Hi everyone, just thought I would post this, tomorrow, January 1rst we will be going to Pownal for a skate event from 1-2 and from 2-3 will be a time for hockey so sharpen up those skates and hope to see you all there.
SPY and SPYDA youth leaders wish you all a very happy new year! May God bless you abundantly this year.
Happy New Year!
With Every blessing
SPY Thoughts: Reflections from the Journey of...
Posted by Melis - Saturday, December 31, 2005 at 6:40 PM
Skating anyone?
Posted by Melis - Thursday, November 10, 2005 at 11:30 AM
Rake n Run
Ok all you SPY members, do you want to do something nice for someone and have fun and fresh air at the same time? Well, here is something for you...We are doing a rake and run on Saturday from 3-5pm at 101 Nassau Street and afterwards, we will be going somewhere for pizza. If you are puzzled about what a rake and run is, here goes...It is just as it says. We go to someone's house in the community who woud appreciate the raking and than we run, in other words we don't get payed. It is a fun thing to do. This activity will be SPYDA'S youth group for the week. I hope we can get as many people out as possible. I guarantee it will be a very fun time.
Have a great week and hope to see you Saturday at 101 Nassau. Bring a rake and gloves and dress for the weather, it is supposed to be sunny and four.
God bless
Melissa
Have a great week and hope to see you Saturday at 101 Nassau. Bring a rake and gloves and dress for the weather, it is supposed to be sunny and four.
God bless
Melissa
Posted by Reese - Sunday, September 04, 2005 at 6:17 AM
Well
So this is it, huh?
I was dreading that post of Rushan's, you know. It was bound to happen but I guess I thought it would come much later than this.
Rushan has been such an active (well, for a long time, the ONLY active) member of this blog, making us think, making us question, making us "see". We might have been pretty quiet but we're all listening.
Not having Rushan here is... well... there's already a huge hole. And I don't know what to do.
It hurts to say goodbye. This is only the beginning isn't it?
Soon enough we will all go our seperate ways and then where does that leave SPY? I must say that I hope and pray that when I get home we can all still be the community that we are, because it means everything to me.
And Rushan, if ever there's something you want to say, you know we're listening.
I was dreading that post of Rushan's, you know. It was bound to happen but I guess I thought it would come much later than this.
Rushan has been such an active (well, for a long time, the ONLY active) member of this blog, making us think, making us question, making us "see". We might have been pretty quiet but we're all listening.
Not having Rushan here is... well... there's already a huge hole. And I don't know what to do.
It hurts to say goodbye. This is only the beginning isn't it?
Soon enough we will all go our seperate ways and then where does that leave SPY? I must say that I hope and pray that when I get home we can all still be the community that we are, because it means everything to me.
And Rushan, if ever there's something you want to say, you know we're listening.
Posted by Rushan - Thursday, September 01, 2005 at 6:01 PM
The Last Post...
Well, I have decided it probably makes sense for me to remove myself as a contributor to this blog. It's just so difficult to come up with material for my own blog, let alone this one, particularly with the knowledge that I will be finishing at St Paul's in just under a month and will be leaving the Island in just over a month. It is now up to all the other contributors to maintain it....I'm sure you can do it. You can still find my musings and thoughts on my personal blog, A Considerable Speck.
Posted by Rushan - Monday, August 08, 2005 at 12:05 AM
YMCA Exchange to BC...some photos
A busy week, but here are some photos from the week that was. No captions, nothing....those will be posted soon.
Posted by Rushan - Sunday, July 31, 2005 at 10:22 PM
And the "Decision" is...
Well, I can finally share more info about the big decision I was talking about a few weeks ago. By now, most of the people who need to know, know the details.
The decision is that I decided to accept the invitation to begin a serious conversation with a congregation in New Hampshire in the US to explore the possibility of taking on a position there. The outcome of this conversation is that I have handed in my resignation as Youth Director at St Paul's effective 1 October 2005, and have accepted a new job with the church in NH. It was a very difficult decision to make, and one that took a long time to reach. In the normal course of events, it would have been easy to make this decision, however the thing that made it difficult and caused a great deal of agony over the last few weeks was the knowledge that I would be leaving behind an exceptional bunch of young people for whom I have a great deal of love and affection, some amazing adults, as well as an awesome staff team and a Rector who I have enjoyed working with so much. If I have seemed a little distracted and unfocused over the last few weeks, this is why!
