iyc update

2012-01-22T09:16:00.000-06:00

"what's up next" headlines...

+ Workcamp Team Meeting I this Sunday, Jan 29th!
+ Super Bowl Bash coming Feb 5 at 4:30pm
+ NEW!! IYC Winter Update published here!
+ Coffie Filters for teen girls Wednesdays@6pm

workcamp team meeting I this sunday!

2012-01-22T08:48:00.004-06:00

This Sunday, January 29th at 6pm, our Workcamp team will meet and get down to business... Workcamp is only 5 months away! Coming up is the IYC Super Bowl Chili Sale, and we'll be signing up to make this first tasty fundraiser happen. We'll also dig into this year's theme- "Made". Parents are invited to join us for this meeting, too.
Come even if you're not signed up yet- we'll have some fun together as we look forward to this mission experience. If you have an interested friend, don't hesitate to bring them!

iyc winter update hits the newstand

2012-01-18T07:44:00.000-06:00

Watch your mailbox or click on this link to get a look at what's coming up through March. There are a few new things you'll want to know about, and an overview of the the big events of 2012 to mark down and anticipate.

all aboard the china grove workcamp express!

2011-11-28T08:07:00.001-06:00

Our Workcamp train is bound for glory! We'll be heading south east, young men and women, across the green Appalachians and straight into China Grove, NC. Arriving at our destination, we'll be serving the needy and elderly in that region for one week starting June 23rd... Get in on all the info at this link or call Tom for the straight scoop.

coffie filters for teen girls wednesdays at 6pm

2011-11-28T07:00:00.001-06:00

A note from Janet and Shandra, our Coffie Filter Baristas:
Time to switch your coffee from ice to hot as Coffie Filters rolls on each Wednesday from 6-7pm. Teen girls from 7th grade through high school are invited to gather at Caribou in downtown DG for refreshment and relaxed conversation about life and faith. They are currently "filtering" through the book "The Truth about Guys".

diving deep...in the word 1.4 begins monday

2011-11-17T07:08:00.000-06:00

Version 1.4 (click here) of the "Diving Deep...in the Word" Bible reading plan has just been released- it's going to get you almost through February 2012 before DD1.5 rolls out like a snowball. Currently we are running out of chapters in both Ephesians and Deuteronomy, getting ready to dig into Joshua and 2 Corinthians. Since we started at the end of January, we'll have made it through 20 of the 66 books of the Bible by the end of the month- pretty great progress!
If you started and fell behind, don't feel bad, just jump ahead to the current reading and get started again. View or download the reading plan at the Diving Deep homepage (click here), and use the quick start guide to get settled in and comfortable. Remember, God's Word is not just ink on a page- it's alive and active, just waiting to take root in you!
In Christ, Tom

what a walcamp weekend!

2011-11-10T08:17:00.002-06:00

God blessed us with a great weekend at Walcamp! Our theme of prayer was a vital one, "Trust", and we explored all kinds of aspects of prayer, including an all night prayer vigil done in 15 minute shifts. Concordia DCE Fieldworker Carlea created and led this great experience. If you couldn't make it, we missed you! Take a look at some of the photos at this link to see what you missed...

"connecting" in hamburg- workcamp 2011

2011-08-23T07:54:00.004-05:00

Our Workcamp week was so great- we connected with God, each other and the residents of western New York as we served in Jesus' name. Take a look at some of what life was like when we were not serving at our job sites in the photos at this link. Then take a look at the pics from the 49 work crews that ministered in the region all around Hamburg, NY at this link. Thanks again to our parents, youth volunteers, family and friends and the wonderful support of the people of Immanuel for making this trip possible!

"essence of dune"

2011-07-19T08:12:00.005-05:00

No, that's not a designer IYC fragrance, it's the photo album from our road trip last Sunday! Our 2011 Dunes Trek is in the books now, and it was a day of extremes, with blistering sun and sand on the one hand and glacial water temperatures on the other. We made the most of it, though, and had a wonderful day in God's wonderfully diverse creation. The "essence" of our trip is contained in the photo album at this link- check it out!

spring overnight- wet but worth it!

2011-05-17T09:04:00.002-05:00

Walcamp had just about been washed out the day before, getting 8" of rain, but we went and made our own splash last weekend. Paige and Michaela created a great retreat experience around four great songs and we listened, discussed and grew in faith and friendship. Courtney and Ruth got us warmed up with icebreakers on Saturday morning, too. It was also a great weekend to welcome the 8th grade confirmands to the IYC, and we were thrilled to have Sam, Christian, Elyse and Amanda join us. Take a look at this link for some of what we experienced...

farewell zach!

