Another 6 Weeks down? Hard to believe!

Let's see...that means the school year is already a 1/3 over!
Summer is gone, fall is upon us, the election is over and the Holiday Season is around the corner.

Wutz going on with the ORLC Youth?
LOTS! This has and is a busy time!
School keeps all the youth busy (class, homework, band, choir, sports) and then there is work, driver's ed., friends, myspace, facebook, cell phones, texting, etc...
EVERYONE IS BUSY!
The ORLC Youth moves from Fall Activities (Pan Am Fair, Slime Time, Salsa Night, North Texas Food Bank, Friday Movie Nights, Guys and Girls Bible Studies...) and we jump into our November and December months!

First, I hope you will join us Sunday Night, Nov. 23 for our Extreme Guys and Proverbs 31 Girl Bible Study. We meet at the Johnson's Home at 6:30 PM. Snacks and drinks will be provided. Our Bible Study is over around 8:15 PM.
We hope to break our last record of 18 guys and 9 girls!
...so what are you waiting for, INVITE A FRIEND!


NOVEMBER 28-30 is our Texas District Youth Gathering - GLORYbound '08
It is going to be an awesome time in Fort Worth to draw close to God and to fellowship with almost 1,300 other Lutheran Youth all across Texas!.



We hope as many youth as possible will help with the Christmas Program, which is Sunday, December 14th. Should be a great show...lots of fun songs, great story and silly parts and lines!



NEXT...join us for our December Movie Night on Friday, December 19th.
This month we see the horror movie, Black Christmas...JUST KIDDING!
We will be showing: The Nativity Movie. It starts at 7 PM and we finish around 9:30 PM. Remember, all youth get a chance to win the $10 AMC Gift Card!



Of course, don't forget all the great Advent and Christmas Season Worship Services!


And the BIG Event of the season (besides the birth of the Savior of the world) is our 9th Annual New Year's Eve Prayer Party and Lock-in on December 31st at ORLC. How will you RING in the NEW YEAR?


Join us as we party and and PRAY in the NEW YEAR!
This year we will have some rented inflatable games, tons of food and drink, worship and a message for 2009, prayer room, Wii, Ps2, Gamecube, movie room, etc...
Our GOAL is 50 Youth! Will you help by inviting a friend?


See you soon I pray!

The End of the First 6 Weeks Already?

Time flies when you are having fun...right? It is already time for 6 weeks tests...the first report cards will be out in no time. Yippee! Are we having fun yet?

This past month was BUSY and October is very busy too!

Highlights are:

Continued Praise and Worship Practice from 7:10-8:45 PM
It is so awesome we have several youth who help lead our Sunday morning and Sunday evening Worship! You guys ROCK!

Continued ESL Nights with Youth Activities every Monday and Thursday 6:30-8:30 PM!

Our Annual Pan American Fair is going to be BIGGER and BETTER than ever before!

Don't miss it on Saturday, Oct. 11 from 10 AM - 4 PM

Our Band is planning on performing and Acts Two Puppet Ministry Team is presenting 3 shows that day!

Don't forget to join us for ORLC Movie Night on Friday, Oct. 17th from 7-9 PM.

This month is the dark and mysterious movie, The Da Vinci Code.
Come prepared to get angry and frustrated...this movie even questions the divinity of Jesus Christ!

Free drinks and popcorn and every youth who attends gets a chance to win the $10 AMC Movie Gift Card...bring a friend and you get an additional chance...

We have a special evening planned for Sunday, Oct. 19th and 26th (6-8 PM) for a Parent and Youth Talk Time (parents do their thing and kids do our thing-separate) We have a special speaker who will be talking to our parents on both evenings. Please make arrangements to be there!

Oh yeah...Ft. Worth Boo at the Zoo is Saturday, Oct. 25th. We meet at ORLC at 9:30 AM, carpool to the zoo, don't forget to bring your lunch and drink, and we return to ORLC around 2:30 PM

ORLC SLIME TIME is at ORLC on Friday, Oct. 31st. Did someone say candy???