So, where am I going? I have been called to a ministry with a United Church of Christ congregation in Exeter, NH as their Director of Christian Growth. On the one hand I am so excited about the new challenges and opportunities this will bring. However, on the other I am quite sad at having to leave an amazing group of people I have grown extremely close to. I am looking forward to being closer to some "culture" and diversity again....being just an hour out of Boston, Mass. as well as working in a church culture that seems to be very close to my understanding of what it means to be church today (you can look at all the posts on here and on the SPYThoughts blog about the UCC).
It has been difficult to make this decision because just as I have been starting to feel settled, things are changing again. However, the timing and the way things have happened in the past few months has proven to me beyond any doubt that this is what God is calling me to in the next little while. I may share some of the reasons why I think this is, in later posts. The last few days have been quite difficult, as I have been sharing the news with various people. Most people who think about it and know me should know why this announcement should not be a surprise.
I will be around until the end of September, and I am hopeful that I will have the opportunity to say my farewells properly in the weeks ahead. To the former and present members of SPY PEI - I love you guys heaps - and please know that this decision was not made as a result of anything you said or did!!! Thank you for teaching me so much and for sharing so much of your lives with me. I am going to miss you all so much, but I am sure our paths will cross many times in the future - after all New Hampshire is not all that far from PEI! You are an exceptional, talented, unique bunch of individuals and I am proud to call you friends! I do expect each and every one of you to keep in touch....OR ELSE.
To the members of St Paul's, thank you for all you have done for me over the last 2 and something odd years, I have enjoyed working with you in trying to develop a vibrant and sustainable ministry with and to the youth of Charlottetown. You have a wonderful resource in the young people who have been a part of our youth programme over the last few years, use what they have to teach you and allow them to share their gifts, talents, energy as you continue to work and minister in this community of Charlottetown.
The decision is that I decided to accept the invitation to begin a serious conversation with a congregation in New Hampshire in the US to explore the possibility of taking on a position there. The outcome of this conversation is that I have handed in my resignation as Youth Director at St Paul's effective 1 October 2005, and have accepted a new job with the church in NH. It was a very difficult decision to make, and one that took a long time to reach. In the normal course of events, it would have been easy to make this decision, however the thing that made it difficult and caused a great deal of agony over the last few weeks was the knowledge that I would be leaving behind an exceptional bunch of young people for whom I have a great deal of love and affection, some amazing adults, as well as an awesome staff team and a Rector who I have enjoyed working with so much. If I have seemed a little distracted and unfocused over the last few weeks, this is why!
So, where am I going? I have been called to a ministry with a United Church of Christ congregation in Exeter, NH as their Director of Christian Growth. On the one hand I am so excited about the new challenges and opportunities this will bring. However, on the other I am quite sad at having to leave an amazing group of people I have grown extremely close to. I am looking forward to being closer to some "culture" and diversity again....being just an hour out of Boston, Mass. as well as working in a church culture that seems to be very close to my understanding of what it means to be church today (you can look at all the posts on here and on the SPYThoughts blog about the UCC).
It has been difficult to make this decision because just as I have been starting to feel settled, things are changing again. However, the timing and the way things have happened in the past few months has proven to me beyond any doubt that this is what God is calling me to in the next little while. I may share some of the reasons why I think this is, in later posts. The last few days have been quite difficult, as I have been sharing the news with various people. Most people who think about it and know me should know why this announcement should not be a surprise.
I will be around until the end of September, and I am hopeful that I will have the opportunity to say my farewells properly in the weeks ahead. To the former and present members of SPY PEI - I love you guys heaps - and please know that this decision was not made as a result of anything you said or did!!! Thank you for teaching me so much and for sharing so much of your lives with me. I am going to miss you all so much, but I am sure our paths will cross many times in the future - after all New Hampshire is not all that far from PEI! You are an exceptional, talented, unique bunch of individuals and I am proud to call you friends! I do expect each and every one of you to keep in touch....OR ELSE.
To the members of St Paul's, thank you for all you have done for me over the last 2 and something odd years, I have enjoyed working with you in trying to develop a vibrant and sustainable ministry with and to the youth of Charlottetown. You have a wonderful resource in the young people who have been a part of our youth programme over the last few years, use what they have to teach you and allow them to share their gifts, talents, energy as you continue to work and minister in this community of Charlottetown.
Posted by Rushan - Saturday, July 23, 2005 at 6:59 PM
Farewells
This is a duplicate post of my post to my own blog:
We farewelled Reese today at Charlottetown "International" Airport as she headed off to Australia! A bittersweet time for everyone, I think. Sadness, at saying goodbye to someone all of us are extremely close to and care about a great deal and happiness that she has this opportunity to have so many new experiences and have her view of the world challenged and broadened. The thing is that this is one of many farewells to come in the weeks and months ahead - some farewells will be be bigger than others, but they will all be bittersweet.
