Moreland Presbyterian Church

Welcome to the Youth @ Moreland Pres Blog. We'll be posting new information for the Youth Group here on a regular basis.

2011 Caravan Trip to Yakima, WA - Day 6 - 6/24/2011	4:20 PM, Jun 27 2011
By Becky Gutman Today we woke up and packed our things. We were dreading the goodbye that was coming. We had made friendships that we didn’t want to end. Thank goodness for Facebook. Haha! As we finished up cleaning the church, we had our last laugh’s and we finally said the goodbye’s. But we had good news for the rest of the day, because we were headed off to Wild Waves and gonna spend the day there. But after only two hours of driving and 45 minutes away from Wild Waves our back tire popped and we were stuck on the side of the highway. We all got off the bus and headed to the top of a hill to wait for the AAA guy. Of course we had to have some fun out of it. So we started to get the semi trucks to honk at us by doing the truck signal for honking. A lot of them did honk at us either because they were nice or they felt sorry for us. About an hour and 45 minutes later we finally made it to Wild Waves and we all had a great time on both the dry rides and the water rides. We were there for about 5 hours and it was time to pack up and get back on the bus to go to dinner. We ate at the Engine House No. 9. It was a place that had once been a fire house but they changed it into a restaurant. They had really good food, mostly hamburgers and salads. As we finished up dinner we decided it was time to head to the church we would be staying at, Skyline Pres. Church. We met the youth group leader from that church and Kate and I went off to make awards, while everyone else played hide and go seek. Kate and I finished up the awards and we had an award ceremony where we past out the awards. I got the "Most Likely To Marry Sandro Award.’’ Sandro was one of the helpers we worked with. After the ceremony it was midnight, so that meant lights out and we all knew we would be finally getting home the next day. Read More
2011 Caravan Trip to Yakima, WA - Day 5 - 6/23/2011	4:19 PM, Jun 27 2011
By Cole Johnson Well today was the last day of work for us on the trip and I thought it had turned out to be a good day. We began the day by finishing work on the previous day’s site, clearing out the last of the weeds and bagging them for the site coordinator to pick up. After finishing with the first site we were taken to a new site closer to where we are staying. We were immediately introduced to Thelma, a ninety-four year old woman who had the kindest of hearts. She was also filled with jokes and fun facts for us. Once we had finished the introductions we began work on her yard. I was eager to start swinging an axe again so I immediately grabbed it out of the truck and headed to the back to look for things to chop down. Sadly there was nothing to chop, but I did get to saw many tree branches away from the house. After working for about a couple hours we decided it was time for a lunch break. As we all searched for shade where we could sit in as we ate, one of us suggested getting back in the van. Which everybody seemed to like because we all pilled onto the van except for the staff and the chaperones. About half way through our lunch Steven and Daniel (two of the interns) began a water fight with each other and it provided some good entertainment, but the best part was when Steven tore the bottom of his shirt so that you could see his belly and used the excuse that his shirt was shrinking because of it getting wet. Once we had all had a good laugh and finished our lunch we began work again for the last hour of the job. Soon after cutting a few more tree branches and some more weed whacking it was time for us to leave. But first we enjoyed some more of Thelma’s company then we headed off. As soon as we got back to the church where we are staying we grabbed our shower things and headed to the showers. After the showers we had some free time and we all had agreed to head over to a local market that we all wanted to check out. When we got there we all found it to be marvelous and we all acted like we had never seen anything like it before when it was really nothing more than something like a Fred Meyers or Wal-Mart. After our free time we headed out to Fort Simco for a BBQ and some games to end the day. All in all it was a great day to end the working part of the week. Tomorrow we head out early for Wild Waves. Read More
2011 Caravan Trip to Yakima, WA - Day 4 - 6/22/2011	4:17 PM, Jun 27 2011