2011-05-08T09:02:00.000-05:00

The time... it flies! Zach has been faithfully serving here at Immanuel since the fall of 2008, and he has completed his fieldwork. In honor of that, we sent him off into his DCE internship with a nice BBQ Party. We also said a "see you in the fall" goodbye to Nicole, Carlea and Stephanie, our other fieldworkers who could make it that Sunday. We sent him off with lotsa love and graditude- take a look at some photos at this link!

In Christ, Tom

"diving deep... in the word" gets started!

2011-01-28T08:28:00.001-06:00

So, who wants to read the Bible more? I'm looking, and I think all your hands are up. So, who has had great success regularly reading the Bible? Looking, looking... yes, you in the back? oh, you're just stretching...
For most of us, it seems like the very thing we want to do is the thing we don't do when it comes to reading the Bible. Let's change that! We have just begun a Bible reading plan that will take us through the Bible in about 3 years. It's a very doable plan, and though we are going to be reading on our own, we're going to be reading together, too, and sharing comments, questions and insights as we go through a facebook group. You each received a mailing this week with the reading plan and a "quick start" guide to get you started quick. You can also see the same stuff at this link. Join us and let God bless you through His Word!

a truly "inspired" app

2010-12-08T07:00:00.000-06:00

For those of you who have an iphone or itouch, here is a link to a free bible app. Looks like you can carry a searchable bible with you everywhere you go now, and why wouldn't you want to do that? If you get it, use it some and tell me how good it is, and if you have other suggestions for apps.

fall retreat- what a blast!

2010-11-01T07:13:00.004-05:00

God blessed us with a great weekend at Walcamp! Our theme was a vital one, "Trust", and we explored all kinds of aspects of trusting each other, the world and God. Concordia DCE Fieldworker Ben did a wonderful job of planning and leading the retreat. If you couldn't make it, we missed you! Take a look at some of the photos at this link to see what you missed...

back from the dunes...

2010-08-13T08:26:00.009-05:00

We had a stunningly beautiful day at the beach last Saturday, and I'm thanking God for all the good fun we had. Take a look at some of the pics at this link, and be ready for next July!

echoes from "we believe"!

2010-07-30T08:18:00.002-05:00

Wow! Our National Gathering week was a real adventure! Our team really did a great job of diving into everything the Gathering had to offer, and I think each would say that they were blessed and strengthened in many ways as we grew and experienced life among 25K teens in the diverse city of New Orleans. Get a hint of what it was like at *this link*...

"undeserved" blessings at workcamp!

2010-07-07T08:07:00.001-05:00

Our Workcamp week was so great, and we experienced so many blessings as we served. Take a look at some of what life was like when we were not serving at our job sites in the photos at this link. Then take a look at this collection of photos from some of the 50 crews and sites we worked on at this link. Thanks again to our parents, youth volunteers, family and friends and the wonderful support of the people of Immanuel for making this trip possible!

feed my starving children in 2009......... let's add it up!

2009-11-30T09:18:00.007-06:00

January 09 Well, it was sure snowy for our "away" service project at Trinity in Burr Ridge last Saturday. Eighteen of us braved the weather and joined together around a Feed My Starving Children packing table. We worked swiftly, not stopping until they made us back away from the table and clean up. At that point our IYC station had created 24 cases of meal packets, which translates to about 5200 meals, which means that 14 malnourished children be able to eat and thrive for an entire year! We pray that God helps get that food to whoever need it the most, and that those who eat it will thank and praise Him for it. Thanks to all those who came out and changed the world!
February 09 At the Presidents Day Lock-In, we, together with our CYM team, packed enough meals to feed another 14 children for an entire year, which brings us to 28 children fed for this year!
November 09 We finished up the year with an enthusiastic, hard working shift the weekend of Thanksgiving that was totally full. Our part of the packing during that shift created enough meals to feed about 14 more children for an entire year, bringing our 2009 IYC meal total to about 42 children fed for a year! We also brought some individual donations to help buy the chicken,veggie, soy, rice, and a check from our VBS offering for over $1800 to help FMSC keep going strong- praise God that we are able to participate in caring for the truly needy of the world!

retreating the walcamp way...