I guess, one of the drawbacks of my calling, my vocation, is that it includes a lot of farewells - it's probably one of the few things one is guaranteed in youth ministry - saying a whole heap of goodbyes to young people moving from one stage of life to another, families relocating, young people drifting in and out of the church, and me responding to God's call on my life in a variety of ways. It's both a joy and a frustration at the same time because people are constantly moving in and out of my life, relationships are changing and growing.
We can never know whether the farewells we make are temporary or permanent. Will we ever see someone again? Will we keep in touch? Who knows? All we know is that we have been blessed to have experienced something of God through the relationships we have had with the people we are farewelling and hopefully, we have had the opportunity to share something of God with them as well.
So, Reese, when you eventually read this when you get to that land downunder, know that you are already missed! But also know that our love goes with you everywhere you go, in all that you do. Travel safely. Enjoy the opportunity of being a stranger for a little while...instead of part of the family (thank you Nancy for this image) and celebrate the opportunity to share your stories, your experiences, your gifts and the exceptional person you are with everyone you encounter! Thank you for sharing something of God with me and with the rest of SPY over the last few years. God bless and maybe see you in a year (if not before!!!).
We farewelled Reese today at Charlottetown "International" Airport as she headed off to Australia! A bittersweet time for everyone, I think. Sadness, at saying goodbye to someone all of us are extremely close to and care about a great deal and happiness that she has this opportunity to have so many new experiences and have her view of the world challenged and broadened. The thing is that this is one of many farewells to come in the weeks and months ahead - some farewells will be be bigger than others, but they will all be bittersweet.
I guess, one of the drawbacks of my calling, my vocation, is that it includes a lot of farewells - it's probably one of the few things one is guaranteed in youth ministry - saying a whole heap of goodbyes to young people moving from one stage of life to another, families relocating, young people drifting in and out of the church, and me responding to God's call on my life in a variety of ways. It's both a joy and a frustration at the same time because people are constantly moving in and out of my life, relationships are changing and growing.
We can never know whether the farewells we make are temporary or permanent. Will we ever see someone again? Will we keep in touch? Who knows? All we know is that we have been blessed to have experienced something of God through the relationships we have had with the people we are farewelling and hopefully, we have had the opportunity to share something of God with them as well.
So, Reese, when you eventually read this when you get to that land downunder, know that you are already missed! But also know that our love goes with you everywhere you go, in all that you do. Travel safely. Enjoy the opportunity of being a stranger for a little while...instead of part of the family (thank you Nancy for this image) and celebrate the opportunity to share your stories, your experiences, your gifts and the exceptional person you are with everyone you encounter! Thank you for sharing something of God with me and with the rest of SPY over the last few years. God bless and maybe see you in a year (if not before!!!).
Posted by Rushan - Tuesday, July 19, 2005 at 8:24 PM
Where's www.spypei.ca?
I bet if you typed in www.spypei.ca and you found yourself on this page, you were a tad surprised. After much thought and reflection, it made a lot more sense to transfer SPY's web presence to this site and the whole heap of associated blogs. It's also a lot cheaper! In the weeks ahead, I will be adding a calendar and some other things to this blog. This is now the official web presence of St Paul's Youth, PEI. The neat thing about all this is that SPYPEI online is now a collection of websites and blogs, and you will hopefully get a better idea of what SPY is all about by reading the blogs and websites owned and managed by present and former SPY members. There's a whole list of them in the sidebar of this blog.
So, now, welcome to the new SPY web page and the old SPY blog. Read, reflect, share, and come joins us either online or in person.
So, now, welcome to the new SPY web page and the old SPY blog. Read, reflect, share, and come joins us either online or in person.
Posted by Rushan - Monday, July 11, 2005 at 9:47 PM
The Servant Song...Our Call to Serve
On Sunday, at Church, we sang The Servant Song by Richard Gillard. I remember the first time I ever sang it was at COMET Camp held at Camp Morley in South Auckland. I was 16. COMET Camp was a youth camp run by the Auckland District of the Methodist Church of NZ, and the focus of the camp was to explore creative ways to worship. So we had workshops on music, visual arts, clowning, drama and a whole lot more. I was in the liturgical clowning workshop. The form of clowning we learned was centred around mime....so it was silent. An important part of the process of putting on the clown make-up was to become silent as each layer of make-up went on. On the final night we had to use everything we'd learned during the camp in a worship service. The Servant Song was one of the songs that was sung at that service - and the one thing I remember of that whole experience was that I was not able to keep silent (which I was supposed to do, as a clown) during the singing of that hymn. The words moved me and challenged me so much that I just had to join in.