By Ali Henn Well today is day 4 on our journey of being one with other cultures. We have learned a lot these past couple days on our job sites. One being that people aren’t always as they seem. Another that you cannot judge someone because of where they might live. Today also opened my eyes to cultures totally different from my own. Well back to the topic of why i am blogging, today is day 4 and the high of the day being 95 degrees. Needless to say it was a very hot and sunny day, in the town of Wapato, home to Yakama Natives living on the Reservation. We were lead to our job site a little differently today than what we were previously used to: such as, being driven straight there, getting introduced to the people we were lending a hand to, and then starting our 5 hour work day. I know what you are thinking, 5 hours is a lot. Well it is, but it goes by quicker with friends and lot of work to be done. But today we started off at a museum about 8 minutes from the church in which we are staying. At the museum we met up with a small youth group that took a 30 minute drive from their home in the Yakima Valley to meet us here in Wapato. We entered the museum and right through the doors we paid our way and entered the small gift shop. We were able to look around for a good twenty minutes before entering the museum itself. As we looked through the shelves and racks of hand made clothes, shoes, beautiful hand made jewelry, and other various items, it was apparent that these people have a skill for crafting and the finished product is just BEAUTIFUL!!! Then it was time to go into the museum. It was a giant room that led you in a big circle. It showed you the past and some of the present of Indian’s from all parts of the country, spanning from the West Coast to the East Coast. Something that stood out to me was all of the mannequins depicting different tribes. The most interesting thing about them was realizing that they all looked and dressed differently. Which brings me back to my point that everyone is different. So if you go to a place you’ve never been before, you cannot expect to know all about it before you arrive. I believe this saying was a big part of our trip this week. After finishing our time at the museum we all piled in our beautiful church bus, and drove back the way we came. We headed to our job site close to the church. There we met a lady named Elaine Moss. She owned a nice home in town, and we were told to clean up the flower beds and clean out a space behind the shed that needed a little T.L.C. Now because we were able to go to the museum our work time was shorter than normal. It went from being 5 hours to lasting only 3 hours, which meant that we had to work double time to get all of the work done. While working, Elaine came out and told our female leader Kathy Stromvig how grateful she was that we were here giving her a hand around her house, because she was no longer able to tend to her gardens around her house. Hearing that made us finish out our day strong and on a good note, even though it was during the hottest time of the day. Immediately following our work, we rushed back to the church and we were able to relax before leaving again for a very humble man’s home. We had met him earlier in the week, when he came to speak to us about his culture. His name is Cory and he invited us to his home for a feast of fry bread (which is some amazing stuff), and FRESH salmon prepared on a Cedar plank, which made the fish taste and smell extremely good! After eating, we were entertained by a traditional dance, and in the second dance, we were able to join in the dance of friendship. It was a great way to get thrown into the culture, and meet new people. My partner was a girl going into her first year in high school here in Yakima. Her name is Kayla, and from the first time we were introduced we hit it off and spent most of the night talking with each other. Today was a day of experiencing new things, being one with a new culture, meeting new people, and it is only the middle of our week here in Yakima. I know I can speak for our entire group that even though we are tired, we will be able to finish this week stronger than we started!! Read More
2011 Caravan Trip to Yakima, WA - Day 3 - 6/21/2011	4:17 PM, Jun 27 2011
By Kate McCredie Today was hot and sunny. Everyone drank lots of water and put on sunscreen, but even with our precautions I came out with a sunburn. We took the Moreland bus and followed our site leaders, Steven and Daniel, to a modest home not more than ten minutes away from town. There were fields of overgrown grass with large trees offering us shade. The owner’s name was Amelia and she was a sweet older woman. She was very grateful to us for the work we were doing. We evaluated the plot and started by pulling out the truffle weeds in the front work. Weeding is hard work! A few of us grabbed clippers and axes and started hacking away at the weeds on the side of the house. It was a collection of larger bushes, with many smaller integrated trees. After a few hours of hard work, we finally cleared out the invasive plants and the difference before and after was clearly visible. It is an instant gratification when you can see the good work you’ve done. It makes it all worth the while. We mowed the other side