2009-11-16T13:36:00.001-06:00

Walcamp is a great place to spend Halloween weekend, and this year was no different! Our theme was the spiritual realm- the unseen forces of good and evil that surround us daily- and we explored some good questions and the best source of answers about the spiritual realm- Ghost Hunters.... um, just kidding, of course... the best source is God's Word, the Bible! Click here to see more of what went on...

we helped light the night- again!

2009-09-14T13:29:00.000-05:00

A mighty large group of us joined in the Light the Night walk again this year in memory of Momma Meyer, and it was a worth it! Our team, made up of the Meyer family and friends along with Immanuel teens and parents, has donated and raised many $$$ towards a cure for leukemia and lymphoma. Way to go, team!

reveal! a look at workcamp 09!

2009-08-14T07:29:00.005-05:00

Our week in Hawley, Minnesota was one to remember, and God was so good! Get a glimpse of what God put in front of us to do, and how He blessed us throughout the week, at this link!

our dunes trek memories...

2009-08-05T23:40:00.004-05:00

It was such a great day at the beach back in July! Such a thoroughly exausting and exilerating day in God's amazing creation, and we grew closer as we set aside our daily distractions and routines and just lived! Catch some of the flavor and highlights at this link, and set the slide show in motion for full effect! PS- If you do the slideshow, click on "hide captions" when it mentions Shawn!

finally... the fall retreat gallery!

2008-12-03T08:56:00.005-06:00

We had a great Halloween weekend at Walcamp! Follow this link for a taste of our time together. The faith challenge of our weekend was how to let Jesus into not only our heart, but every "room" in our lives. Let's remember to do that, so that He can get to work putting things in order!
PS- this is the first time I'm using Web Albums- let me know if it doesn't work well... thanks!

meet batman and rob.................i mean, ben and zach!

2008-09-24T13:25:00.001-05:00

Forget Batman and Robin, we have our own dynamic duo in Ben (on the right) and Zach (take a wild guess), our new fieldworkers from Concordia University. Come on out to IYC or Teen Worship Team and get to know them!

we're back in black!

2008-08-11T12:50:00.001-05:00

It was a mighty long trip to the borough of Darby, Pennsylvania, but it was so worth it! God had good things in store for us, and we praise Him for that! We battled the heat, the traffic, the early maddening "wakey, wakey" calls and a bold mouse, while soaking up the new friends, bonding time, group singing, chocolate milk, care cards, teamwork, God-sightings and the joy of knowing that we were living out our faith and serving our residents in Jesus' name. Click here for an evolving mini-gallery and a "taste" of our week of service!

dunes trek deja vu

2008-07-02T11:46:00.001-05:00

Tuesday was such a great day to be at the dunes! God blessed us with fabulous sun, surf and sunset! There were no major casualties, but some of us still need to "learn not to burn"! Click here for a few images from the beach.

stylin' @ feed my starving children

2008-05-25T09:52:00.022-05:00

Friday we had our first shift at Feed My Starving Children, a volunteer center that packs ready-to-cook meals that are distributed in areas of starvation and famine. During our shift, we and the others working that shift packed 57 boxes of meal packets, enough to feed 33 children for an entire year! We worked so well as a team, and had so much fun working to change lives! Yes, we will be returning- probably again and again!

an ending and a beginning for emily!

2008-04-30T09:44:00.004-05:00

We had a super-send-off for our DCE fieldworker Emily on Sunday! Shaggy and soon-to-be Mrs Shaggy joined us to help celebrate and prepare the roast beast, and we did have a mighty fine dinner and a blast of a time saying our goodbyes to Emily and hearing about the upcoming wedding for Shaggy and Tracy. Emily will be greatly missed, but we are so happy for her as she heads off to her full-time internship in Cape Girardeau, Missouri. After that night, I just want to praise God for the wonderful people He brings into our lives!

bye-bye steph sunday!

2007-12-10T12:57:00.000-06:00

Sunday, December 9th, we met at the usual time, but not in the usual way... we spent the whole evening saying heartfelt goodbyes as Steph McGarvey wrapped up her fieldwork. We had some fun, did some reminiscing, singing and praying, then ended with a fine banquet style sit-down dinner at a very happening place... well, would you believe, a relatively (to where we usually end up) happening place with some goooood burgers. Charlotte made a great poster-sized going away card that we all signed, and we attached a gift card to Caribou that could potentially keep her awake the whole Spring Semester. We're going to miss Steph, but we've been blessed by her and won't forget her!

our walcamp experience

2007-10-31T09:01:00.000-05:00

Steph led a great retreat last weekend, and God blessed our time together and the weather, too!
Our theme was listening to God and hearing Him, whether it's in the silence or in the almost constant noise of our lives.
click here for more of walcamp in living color!

we did "light the night"!

