A New High School Youth Group has formed between Norway Grove and Christ Lutheran Churches. The group calls themselves: The Community Christian Youth Group of DeForest (CCYGD on Facebook). The group is open to all high school kids from the community or surrounding community. We currently have about 15 active kids in the group between the grades of 9^th and 10^th from either Norway Grove, Christ Lutheran and from other denominations and the community.  Officers of the group are: * President: Justin Wiersma * Vice President: Will Hewuse * Secretary: Sarah Hoffman * Treasure: Clare Hoffman.   They will serve a term of one school year and new officers will be nominated from the group and elected. There are also 7 adult advisors - Tom and Diane Hewuse, Kent and Julie Hoffman, Pastor Kathy Ulrich, Vicki Elmer and Cheryl Holloway - to help organize driving, supervise meetings and suggest ideas when needed, but this a youth run group, which is self-funded by the kids through fund raising events. Meetings are held on Sunday nights, 7:30 to 8:30p at either Christ Lutheran or Norway Grove. The group’s mission statement is: To Serve God, Help In The Community, Respect One Another and Have Fun Doing It.Recently, the group went to a haunted house and corn maze. On Halloween, the group went trick-or-treating for D.A.N.N and rose over $100.00. Other events will include: Paint Ball with Jim Simpson; Cookie Walk/Sale (Funds to go towards gifts to buy of giving tree and care packages); Care Packages to church members in college and military personnel; Skiing with Jim Simpson and Wrapping Christmas presents at East Towne Mall (fund raiser).We all are very excited to be a part of this new group and to provide the high school kids a safe environment to be part of. We welcome anyone that would like to join this dynamic group of kids or any adults help out. Please contact Tom Hewuse, 279-5329, or email dabears89@hotmail.com

Thank you for your support and prayers - Adult Youth Leaders of CCYGD

Saturday, October 3^rd, 6:00 p.m.

Who:     Norway Grove Youth - Grades 2 to 12

Where:  Norway Grove Memorial Lutheran Church

When:   Check-in is at 6:00 pm in the sanctuary. 2^nd through 4^th grade students are invited to stay until 10:00 pm. Students in 5^th through 12^th grade can choose to stay overnight for a lock-in, or be picked up by parents at 10:00 pm.

Event Details:  Captive Free, a group of young adults who minister throughout the U.S., will assist Norway Grove’s Youth Leaders in guiding our kids though a faith-encouraging program of music, testimonies, and group-building activities. Those who stay overnight will have breakfast provided and should plan to attend the Sunday morning 8:00 a.m. service together.

So mark your calendars, tell your friends, and plan to join us for an evening of friendship, faith, and fun!

Contact:  For more details, contact Jill Buchheim.

Step by step, in perhaps small ways, the connection with our companion synod, the Northern Evangelical Lutheran Church in India, (NELC), is growing. One of the goals currently being fostered is the connection between young people here in the United States and in India. I wanted to share our recent experience in this venture. Our synod was fortunate enough to invite a young person from India to attend the Church-wide Youth gathering in New Orleans in July, and have it come to fruition. Martin Handsdak, the son of a pastor from our companion synod, was selected by the NELC to participate in this adventure. Several local congregations, along with Sugar Creek Bible Camp, participated in hosting Martin while he spent time here in Wisconsin. Norway Grove Memorial Lutheran Church combined with Christ Lutheran Church in DeForest to attend the Youth Gathering, so we invited him to spend time in  DeForest, living with the Hoffman family from Christ Lutheran Church, along with their 5 children, (three of which attended the gathering, along with both parents, Kent and Julie). Tom and Will Hewuse, Michelle Cesario, and I who are the four from Norway Grove that went on the trip to New Orleans, were able to spend time getting to know him here in Wisconsin, as well as in New Orleans.In October of 2007, on the last Synod trip to the NELC, unbeknownst to me at the time, I had met Martin’s father at the recording studio located in the Mission Compound. In fact, Martin’s father took us on a most fabulous field trip up into the mountains of India, where we were able to witness the great work God is doing in reaching out to people there with the Good News of Jesus Christ. With connections already forming between the NELC and the South Central Synod of and my connection and participation in the companion synod team, it was a natural fit to want to get to know Martin.The first time I met Martin in New Orleans, I got out my camera. There just happened to be some pictures still stored there from the trip to his home. Being a bit home sick, and culturally way out of his normal routine, it was a pleasure to see his face light up when I showed him pictures of his home town, the Mission house, his friends, and even his father at the recording studio. The connection was made.