Be sure to check out the ORLC Website for more information as well as the weekly Email Newsletter that is sent to our ORLC Members.

God's Blessings to each of you who are preparing for Six Weeks Tests!
DO NOT PROCRASTINATE!

September News...School has arrived!

ANOTHER School Year...it's hard to believe!
Yikes...going to bed early again and getting UP early again!
and...football and volleyball season are here upon us...

Please do not get so busy you forget to keep God a part of your daily schedule...especially at the top of that schedule! When we do not make it a priority for God to be a part of our day...He tends to get the left-overs...if there are any. Take time to talk to God...and find out what plans He has for you before you begin your day!

Pastoral Call Process...
Sunday, Aug. 31st was our congregational voters meeting. GREAT NEWS...a unanimous vote was taken by the ORLC Members to call Pastor Eloy Gonzalez to be our next Senior Pastor of ORLC. For many of the ORLC Youth who participated on the San Antonio Mission Trip (Summer 2004)...they have already meet Pastor Eloy Gonzalez. On that mission trip, we visited Concordia Lutheran Church and Day Care. We presented our puppets, songs, dances, crafts and GOSPEL of Jesus Christ to the Day Care on our first day of our mission trip. Since then, Pastor Gonzalez has been to ORLC for Hispanic Mission Conferences as well as Pastor Bob Gonzalez's Funeral in 2007. He also helped with the 2008 Service of Blessing at ORLC on Spet. 24th.
PLEASE keep our Church and Pastor Gonzalez in your prayers as the Holy Spirit speaks to us and to him during this most important time of decision. May the Holy Spirit guide and direct Pastor G to be led here to shepherd the ORLC Family of believers!

ESL
We begin once again on Monday, Sept. 8 and continue every Monday and Thursday from 6:30 - 8:30 PM.
Monday will be a variety of activities, including input from the youth who participate.
We hope to reward the best STACKER Champ in December...
We hope to reward the youth who attend with other prizes and rewards...
Thursday Night will be a time to develop our puppet and drama skills to help us better tell stories and communicate.
Come and find out more information!

ORLC Movie Night
Friday, Sept. 12th 7-9 PM
Come and join us for free popcorn and drinks as we watch:
Under the Same Moon
Youth who attend have an opportunity to win a $10 gift card to the AMC Movie Theater!
Bring friend and your name goes in "the hat" for to chances to win, Bring 2 friends...another chance...

AUGUST ACTIVITIES

Hot August Night is upon us! (sorry...showing my age...Neil Diamond song...don't ask who!)

Anyway...welcome to the latest ORLC Youth update.

This month marks the end of summer and the return to SCHOOL!

YIKES...not again!

'fraid so...

August is a BUSY month for us!

Aug. 2nd was Faith Night at the Ranger Stadium

(or whatever you call it!)

Mercy Me Worship was awesome and we had over 20 people join our group!

Too bad the Rangers could not pull out a win in the last inning!

Aug. 15th is MOVIE NIGHT and is from 7 PM 'til 9 PM

Check out the family movie PENELOPE.

This is a great movie for kids AND adults!

The showing is in the Sanctuary and includes free popcorn and soft drinks!

All middle school and high school youth have a chance to win a $10 AMC movie gift card!

Aug. 17th from 6:30-8 PM is our Extreme Guys and Proverbs 31 Girl Bible Study.

Spend time with God and fellowship with other believers!

We meet at the Johnson home in Grapevine! For last minute details...check with Mike and Michelle!

Aug. 22nd and 23rd...some youth are going to Six Flags One Voice Faith Concert Series.

David Crowder, Skillet, Pillar, Newsboys, The Afters...

See Mike if you are interested. Park Tkts are like $30 and the Concert Tkt is $8.00. YIKES...so...like...where else were you gonna spend all the summer lawn mowing money?

Annual ORLC Service of Blessing.

