Recent Events

July 11′

• The Life - Western States Youth Gathering (WSYG) @ California Lutheran University June 29th-July 5th: 27th Youth and 6 Adults from Hope Lutheran C hu rch FRESNO, CA  had the opportunity to come together with 600 other Lutheran Youth from all of the Western United states including Alaska and Hawaii, to learn about God, worship together, fellowship together, and grow in our faith together! Youth had fun celebrating our Countries Independence day together full with Fireworks, BBQ, Snow Cones, Inflatable games, Pool Fun and Much more. Other fun things during the week included a Day at Disneyland, Playing Glow in the Dark Ultimate Frisbee, Sumo Wrestling, inflatable obstacle courses, minute to win it games, and of course devotions as a church group at “Home Tree!” This was an experience that many will not soon forget and those who went will cherish for a lifetime! Pray that the God they felt, and experienced at WSYG will continue to be present in each one of the young peoples lives forever!

June 11′

• The Life Senior Appreciation Night June 3rd: This was a chance for our youth group to honor our High School Graduating class of 2011 in style. We had a yummy BBQ hosted by The Wheeler Family and enjoyed a program that honored our Seniors and showed them how much they have meant to the Youth Ministry over the past years!
  
• The Life - Western States Youth Gathering (WSYG) @ California Lutheran University June 29th-July 5th: 27th Youth and 6 Adults from Hope Lutheran Church FRESNO, CA  had the opportunity to come together with 600 other Lutheran Youth from all of the Western United states including Alaska and Hawaii, to learn about God, worship together, fellowship together, and grow in our faith together! Youth had fun celebrating our Countries Independence day together full with Fireworks, BBQ, Snow Cones, Inflatable games, Pool Fun and Much more. Other fun things during the week included a Day at Disneyland, Playing Glow in the Dark Ultimate Frisbee, Sumo Wrestling, inflatable obstacle courses, minute to win it games, and of course devotions as a church group at “Home Tree!” This was an experience that many will not soon forget and those who went will cherish for a lifetime! Pray that the God they felt, and experienced at WSYG will continue to be present in each one of the young
  

  

  peoples lives forever!

May 11′

• The Truth & The Life @ Great America’s Spring Celebration May 28th: Despite the unexpected down pour of rain we spent a day enjoying the thrills of roller coasters and enj oyed an afternoon/evening of entertaining Christian artists/bands and speakers.

April 11′

• The Truth & The Life - Spring Break Mission BREAKAWAY 2011 - April 17th-21st: Sure we could travel to Mexico like we have in the past, we could drive hours accross country to help those in a far away place or … we could stay home and serve in our very own community, serving our neighbors that God has called us to Love and care for… and that is exactly what we did for the third year in a row. We spent a week Fresno serving our community OUR neighbors who we LOVE! This Mission Trip was one that allowed our youth to develop an idea of the need and struggle our neighbors are encountering each and every day. Our mornings would start with prayer, worship, and message to prepare our hearts and minds for the day of service ahead of us and our nights would end in the same way reflecting on the days experiences. It was a pretty powerful experience for many and a chance for those who participated to grow deeper in faith and to realize the meaning of “Gods work our hands!”

March 11′

• The Truth & The Life @ Acquire the Fire (People’s Church) March 18th-19th: Our Jr. High and High School youth spent two days together at “Acquire the Fire” and experienced the Love that God has for each one of us through speakers, worship, concerts, and prayer!

February 11′

• The Way @ Mt.Cross SPSYC Weekend Retreat February 25th-27th: The Sierra Pacific Synod Youth Committee organizes a weekend camp each year hosting campers grades 4th-6th grad
  e. Our 4th-6th grade youth who attended this amazing weekend in the great outdoors grew in their faith, built stronger relationships with friends, and got to see what being a Christian is all about. During the week end they all learned about how God has created each one of us and we are all “Stars” in his eyes!