Our group of young people bonded very well with Martin. We worshipped together, played together, ate together, and even went on a swamp tour together. Memories of our connecting will be around for along time. What delightful young man and wonderful experience to share each others culture and faith in Jesus Christ. By the time he left New Orleans, there were hugs enough to go around and tears in our eyes. Talk of how to meet again was of interest.  Perhaps now, some youth will travel to India, so see where Martin lives, and the connection will grow even deeper?

Are you on Facebook? Check out Norway Grove’s new Fan Page today! Log into your Facebook account and search for Norway Grove. Then be sure to click on the “Become a Fan” link.

Seventeen youth from Christ Lutheran Church and Norway Grove Memorial Lutheran Church are busily preparing for their trip to the National Youth Gathering this summer (July 22-26) in New Orleans. Please keep this group in your prayers as they plan for their trip to the Gathering. This Gathering will be different than previous Gatherings. The youth attending will enter into God’s presence in New Orleans to receive the witness of others and practice their faith through experiences in worship, prayer, play, service and learning. They will experience compassionate justice (serving as Jesus served) as they seek, serve and form relationships with the people of New Orleans. They will join in the effort to help the people continue to rebuild from Hurricane Katrina. They will hear the stories of those who lost their sisters, brothers, wives, husbands and children to the raging waters. Through all this, they will deepen their understanding of the basic Christian principles by which we live our baptismal calling to servanthood.

Fundraising has already started. A bake sale was held in early December raising over $300. Gift-wrapping was done at East Towne Mall on December 22. Thanks to all who helped! Over $990 was raised through this event.Super Bowl Sunday Subs took place on February 1, 2009. Thanks to all that ordered subs for the event!Our next fundraising event will be family Mardi Gras day on February 22, from 11:30am - 3:30pm, at Christ Lutheran. There will be games food, and a silent auction. Look at the weekly bulletin for further information.

HOW CAN YOU HELP? The cost to attend the Youth Gathering is expected to be $900-$1,000 per participant. To offset this cost, the youth are doing fundraising events and are seeking sponsorships and donations. A container for donations is available in the Fellowship Room on Sunday mornings. Checks can be made payable to: Youth Gathering - Christ Lutheran/Norway Grove.

Norway Grove’s first-ever Youth Rock! event was held on Saturday, September 20^th, and it was amazing!  We had 70 YOUTH, ages 5 to 17, come to experience a positive message which was presented through music led by the Norway Grove Praise Band, group building activities led by Jenna Ziemer, karate instruction from Tony Armstrong, and inspirational speaking from Fran Hewuse.  About half of the kids opted to stay for an overnight lock-in, which included gathering around a campfire for songs and a skit, coming in for quiet song time in the sanctuary, participating in Guitar Hero tournaments, watching the movie “Evan Almighty”, enjoying a delicious breakfast, and attending the 8:00 church service on Sunday morning.  It was an inspiring evening for everyone involved, and we really felt a strong connection to the youth of our congregation and community.   We hope this will be the first of many Youth Rock! events to come!  We have so many people to thank for the success of the evening!  Big thank you’s go out to Pete and Nichole Bachman for grilling burgers and hot dogs and serving the evening meal, to Steve Eicher for helping set-up the sanctuary and running the sound system and screen, to Veronica Eicher for helping set-up, getting kids registered and for staying overnight, to Kris Smith for coming in at 6:00 Sunday morning to help make breakfast, to Beth and Randy Krey for helping clean-up after the breakfast, to Kris Urban for making the nametags and keeping the lemonade jug filled all night, to Karen Kreis and Diane Hewuse for helping set-up and providing an extra hand throughout the night, to Dave Midthun, Jim Buchheim, and Tom Buchheim for helping with the candle lighting prayers, to Carol Janisch for participating with the group building activities and keeping the kids energized, to Teresa Midthun for staying overnight and helping pop the popcorn for the movie, to Kathy Williams for helping with basement clean-up, to the band members for all of their hard work, enthusiasm and ideas about how to make the big night a success, to Jenna, Fran, Joe, and Tony for sharing their talents and inspiring the youth, to Laura McGoveran for her help with all of the mailings and publicity, and to all of the parents who shared a few extra minutes with us helping organize kids, cleaning up rooms or sending along food and drinks to share. Your volunteerism was awesome and you helped make this a memorable night for so many kids!  Thank you!!

Jill Buchheim, Tom Hewuse, Tom Kreis, Troy Janisch, and Pastor Kathy