Aug. 24th from 5-7 PM

Can you come and help?

We need you!

Annual Back to School Swim Party

Aug. 31st 12:15-5:15 PM

This year we are heading to Hawaii!

NO...I mean Hawaiian Falls...sorry about that!

http://www.hawaiianfalls.com/

Hawaiian Falls is located in Garland, Texas.

It is a smaller park and the owners are Christian and have provided us with a great Ticket Price.

Tickets are only $10...and we will provide LUNCH at the church before we head off!

We will Worship and attend Sunday School in the morning and then eat lunch from 12:15-12:35 PM

We will then drive to HF-Garland.

We will Swim and Sunburn from 1-4:45 PM and then return to ORLC before 5:30 PM.

Money is due BY: Sunday Aug. 24th

Today is July 7th
It is hard to believe 2008 is HALF OVER!
YIKES!
Time flies when you're having fun!

This week we have our EG/P31G BS (Extreme Guys and Proverbs 31 Girl Bible Study) on Tuesday, July 8th from 11 AM- 1 PM at ORLC.
I pray you can join us...LUNCH is provided!

Also...this week is Movie Night at ORLC starting at 7 PM until 9 PM
This Month we are showing:
Amazing Grace
In 1797, William Wilberforce, the great crusader for the British abolition of slavery, is taking a vacation for his health even while he is sicker at heart for his frustrated cause. However, meeting the charming Barbara Spooner, Wilberforce finds a soulmate to share the story of his struggle. With few allies such as his mentor, John Newton, a slave ship captain turned repentant priest who penned the great hymn, "Amazing Grace," Prime William Pitt, and Olaudah Equiano, the erudite former slave turned author, Wilberforce fruitlessly fights both public indifference and moneyed opposition determined to keep their exploitation safe. Nevertheless, Wilberforce finds the inspiration in newfound love to rejuvenate the fight with new ideas that would lead to a great victory for social justice.

There is NO Cost and everyone who attends gets FREE Popcorn and Soft Drinks!
All middle school and high school youth who attend get a chance for a free $10 AMC Theater Gift Card.
Bring a friend and you get 2 chances, bring three friends and you get 3 chances...

Extreme Camp is around the corner, July 14-18.
We meet at ORLC at 8:45 AM and leave by 9:15 AM. We return to ORLC Friday around 3:30 PM. We have a group meeting Sunday, July 13th from 12:15-1 PM. An information packet has been mailed to all those who are participating.

Summer Time Fun is Here!

The Guatemala Team is on their way...please keep them in your prayers.
Check out the blog www.GuatemalaOutreach.blogspot.com
If all goes as planned...there will be daily up dates.

Our next BIG events:
Our Summer Extreme Camp (we have 23 signed up to attend!) is around the corner (July 14-18)
Praise God and may we begin praying NOW that GOD would do amazing things on our trip to Extreme Camp!

And also, Faith Night at the Ballpark in Arlington. Join us on Aug. 2nd as Mercy Me performs a concert and the Texas Rangers play the Toronto Blue Jays! Sign -up at the Info booth in the Narthex at Church (deadline to sign-up is July 13th)

Guatemala Outreach
June 24-July 2
Please keep our Mission Team in your Prayers!
Financial donations may be sent to ORLC, attention: Michael Hill

We will also be delivering much needed School Supplies to the Servant's Heart Ministry, Safe Passage, Compassion International and Cristo Rey Church. Please donate: pens, pencils, map pencils, markers, dry eraser markers, crayons, glue sticks, children's safety scissors, stickers (in Spanish please)







Movie Night is coming up Friday June 20 from 6:30-9 PM (Popcorn, drinks and a movie FREE)
Come and find out what happens to a newly elected Congressman when God asks him to build a boat!



Airhogs Baseball is Saturday, June 21 at 7:05 PM

Sign-up and pay by Sunday, June 15th

Tickets are $6.00 and a meal ticket (hot dog, drink and a bag of chips) is only $5.00

Youth Car Wash
Sunday, June 22 from 11 AM -1 PM


HELP...we need you!