of the yard, raked up tumbleweeds, trimmed rose bushes, cut down trees, cleaned up trash and did various other small tasks. It was a long day with many water breaks, but we pulled through it. We showered, and then Josh rewarded us all with Dairy Queen. The sweet ice cream and cold AC brightened up the day. After returning to the church, some of us retired to our rooms for some much needed rest, while others stayed downstairs to play cards. Around 5:30 we were joined by another church from Yakima and ate pizza for dinner with them. We all loaded up and headed to Cory’s home for talking circles and s’mores. Cory is the leader of the Mending Wings program and he has a big personality. There were about 100 of us in a giant circle in his back yard. In the middle of the circle was an eagle feather, sage, the Bible and a talking stick. We were participating in a traditional Indian worship ceremony. It was wonderful and powerful. The sun was in a position to light up the low-hanging clouds and the blue sky contrasted with the brown mountains surrounding the valley. The farthest mountains faded into blue to look like a beautiful painting. The world felt expansive and surreal as each one of us was “smudged” with sage to clean our mind, hearts and bodies. Smudging is an ancient practice to clean oneself. Cory burned sage in a seashell and waved it over each one of us with the eagle feather to cleanse us. Even a spot for Jesus was prepared, because he was present there with us. The talking stick was then passed around, giving everyone their chance to share a prayer, statement, concern, thoughts and songs to the group. Many people shared thanks to God for opportunities, knowledge and awareness. Many people prayed for strength for hardships and struggles with friends and family. Some people passed, some people were emotional with sadness and happiness, but most listened with intensity and open minds. It was a community of trust and love, one that I have not found within the church before. Instead of closing with communion, we each were given a dixie cup that was then filled with “choosch” (water) while Cory played the drum and sang a mesmerizing chant. Once everyone had their cup, we said “choosch” and together we drank. Cory offered some closing words and we dispersed to play basketball, football, make s’mores and to socialize with others. We played a game of basketball, Moreland and Milwaukie kids versus staff, while the sun set. The game ended with 78 points for the kids, and 2 points for the staff. (Josh’s note - there may be a bit of exaggeration in the discrepancy of this score) The staff were terribly sore from losing, but we still respect them for trying. We all came back to the church with bug bites, scratches, and scrapes from a rough game of basketball. Read More
2011 Caravan Trip to Yakima, WA - Day 2 - 6/20/2011	4:16 PM, Jun 27 2011
By Ian McCredie Eighty degrees, no clouds, and five hours of community service. A great way to start off a great trip. Honestly, I thought we would be worked harder. Even though, we left the owner with a smile on her face. It was a warm, happy feeling when we finished. We do it for free, but when you turn around and see the yard, or the people you have pleased, it makes it all worth it. The first job was put on me mainly because I am “too young” to use the other tools. This job was none other than trimming trees with hedge clippers. I went to work on this one, ladder and all (the ladder made my day). I cut twigs, I cut branches, I almost fell over twice. It was a surprisingly challenging task, but I managed to get it done with the assistance of Cole (and his axe collection). Next came lunch. That lunch was possibly the longest lunch I’ve ever had. It lasted about two hours. Two hours of laughter, and football. I was questioned as to why we were allowed to take so much time off, but it made some good bonding time and I (think I) got to know the crew. After lunch it was time for the big guns. Weed whacking and lawn mowing. This was where my eyes lit up, as mowing lawns is my life and my expertise. I gripped the pull-string and the familiar smell of gasoline arose from the tank. A voice said in my head, “let ‘er rip!” and I pulled like it was nothing. It was nothing, I do it twice a week. The mower roared, it rumbled, a burst of smoke, and it was going. Working with Michael (exquisite weed whacking skills), we took down a forest of grass all the way around the house. Of course, the entire thing was all of our efforts, but I’m the one writing this blog. The whole day was a mixture of work, play and a little bit of relaxation. And we were rewarded afterwards with some nice showers (accompanied by the singing of “Old MacDonald” by the person in the stall next to me). The day seemed to last a very long time, coming from Portland I’m not used to so much sun. But still, it didn’t end there. Tonight we watched a long, long, presentation