m. We will have a great time laughing as we attempt to knock down the pins. The cost is $10 and friends are welcome. If you like, bring some extra cash for some good and greasy bowling alley food. Call Raleigh or Mary Caroline to sign up for this fun event.

Youth GattiLand
Many youth have asked for the return of GattiLand. For all who have requested this fun evening, it's back. We will go to GattiLand on Wednesday, July 16th, from 5:30-8:00 p.m. The cost is $8. Bring a few extra bucks for the games. Please sign up for this event so we can make arrangements for all of us! A Parent Consent Form is required.

Youth Lazer Blaze
The youth group will travel to Lazer Blaze on Wednesday, July 23rd, from 5:30-8:00 p.m. The cost is $15. Bring a few extra bucks for the video games and dinner. Please sign up for this event so we can make arrangements for all of us! A Parent Consent form is required.
Youth Kings Island Trip
Don't miss this day of fun and excitement when we go to Kings Island on Wednesday, July 30th, from 8:00 a.m.-11:00 p.m. We will enjoy a full day of rides, attractions and the Water Park. The cost is $40. You will need to sign up and have a Parent Consent Form. Friends are welcome!

Youth Restaurant Night
Join the youth group as we travel to our restaurant of choice for the evening of Wednesday, August 6th. Bring enough money to buy your dinner. We will meet at the Vicarage at 5:30 p.m. and return by 8:00 p.m. Friends are welcome, but please sign up so we can plan transportation.

Youth White Water Rafting
Sign up soon for an adventure of a lifetime. Friday, August 15th, the Youth will leave to go to West Virginia to go white water rafting down the New River. We're staying at ACE White Water Center in bunkhouses. On the property they have hiking trails, a small lake that has paddle boats, a beach and water volleyball. It is a great trip. There is limited space, so call Raleigh Langley soon to reserve your spot. The cost is $130. This includes your meals while camping, your lodging, your transportation and your rafting trip. We will leave St. Francis at 4:00 p.m. on Friday, August 15th, and return on Sunday, August 17th, at 4:00 p.m.
Bring: *$130 for cost of trip *rafting clothes *sleeping bag and pillow
*2 changes of clothes *towel and toiletries *money for 2 meals
*extra pair of shoes *bug spray *sweatshirt or jacket
*snacks *raincoat *flashlight
*Parent Consent Form (If not already turned one in.)
EMERGENCY # is 1-800-787-3982

Youth Purpose Statement
The purpose of the St. Francis Youth Group is to develop strong bonds with each other while pursuing our journey with Christ. We fulfill this through outreach, Bible Study, and by simply having a good time.

7. YOUTH PICTURES
Check out the pictures on our web site. <http://www.stfrancisinthefields.org/youthPhotoAlbum.asp>

8. MISSION NEWS
Missions, St. Francis, and You!
SUMMER MISSIONS
The Mission Planning Team is excited to share with you that we have two missions the summer of 2008. A team of adults and youth will travel to David, KY June 8-13 to participate in a Vacation Bible School for the community and work projects around the David School. The next mission of adults and youth (10th through 12th grade) will travel to the Dominican Republic, June 21-29 to work on projects that partially consist of building pews, painting and help with a VBS. We are currently looking at other projects that will help our friends in the DR.
The Mission Team is truly blessed to be a part of a parish that prays so diligently and gives so freely of its time and resources. Thank you again for making our call of having two missions this summer a reality.

SUMMER OPPORTUNITIES
Kroger Cards-It really does work!
This is a labor-free, expense-free fund-raiser. On sale everyday from Raleigh! It does not cost you any extra money to use these Kroger cards but the Mission Team will receive 4% of every dollar spent. Remember that this card can be recharged at any Kroger service desk or cashier with cash, check or credit card. Our mission fund will continue to receive 4% of your grocery, floral and pharmacy purchases. Each dollar raised goes directly to the projects in David, KY and the Dominican Republic.
Do you shop at Kroger? If every family bought one month's groceries using a Kroger Mission Card, the Mission team would be well on its way to our fundraising goal of $15,000. With only 100 families taking part in our year round Kroger card Mission fundraising activity, we could make an average of $450 per month which means the fund will receive at least $5000 per year. Let's increase this labor-free, expense-free fund-raiser. At this point we only have 42 families using these Kroger cards. We are averaging less than $300 per month.
9. PARENT/FAMILY INFO
DR Mission … June 21 through 29. Please pray for your DR mission team as they build pews, paint and lead VBS to the children in the DR.
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Take Me Out To The Ball game Family Night
July 1, 7:05 p.m.
St. Francis in the Fields will join together for a special night at the Louisville Slugger Field for great baseball between the Louisville Bats and the Indianapolis Indians. Game time is 7:05 p.m. and you will sure want to be there for the ceremonial first-pitch of the game by Raleigh Langley. We have a few youth tickets left by contacting Mary Caroline at 228-1176. It's Family Night at the Bats Game and they will be selling Hot Dogs and Pepsi for only $1 each all game long!
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FRIDAY

Weight Watchers … is meeting in Graves Hall on Friday mornings at 9:30 a.m. Go to WeightWatchers.com for more information.

SATURDAY

Brotherhood of St. Andrew … men are invited to join the Brothers, 8:00-9:00 a.m. for breakfast and quality time together. Exploring a chapter from Scripture takes up about half the time together. They are currently working through Luke's Gospel and his subsequent Acts of the Apostles, as a continuous narrative about beginnings of the Christian Church

Farmer's Market at St. Francis … each Saturday morning at 10:00. They will have fresh produce, flowers, plants and a number of other items available for your purchase.

SUNDAY

Holy Eucharist at 8:00 and 10:00 a.m. and 5:00 p.m.