A few things of note:

- New this month is a chance for those interested to come together as a praise band: on Tuesday afternoons (beginning the 10th) we will meet together as musicians, vocalists, and Christians. Bring your talent and passion and we'll look at how to come together and lead others in worship of God via music (and more)...

- Sunday the 22nd has a few intriguing twists: mid-high and sr-high students get to help children's Sunday School at the 9:01am hour (talk to Sarah to help out), and the afternoon finds us across the street at the YWCA Ice Chalet for the Annual Ice Skating Party & Chili Feed. After skating, we'll come back for chili, hot dogs, cornbread, and many games together. Our special guests will be the youth group from Westside Church in Richland, so come welcome and hang with them!

- Family Ski Van on Saturdays. If your family is looking to get up to Blue Wood, then join the group packing in the van and heading up ever Saturday in January. We'll leave the church at 8am and be back around 5pm. Contact Kevin with questions, or reserve your spot with Jenny Maxon.

Other events and details will be posted to the CREW and DEEP facebook groups and the youth website, so join or subscribe to get updates as they happen!

December Calendar & Advent

December... a month of celebrations, planning, vacations, holidays, resting, feasting, and so much more! 

We also have a lot going on this month, as you can tell by the attached Calendar. Regular Youth Groups, Sunday School, and Bible Study continue to meet, but to highlight a few special things, here's what is coming up:

December 16th-17th: High School Lock-In. Sorry Middle-Schoolers, this one is just for those in 9th-12th grades! Meet at the church around 7pm Friday evening and the doors lock until 10am Saturday morning. Games, movies, munchies, and more... what a great way to kick off the Christmas Break! (sleep optional)

December 18th: Christmas Parties! Each group has their own get-together at the McKibben's home (756 Wauna Vista, Walla Walla). Mid-High meets from 5pm until 6:30pm. High School meets 7pm until 8:30pm. The time will include munchies, games, white-elephant gift exchange (under $5 or wrap something to re-gift... there will be "back up" gifts if you forget!), carols, and more!

December 21st: Mystery Event (details to come soon!)

December 22nd: All-Church Caroling. Come meet up at the church and we'll load up in the van and head out to sing carols around the community. Brothers, sisters, parents, friends, etc are invited to come along! (Parents: let Kevin know if you can help shuttle students)

December 27th: All Day Star Wars Marathon! Whether you're a die-hard fan or have never watched them, everyone is invited to come to this 13 1/2 hour geek-a-thon Movie Extravaganza! We'll start with Episode I (Phantom Menace) at 9:30am and work our way through the rest, ending late in the evening (around 11pm). Food and Drinks will appear randomly throughout the day. Come for them all, or just as you are able! Got friends or family that are bored? bring 'em along!

Of course we encourage everyone to come to a Christmas Celebration on Christmas Eve (5pm, 7pm, or 11pm) and/orChristmas Day (10:31am). This is what it's all about, after all! Check out this Online Advent Calendar: Paperless Christmas (or view vid 1 below)

Wanna Go Deeper?

Wednesdays at 6:45pm in the Youth Caves we are studying the Gospel of Mark; what it meant to Jesus' followers, and what it means to us today. In between readings and thoughts we'll play games, drink rootbeer, and generally be chill. Both Mid-high and Sr-High are invited to come. Bring your Bible and let's figure this whole thing out together!

SLAMQUEST!!! (mid-high camp)

November 11th - 13th will find us up at Ghormley Meadow for Mid-High SLAMQUEST.

The cost is $75* for the entire time. We'll leave from the church around 3:30pm on Friday (bring a sack dinner for the road!) and come back around 3:30pm on Sunday (We won't have CREW on the 13th). Be sure to register through the Ghormley site!

"We live in a crazy world that send all sorts of crazy messages! What we need is to FOCUS. Come join us for a great weekend as we look at the book of Ephesians and what we need to do to get our attention back in the right direction. You don't want to miss an awesome weekend of worship, crazy games, good food, and important lessons from God's Word!"

*scholarships are available. contact Kevin with questions or details...

Sunday Morning Gatherings...

This Sunday, the 2nd, marks the beginning of our Sunday Morning Group time. Every week during the 10:31am service, we will meet down in the Caves for coffee, cocoa, donuts, the occasional game, and stories from the Bible. We'll follow the rabbit trail as we spend the next year going through the Bible, one story at a time.