by Philip, a very motivating and inspiring speaker, accompanied by his comedic friend, Cory. They told us the story about the Yakama tribe, and how this reservation came to be. They also told us about the current wealth of the reservation, and how you can pretty much survive just off what you find in the valley. We were amazed and laughing by the time they finished, but also tired. By the time they got wrapped up, it was 9:00pm. It was 9:00pm and the sky was still bright blue, what a perfect time to play soccer. We all went outside for the next half-hour or so until it got dark. At this point, it was time for our Devotionals. Devotional time is a time set out for thinking and reflecting on a series of passages from the Bible. Tonights was on a message portraying “there is no faith without work, and no work without faith.” It was basically an explanation saying that you can't just say you’re a Christian and get away with it. If you don’t do any work, you’re not a Christian. Not by a long shot. This goes both ways. I can already feel this trip changing me, the way I act, the way I feel, and just my basic understanding of the native culture (my understanding of the common native american was way off). I really like the interns and staff, they know how to make you smile and laugh from anything you give them. All-in-all, I hope to leave here knowing I’ve done something useful, something that other people will actually like me for. Something worth the trouble. Read More
2011 Caravan Trip to Yakima, WA - Day 1 - 6/19/2011	4:11 PM, Jun 27 2011
By Michael Monteblanco My name is Michael Monteblanco and I have been involved with Milwaukie Presbyterian for a long time. I have assisted with Vacation Bible School and holiday events that have required some extra hands to help set up. Here is a little information about me; I am a guy who has a lot of pride and who used to be a child who always wanted more because I wanted to compete against those who got more than me. I am not saying that I always got my way because my parents didn’t raise me like that. They wanted me to get involved with the church to find my own personal connection with god and my faith. I started off the day going to the Milwaukie Presbyterian Church to be involved with a prayer for a safe trip to Yakima. It wasn’t my first time attending church at Milwaukie Pres but it felt like it was, so I didn’t know what to expect since I’m a Catholic and we do masses(services) differently. The Milwaukie Pres service was based on the elements to life I believe, though I wasn’t sure because it had key components to life and joyfulness. The pastor gave us a blessing for a safe passage which was really nice because this is my second Caravan/Mission Trip. The last Caravan Trip was essential to my developing mind, since teens these days don’t appreciate what they have and don’t take in consideration on how fortunate they are. Basically I was ready to learn on how to make me a better person and how to influence others of the growth that I had due to volunteering. Once arriving at Moreland Presbyterian church at 1pm I was so excited and ready to get work done. The bus ride was long but I had Ali Henn to talk to and distract me from how long 3 hours can be. Arriving at the church, that my youth group would be staying at to help out in the reservation, took my breathe away. I expected the area to look differently but I saw graffiti everywhere and saw how dangerous this community might be. The risk of us coming face to face with gang related issues and stray dogs that are infected didn’t stop my ambition of helping the community out. This actually raised the stakes because I realized the people might be concerned about their community. I wanted to extend my hand further to help them. I’m looking forward to this trip to gain more understanding on how I can help out others, advice that I can use to further my faith, and to build up myself as an individual. Read More
June & July 2011 Events	4:08 PM, Jun 27 2011
End of the Year Party – Sunday June 5th, 5 to 8pm – Moreland Pres Parking Lot – Come one come all to our big end of the year party. There will be a BBQ, a band, games, and lots of fun. The event will be in the Moreland Pres parking lot, so invite your friends, because it’s going to be a great way to end the year! High School Caravan Trip – Sunday June 19th – Saturday June 25th – Yakima, WA – Our High Schoolers will be heading to Yakima, WA to work with Mending Wings, a non-profit that works intimately with the Native Americans on the Yakama Reservation. The youth will then return and report about their trip on Sunday June 26th during our regular worship service at Moreland Pres. Youth Group @ the Zoo – Wednesday July 6th, 10am to 3pm – The Oregon Zoo – We’re going to take a fun trip to the zoo to see the wildlife! Come experience the amazing creations that God has put on our Earth. I know I’m excited to see