ORLC Family Movie Event!

Narnia - Prince Caspian

Sunday, May 18th at the Movie Tavern at Central Park in Bedford.
Meet there...the movie starts at 3:45 PM and concludes a little after 6 PM. Tickets are $5.50. Servers also take orders and bring food and drinks to your table. Be sure to bring TIP money for them.

Invite a friend and use this movie as an opportunity to talk about YOUR faith!

The Texas District is proud to offer PULSE-the 2008 GLORYbound event for all High School Lutheran Youth across Texas! Every three years approximately 2,000 gather to draw close to God and to fellowship with other Lutheran Christians!

Registrations must be turned in before May 25th. The cost for any ORLC Youth is $119. A deposit of $50 is due NOW and the balance by September. We will be staying at the Fort Worth Hilton next to the Fort Worth Convention Center. The big event takes place on Friday Nov. 28th-Sunday 30th.

ORLC Rummage Sale

Friday, May 23 & Saturday, May 24

8 AM - 2 PM

Come and help a day or all week.

We need helpers!

Profits will go to the ORLC Ministry of your choice!

Set-up and sorting will take place Monday-Thursday throughout the day

April Showers Bring May Flowers

Sunday, April 27th

The Door - Youth Prayer & Praise
will be a little bit different this month with a Parent and Youth Dinner, Worship time together and a Meeting time for parents and a devotion time for youth.
5:30 PM - Potato Dinner
6 PM - Family Time Worship
6:30-8 PM - Parent Meeting & Youth Fellowship Time

EXTREME CAMP deposit was due Sunday, April 20th ($75.00)
The balance of $50 is due June 1st
The cost jumps an additional $25 fee for anyone who misses the deadline.
See me ASAP if you are interesting in attending.
Spots are filling up fast!

Upcoming April Events

We want you to join us for a night out together as a family THIS Saturday, April 19th at the Incredible Pizza Company in Euless, TX from 5:30-8 PM. Location and Prices can be found on their website: http://www.ipceuless.com/
Group Rates can save us a lot of money. IF YOU show up at 5:30 PM and PAY AND ENTER as the group enters (at 5:30 PM) you get a great discount.

$5.00 for anyone aged 0-10 years old and $6.00 for anyone 11+ years old. This includes all you can eat pizza and a drink.
OR
$9.00 for anyone aged 0-10 years old and $10.00 for anyone 11+ years old. This includes all you can eat pizza, a drink & a $5.00 game card.

Regular Buffet Pricing is:
Adults $7.99
Senior Citizens (55 & up) $3.99
Children (ages 4-12) $5.99
Children (ages 3 & under) FREE
Drinks (include free refills) $1.49
PLUS TAX on all these prices
So...it would save you several dollars to show up and pay and walk in together at 5:30 PM

PLEASE LET MIKE KNOW ASAP if you will join us.


Also...do not forget!


Guys Extreme Bible Study - Sunday, April 20th 6:30-8 PM
Location To Be Determined (CALL MIKE to find out where)

Sunday, April 27th
The Door - Youth Prayer and Praise will be a little bit different.

Parent and Youth Dinner, Worship and Meeting.
5:30 PM - Potato Dinner

6 PM - Family Time Worship

6:30-8 PM - Parent Meeting & Youth Fellowship Time

Your EXTREME CAMP deposit is due ($75.00)

The balance of $50 is due June 1st

The cost jumps an additional $25 fee for anyone who misses the April 20th Deadline!

APRIL FOOLS

I hope by now you have received the APRIL ORLC Youth Newsletter.
Be sure to check out info on the 30 Hour Famine as well as other events and upcoming activities.

You can also see the ORLC Youth Newsletter at the www.ORLC.org website.

