A DIFFERENT KIND OF NEW YEARS PARTY!!

What's a "different kind" of New Years Party, you say?  I'm so glad you asked!!

Two things, really.  The first is this:  It's my observation that what these teens need this New Years is to CHILL OUT and relax more than they need a throw down non-stop bash.  Of course that's not universal, just on the whole.  So here's the plan:  We're gonna kick things off around 8:00 on the 31st and have a night of games (for example, a SPADES TOURNAMENT, tables full of board games, the volleyball net set up, etc.), some worship time together to bring the new year in the right way, and showing ALL the videos from 2013 on the big screen as we go through night (there's easily a couple hours worth!).  We'll count down the new year and then head on home after that.

What also makes this a little different is that we would REALLY love for this to be a family affair!  PLEASE COME JOIN US!!  It'll be a blast of a night, and a great chance to have some fun, easy family time!  (Not to mention, who would you trust more to get your kids home than you!)

So here are the basics:
WHO?  ALL RAVE TEENS AND FAMILIES
WHAT? A new years party that gives everybody a chance to relax and have a good time!
WHEN?  8:00 pm on New Years Eve till 12:30 AM
WHERE? Rob Ave youth hall and gym
WHAT DO I BRING?  Just bring your favorite snack food and board games, and I'll get the drinks there!

It's gonna be a great, relaxing night!  COME JOIN US!

CLOTHING GIVEAWAY!!

It's time once again for one of the most beautiful things we do at Robinson Avenue!  This is such a wonderful opportunity for our teens to come serve people in amazing ways.  There are so many jobs to be done, from stacking and arranging clothes, keeping tables neat, passing out bags, and bringing out new inventory to serving pancakes, cleaning tables, bringing around coffee, etc.  There's SO much to be done, so EVERYBODY is welcome and needed to come pitch in!

Here are the details..

WHO? YOU AND YOUR TEENS!!
WHAT? A wonderful morning of giving clothing to the naked and food to the hungry...hmm, that sounds familiar..
WHEN?  Saturday, December 13, from 7:30 to around 11:30
WHERE?  Robinson Avenue Church of Christ Family Center
WHAT DO I BRING?  Just a servant's heart!

NOTE: There is NO BETTER WAY to connect with your teens spiritually than to SERVE ALONGSIDE THEM!! Please don't miss this opportunity!

CHRISTMAS PARTY!! (NOW WITH PICS!!)

Well now that the ice is melting away and the roads are clearing a little, it's time to have our Christmas party!!  You probably know most of the details by now, but here's a rundown just in case you've missed them!!

WHO?  ALL RAVE TEENS, their friends, and you're more than welcome to join us!!
WHAT?  A Christmas scavenger hunt, party, gag gift exchange, and new this year: CAROLING!!
WHEN?  Saturday evening, December 13 beginning at the church at 5:30 where we will begin the  scavenger hunt, which will end us up at the POULOS HOUSE at 6:30 where the party will commence and wrap up around 9!
WHERE?  Begins at church, but mostly at the POULOS HOUSE (see above)
WHAT DO I BRING?  A $5 (max) GAG gift, some Christmas cookies if you can, and WEAR A CHEESY SWEATER!! (See the picture above for examples)

There are some surprises being planned by our gracious hosts and crew, so don't miss out on this awesome night!!

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Folks, we had an AWESOME NIGHT Saturday night!  A HUGE thanks to our SCAVENGER HUNT DRIVERS (Darren Jones, Stacey Smith, Keith Kilmer, Darren Haskins, Rhonda Asencio, and Shannon Bowman..with her partner in crime, Karen Mayes!), Bonita Holroyd and Susan Poulos for coordinating food, plus ALL who sent food for an AMAZING meal, and of course our gracious hosts, Susan and Pano, for opening up just about every inch of their home to the crowd we had that night!! And thank YOU helping us make that night a great one!

Here are some pics from the night!

100th POST RIGHT AT THREE YEARS!!

This is my 100th blog post AND we've just crossed over three years at this church! Three years of planning these things out paid off just right. I'm kidding. You guys know my planning skills aren't quite on that level..

