DCYGers I hope youre excited about Winterfest! I know I cant wait! The theme is Twelve.

We are leaving this Friday at 1pm. Please eat lunch on your own. We are staying at the Holiday Inn Express near the Convention Center. We should arrive in time for the Friday night session. We will return by 4pm on Sunday afternoon. Youll need money for dinner on Friday, lunch on Saturday, and dinner on Saturday night. The rest of the meals will be provided. Well spend time at the mall on Saturday, so youll have an opportunity to shop if youd like. Please see the note about cell phones on the packing list. You need to have 3 items turned in before we leave. A permission slip, $85 and a Trip Release. You may have already paid and turned in a permission slip. Please return the Trip Release, it is the only time you need to fill this out in 2012. I also enclosed a devo you can do with your teen after Winterfest. Its a great way to hear about what your teen learned and what happened at Winterfest. If you have any other questions, please let me know. For the Kids,

Jerred
Jerreds Cell # is (405)317-5667 (always on). Brooks Cell # is (405)471-3551 Holiday Inn Express # is (817) 640-5454

Winterfest Packing List

What to Turn In: $85 Permission Slip 2011 Trip Release What to Bring Clothes (appropriate length & modest) Shoes Toiletries: toothpaste, deodorant, etc. Money for Meals Your BIBLE Good Attitude

What Not To Bring

Tobacco products, alcohol products, illegal drugs, fireworks, matches, MP3s or CDs of Olivia Newton-John, immodest clothing, radios, laptop computers, gameboys, etc.

Money and Cell Phones

The only expense youll incur is 3 fast food meals. Ill be providing meals/money for the Sunday lunch and any expenses we have as a group. If you like to eat big meals or really like to shop, bring additional money. Cell phones are allowed, but teens will be asked not to use them during Winterfest meeting times and group activities. They not only distract the individual student, but in a dark room it distracts those around them. If misuse occurs, I or an adult sponsor reserves the right to take them for the remainder of the trip!

Parent & Teen Devo Winterfest 2012

Introduction Love will make you do some pretty crazy things. A person will go to incredible lengths to pursue a relationship with someone they love. Heres an example of one cool, crazy way to pursue a relationship: Check out this video on you tube entitled: Greatest Marriage Proposal EVER!!! http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pnVAE91E7kM Another example of going to incredible lengths for love is the story of Britains King Edward VIII. Even though 75+ long years have passed, the world continues to be fascinated by the love story of Edward VIII and American socialite Wallis Simpson. The King sparked a constitutional crisis when he fell madly in love with Simpson and wanted to marry her. The prime ministers of the United Kingdom and others opposed the move. Edward ultimately abdicated the throne so he could marry Simpson. In a broadcast to the nation in December 1936, after spending just 325 days as monarch, he said, I have found it impossible to carry the heavy burden of responsibility and to discharge my duties as king as I would wish to do without the help and support of the woman I love. The couple married in May 1937 and became known as the Duke and Duchess of Windsor. They remained together until Edwards death in 1972; Simpson died in 1986. What is the craziest thing youve seen or heard about someone doing in pursuing a relationship like this? Whats the craziest thing youve ever done to show your love for God? Bible Exploration Look at this passage from Luke 9:23: And he said unto all, If any man would come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow me. (ASV) In this passage, the phrase come after carries with it the idea of a passionate romantic pursuit. Can it be said of your relationship with Jesus that it is a passionate pursuit? Intimacy with God requires commitment. It doesnt happen magically, quickly or easily. We have a definite responsibility in cultivating closeness with God. James 4:8 says, Draw near to God and he will draw near to you. Our part in drawing near involves discipline. Exercise daily in Godno spiritual flabbiness, please! Workouts in the gymnasium are useful, but a disciplined life in God is far more so, making you fit both today and forever. You can count on this. Take it to heart. 1Timothy 4:7-8 (MSG)

Do something amazing.pursue passionately your relationship with Jesus! Commit to communicating with Him every day. listening to His Word every day..talking to Him every day. Read the Bible and pray! You have a new Bible.make a plan that works for you and follow it! Get to know your God deeper and deeper each day! faith comes from hearing the message, and the message is heard through the word about Christ. Romans 10:17 Christian spirituality is based on having a relationship with God. Falling in love with God means we participate in the very life of God. In Him, our lives take on cosmic significance. The Bible tells the story of our relationship with the God who reigns over everything. Out of His amazing love, God invites us to live in His Kingdom. God created us to enjoy abundant life, and learning to live life to its fullest in relationship to our Creator is the purpose of real spiritual discipline. Gods Kingdom is where his will is being done, where God lives His love through us. Living under Gods direction answers the age-old question, Why are we here? God created us in his image and his likeness. (Genesis 1:26) He made us to be like Him. He made us for relationship. In creation, God gave humans the most exalted role, to represent and even share in the character and person of God Himself. Those who choose this life under Gods direction embody Gods kingdom. The Bible is the fascinating and dynamic story of a loving God interacting with his creatures in a gracious way in spite of their rebellion. Unfortunately for many believers, the biblical stories remain isolated in a distant past, far removed from their daily lives. Conclusion God invites us to embrace his love for us. This is the great invitation of Jesus, not just to be part of a church or to be saved. Rather, Jesus came not just to save us from our sins but also to save us for himself. He invites us to be his disciples, to embrace love, even though it means going to the cross, following Him step by step into Kingdom life. Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light. Matthew 11:28-30 This is the greatest invitation. The path of spiritual formation is to dedicate our lives to being authentic followers of Jesus so we might learn the walk for which we were made. This invitation calls for a decisive step into the Kingdom of God. Start on the path; the path that leads to life. Distribute index cards to the students. Make sure each student has an index card and a pen or pencil so they can write the following commitment on the card: One thing I will begin to do this week to draw closer to God is: Conclude in Prayer

2012 MEDICAL RELEASE FORM This information is to be applied for all functions with the Del City Church of Christ Youth Group. NAME _________________________________________________________________ ADDRESS ______________________________________________________________ In case of emergency, please contact __________________________________________ Home phone ________________________ Work phone _______________________ Allergies (including drug allergies) _________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________ Medications or other health information _____________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________ INSURANCE INFORMATION POLICY HOLDER _______________________________________________ COMPANY _____________________________________________________ POLICY NUMBER _______________________________________________ MEDICAL RELEASE I, ____________________________, give consent to Jerred England or his designee to authorize any medical treatment deemed necessary by the attending physician for my teen, __________________________. ________________________ Parents signature PICTURE RELEASE Please initial in box if the Church has your permission to use photos containing your children on the website. (We will not include ANY personal information in conjunction with the photos.)