Would you rather have all your arm hair ripped out, or…

Ever played the game “Would you rather?”

Here’s a good one, “Would you rather have your arm hair ripped out with duct tape, or have a potentially awkward conversation with a friend at school about Jesus?”

Unless you enjoy morbidly contemplating social suicide, you’d probably rather be labeled the “hairless wonder” than “pushy, judgmental, intolerant, narrow-minded, Jesus freak,” and you’re not alone in feeling this way. Evangelism is scary. We’re all terrified of seeing that look of disgust or worse, betrayal, in the face of a close friend when we bring Jesus into a conversation. We’re worried that it will mean the end of the relationship, the end of trust, the end of our reputation, THE END OF THE WORLD!

Two thoughts to share this morning:

1. Has this ever actually happened to any of you? I’m not talking about a time when you were a jerk to someone in the name of God and then they stopped liking you. I mean a time when you sincerely and lovingly shared a story with them about what Jesus has done in your life. Odds are, it didn’t trigger a series of events that eventually led to doomsday. Instead, I’m guessing it was far more intense and awkward for you than it was for them!
2. On the other hand, let’s assume for a moment, the absolute worst. Let’s assume that the second you say the word “Jesus” all kinds of terrible things are going to happen. Friends will flee from you, people will slander you on Facebook, and you will be shunned “Dwight Schrute style” for the rest of the semester. Even IF all this happened, it still is NOT a cause for fear. Our security, our personal identity, even our sense of belonging and safety is found in our relationship with Jesus. His words to us, from John 16:33 are “I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.”

For most of us – there’s not a lot to fear, but even if there is – we will not give in to fear and insecurity because of what Christ has done for us. So put away the duct tape!

It’s been really cool during Advent this year for Maggie and I to be longing for our baby to be born. I’ve been particularly amazed with how Jesus came to earth in such a normal way. He grew inside Mary’s womb from a single cell. He gradually took the shape of a human and grew arms and legs, fingernails and lungs, just like our baby is growing right now! From the very beginning, Jesus humbled himself to share in the common (but miraculous) experience of humanity. Maggie and I can’t wait to meet our baby! We want to hold and smell and kiss that child so badly. That’s the kind of waiting Advent is all about. Try to remember that we aren’t just waiting for Jesus to appear, we’re waiting while he develops in the womb to be birthed into the world. The Savior is almost here!

God Bless and Merry Christmas!

Lewis

Name: Peter Colin Andrew Croft

Hometown: Reigate, England

Number of siblings: Two older brothers

Graduated from: Durham, Cambridge and London

Current job: Trinity Fellow; Volunteer Intern at New City Commons Foundation

Best vacation ever: Hawaii, Europe road trip

Enjoys being a D-group leader because… I love hanging out with teenagers and I love to talk about Christ with them, to see them grow and share in joys and sorrows. I used to teach in England; it was a large part of my life for six years.

Favorite Bible verse: Isaiah 26.8 “Yes Lord, walking in the way of your laws we wait for you. Your name and renown are the desire of our hearts.”

If you were to play a sport professionally it would be… Golf, because you get to travel the world hanging out with your mates – and you have a long career playing golf!

A book you’d recommend: J.B.Phillips “The Price of Success”

Shoes: Loakes  Editor’s note: Loakes are handmade English men’s leather shoes or boots. At least, that’s what Google tells me…  

Most important cereal to have at Student Breakfast: I’m just getting accustomed to American cereals. Fruit loops are banned in Europe because they are considered dangerously unhealthy.

Good at: Soccer

Bad at: Mathematics

As we begin the season of Advent and anticipate the coming of Christ’s birth, we hope you are excited to join us for our annual middle and high school Christmas parties! Invite your friends, and we’ll see you there!

Middle School White Elephant Gift Exchange

When: Friday, December 9, 7-9pm

Where: The Jenkins’ house:
2509 Summit Ridge Trail
Charlottesville, VA 22911

What to Bring: 1. A wrapped gift worth $5
or less
2. Guys – a snack or appetizer
3. Girls – a dessert

*Note: Parents are welcome to stay. Please make sure to park on pavement and not on grass!

High School Wacky Tacky 80′s Christmas Hoedown Showdown Throwdown Barn Dance 

When: Friday, December 9, 7-9pm

Where: The Kings’ house:5055 Hope Lane                                                                                       North Garden, VA 22959  

What to Wear: 80′s, Christmas, or redneck clothes – or a combination of all 3!

“Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good, for his love endures forever.” Psalm 107:1

There is so much to be thankful for this week. I know many of you will be traveling or receiving family into your homes. I hope and pray that it is joyful time of fellowship. I know time with my family can be wonderful but also stressful. I’m really glad that we’ve been talking about community and friendship this semester. Every time Greg asks a question like, “Do you have anyone in your life whose weaknesses are the main thing you focus on?” the first people I think of are people in my family. I encourage all of you (and I’m talking to myself here, too!) to spend time praying for your family members, that God would give you eyes to see the beauty in them.

Above all else we can be thankful this week for Jesus Christ. His perfect life allows us to share in His righteousness, His death on the cross gives us forgiveness, and His resurrection from the dead gives us sure hope of new life, FOREVER, with Him. Alleluia!

Lewis

Full name: Ashley Caroline Nunes Coe

Hometown: Katy, Texas

Number of siblings: 2 awesome brothers, Blake (in the Air Force) and Cameron (in 10th grade)

Graduated from: Houston Baptist University ’08

Current job: Administrative Assistant, Dept. of Economics at UVA

What made you decide to be a D-Group leader? I was a Fellow a few years ago and got to hang out with the 7th grade girls… when I decided to stay in Cville after the Fellows Program, I knew I wanted to stick around and watch these awesome ladies grow up! Now they’re in 10th grade!