But seriously folks, I could sit here and write for hours about the past three years if I had time.  This past week, on Dec. 1, I celebrated three years at Robinson Ave. You guys have been a family to my family and me since we walked in the doors on Dec. 1, 2010.  I have no doubt in my mind that we are exactly where God wants us to be.  I could go on and on about that subject alone. There are so many reasons I believe that. So many ways I've looked back and seen God's hand in bringing us here, tracing back for years.  Things have worked out just right for so long, and in so many ways.

I hope you all know how much Rachel, Grace, Coop (and soon-to-be Abigail Layne...or Lane...the jury is still out) and I appreciate each and every one of you. We are so thankful for this place. You have been so supportive and generous. We couldn't imagine being anywhere else.

THANK YOU FOR THREE AMAZING YEARS!

JUNIOR HIGH RETREAT!!

With the gorgeous NWA fall comes the chance to have amazing retreats like this one at beautiful camps and parks.  The Junior High Retreat embodies this PERFECTLY!  This is always an amazing weekend, so let's jump at the chance to be part of it! 

This is an area-wide event, meaning Jr High kids from churches of Christ all over the NWA come together to make new Christian friends, worship together, grow together, and make memories and friendships that will literally last a lifetime!  This year's theme is "Out of Place" and is all about being willing to be different from the world and should be GREAT to hear and discuss!

Here are the basics!

WHO?  RAVE Jr High (this means 7th, 8th, and 9th graders) AND PARENTS!!
WHAT?  A weekend full of worship, growth, and tons of fun
WHEN?  October 25-27
WHERE?  Camp Siloam in Siloam Springs
HOW MUCH?  $44
WHAT DO I BRING?  All the usual stuff: Bedding, toiletries, warm and cool weather clothes for Fri-Sun, BIBLE

It's gonna be a GREAT WEEKEND, so sign up on the board outside my office!  PARENTS NEEDED AND WELCOME!

FAMILY NIGHT LIVE COOKOUT!!

THIS SUNDAY IS ANOTHER FAMILY NIGHT LIVE!!  These are always a great time to come together as families and let our hair down and have a great time alongside our teens, and to worship together when the situation allows.  This is one of those times.  We'll eat together, play volleyball together, and most importantly have a devotional time together.  Here are the details!

WHO?  ALL RAVE TEENS AND THEIR FAMILIES
WHAT? A chance to grow closer as families as we eat, play, and worship together
WHEN? Sunday night, Sept 22, 7:00 pm until around 8:30 or 9:00
WHERE? Veterans Memorial Park in Fayetteville, behind Lowe's off of Zion Road
WHAT DO I BRING?  Guys bring chips, girls bring sweets!

FALL RETREAT: REAL!!

Time again for our annual, amazing All Ages Fall Retreat!  This is always a great time to break in the fall, fuel us up for the school year, and spend some beautiful time together in God's creation in the beauty of the fall, worshiping, growing, and spending time together.  It's one of my favorite things we do!

[UPDATE: We've already got right at 60 PEOPLE signed up, and I can add people as late as Tuesday, so let me know ASAP, adults or teens, if you would like to join us!!]

Here are the basics!

WHO?  ALL RAVE TEENS, families, and friends!
WHAT?  A retreat to the beauty of Siloam in the fall for a weekend of worship, growing, learning, and fellowship!
WHEN?  Sept. 13-15  We'll have a TOTALLY OPTIONAL dinner time at Wendy's across from the church at 5:00, and then we'll depart from Robinson Avenue at 6:00.  We'll return Sunday at about 11:00 AM.
WHERE?  New Life Ranch, one of the very best around, in Colcord, OK.  Here's a map!
HOW MUCH?  The cost is $65 (half for adults and their kids) which includes EVERYTHING (shirt, lodging, all food, all activities, etc.  YOU CAN ALSO BRING A LITTLE MONEY FOR THE CANTEEN AND GIFT SHOP, but this is totally up to you.

Our theme is REAL and we'll be diving into the REAL Jesus, as opposed to the image we've given Him over the years, what it means to be REAL ourselves, as opposed to putting on masks and putting up fronts, and closing out by talking about how to see the people around us as they actually are and seeing through their fronts, as opposed to believing that what we see on the outside is how they actually are.  It's gonna be some deep waters, and I can't wait to dive in!!