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St. Jude's Youth Group = Fun, Fellowship and Faith |
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The St. Jude’s Youth Group has been combining Christian fellowship and fun lately and it seems that there is more to come in the future.
Recently the Youth Group has done “Wii Love Jesus”, a night of fun with the Nintendo Wii, the group played Wii Sports projected on the wall of the perish hall. This night was a great success, with a large turn out. All the youths and the group leaders enjoyed the spirit of competition, mixing with the excitement of team based group activity.
What winter would be complete without a trip to go ice skating! The Youth Group has gone to the Newbridge skating rink to have some fun one the ice; it was difficult to tell who the Youth Group was, and who were the leaders with all the fun had by all. Activities like ice skating and “Drawing on Gods Strength”, a Bible themed game of Pictionary, are always great fun, but the Youth Group is more than just fun activities.
Recently the Youth Group had a night called “Reflections”. This night, unlike others, was less about fun, play time, and more about meditating on the situations the young Christians face on a daily basis, and allowed the Youth Group to share on how they would deal with these situations, not only as youths, but as young Christians. In addition, the youth group has giving back to the church community by building Christmas wreaths, baking cookies, and most recently hosting a Coffee Hour, allowing the Youth to share in their gifts and skills directly with the church
With the activities still to come, such as Bowling, the parent’s appreciation dinner and movie, and the Lock-in, the youth Group is poised to continue to be a place where the youth of St. Jude’s Church an experience fun, fellowship and faith. |
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Parish Health Corner:
New Year’s Resolutions for a Healthy New You
- Get more sleep. Research ties inadequate zzz’s to obesity. Aim for at least 7 hours. Try lavender linen spray, taking a warm bath, or a relaxation tape/CD (Belleruth Naparstek offers many good ones- check Amazon)
- Stop drinking excess calories – your daily fluids should come from water, low/fat-free milk, coffee/tea, small amounts (4oz) of juice like orange. Avoid tall grande mocha lattes with extra whipped cream at all costs!
- Eat more meals at home – brown bag it to work, prepare meals in advance & freeze, plan ahead. You can dramatically reduce your sodium, fat, and caloric intake (not to mention your waistline) in the process.
- Choose more nutrient-dense foods (whole grains, fruits & vegetables, lean protein, beans, nuts, seeds, legumes, low-fat dairy) and less calorie-dense foods (anything by Entenmanns or Little Debbie!) Emphasize colorful fruits, vegetables & beans - your best bet for antioxidants, fiber, & many essential vitamins & minerals.
- Swap your fats. Instead of sautéing in butter, go for olive, canola, peanut or sesame oil. Use a tsp of peanut butter on your whole wheat toast instead of butter. Avoid trans fats (some fast foods, baked goods, partially hydrogenated oils).
- Get up and moving. Walk, jog, bike, swim, play, stretch, strengthen…you get the picture! Aim for at least 30 minutes most days of the week.
- Limit sodium to 2300mg per day. Look for no more than 140mg or less sodium on packages. Foods to watch: fast foods, chips, processed foods. Go for low-sodium varieties.
- Schedule routine maintenance, not just for your car! Do you know your blood pressure? Cholesterol? HgbA1C if diabetic? If not, learn them.
Stay well this New Year!
Meredith Cummings, RD |
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Did you know that COPD is the #4 cause of death in the U.S.? Most of those at greatest risk for COPD have never even heard of it. COPD affects 24 million Americans: 12 million already diagnosed and 12 million more who may have it but don't know it. COPD, a.k.a. emphysema or chronic bronchitis, is a serious lung disease that over time makes it hard to breathe. In people who have COPD, the airways are partially blocked, which makes it hard to get air in and out. When it is severe, shortness of breath and other symptoms can get in the way of even the most basic tasks. You could be at risk for COPD if you: are age 40 and over and currently smoke or used to smoke; have worked or lived around chemicals, fumes or secondhand smoke; have shortness of breath, chronic cough, or have trouble performing simple daily tasks like climbing stairs, grocery shopping, or laundry; have excess sputum production; have certain genetic conditions. If you are at risk for COPD, you can: talk with your doctor about shortness of breath, chronic cough, or decline in activity level; get a simple breathing test, also known as spirometry; quit smoking; avoid pollutants or fumes that can irritate your lungs; get flu and pneumonia shots as directed by your doctor. If you are diagnosed with COPD, there are several treatment options that you and your doctor can discuss to improve the quality of your life. For more information, visit www.learnaboutcopd.org. |
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An Example of Care-Managing |
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The following was told by Lou George, a denominational executive in New England. Even though he was raised in a Christian home that practiced good stewardship, he didn’t learn it from his parents. Here’s the story of how a good care-manager taught him a lot of things about tithing, sharing and giving. |
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There are a wide variety of activities and groups within the Church of St. Jude. After much prayer, discernment and recruiting leaders, an exciting new group is being formed, open to teens who will be in the eighth grade or above in the fall of this year. In addition to members of our parish, we invite our young people to bring friends who want to share in a program that will stimulate them and engage them in activities they will enjoy.
Today's young people are the church of today - and tomorrow. The church's hope rests squarely in the laps of our young people. Our teenagers live in a world that is very complicated and changing at an increasing rate. They have easy access to many influences that are not physically, emotionally or spiritually healthy. St. Jude's youth group will provide a safe environment for young adults to explore their spirituality, get involved with outreach projects, and just have fun. The youth group will nourish the interests that many young adults have in ecology and the environment, social justice, and who God is - to name just a few areas. We envision regular gatherings in the parish as well as activities outside the parish. While the youth group leaders will help facilitate the group, the youth members will have a strong role in the leadership and direction of the group.
We can't use the excuse that young people are not interested to avoid reaching out to them. Many young people appreciate the opportunity to get involved with a group that has a spiritual orientation that also includes opportunities for sharing and recreation. The support and encouragement of parents is an essential component of a successful youth program. Please mark this date and time on your calendars and bring your youth! Also, let us know that you will be coming. Contact the parish office for more information. |
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