My official last day is June 5th (that Sunday)…I will be here in the morning as we graduate our students.

Here’s what I’m including in this final post, update.

1. Youth Group Schedule (final)

2. Youth Group Party

3. Mission Trips

4. Director of Student Ministry meeting.

5. “Hang out” Time

I color coded it for fun, and ease of finding things!

1. Youth Group Schedule

May 18th marks the last Refuge. We will start meeting again in June (after  Ichthus tentatively…hopefully with a New Director of Student Ministry)

The HUB will not meet on May 22 and after further consideration, will not meet on May 29th as well because of the holiday weekend (see #2 for clarification on when we will meet).

There will be a big party on May 28th at 6.00p in Epworth Hall…Food and Fellowship!

2. Youth Group Party

As already mentioned will be a big party on May 28th in Epworth Hall. It’s just a fun time to hang out, eat some food and chit-chat about the year. I’ll have something there that I will want all you guys to sign for me, so I can remember you! Food will be provided. This will also be a great time to say goodbye to the seniors and Leonie as she goes back to Germany! So be there at 6.00p and we’ll end around 8.00p.

3. Mission Trips

Middle School: Most likely, we will combine our middle school trip with Shiloh UMC’s. We will have an adult from Westwood going on that trip. Cost is TBA after I work out all the details with Brent.

High School: please see my previous post here for some details: http://studentministrywumc.wordpress.com/2011/05/11/mission-trip/

However, the TOTAL TRIP COST IS $200. That works out as a $50 deposit and $150 for the cost of the trip.

Leaders who are currently going on this trip are: David Strawhun, Justina Ghartey and Lisa Regnold. If you are interested as a parent or college student and would like to help lead this trip, please contact Josh.

4. Director of Student Ministry Meeting

There will be a meeting tomorrow (May 19th) at 6.30p in the gym at Westwood. This meeting is open to all parents and students in the student ministry…please make it a priority to be there and help shape the decisions for the next Director of Student Ministry.

5. “Hang out” Time

For what it’s worth, I could use your help packing up my office! I’ll need help packing books and such on June 1st and 2nd. Text me! Lunch will be on me.

As an extra Tom Jones will be taking over the blog and keeping everyone in the loop with new things, interesting tid-bits, and schedule updates. 

The High School Mission Trip to New Orleans Lousiana is 100% happening and a “GO.”

Everything is detailed out.

Here’s the timeline for payment.

Deposit of $50 is due June 12th

and total payment of the additional $100 is due June 19th.

The trip overall costs the student $150.

This covers all expenses.

For additional information check out the brochures printed up and in the commons (youth room) and by my office, although, you can ignore the dates posted on that brochure.

Any questions, shoot me an email!

6.30p | Pizza and Fellowship

7.00p – 8.00p | During that hour there will be two groups (one for students, one for parents) with an opportunity to discuss the wants and desires for the candidate for this position.

If you have any questions please contact Lee at

drlee@wumc.cc

or SPRC Chair, Jennifer at

jjjmd@fuse.net

Look forward to seeing you Thursday, May 19th at 6.30p in the gym. Did I mention Pizza?

I am writing to you with a mix of emotions.

Jennifer has accepted a faculty position of Genetic Counseling at the University of Texas and will begin work sometime in June.

This means we will be ending this incredible chapter of our lives at Westwood and opening a new chapter of life and ministry in Houston, Texas.

When we began this journey three years ago, we never anticipated leaving until we felt God calling us in a different direction. I truly believe God called Jennifer and I to Westwood in His timing and for His purposes.

And we could not have asked for a better fit.

I could not have asked for better students, parents or loved ones.

From day one we were accepted as part of the Westwood family, and we will surely miss all of you. We will miss your smiles, laughter, tears, stories, personalities and love.

However, we have great hope.

We leave, not with dread or fear, for we know our God directs our path. And in the same way we recognize that God has been moving all along and that there are incredible things on the horizon for the Student Ministry.

So, where do we go from here? Well, I am sure you have a thousand questions. More answers are coming. Now that you know our plans, we can speak more clearly and openly about the mission trips for the summer, Refuge and The HUB schedules, and the future plans for the Student Ministry.

There are a few steps that are underway already. Sometime this week Staff Parish Relations Committee (SPRC) will be meeting to discuss next steps.

As well, interested parties will have an opportunity to share their thoughts with Lee and SPRC.

My goal in the next few weeks, is to make sure this summer will still be meaningful for everyone involved.