Check out this story...
In Florida, an atheist became incensed over the preparation of Easter and Passover holidays. He decided to contact his lawyer about the discrimination inflicted on atheists by the constant celebrations afforded to Christians and Jews with all their holidays while atheists had no holiday to celebrate. The case was brought before a judge. After listening to the long passionate presentation by the lawyer, the Judge banged his gavel and declared, 'Case dismissed!'
The lawyer immediately stood and objected to the ruling and said, 'Your honor, how can you possibly dismiss this case? The Christians have Christmas, Easter and many other observances. Jews have Passover, Yom Kippur and Hanukkah ... yet my client and all other atheists have no such holiday!'

The judge leaned forward in his chair and simply said, 'Obviously your client is too confused to even know about, much less celebrate his own atheists' holiday!'

The lawyer pompously said, 'Your Honor, we are unaware of any such holiday for atheists Just when might that holiday be, your Honor?'

The judge said, 'Well it comes every year on exactly the same date --- April 1st! Since our calendar sets April 1st as 'April Fools Day,' consider that Psalm 14:1 states, 'The fool says in his heart, there is no God.' Thus, in my opinion, if your client says there is no God, then by scripture, he is a fool, and April 1st is his holiday! Now have a good day and get out of my courtroom!

Happy Easter....

Don't eat too much chocolate!

The Chocolate Bunny on the left is saying,

"My Butt Hurts!"

The Chocolate Bunny on the Right is saying, "What?"

Thanks to each of you who were able to help with the Annual Breakfast!

We had a great turnout of help Saturday and Sunday!

Blessings to each of You!

I hope to see you next week for Youth Prayer and Praise, Sunday, March 30th 6:30-8 PM

Be looking for your APRIL Newsletter soon and don't forget: World Vision's 30 Hour Famine (April 4th-5th) as well as Summer Camp Money Due and GLORYBound Registration begins!

Battle Cry is over...what an amazing weekend!
For those who went...it will NOT soon be forgotten...for those who missed it...make a promise you will not miss it next year. A total of 31 from ORLC went and or helped (and we also had Mandy Geltemeyer and Judy Hill help Mike with the Thursday Intern Luncheon)
We had an awesome group this year.

The weekend event reminded us all that there are souls in the balance...time is ticking...how is our life helping others to Christ? It started Friday Night asking if were were occasional Christians or are we really interested in totally immersing ourselves? Which are You? Jump in and give God a try...

Join Us Sunday Night for our Youth Prayer and Praise, March 30th from 6:30-8 PM. We will once again have LIVE Worship and a short message.

Another great way to IMMERSE yourself in Christ, is to serve Him and Others...
Saturday morning, March 22nd from 9 AM -12 PM, the ORLC Youth and Youth Board will be preparing for our Annual Easter Breakfast. We really need your help to make this a success.
Following our morning of prep...we need everyone helping Easter Sunday morning. Pick a time to help and pick a time to Worship. There are shifts throughout the morning starting at 7 AM and finishing at 11:15 AM. Sign up for a shift during our Saturday morning prep time.

May God Bless you and your family during this most holy times of the year!
Be looking for your APRIL Newsletter soon and don't forget: World Vision's 30 Hour Famine (April 4th-5th) as well as Summer Camp Money Due and GLORYBound Registration begins!

No Football and No Alleluias!

Football Season is behind us (except for the Pro Bowl and if you're into the Desperados!)
AND...
Ash Wednesday (Feb. 6th) begins our 40 Days to the Cross.
Typically in the Lutheran church we focus our thoughts on LENT during this time of the year. Because it is a time to reflect on Christ's journey to the cross, we do not sing the Alleluias in worship...we save them until Easter Sunday. In your private devotion time...it is probably still okay to celebrate that Jesus still lives today and that we find salvation through Him alone!
For the Youth, we look forward to one of our biggest youth events, our Easter Breakfast. This year will be really cool, as we get to have our breakfast in our new Fellowship Hall.

Do not forget to write these important events on your calendar...

