The Jr. High youth group is for students in grades 5-8.  The group holds a monthly get together, generally held on a Sunday, in the youth room.  During our get togethers we join together in a topical discussion, play a game or two and enjoy a snack and Christian fellowship with each other.  The group holds an annual outing to Zao Island in Valparaiso in the month of June, and in 2009 we started to attend the annual Jr. High Rally at Camp Lutherhaven in September. 

The Jr. High youth group is for students in grades 5-8.  The group holds a monthly get together, generally held on a Sunday, in the youth room.  During our get togethers we join together in a topical discussion, play a game or two and enjoy a snack and Christian fellowship with each other.  The group holds an annual outing to Zao Island in Valparaiso in the month of June, and in 2009 we started to attend the annual Jr. High Rally at Camp Lutherhaven in September. 

We are continuing our Wonka-Mania series, where we are looking at the various characters in the movie “Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory.  In May, we focused on Charlie Bucket, the finder of the fifth and final Golden Ticket.

Charlie was a breath of fresh air when compared to the other Golden Ticket finders.  He cared about others, especially those in his family and was willing to share with and help others.

But was he perfect?  Oh no!  He and Grandpa Joe stayed behind to try Wonka's Fizzy Drinks which lifted them to the ceiling.  They thought no one would know, but Wonka did.  In the end, he told Charlie that they lost because they had broken the rules.  Charlie was heart-broken -- not because he didn't get the chocolate, but because his friendship with Mr. Wonka was damaged.  He returned his Everlasting Gobstopper in an act of repentance.  Wonka was impressed by his honesty and rewarded Charlie with his factory.

 

Charlie's attitude showed a different heart than his other ticket friends.  The devil tries to fill our heart with all kinds of clutter -- lies, deceit, slander, theft, jealousy, and the list goes on.  We are blessed with God's forgiveness and His fruits of the Spirit -- love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control.

Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a right spirit within me.  Psalm 51:10

We are continuing our Wonka-Mania series, where we are looking at the various characters in the movie “Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory.  In May, we focused on Charlie Bucket, the finder of the fifth and final Golden Ticket.

Charlie was a breath of fresh air when compared to the other Golden Ticket finders.  He cared about others, especially those in his family and was willing to share with and help others.

But was he perfect?  Oh no!  He and Grandpa Joe stayed behind to try Wonka's Fizzy Drinks which lifted them to the ceiling.  They thought no one would know, but Wonka did.  In the end, he told Charlie that they lost because they had broken the rules.  Charlie was heart-broken -- not because he didn't get the chocolate, but because his friendship with Mr. Wonka was damaged.  He returned his Everlasting Gobstopper in an act of repentance.  Wonka was impressed by his honesty and rewarded Charlie with his factory.

 

Charlie's attitude showed a different heart than his other ticket friends.  The devil tries to fill our heart with all kinds of clutter -- lies, deceit, slander, theft, jealousy, and the list goes on.  We are blessed with God's forgiveness and His fruits of the Spirit -- love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control.

Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a right spirit within me.  Psalm 51:10