Favorite Bible verse: Psalm 16:2 – I say to the Lord, “You are my Lord; apart from you I have no good.”

If you were to play a sport professionally it would be… Choir, a non-sport, because I tried volleyball in middle school and didn’t make the team so I learned to stick with things that don’t require coordination or balls flying around at the speed of light.

A book you’d recommend: “Miss Manners’ Guide to a Surprisingly Dignified Wedding” – it’s practical and hysterical; SOMEDAY you just might need to give it a read!

Shoes: Good socks to keep my feet warm.

Most important cereal to have at Student Breakfast: LIFE. C’mon, who doesn’t love LIFE?!

Good at: I really enjoy setting tables. No joke. If I have the opportunity to position plates, napkins, silverware, vases, linens, place cards and such, I am a very happy girl!

Bad at: I am not very good at waking up. I’m kinda’ like a bear – I could hibernate. My bed is my most favorite place in the world. But I know that if I get out of bed, I can make coffee!!

Friends,

Each year, our Mercy Ministry team sponsors a Thanksgiving food delivery night.  Food is provided for about 60 families in the Charlottesville area who otherwise could not afford a nice Thanksgiving meal.  This could be a great way for your D-group to do something together to serve the poor in our city.

Here’s how it works:  On Tuesday evening, November 22nd, groups arrive at Trinity to pick up the food baskets, which have already been assembled.  You’ll want to be in a group of no more than four people so if you have a bigger group, you should split in half.  Each group will get 2 (or possibly 3) food baskets to deliver.  When you deliver the food, you’ll have a chance to go inside, talk to the family, and hopefully pray with them.  This ministry is a good reminder that we all have a lot to be thankful for, especially for the way God has loved us through Jesus Christ. This is also a great opportunity for families to do something together.

If you are at all interested in participating on the 22nd, please get in touch with me.  You can also contact Christina Colopy at 540-538-3689 or mercy@trinitycville.org.  They are in need of more delivery volunteers! Only 2 more weeks until Thanksgiving!!!

Thanks, and have a great week.

Lewis

Full name: Alexander Michael Piedra

Hometown: Chesterfield County, VA

Number of siblings: 3 (older and younger sister; twin brother)

Graduated from: UVA…twice: 2009, 2011

Current job: 6th Grade Social Studies Teacher, Walker Upper Elementary

Favorite vacation: Honeymoon in Dominican Republic

What made you decide to be a D-Group leader?  A desire to serve and lead youth!

Christian community is important to you because: It gives me a place to grow and to serve the Lord.

Funny memories from youth group? Ultimate Octopus…can’t beat it.

Favorite Bible verse: Philippians 4:13 – “I can do all things through him who strengthens me.”

If you were to play a sport professionally it would be… BASEBALL because it is the greatest game the world has ever known.

A book you’d recommend: To Kill A Mockingbird

Shoes: Flip Flops

Most important cereal to have at Student Breakfast: Pancakes, duh! (Editor’s note: Hmmm…)

Good at/enjoys: Playing softball, food competitions, kids, Nicaragua

Bad at: Singing and playing instruments!

12 Things That Won’t Earn God’s Love:

1. High SAT scores.
2. Having really cool friends.
3. Doing your chores before anyone asks you to.
4. Obeying your parents.
5. Winning anything.
6. Working out.
7. Being the best.
8. Impressing your teachers.
9. Never missing a D-group.
10. Going on a missions trip.
11. Memorizing the Bible.
12. Eating local, organic, sustainably-produced food.

Your heavenly Father has loved you, is loving you, and will continue to love you. His love is past, present, and future. Jesus’ sacrifice for you occurred BEFORE YOU WERE BORN: before you made your first A+, before you learned how to read, before you made your first good or bad decision. “But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.” – Romans 5:8

Take 3 minutes today, 120 seconds, and REST in the security of a God that unconditionally loves you.

Full name:  Wes Webb

Hometown: Virginia Beach, VA

Number of siblings: 3

Graduated from: James Madison University

Current job: Graphic Designer at Watermark Design

Best vacation ever:  An east coast surf trip my brother and I made after graduating from high school.  Sun, Surfing, Saltwater, and Seafood – all you need for a great vacation.

What made you decide to be a D-Group leader?  God’s been convicting me lately about how selfish I am with my time.  And with the ways I’ve been ministered to through mentor relationships I have in my own life, I wanted to hopefully be that for others.

Any funny memories from high school youth group?  Well, this is my first year as a D-Group leader so let me check back in a few months…

Christian community is important to you because: We are called to it.  It’s a responsibility but also an amazing gift.  Forming relationships with people that you share the most life-changing Constant will stretch us, grow us, and work to sanctify us all.

Favorite Bible verse:  Jeremiah 20:11 “But the Lord is with me like a mighty warrior…”

If you were to play a sport professionally it would be… Surfing – of the 73% of my body made up of water, I am positive at least 61% is salt water.

A book you’d recommend:  The Art Lesson by Tomie dePaola.  A story of a kid just trying to do his thing.  I am a graphic designer because of this book.

Shoes: Flippy-Floppies for a quick transition.

Most important cereal to have at Student Breakfast:  Not a huge fan of cereal but Brown Sugar Cinnamon Pop-Tarts would be AMAZING.

Good at: I make things.  All kinds of things.  I always have spare parts around my apartment ready to be built into something. Most recently, a cigar box guitar and a brass retractable ballpoint pen.

Bad at:  Keeping an accurate schedule.