Message From Lucas Shroades

December 12, 2023

 

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year middle school students and families!

 

What a fall we have had! We have been quite busy but through it all we have grown closer together as a group and closer to the Lord! Our middle school students served each other and their community, they played together, ate together, and spent time with the Lord. It has been an honor to share Jesus with these amazing middle school students each and every week!

 

I want to highlight some of our activities and events from this fall and share about what we are looking forward to as we move into 2024!! We are praying and anticipating what the Lord will do in and through this group in the future. Please join us in this prayer! 

• We had a great time through our events and activities including: Monday Night Bible Study, Fall Hikes, Progressive Dinner, RUOK, Prayer Reflection Stations, the Wall of Thanksgiving, and Serve Saturdays. We enjoyed growing as a community through events like the Costume and Pumpkin Carving Night, Friendsgiving, the Youth Christmas Party, Pancake Breakfast, Sixth Grade Spectacular and our regular gatherings!

• Thank you to our team of Middle School youth leaders who volunteered their time each week to be with the middle school youth and share Jesus with them.

• On Sunday mornings, we have sought to grow in Jesus through our Greenhouse242 vision statement: Planted in God’s Word, Growing in God’s Grace, Bearing Fruit in God’s Kingdom, a series on Prayer, a study on the Spiritual Discipline of Thankfulness, and we ended the fall semester with a study of some of Jesus’ parables and God’s incredible love for us. 

• On Wednesday nights we focused on our need to be together in Christ, to be transformed by the gospel, to release our fears to Jesus, and we learned about those who chose thankfulness instead of self centeredness. We spent a few weeks here in December learning about some of our favorite Christmas carols and how they point us to Jesus. 

• Monday Night Bible Study has been a weekly joy as we have studied the book of Hebrews together. Join us for Bible Study in 2024!

So much has happened this fall and we are praying that through the many activities and gatherings to come in 2024, that the Lord will be glorified and that these middle school students will grow closer to Jesus.  Please take a look at the attached calendar for things coming up next year.

Some things to note:

• Up All Night - $40 - January 5-6

  • There is still time to sign up! Forms online at greenhouse242.com

• Greenhouse242 Winter Blast - $70 - February 2-4..

  • We love Winter Blast!  This is our youth group’s Winter retreat and it is held at Camp Gideon. Please consider sending your son or daughter. We want them to join us!

• Greenhouse242 Serve Saturdays - Jan 27. Mar 23, & Apr 13, 

• Mission Trip Announcement and Info Meeting - Sunday, Feb 18 at Noon

 

Don’t forget to check out our website (Greenhouse242.com) or event forms and follow us on Facebook and Instagram (greenhouse242) for updates and pictures. If you need anything or would like us to come alongside you in prayer for any reason, please don’t hesitate to reach out.

 

I always thank my God as I remember you in my prayers, because I hear about your love for all his holy people and your faith in the Lord Jesus.  I pray that your partnership with us in the faith may be effective in deepening your understanding of every good thing we share for the sake of Christ.  Your love has given me great joy and encouragement, because you, brother, have refreshed the hearts of the Lord’s people. - Philemon 1:4-7

 

Grace and Peace,

​

Lucas Shroades

Middle School Youth Director, Canton First Friends Church

lshroades@firstfriends.org |330-966-2800 ext. 202