the elephants and the penguins! Bring a sack lunch (or bring money to buy your lunch their). We need a couple of parents willing to drive for and chaperone this trip. Camp-a-palooza Middle School Camp – Sunday July 10th – Friday July 15th – Camp Magruder (Rockaway Beach, OR) – Come experience the great outdoors, while having fun learning about God and the world created by God. This is a great experience and our Youth Director Josh is deaning the camp. So come and have some fun. If you’d still like to signup for camp, see Josh. He can get you the information. Scholarship money is still available! Youth Group @ the Timbers - Wednesday July 20th - 6:30pm-10:30pm - Come and cheer our local team, the Portland Timbers as they take on West Bromwich Albion from England. This event has limited seating, so please secure your spot as soon as possible. City Camp for Middle Schoolers – Monday August 1st – Friday August 5th – First Presbyterian Church (Portland, OR) – Our youth are joining the youth of First Pres Portland, Milwaukie Pres, Oak Hills Pres, and Westminster Pres Eugene, to experience a week of service. It’s a trip of service, fun, and experiencing God’s love in our lives. If you are interested in going on this trip, please fill out this registration form and give a $50 check to Josh to secure your spot: http://www.morelandpresbyterian.com/images/pdfs/youth/2011_City_Camp_Registration_Form.pdf Read More
May 2011 Events	4:03 PM, Jun 27 2011
Spring Explosion – April 29th- May 1st – Trout Creek Bible Camp (Corbett, OR) – Spring Explosion is the spring retreat for our Middle School youth. All 6th-8th graders will head to this event with our friends from Milwaukie Pres, where we get to spend the weekend with Presbyterian youth from all over the state of Oregon! This year’s theme is, “Squirrel!” and registrations are due April 18th. The retreat costs $70 per person and check the website and here is the flyer and registration form: http://www.morelandpresbyterian.com/images/pdfs/youth/2011_Spring_Explosion_Brochure.pdf Presbytery Camps – http://www.campcascades.org – Check the website for more information on the camps. The early registration deadline is May 5th (you’ll save $50 if you make this deadline). Josh will be the dean of Magruder Middle School Camp (July 10th-15th) so you should signup for that one! Here is the flyer and registration form: http://www.morelandpresbyterian.com/images/pdfs/youth/2011_Cascades_Presbytery_Camp_Brochure.pdf Outdoor Sanctuary Service Project – Sunday May 15th – 12:00noon to 2:00pm at Milwaukie Presbyterian Church – Milwaukie Pres has a wonderful wilderness space outside their church, and they have been working hard to restore the space to it’s natural state. We have the joy and privilege to help them with this project. Come ready to get dirty and work hard. Lunch will be provided! This event is open to both Middle School and High School-aged students, and we’ll be partnering with our friends in the Milwaukie Pres youth groups on this event. MANDATORY Caravan Trip Meeting – Sunday May 15th – 6:00 to 6:30pm at Milwaukie Presbyterian Church – This is our second mandatory meeting for all those planning to come on the 2011 Caravan Trip to Yakima, WA. Again, this is a meeting is open to youth and their parents. If you cannot make the meeting, please tell Josh ASAP so we can make alternate arrangements for you to get the information that will be provided at the meeting. The registration forms and covenant agreement are due at this meeting. If you need a replacement form please contact Josh (503-501-6519 or josh@morelandpresbyterian.com). City Camp – August 1st-5th at First Presbyterian Church (Portland, OR) – City Camp gives our Middle School-aged youth a chance to spend a week at First Pres downtown and do service projects and fun activities. If you are interested in going on this trip registrations and a $50 deposit is due Monday May 16th (note the deadline change). Talk to Josh for more info and here is the registration form: http://www.morelandpresbyterian.com/images/pdfs/youth/2011_City_Camp_Registration_Form.pdf Last Day of Sunday School – Sunday May 22nd – 11:00am to 12:00noon – I can’t believe it’s already here, but our last day of Sunday School for the school year is Sunday May 22nd. I really hope you can be there for our sending off class. We’ll have games & treats for those who attend, and be thanking all those people who helped out with the class this year. See you then! After Easter Egg Hunt – Sunday May 22nd – 3:00pm to 7:00pm at First Presbyterian Church (Portland, OR) – Woohoo, this event is gonna be a blast! We’ll be joining First Pres and Milwaukie Pres, as we head downtown for a city-wide scavenger hunt! It’ll be a blast and I hope everyone that is able can come. We’ll also need a couple of parents who would be willing to be adult chaperones for this event. This event is open to both Middle School and High School-aged youth. Read More
