May is here already. We have experienced the joy of Easter and new beginnings in Christ. As I tell the children every Sunday, “find your prayer hands” and thank God for the blessings he is raining down upon you. Jeremiah 32:27 says “Behold, I am the Lord, the God of all flesh: is there anything too hard for me?” As you continue to journey through this year and the joys and struggles it brings may you be reminded to find your prayer hands and surrender to God. May you continue to grow in your walk with Christ and choose to experience His love. Get involved, volunteer your time, join a small group, listen and learn and see how God’s love flows through you.

Youth and Children

Camperships Needed – Do you remember attending church camp as a child or even as an adult? Chances are good that the experience changed your life forever. If you would like to offer that experience to a child from this church, please consider donating to the campership fund. The cost for camp is $310. This is considered to be Rate B. The middle price is the amount that is spent during the week of camp for your camper to participate. These costs include the food, the people cooking the food, keeping the camp ready for campers, program supplies, and the training, food and lodging for the volunteer leaders.

Any amount to help defray the cost of camp and to ensure that as many children as possible receive the camp experience is looked upon as a huge blessing. Donations may be turned in to the church office or placed in the Sunday offering with a designation of Campership noted on the memo line.

VBS will take place June 13th – 17th. The theme this year is Shake it Up Café – Where Kids Carry Out God’s Recipes. Jesus calls us to “shake up” our lives and become his followers. The Bible gives us the recipe: be ready for God’s call, give happily to God and to others, believe fully in Jesus as God’s Son, remember Jesus’ life and teaching, and celebrate God forever. Shake it Up Café introduces your children to stories of biblical festivals that reveal these ingredients and link the Old Testament and the New Testament to our lives today. You can register online at http://www.goldcanyonumc.org by clicking on the Give or Register for an Event tab, or you can register during the week in the church office or between services at the VBS table. Early registration ends May 30. The cost is $15 per child for the first two children and $10 for each additional child up to $50 per family. After May 30, the cost increases by $5 per child.

Summer Camp at Mingus Mountain – This year’s theme is GOT SPIRIT? Campers will explore and learn to find God wherever they look! If you would like to donate to the campership fund contact Alex Houseman in the church office. Registration packets can be downloaded from desertsouthwestconference.org on the Camping and Retreat Ministries page or picked up in the church office. Early registration ends May 14. All children are encouraged to attend. You can make a $35 deposit by May 14 and pay the balance up to 14 days before the start of camp. After May 14 the price increases by $25.

Elementary Camp for youth entering grades 3-6: June 6-11 Deans: Katherine Keller and Rhonda Walkocz
Senior High Camp for youth entering grades 9-12: July 4-9 Dean: Stephen Govett
Junior High Camp for youth entering grades 7-9: July 11-16 Dean: Don Campbell

U-Can and B.E.A.R.S Clubs meet Wednesday at 4:30 in the Education Building. All youth ages 5-12 are welcome to attend. Please encourage any child you know to attend this fun evening where they are able to learn of God’s love outside of the traditional Sunday church setting. Contact Linda Walker for more information.

Adults

New home based small group Bible studies continue to be formed. If you are interested in joining a group of eight to ten individuals in exploring and strengthening your faith, contact Alex Houseman in the church office. We are currently studying the Live Like You Were Dying series and will soon be forming groups to study The 5 Love Languages by Gray Chapman. Studies last between four and six weeks.

Disciple is a program of disciplined Bible study aimed at developing strong Christian leaders. It focuses on the disciple as learner, believer, follower, proclaimer, and servant while providing the fellowship of a small group for study, prayer, preparation, support, and servanthood.

If you are interested in taking this step in your faith journey, please register between services at the Education table or with Alex Houseman in the church office. We will be forming new groups to start in the fall.