Merry Christmas!

There will be no EYC for the next THREE weeks (December 20-January 3)! Join us in the Youth Center on Sunday, January 10th from 5:30-7:30 p.m. for an awesome Spring Kickoff!

Check out some fun pictures from Sunday's Caroling Night :





Shane Claiborne, an amazing speaker and author who basically chooses to live with and as a homeless person in downtown Philadelphia, is coming to Jacksonville next month ! Shane is coming to speak at Riverside Presbyterian Church on Sunday, January 31st--and we are going as a youth group! Here's a pic of Shane:



You can read an article from Shane (What if Jesus meant all that stuff?) here.

Random Holiday : Wednesday (12/16) is Barbie and Barney Backlash Day!

As one website describes, "Today you have permission to rid your life of the most annoying and over-hyped children's products in history and get some sanity back in your life."

Some more pictures from last night:




Get excited! On Sunday, January 22nd, St Mark's EYC is going to the movies ! We are seeing a movie called To Save A Life, a new film about making your life really count. Here's the trailer!



Would you do what it takes to save a life?

Our country to pray for this week is Oman, which borders Saudi Arabia and the Arabian Sea. Here’s a map:

Oman

Oman’s Sultan Qaboos bin Said declared, “Oman in the past was in darkness...but a new dawn will rise.” While Qaboos was able to increase the country’s wealth, darkness persists. Churches and church activities for the expatriate communities are permitted, but proselytizing Muslims is forbidden. The Christian population consists almost entirely of foreign workers, with perhaps no more than 20 indigenous believers. There are four centers where Christians of over 30 denominations or languages meet and where services in many languages are held, and Christians also have a strong presence in the education and business sectors. Pray that the Omani population will be open to the Gospel.

Quote of the Week : "Then the Grinch thought of something he hadn't before. What if Christmas, he thought, doesn't come from a store? What if Christmas, perhaps, means a little bit more." --Dr. Suess

I hope that all have an excellent, God-filled Christmas! The final pics are from our Christmas party--remember that God loves you, and so do I !

Last EYC of 2009!

Thanks to everyone who worked the Tree Lot this year ! Here are a few pictures from the last two days:





THIS Sunday (December 13th) is our EYC Christmas Party, from 5:30-8:00 p.m.! This year, in addition to our annual White Elephant gift exchange (a funny, inexpensive gift that could also be a "re-gift") we are going Christmas Caroling with the church! Meet at 5:30 p.m. in Leatherbury Hall for dinner and singing practice. Don't miss this fun opportunity!

Random Holiday : Saturday (12/12) is International Mountain Day--so go climb something!

EYC Spring Kickoff is Sunday, January 10th--mark your calendars for a fun night !

Get excited! On Sunday, January 22nd, St Mark's EYC is going to the movies ! We are seeing a movie called To Save A Life, a new film about making your life really count. Here's the trailer (which we'll also see at EYC on Sunday)--it's definitely not your typical "Christian" movie!



Would you do what it takes to save a life?

Our country to pray for this week is North Korea, which borders China in the Southeast Asia. Here's a map:

North Korea

North Korea is one of the most repressive and isolated Communist regimes in the world. North Korea denies its citizens every kind of human rights. North Korea’s isolationist government has recently been forced to open its borders to humanitarian aid from foreign countries. Many thousands of Christians have been murdered since the Korean War. In 1953, there were about 300,000 Christians; however, the number has reduced to a few thousand today. Although Christians must practice their faith in deep secrecy and constant danger, they are adding to their numbers daily by reaching out to their relatives with the message of hope—Jesus Christ. Pray that God uses North Korea’s famine to draw many to the Bread of Life.

Quote of the Week : "He who has not Christmas in his heart will never find it under a tree." --Roy L. Smith

A few final Tree Lot pics...Remember that God loves you, and so do I !