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Extreme is youth experiencing the adventure of growing in faith while taking part in physical adventures provided by the geography of the Santa Cruz area.
Extreme is a week-long adventure in camping program designed for junior high youth groups. Youth entering grades 7-9 join in adventure experiences, service projects, Bible studies and FUN! Adventure activities this summer included CLIP (Challenge Learning and Initiative Programs), surfing and ocean kayaking.
Youth Descriptions (part of the July 14th sermon):
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I recently completed a week of Adventure Camp at Mt. Cross. We did several activities including: kayaking, ropes course, surfing, community service, and worship at the beach. My favorite part was surfing. There was another group at Mt. Cross that we were fortunate to spend time with. This other group was intellectually challenged. I played basketball with a man named Barry who idolized Michael Jordan. He wanted us to call him “Barry Jordan”. From this experience I realized that God gives gifts to each one of us, and that we should use them to the best of our ability. The Youth appreciate the support of the congregation at fundraising events. Thank You. |
| First of all, I'd like to thank the congregation for helping with the
fundraisers, and also for your support. A lot of the trips would not be
possible. Thank you.
I had a lot more fun than I thought I would have at Mt. Cross. At camp, we did many fun activities and learned a lot about God. Although I had a great time surfing, kayaking, and doing many more activities, that wasn't my favorite part of the trip. My favorite part of camp was being around all the new people and sharing stories. On the first full day we were at camp, we did a small activity where you fall back and rely on the people behind you to catch you. (I'm sure some of you have done this before). We did it 3 or 4 times and each of those times you had to trust the people behind you to keep you from hitting the ground. If the spotters didn't catch you, well; you would hit the ground pretty hard. So you really had to trust the spotters. In another activity we did that same day, we had to climb up a 35 ft. pole, stand on a platform with a 6in. diameter. We then jumped for a hanging trapeze. To jump, you had to trust the ropes and the harness. So those few activities have made me realize that I need to trust in the God more than I do now. I believe that this will make me a better Christian. Jacob D. |
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The Western States Youth Gathering was from July 1st through July 7th, with the 4th of July spent at Great America. It started with a service project, with Holy Cross hosting a church from Washington for this portion. Then it was on to San Jose for the speakers, workshops, and events.
The following are descriptions from the youth, which were given to the congregation on July 14th as part of the sermon.
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First of all I want to start by thanking the congregation for supporting the youth program and giving us the chance to go to Western States. I would also like to acknowledge my brother and my two cousins who shared their volunteer time to give me the chance to be a part of this trip. Going to San Jose as my trip for the summer did not seem all that fun to me at the beginning. I decided to give it a try anyways because of the great time I had at the last Western States. The trip turned out to be a blast. I ended up meeting a lot of different people from many different states, mostly Washington though. For the five days we spent there I was able to connect closer to the other youth members of my church and learn along with them. And out of all of our memories we made that week I have to say my favorite was when we were at Great America on the 4th and waiting in line for invertigo. It was the 4 of us girls and we were all very tired and just really wanted to go sleep. As we waited in line for an hour to go on a 1 minute ride we all really began to come together. I will never forget getting off that ride and laughing so hard because Jennifer fell asleep half way through the ride and Amanda was having difficulties with her seat. It really put a smile on my face knowing that we were all laughing together and having a great time together and I will never forget that. This trip to San Jose really helped me open my eyes to a lot of different things. It helped me learn to accept people for who they are and not what you want them to be. It taught me the joys of friendships and family. And it really taught me more about myself and my place in this world. Western states made me realize that even though I may not be out there everyday promoting the word of Jesus in an obvious way, I am by showing my love to the people around me everyday. Going to the sessions each day and having family time at 1:00 at night everyday helped me realize what it means to be a Lutheran and joy and happiness I can get out of it. I would like to thank Kathy, Berni, and the youth that went on this trip with me for helping me learn about myself and each other together. Caitlyn R |
| This past week was one of the most eventful of my life.
While it was busy and hectic, it was tons of fun and full of
adventure at the same time. To
me, one of the most interesting parts was the speakers that we had each
night. For every session,
there was a different theme. They
were either, face to face with God, ourselves, our friends, our family or
the world. I remember the
last session about going face to face with the world.
It was the most interesting and touching to me.
The speaker was a Lutheran from India who talked to us about an
experience she had as a child. Her family found a baby who was starving and took care of her
until she was a year old. There
was also a man who had been blind since birth who would sing and play the
keyboard each night. His
songs were amazing and he is extremely talented.