2007-09-24T09:47:00.000-05:00

The "Light the Night" walk was a big event! The Cindy Meyer Team ended up with close to 50 people, with a lot of Immanuel people in addition to Momma Meyer's friends and relatives. The team started with a modest fundraising goal of $200, and the current total funds raised are over $2000! Thanks to the IYC'ers and confirmands who registered and came out to walk in memory of Momma Meyer and to help bring comfort and a cure to those affected by leukemia and other blood disorders. Here's a note from the Meyer family:
"Thank you to all the Immanuel teens & adults for your support. Momma Meyer is forever in our hearts and truly showed with an awesome group of participants. God's blessing to you."
Your brothers & sister in Christ,
Doug, Josh & Kaitlin Meyer

gettin' around orlando!

2007-07-30T07:10:00.000-05:00

The National Gathering was quite an adventure... Getting around took courage and street smarts, but the payoff was fantastic , with some amazing teaching, music and drama. Highlights from Sunday include an unlikely pair named the Skit Guys- they had us rollin' on the floor. A speaker named Bob Lentz really connected with a "small group" of about 5,000 of us, sharing on the power of "by grace through faith". Tuesday had us being inspired by Bill Yonkers, a pastor from our own area with a lot to say, and then the massive worship and communion service for 25,000 in the Orlando Convention Center. We finished up Wednesday with a literally wet'n'wild stormy time at the Wet'n'Wild waterpark. Like Workcamp, God was there in Orlando, and some of the things we experienced are things that He will be using to shape us into His new creations!

Click here for the full photo gallery!

mission accomplished!

2007-07-24T09:04:00.000-05:00

Workcamp 07 was everything we hoped it would be, and everything God wanted it to be! New friends, closer friends, demolition, hammering, post hole digging, singing and prayer, painting-lots of painting, showering outdoors, BBQ, care cards, chocolate milk, God sightings, silliness, crazyness, togetherness... That only begins to describe it... Maybe you'll have to join us in Darby, Pennsylvania next July and see for yourself!

Click here for the photo gallery!

balloony tunes on march 4

2007-03-01T23:28:00.001-06:00

This Sunday, part-way through your super-sized weekend, we'll be meeting as usual at 6pm, and Lori, Matt and Jennie will be taking over and leading the evening's festivities. At that time, I'll be making myself at home in a narrow trailer at Camp Atonement in New Orleans for a weeks worth of serving in Jesus' name. Please pray for our team from Immanuel as we serve in love and faith.
But back to Sunday night...
Something tells me that you'll find many creative ways to use the thousand or so balloons that engulfed my office this week... use them with my blessing, use as many as you want, abuse them if necessary, but whatever you do, don't return them!

In Christ, Tom

remembering our Momma Meyer...

2007-01-27T20:07:00.000-06:00

Not all of you know Momma Meyer very well, so I'm posting a few photos to help you get to know her. For those of you who do know her, you can add comments and recollections to these pictures and make it a real “living memory”. I hope you will!

2007-01-27T20:06:00.000-06:00

2007-01-27T20:05:00.000-06:00

2007-01-27T20:04:00.000-06:00

2007-01-27T20:03:00.000-06:00

2007-01-27T20:02:00.000-06:00

2007-01-27T20:01:00.000-06:00

You are a treasure from the Lord!
We will never forget your love and hugs!

december 10-bye,bye brandon!

2006-12-11T17:10:00.000-06:00

Sunday's party for Brandon was great! Shaggy really grilled up a heap 'o meat, Nebraska style, we feasted. Brandon has certainly left his mark on the IYC, and we'll not forget him! Personally, anytime I hear anything about the LA Raiders, I will think about Brandon (and chuckle). Thanks to all the moms who provided our desserts and appetizers, and to Suzy for creating a monster card to honor Brandon and a fantastic photo album of the Walcamp Retreat that Brandon led. I'll pass along updates on Brandon from time to time, especially as he is sent off to his internship this spring.