Senior High Youth Group 2/24

We kicked off Senior High fellowship on February 24, and it was such a great night!  Unlike the junior high kids, this group has not been meeting regularly and doesn't know each other all that well as a group. Few of them know me very well, either, so we spent some time getting to know each other through several rounds of "If," answering questions like 

• If I gave you $10,000, what would you spend it on?
• If you had unlimited space and $$, what would you add to your bedroom?
• If you could talk to anyone in the world, who would it be?
• If you could wish one thing to come true this year, what would it be?
• If you were going to be on a reality TV show, which one would you choose and why?

Later, I blindfolded the kids and then placed before them a large, unadorned sugar cookie with many different types of frosting, tools, and decorations at their fingertips.  Relying on their blind faith, the kids participated in "Simon Says"-style cookie decorating.  A little teamwork was required this time as they were directed to pass the sprinkles, share the frosting, and find the small tubes of decorating gel.  The results were, predictably, hilarious.  

The implicit theme of the night was "Who Am I?" and the kids completed a Mad Libs version of Psalm 139.  As a large group, we talked about the many influences that have shaped us into who we are and who we are becoming, and individually, we mapped out some of the most significant "shaping" events or people in our lives.  

As I shared with the kids, one important "shaping" event in my life was finding St. Mark.  It is the "just right" fit for our family in myriad ways, and my new role as youth ministry leader is one more blessing on a very long list.  I am particularly grateful for this cheerful, funny, gentle-natured, curious, and kind group of  junior and senior high youth.