Merry Christmas/Happy New Year!

We will not have EYC for the next three Sundays (December 19th, December 26th, and January 2nd ). Enjoy Luminaria, Christmas, and New Year's! Our next EYC will be Spring Kickoff (which will be on our regular split EYC schedule: 5-7 p.m. for Juniors and 6-8 p.m. for Senior High).

Great job with the Sunday's Tacky Christmas theme! I was very impressed with the variety of tacky sweaters and outfits. Our next Theme Night will be Favorite Movie Characters , on Sunday, January 16th!

Our first pictures from Sunday's Christmas Party show the White Elephant gifts, and random moments (including one with our very own Santa):



Our Diocesan Ski Trip is coming up President's Day Weekend (Feb 18th-21st ), and the final payment of $250 per person will be due on Sunday, January 9th!

Girls in 7th-12th grades! The Revolve Tour is coming to Lakeland March 18th-19th, and we are going ! The price will be $75 per person, and you can invite friends. You can officially start signing up TODAY (December 13th)--so e-mail me if you are coming! Here is the Revolve Tour promo--in case you forgot:



Random Holiday : Thursday (12/16) is National Chocolate-covered Anything Day ( a little awkward sounding, but it's legit)!

The second group of pictures show more fun Christmas moments:




We have several St Mark's people working the upcoming Happening #119 weekend (January 28th-30th at Camp Weed)! If you have not gone to Happening, a renewal weekend for 10th-12th graders, you should sign up here! Happening applications are due by Sunday, January 9th (which is also Confirmation Sunday and Kickoff).

Sign-ups for Outdoor Mission Adventure (June 25th-July 2nd, for 7th-8th graders ONLY) will close on Sunday, January 16th! Here's a refresher on the trip:




For the next three weeks, pray for those who are homeless or underemployed in this holiday season.

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

Our last pictures show the group, Fr Donavan, and a parting shot of Santa! Remember that God loves you, and so do I !

Tacky Christmas Party!!

Thanks to everyone who volunteered at this year's Tree Lot !

THIS Sunday (December 12th) is our EYC Christmas Party , from 5-7 p.m. (Junior and Senior High together) in the Youth Center! Dress in the Tacky Christmas theme--here's some inspiration:

Also, Bring a wacky present to share in our White Elephant gift exchange--nothing expensive, just fun! Invite your friends--it's going to be a good time.

Our pictures this week are a mix from the 10 days of Tree Lot! We start with some funny and weird moments (including a really well-timed video clip):

I spent yesterday researching some of our Road Trip stops for the Outdoor Mission Adventure (June 25th-July 2nd), and let's just say it is going to be hilarious ! If you haven't gotten in your $100 deposit for the trip (7th-8th graders only!), get it in today!

Random Holiday : Friday (12/10) is Dewey Decimal System Day. Anyone who can tell me what the Dewey Decimal System is (at EYC on Sunday), gets a special present!

We have several St Mark's people working the upcoming Happening #119 weekend (January 28th-30th at Camp Weed)! If you have not gone to Happening, a renewal weekend for 10th-12th graders, you should sign up here! Happening applications are due by Sunday, January 9th (which is also Confirmation Sunday).

The second group of pics have trees and/or branches in them :).





This week, let's pray for everyone who is sick or in a nursing home.

Quote of the Week : "I have found that in the simple act of living with hope, and in the daily effort to have a positive impact in the world, the days I do have are made all the more meaningful and precious. And for that I am grateful." --Elizabeth Edwards

The final pics are a goodbye to the 2010 Tree Lot (thanks to Hugh for the Thursday shift picture)! Remember that God loves you, and so do I !

Tree Lot Continues!

Thank you to everyone who has worked the Tree Lot so far this year! It was a little rough at times this weekend , but we have sold almost 190 trees so far (out of 255)! We still need volunteers for Thursday (4:30-6:30 p.m.) and Friday (4:30-6:30 p.m.), as well as the weekend if we don't sell out before then. If you would like to sign up for one of those shifts, please call me (or just show up)!

Here are some pictures (courtesy of Rev Sandy) of the Christmas Tree Unloading on Thanksgiving Day:





Because of the Tree Lot, we will not have EYC this Sunday (December 5th).
Our next EYC will be on December 12th, for our EYC Christmas Party (with a Tacky Christmas theme)!

Speaking of our EYC Christmas Party (December 12th), we will be doing a White Elephant gift exchange ! That means that, instead of spending money on expensive gifts, we are asking everyone to bring a funny, inexpensive gift, or something that you would like to "re-gift". For the Christmas Party, we will meet as a full youth group (Junior and Senior High) from 5-7 p.m.

Our second group of pics show some funny moments from the Tree Lot so far (including a huge tree on a tiny wagon):




Random Holiday : Saturday (12/4) is National Cookie Day! Click here for more info on celebrations!

7th and 8th graders! Are you ready for the Outdoor Mission Adventure (June 25th-July 2nd)? Check it out:



Scholarships are available, and you can secure your spot today with a $100 deposit!

This week, let's pray for those who are hungry and/or homeless.

In honor of Mark Twain's 175th birthday...

Quote of the Week : "God: the most popular scapegoat for our sins." --Mark Twain

Our last Tree Lot pics are sweet, except for an attack of the trees in the final photo! Remember that God loves you, and so do I !