April 2011 Events	3:57 PM, Jun 27 2011
CIT Camp/Confirmation Retreat – April 1st-3rd – Suttle Lake Camp (Sisters, OR) – Anyone in the 2011 Confirmation Class or who is planning to be a camp counselor this summer will be attending this camp. It’s going to be a blast and a great weekend of team building and learning about your place in the world with God. Moreland Piano Series – Sunday April 10th – 3:30pm-6:30pm – We’ll again be providing refreshments for the piano concert series, this time happening in April. Come help raise funds for our 2011 Mission Trips; the High School Caravan Trip & Middle School City Camp. All Night Lock-in! – Friday April 15th @ 8pm to Saturday April 16th @ 8am – @ Milwaukie Presbyterian Church – Come enjoy a fun night of games, snacks, and conversation, like the lock-in we just had at Moreland. This time the event is hosted by our friends at Milwaukie Pres. Spring Explosion – April 29th- May 1st – Trout Creek Bible Camp (Corbett, OR) – Spring Explosion is the spring retreat for our Middle School youth. All 6th-8th graders will head to this event with our friends from Milwaukie Pres, where we get to spend the weekend with Presbyterian youth from all over the state of Oregon! This year’s theme is, “Squirrel!” and registrations are due April 18th. The retreat costs $70 per person and check the website or talk to Josh for more information. City Camp – August 1st-5th – City Camp gives our Middle School-aged youth a chance to spend a week at First Pres downtown and do service projects and fun activities. If you are interested in going on this trip registrations and a $50 deposit is due Monday May 15th (note the deadline change). Talk to Josh for more info and registration forms. Read More
March 2011 Events	6:00 PM, Feb 28 2011
MANDATORY Caravan Trip Youth & Parent Meeting – Sunday March 6th – 4pm-4:30pm – Milwaukie Pres – If you are planning to on the 2011 High School Youth Caravan Trip, then you need to attend this meeting along with your parents. This meeting will outline many of the initial steps for the trip and what can be expected. Please be there with your calendars ready! Youth Committee Meeting – Tuesday March 8th – 5:15pm-6:15pm – Youth Room – This is our monthly meeting we discuss all events, schedules, and pretty much anything that relates to the youth at Moreland Pres. This meeting is open to all members of the church and we’d love you all to attend and be involved! FESTAVOS Youth Fundraiser – Sunday March 13th – 4pm-7pm – Milwaukie Pres – This is Milwaukie Pres’ annual fundraiser for youth & local mission, that involves music, dinner, and a silent auction. The High School Youth at Moreland will be involved with this fundraiser since it goes to support the 2011 Caravan Trip. For more information click here. Canned Food Drive for the Oregon Food Bank – Ends March 15th – The Youth at Moreland Pres are “driving” to provide canned foods to support the Oregon Food Bank. We are competing against the lower grades, and whichever group wins gets a special prize at the end of the Food Bank during LOGOS night on March 15th. Please bring in your non-perishable items to support the Oregon Food Bank. Spring Break – March 19th – 26th – No Confirmation Class, High School Youth Group, or Middle School Youth Group UPDATE Field Trip to Mt. Tabor Pres – Sunday March 27th – 8:30am-11am – Meet at Milwaukie Pres to carpool – On this day we’ll head to Mt. Tabor Presbyterian Church to experience their 9am Coffee House Service. This event is open to all youth from 6th grade to 12th grade, and we’ll be heading there with our friends at Milwaukie Pres. I hope you all can make it! CIT Camp/Confirmation Retreat – April 1st-3rd – Suttle Lake Camp (Sisters, OR) – If you are presently in the 2011 Milwaukie/Moreland Confirmation Class and/or you’d like to be a counselor for the Presbyterian Camps this summer then you need to attend this weekend. The weekend costs $100 and registrations are due to the church by Wednesday March 9th. Talk to Josh for more info and registration forms. Spring Explosion – April 29th- May 1st – Trout Creek Bible Camp (Corbett, OR) – Spring Explosion is the spring retreat for our Middle School youth. All 6th-8th graders will head to this event with our friends from Milwaukie Pres, where we get to spend the weekend with Presbyterian youth from all over the state of Oregon! This year’s theme is, “Squirrel!” and registrations are due April 18th. The retreat costs $70/person and talk to Josh for more info and registration forms. City Camp – August 1st-5th – City Camp gives our Middle School-aged youth a chance to spend a week at First Pres downtown and do service projects and fun activities. If you are interested in going on this trip registrations and a $50 deposit is due Wednesday March 30th. Talk to Josh for more info and registration forms. Read More

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