Feb. 9th North Texas Food Bank Event 8:15 AM-12:30 PM Meet @ ORLC
Feb. 17th Extreme Guys Bible Study 6:30-8 PM (Place TBD-call Mike for details)
Feb. 24th ORLC Annual Chili Cook-off 5 PM @ ORLC
Feb. 24th Youth Prayer & Praise 6:30-8 PM @ ORLC

Our Feb. 10th - Parent’s Night Out (Valentines Couple’s Dinner) - Our Kids Valentine's Party at ORLC is kinda up in the air...please call Mike if you are thinking about coming and helping. Right now we only have ONE 3rd Grader signed up to attend...

It is still not too late to go to BattleCry (March 14-15) The cost is $25 for your ticket and the price goes up to $35 after Feb. 29th

If you did NOT get your February Newsletter, there are extras on the Information Center at Church along with the 2008 Calendar of Events.

Hello COLD Weather! It finally feels like WINTER around here!

This weekend, the ORLC HIGH SCHOOL Youth are invited to a game of Laser Tag. Actually THREE games of Laser Tag and it is actually on TUESDAY, Jan. 22nd (many area schools are out...)

We will leave ORLC at 4 PM.

If you need a ride...You MUST Sign up and let Mike know...or there will not be a spot for you.

You can also meet us at Laser Quest

7601 Grapevine Highway Suite 111
North Richland Hills, Texas 76182-0609
(817) 281-0360

AGAIN I must know if you are going!

We finish there at 6:30.

You can be picked up there OR we will return to ORLC by 7 PM.

The cost is $15.

Sign-up is on the Youth Room Door and you must sign-up by Sunday.

We must have at least 10 to go and get our group discount.

If there are NOT 10 signed-up, I will call those who DID sign-up to let them know we will have to re-schedule for later in the springtime...when more can attend.
Call Mike for more details.

NEXT...

We have our monthly GUYS ONLY Extreme Bible Study.
We will once again meet at Starbucks in Grapevine, Sunday evening, Jan. 20th from 6:30-8 PM

Wanna join us? AWESOME.

Call Mike for more details.

AND LAST...

For many of you, Sunday, January 27th is the starting point for our

Mission Trip 2008.

We will meet from 5:30-7 PM to hear about what exciting things God will do this Summer in the lives of His people. YES...that is you and me...anyone going into 8th grade through 80+ years as well as the beautiful people of Guatemala!

Many plans have been made for our Guatemala Trip.

Maybe God is calling you to GO this summer...step out in faith and let God lead you.

Serving Him in a BIG way will cause you to better understand how to be compassionate like Jesus...let us be His hands and feet as we serve others and share the Gospel of Jesus Christ!

It is 2008! Get Plugged In

Our 2008 Youth and Parent Meeting was a HUGE Success!
How do we know? We had to make more HOT DOGS!
We had 22 Youth and almost 20 Parents.
Information that was discussed can be found on the ORLC Website under the Youth site...
http://www.orlc.org/

9 individuals are already signed up for BattleCry (March 14-15)
The deadline to sign-up is THIS Sunday, Jan. 13th.
The PRICE is $15.
After the deadline, the price goes to $25 and will be good until Feb. 29th. After Feb. 29th the price will jump to $35. The price at the door will be $40.

Next youth events to be aware of...

Jan. 20th Extreme Guys Bible Study 6:30-8 PM @ Starbucks in Grapevine
Jan. 22nd High School Youth - Laser Tag in NRH @ Laser Quest ($15)

The sign-up for Laser Tag is on the Youth Room Door-Sign up by Jan. 20th
Jan. 27th Guatemala Meeting 5:30-7 PM @ ORLC
Jan. 27th Prayer & Praise 7-8 PM @ ORLC
Feb. 3rd Mid-Winter Swim Party at Northlake College Natatorium 1:30-3 PM ($1.50)

The sign-up for the Swim Party is on the Youth Room Door-Sign up by Jan. 27th

Call me if you have questions or concerns.