While all the songs and speakers were touching, I think just having
thousands of youth, gathering together through the Lord was the best part.
Just going into the huge auditorium with tons of teenagers just
like myself who all had faith in God, all knowing that we all shared the
same beliefs, wan an amazing feeling in itself.
This trip had been my first in a long time with the church youth
group. Unfortunately I was
unable to attend any previous western states youth gatherings because of
my age, and I will not be able to attend any in the future because the
next one will be held in 2005, after I have graduated.
I would like to thank Pastor Berni and Kathy as well as the
congregation for their support in making the youth gathering so memorable.
Jennifer S. |
| Two weeks ago I went to Western States Youth Gathering wit the rest of
the Senior High Group from Holy Cross. This year the gathering was in San Jose, California.
Because we were so close to San Jose, Holy Cross was able to host a
group from Washington. While they stayed at our church we delivered care packages to
the homeless in San Francisco, and made crafts and planted plants with our
friends at Tiffany Gardens. It
was fun to help those in our community and the surrounding Bay Area. It was also fun to be the tour guides of our city and state
to many people who had never even visited our state. After spending time in Livermore we went down to San Jose
where we went to workshops and services.
The theme of the week was “face to face”.
Speakers, musicians and prayer helped us to understand the theme.
Through different people and our experiences while down in San Jose
we were able to become closer to God in our faith and in our everyday
lives. Without the support
and help of the congregation at Holy Cross this wonderful trip may not
have been possible. Thank
You!
Amanda S. |
| The Western States Youth Gathering is held every three years, so this
was my only chance to attend and I really enjoyed it.
There were over 2500 youth and leaders that came to be together in
San Jose for this event. To start the week off, our group and our guests from Lake
Stevens, Washington went to an opening in Danville on Monday, San
Francisco for a service project on Tuesday, and a short service project at
Tiffany Gardens Wednesday. In
San Jose Wednesday night is when we had our first of five sessions.
At a session there was a bible study, a speaker, prayer, and lots
of music. There were five
topics that we came “face to face” with at our sessions:
God, Self, Family, Friends, and the World. After every session, we would go to hotel life, our chance to
socialize with the other kids. There
were games and a dance and shows to watch.
After hotel life it was time to head back until the next day’s
activities. Our day
activities were Great America, two of our sessions and workshops. The workshops were our chance to go see speakers who were
discussing things we chose to hear about.
Topics such violence, becoming a better person, and accepting
Christ into your every day life. Even
though our days there were jam-packed with things to do and places to go;
everyone that went came away with memories and relationships that are
going to stick, and a feeling of closeness with the Lord.
Genna Hasaka |
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First of all I would like to start by thanking you
the congregation for giving me the opportunity for going to The Western
States Youth Gathering. Your
support through donations and support at our youth fundraisers is greatly
appreciated by all. The part that was the most funnest to me was the
Hotel Life. The Hotel Life
was a dance, karaoke, blow up mountain to climb, human foosball,
basketball, ping-pong, survivor, so mostly it was to have lots of fun. The things I learned for my faith is to be more faithful and overall a better Christian. Brad Hahn |
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Recently I was asked if I would like to speak to the congregation about the most recent trip that the youth group was lucky enough to participate in, I gladly volunteered. The youth trip to Western States Youth Gathering was a fun and rewarding trip. The fun parts included the night life, going to Great America, and having the opportunity to meet other youth Christians from all over the states. I felt blessed to be able to go to the morning worship, and throughout the day spreading the Word of God. It was this that made the trip rewarding for me. One specific event that stuck out for me was on the third day there. On our way from an evening session at the University to the nightlife, I was given the opportunity to share the Word of God, with a couple of guys who spotted me in the large crowd of Lutherans. They called me aside because they saw the Western States arm band on my wrist, but I was wearing a shirt from a concert, that in most minds would not demonstrate a Christian, and it confused the two. Because they had called me I walked out of the large crowd of gathered Lutherans. I went over and talked to the two. They asked lots of questions, things about my faith, why I believe what I do? What God has done for me? And how a Christian like myself could go to a concert, much less wear the shirt, like the one advertised on my shirt? I answered all of their questions, and it took me nearly an hour. I would’ve stayed longer but I had to catch up with my group, and I didn’t want to go to Night Life without other Lutherans around. But in my goodbyes to the young men who were questioning faith, they said that they might have to attend church, and think twice before stereotyping a Christian. I again want to thank you for providing the youth with the opportunity to attend Western States. Brian K. |
