Youth News

Youth News
for Zion's "Youtherans"

	Spring Confirmation Retreat	Attention Confirmation students and parents! Mark your calendars and plan to attend the Spring Confirmation Retreat at Gustavus Adolphus College. This retreat will be for all Confirmation students in grades 7-9. Adult leaders will be needed. If you are interested and available to assist, please contact Pastor Blenkush ASAP
	Butter Braids Fund-raiser	Beginning February 21st, Zion Youtherans will be selling those mouth watering pastries, Butter Braids. Order soon and get your tasty treats by Easter.
	Wild Mountain Ski Trip	It was time to wax those skis and hit the slopes, so the Zion Youtherans took a trip to Wild Mountain (outside Taylors Fall) for Saturday, Feb. 20th. Our friends from Trinity Lutheran in Milaca also joined us. See a few photos from the trip.
	Confirmation Bowling Party	See some photos of the 1-10-10 Confirmation Bowling Party
	Cardia Deo Senior High Youth Gathering March 19-21	We are called, Gathered, Equipped and Sent to Share the heart of God (Cardia Deo) in the world. This year’s gathering will focus of what it means to be “Gathered”. Bible studies led my LYO (Lutheran Youth Organization) Board and college interns, servant events, worship, mystery event, camp life, and an adult track led by the retreat chaplain all make this event a deeply meaningful, fun and faith-nurturing event. There will an event at Big Sandy Camp (Mar. 19-21) Zion has yet to take a group to this excellent youth event. This year would be a great year—especially for our Senior High Mission Trippers—though not exclusively! Parents please encourage your son of daughter. Youth - you are free to invite a friend to come with you. For more information contact Pastor Blenkush.
	Affirmation of Baptism 10/25/09	See a few photos of Confirmation Day
	Zuppers Wanted!	On Wednesday evenings we are looking for adults who would be willing to prepare a simple meal for our confirmation students. With many of the youth involved in after school activities it is helpful if we can provide a healthy meal alternative to say a bag of Cheetos and a can of pop. The meal begins at 5:45 (even though the kids often gather earlier to socialize and do homework) and ends at 6:30. If you are willing to prepare a meal please sign up outside Pastor Blenkush’s study.
	Confirmation Retreat Photos	The 10th grade Confirmation class spent October 3rd and 4th at Camp Onomia on a retreat to prepare for the Affirmation of Baptism service that will be held on Sunday. October 25th. See some photos of the retreat.
	Middle School Gathering	The Middle School Gathering was a great opportunity to introduce young people to the larger church and enhance their confirmation teaching. This year’s focus for the Gathering was on The Lord’s Prayer. “Pray. Always.” It gave middle school youth a deeper understanding of prayer and how prayer is central to our daily life. Congregations were asked to make Prayer Scarves so that each youth could have one. Zion sent 35+ crocheted, knit, or tied fleece scarves. 900 youth and adults attended this event and congregations sent about 1700 scarves! See some photos.
	Canoeing the Rum River	Photos of the July 30th canoe trip down the Rum River
	Mission Trip 2010: Milwaukee	In July of 2010 Zion will commission a mission team who will head off to inner city Milwaukee to participate in a mission endeavor organized by YouthWorks! an ecumenical ministry based out of the Minneapolis. During the course of the week they will work with existing ministries that reach out to children, the elderly and everybody in between. Your prayers, encouragement and financial support would be greatly appreciated in the months to come as they prepare to where God is leading them. In addition to the youth listed below Pastor Blenkush will seek the assistance of two to three additional adults. We are trying to gain access to at least five more spots. Interested? Contact Pastor Blenkush as soon as possible. Zion’s Mission Team: Katie Blenkush, Connor Crook, Andrea Dahlen, Jorgen Erickson, Justin Fransen, Ashlynn Harlan, Jake Hoskins Jr., John Knapp, Cory Lommen, Andy Manoleff , Cole Manthie, Alysa Niedzielski, Brittany Ortis, Orianna Scherer, Spencer Slade, Cameron Sundberg (Trinity), Taylor Fredman (Trinity)
	Feed My Starving Children	On Tuesday, June 24th about 18 folks from Zion drove down to the headquarters of Feed My Starving Children (FMSC) for an evening of packing nutritious meals for severely malnourished children. (Photos) These meals are then distributed to starving children in over 55 countries around the world. Our group from Zion along with another group from a Catholic Church in NE Minneapolis packed 7,776 meals that will feed 21 kids for an entire year! Wed. Oct. 15 was a second opportunity to serve and help feed children around the world. Check back for photos from this servant event. If you would like to learn more about FMSC go on line and visit www.fmsc.org These people made a difference!
	BWCA Canoers	The BWCA group 's photos are ready!
	ZZ Topics	9:15 AM Sunday mornings, the ZZ TOPIC (Zion Zone Teens of Power in Christ) group for high school teens meets in the basement. Join us!
	Prayer Blocks	"Passing on the Faith Table Grace Prayer Blocks" will be available and all proceeds will go toward Youtheran activities.