As always, if you have any questions or concerns, please, don’t hesitate to contact me.

In Christ

Joshua Lemons

There are some more details I want to swing your way:

Here’s the “updated” schedule for MAY (June, July and August will be released next week–hopefully).

Refuge (May): We will meet the 4, 11 & 18

We will not meet May 25th

The HUB (May): We will meet the 15th and the 29th.

We will not meet May 8th or 22nd.

May 8th is Mother’s Day and the 22nd our church leaders and team will be in Pittsburgh visiting a church. We originally weren’t going to meet on the 29th (because that is the weekend of Jennifer and I’s wedding anniversary); however, due to us ending our time here at Westwood we will definitely want to make visiting with you a priority. So we have re-scheduled The HUB for that evening.

Three things before I go:

1. Middle School Mission Trip might be combined with High School Mission Trip.

2. High School Mission Trip Details are 90% done. (I’m waiting on another church to get back to us about housing)…if that falls through we may change directions one hundreed and eighty degrees and do something similar to last year in Easter Ohio, go rock-climbing/zip lining in the Gorge in West Virginia or something like that. As stated in my letter I’m working full-steam to try and make this summer meaningful.

3. This is really the most important part of the update. I will be looking for adult and college age leaders to step into some roles. If you would be interested in helping lead a trip, teach sunday school or youth group, PLEASE CONTACT ME either through this blog or facebook or my phone. 513.560.9262

Here’s the next couple weeks with my trip to Haiti and Easter around the corner I wanted to let you know how our schedule looks:

Refuge
Cancelled: April 13 & April 27th
We will meet on April 20th & May 3rd

The HUB
Cancelled: April 10th, 17th & 24th
We will meet again starting May 1st.

So, as you can tell with the Haiti trip, Easter, Holy Week and all things are going to get hectic.

As a reminder, make sure to check the bulletin, the blog and my facebook page for updates on the mission trips!

Remember: to stay in touch with the latest news subscribe to our blog!
ms group | hs group :: 9.30a sundays
refuge :: 6.00p wednesdays
the hub :: 6.00p sundays

Josh,

The guy that books the church for our groups just called and said that he messed up the dates on his calendar.  He does NOT have the week you wanted to come open…he had already promised it to someone else.  He said that if you want to come on another week in June, as of right now, he has those open.  Let me know ASAP what you want to do and I will coordinate with Jerry and the church to see if we can get you in here on another week.  I’m really sorry for the mix-up…this has never happened before, but that doesn’t help you.  I apologize.  Let me hear from you real soon!

Louise

I’ll keep you posted as I know more.

Sorry I don’t have any answers right now.

Josh

Six years later we are still cleaning up the effects of hurricane Katrina. With more recent natural disasters in Japan and Haiti national relief and non-profit funding and efforts have been redirected away from Louisiana and towards these new needs.

The city of New Orleans still needs your help.

On June 26th we will embark on a mission to help rebuild people’s homes, hear their stories and come along side those who are still trying to make their way home after all this time.

Check out the pdf for all the great details:

High School Mission Trip Flyer

Remember: to stay in touch with the latest news subscribe to our blog!

ms group | hs group :: 9.30a sundays

refuge :: 6.00p wednesdays

the hub :: 6.00p sundays

Here’s the skinny.

Re:Spring Break will take place on Saturday April 2 at Westwood. We’ll start at 5.00pm and end at midnight. There will be food provided (around 9.00pm) and we’ll spend time hanging out, playing games and watching movies.

A personal note: I really want to have a monthly event, April is SUPER busy for me. Easter, Palm Sunday, Haiti trip, one of my friends is getting married, mission trip planning, etc. So, that’s why we are having this event so early in the month!

Remember: to stay in touch with the latest news subscribe to our blog!

ms group | hs group :: 9.30a sundays

refuge :: 6.00p wednesdays

the hub :: 6.00p sundays

1. The HUB is not meeting tonight. I wanted to draw your attention to the calendar on that item.

2. Refuge is not meeting this Wednesday. I wanted to draw your attention to that as well.

We aren’t meeting because of the Lock-In this past weekend.

3. There is an event planned for April 2 called RE:Spring Break. This event is still planned for the weekend. Look for details next week. It will be a “lock-in light” at Westwood, for Westwood only. Games and fun times will abound.

Remember: to stay in touch with the latest news subscribe to our blog!

ms group | hs group :: 9.30a sundays

refuge :: 6.00p wednesdays

the hub :: 6.00p sundays