This morning I read the words of a song by Bob Dylan, entitled Gotta Serve Somebody. Both the Dylan song and The Servant Song challenge us to focus outside ourselves, on the people around us and to share everything we have and everything we are with them. That is what God is calling all of us to. In Bob Dylan's words:
This morning I read the words of a song by Bob Dylan, entitled Gotta Serve Somebody. Both the Dylan song and The Servant Song challenge us to focus outside ourselves, on the people around us and to share everything we have and everything we are with them. That is what God is calling all of us to. In Bob Dylan's words:
"You're gonna have to serve somebody, yes indeed
You're gonna have to serve somebody.
Well, it may be the devil or it may be the Lord
But you're gonna have to serve somebody."
Posted by Rushan - Friday, July 08, 2005 at 6:56 PM
More thoughts on motivation
Will's post a few weeks ago on motivation has actually got me thinking quite a bit. Why is it that some people feel motivated and driven to do something while others just aren't? I guess one reason is that a lot of people who are motivated and driven often tend to be able to focus on the moment, on the now - on whatever it is they are doing without necessarily thinking about the bigger picture of what it will achieve. There are people like me, however, who need to know exactly how what we are doing will make a difference and what it will achieve. And that is often the stumbling block - we will never really know how important each and every moment, each and every experience, each and every individual, are to our lives. For most of us (or people like us) our biggest failing (or maybe its a strength as well) is our inability to see that every thing we do (and every thing we don't do), however small and seemingly insignificant, has an impact. Someone told me that they really didn't need to put their energy into a certain task because it really didn't matter whether they did it or not.
Remember the movie The Karate Kid? I watched it again pretty recently. There's one part that I always find interesting and challenging. It's the part where Mr. Miyagi starts Daniel's training. He gets him to do things like waxing his cars, painting his fence and his house. Not surprisingly, Daniel gets quite frustrated by this. He wants to learn karate, and it seems that all Miyagi wants to do is to get some cheap slave labour. One of the most amazing parts of the whole movie is when things finally click into place for Daniel, when he finally sees that all this seemingly mundane and insignificant work was equipping him with the skills he needed for karate.
In the context of school and education - sure grade 1 doesn't seem to matter when you are in grade 6, grade 10 (or form 5 or year 11) doesn't really seem to matter at the end of the first year of university. Bu try to imagine yourself struggling through the first year of university without all the skills, knowledge, mistakes, challenges, relationships and everything else you learned in Grade 1, Grade 6 or Grade 10.
Now don't get me wrong, I am not saying that people should accept things without questioning and challenging. I don't think it serves anyone's purposes for people to do things just because someone else thinks its good for them. However, Will, I guess what I am saying is that sometimes our attitude and our frame of mind play a greater part in motivating us than we might think. Everything we do matters - most of us discover that at some stage of our life. We won't necessarily see how it matters right here, right now. So, when we are in that situation, it's up to us to shape our attitudes and our perspectives so that we can see that it matters. No one is going to show us how it matters - discovering how it matters is part of the fun of the journey.
Any comments?
Remember the movie The Karate Kid? I watched it again pretty recently. There's one part that I always find interesting and challenging. It's the part where Mr. Miyagi starts Daniel's training. He gets him to do things like waxing his cars, painting his fence and his house. Not surprisingly, Daniel gets quite frustrated by this. He wants to learn karate, and it seems that all Miyagi wants to do is to get some cheap slave labour. One of the most amazing parts of the whole movie is when things finally click into place for Daniel, when he finally sees that all this seemingly mundane and insignificant work was equipping him with the skills he needed for karate.
In the context of school and education - sure grade 1 doesn't seem to matter when you are in grade 6, grade 10 (or form 5 or year 11) doesn't really seem to matter at the end of the first year of university. Bu try to imagine yourself struggling through the first year of university without all the skills, knowledge, mistakes, challenges, relationships and everything else you learned in Grade 1, Grade 6 or Grade 10.
Now don't get me wrong, I am not saying that people should accept things without questioning and challenging. I don't think it serves anyone's purposes for people to do things just because someone else thinks its good for them. However, Will, I guess what I am saying is that sometimes our attitude and our frame of mind play a greater part in motivating us than we might think. Everything we do matters - most of us discover that at some stage of our life. We won't necessarily see how it matters right here, right now. So, when we are in that situation, it's up to us to shape our attitudes and our perspectives so that we can see that it matters. No one is going to show us how it matters - discovering how it matters is part of the fun of the journey.
Any comments?
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