Currently both Mid-high and Sr-high will meet together for this time. Oh, and don't forget to hit up the 9:01am service before our meeting time when you can... sometimes we'll talk about what was said during service.

What?! Even More Youth Group?!

That's right; CREW (mid-high) and DEEP (sr-high) meet every week on Sunday evenings! It's the type of thing to actually schedule homework around...

Each week we come together as folk interested in getting to know each other and getting to know God a little bit more. Whether it's for the games, the singing, the dinner, or even the teaching discussions, Youth Groups are better when YOU are a part of it!

CREW @ 5:00pm - 7:00pm

Dinner for everyone @ 6:30pm - 7:00pm

DEEP @ 6:30pm - 8:30pm

Youth Group Kicks Off!!!

So school has started up again, the fair has come and gone, and Youth Groups are ready to start up again on a regular schedule... with a new Youth Director, a pumped staff of volunteer leaders, and YOU!!!

This years' schedule is a bit different, and we hope that everyone can continue to be a part of things, and even bring a friend or two as we really get going as a group, community, and church!

September 11th:

Rally Day Worship Service at 10:31am

Potluck Lunch, games, and water guns vs. Kevin & Albert

Movie Night @ 6:30pm in the Youth Cave.

Beginning September 18th:

CREW (middle school youth group) meets 5:oopm - 7:00pm every Sunday.

DEEP (senior high youth group) meets 6:30pm - 8:30pm every Sunday.

Dinner for both groups happens from 6:30pm - 7:oopm.

Starting September 14th:

Mid-Week meeting is a part of the Wednesdays @ First & Birch (WFB), beginning with Family Dinner at 6:00pm and moving to a Bible Study at 6:45 for 6th - 12th grade students.
The ROCK (3rd - 5th grades) meet 4:30pm - 6:00pm. Adults have their own Bible Study at 6:45pm with Pastor Albert.

Sign Up Sheets for 2011 Summer Youth Events!

If you're interested in participating in the upcoming DEEP and CREW trip to Silverwood or the DEEP Mission Weekend, print off:

1) the sign up form(s) and

2) a copy of the Church Permission Form that is found on this blog's resource section (to the right of this post).

Fill them out and return them to Kate as soon as possible!

DEEP & CREW Silverwood Trip Form

DEEP Mission Weekend Application - DUE JULY 18th
DEEP Mission Weekend Questions - DUE JULY 18th

Let your friends know that they can find the forms here and also in the church office!

Space is limited, so don't wait!

SONSOFDAY Concert

After leading worship in the morning, SONSOFDAY (website) plays a benefit concert at Walla Walla First Pres. Click here for photos

Thank You Stacey!

The youth of First Pres Walla Walla share some memories and say thanks to departing Youth Ministries Coordinator Stacey Johnson. Short version of video shared in worship 1/10. Click here to watch on YouTube

BWAP 2009 - Video

Click HERE to watch in high resolution on YouTube

BWAP 2009 - Photos

CREW spends a few days serving in Spokane. Click HERE for photos!

(video coming after spring break...)

Grandpeople's Sweetheart Dessert 2009

CREW and DEEP serve up dessert and entertainment for the grandpeople at WWFPC. Click HERE for photos!

YouTube video highlights are posted below...


Click HERE to watch in high quality on YouTube

Ice Skating & Chili 2009

Click HERE to watch in high resolution on YouTube

Slamquest 2008

Click HERE to watch in high resolution on YouTube

Even more photos are posted HERE

Slamquest was a CREW retreat Nov. 7-9 at Ghormley Meadow. What a great time!

CREW Photos - Outside Games (5/21/08)

CREW goes outside for a few giant ball games. Click HERE for photos!

CREW BWAP 2008 in Spokane

NEW! Click HERE to watch in HIGH RESOLUTION on YouTube!

Photos are posted HERE

BWAP = Break With A Purpose... what a great weekend!

Grandparents Dessert Photos (2/13/08)

CREW serves and entertains the grandparents of our church. Click HERE for photos!

CREW Snow Day 2008 Video and Photos

Click here for 25 MB version (fast connection recommended)

Photos are posted HERE

I wish there were more photos but that's all I've got this time. Not to make excuses but getting around was a bit of a challenge since it was my first day on a snowboard.

I can't think of another time more appropriate to post it, so for those of you who want to remember last year's trip to Mt. Spokane let's look back and enjoy Kendal's crash one more time...

CREW Photos - Messy Games (11/28/07)

Photos from CREW Messy Games night now online!