January 11′

• The Way Semi - Lock-In @ Hope Lutheran Church January 7th: Our 4th, 5th, and 6th grade youth had a night that was full of excitement, games, and fellowship together. We bounced, climbed, and ran through an inflatable obstacle course, played glow in the dark games, and enjoyed creating our very own individual PIZZAS!
• The Life - United Winter Camp @ Hume Lake January 21st-23rd: Our High School youth joined together with dozens of valley churches to participate in th
  

  

  e 2nd year of United Winter camp. This year it was held at Hume Lake. We spent time in worship together, bible studies, and a lot of youth grew deeper in their faith with Jesus Christ and built strong friendships with other Christians! During free time our youth kept busy enjoying a full ice skating rink, ice broom hockey tournament, snowboarding, snow tubing, and just hanging out with each other in the great outdoors!

December 10′

• Senior Retreat: Class of 2011 @ Avila December 10th-11th:  We spent a beautiful weekend at the Inn at Avila Beach, We took some time to worship together
  

  

  and to discuss future plans and some guidelines were laid out on how to make GOD apart of plans after High School. This was a refreshing weekend that all the Seniors said they needed. Sometimes as seniors they forget who the center of all decisions should be and this retreat helped to remind them that God knows a lot more then we do and the Story of God is so much
  bigger and much greater!

• All Youth Christmas Extravaganza December 15th: We began this Extravagant night Christmas caroling to the elderly at San Joaquin Gardens Retierment Community and then enjoyed a delicious meal back at the Church. We then played a memorable Christmas Game of “Chicken in the Hen house.” This night was memorable and concluded with a “Veggie Tales Christmas Star” movie.
• Christmas Cookies December 19th: We spent the afternoon decorating yummy Christmas cookies with the 4th, 5th, and 6th Grade youth. Over 3 dozen cookies were made to be enjoyed by the Hope Lutheran Church Food Pantry Clients on the morning of the Food Pantry  Christmas Party. We were able to sneak a taste test in the process of baking and they were sure YUMMY!
• Captured Worship/Concert December 19th: Praise GOD! This was our first time holding an Event such as this. God was in the house and it was a rocking show that featured bands My Beautiful Surrender and A Current Affair. Over 120 people enjoyed the worship/concert in our worship center. It was Rockin!
• Food Pantry Christmas Party Outreach December 21st: We helped assist in making the Food pantry Christmas party a bit more festive by providing youth with the willigness to serve and hearts full of joy for the Hoilday season. We lead carnivial type games, face painted, frosted cookies, and a visit from santa was even part of the PARTY! A great time was had and this gave our youth an opportunity to serve their community with joyful hearts!

November 10′

• SPSYC: Jr. High Weekend Retreat - November 12th - 14th -  A weekend away from the world that we get so wrapped up in is always nice and that is exactally what was done during this weekend. We enjoyed a weekend away with  7th and  8th grade youth who  joined in an  amazing weekend at Mt.Cross. We  enjoyed camping in the Santa Cruz mountains, heard an amazing speaker, worshiped together, and got to meet other Lutheran’s from around Northeran California. It’s always a blast being ogether and growing  our faith together as Christians. A great time was had that will be remembered forever!
• Food Pantry Thanksgiving outreach and Bowling: November 23rd - We partnered together with the food pantry to “extend hope in Jesus” to families in our community. Youth came in  great numbers to reach out to a community in need, our food pantry clients. After our service we spent some time in fellowship over a friendly game of bowling at Cedar Lanes.

October 10′

• SPSYC: Mt. Cross High School Weekend - October 15-17 - An amazing weekend was had in the great Santa Cruz mountains at Mt.Cross with fellow Lutherans from all over Northern California. We are excited to announce that Rebecca VanDevelde joins the Seirra Pacific Synod Youth Commitee as a district E representative.  This committee plans and exicutes several camps for youth grades 3rd - 12th. This weekend was full of building relationships with those in our High School youth group and growing in our faith through worship, games,  and fellowship.