Lukers, Here We Come!

Disciple Update #4

Wed, 2 Dec 2009 14:48:35 -0500

Greetings, Disciple Team and Parents!
Here's your Disciple Update numero cuatro!

1) Sleep Houses. We spent most of our last meeting going over rules to the sleep houses. The main three things to keep in mind are be respectful towards your sleep house parents (be mindful of where you eat, put your towels and deodorant, etc.), put technology aside for the weekend (no TV, video games, preferably no music -- but feel free to supply board games or other fun non-techy stuff!), and don't worry about being the cool, popular disciple (you are all already extremely good-looking ;) ).

2) Talks. Be sure to write a draft of your talk and send it to your talk support person ASAP.

3) ****DECIDE ON SOMETHING TO GIVE UP NEXT WEEK*** This wasn't brought up at the last meeting, but this is muy importante, people! Here's the deal, us YATL's are challenging you to give something up next week. It has to be something tangible. So your mission to bring something to the meeting next Sunday that you plan on giving up for the week. It can be something literal (like video game controllers so that you won't be able to play at all) or something symbolic (like a CD to show that you won't listen to any music at all for a whole week). We encourage you all to be authentic with this challenge, pick something you really are passionate about, something that you will really be sacrificing for the sake of Luke 18. Again, this will be your challenge for next week, but it requires you to think of something this week.

***If you are having a difficult time thinking of something, a really good option would be to ask Katie, Melissa, or myself to change your facebook password for the week.

4) Pray, pray, pray. For the Lukers, for yourselves, and for each other.

That's it.

Thanks gang,
Joey and Melissa

Oh, and here's some musical inspiration for getting into the holiday spirit, brought to you by our favorite country-pop gal that wears sneakers instead of high heels: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aUYNm12nHw4

Disciple Update #3

Wed, 25 Nov 2009 14:46:04 -0500

Hey disciples and parents!
Happy Thanksgiving, y'all!
Since I'm in the holiday spirits, I'll try making this shorter for you. ;)
Here's your recap of last Sunday's meeting:

1) Small group names and partners.
Tina and Garrett- Twister
Michael and Kristin- Apples to Apples
Scott and Julia- Hungry, Hungry, Hippos
Billy and Emma L- Pretty, pretty princess
Gabe and Tori- Monopoly
Pat and Marisa- Don’t Wake Daddy
Zach and Grace- Chutes and Ladders
Elizabeth and James- LIFE
Melissa and Nick S.- Candyland
Molly B and Billy L- Clue
Katie S. and Nick C- Scrabble
Alex, Lexi and Karina- Battleship
Ami and Bridget- Mousetrap
Helen and Kevin- Guess Who
Rob, Brittany, and Emma G- Trouble
Brian, Catie S. and Liz D.- Operation

Keep in mind that these groups are tentative, and we will do some moving around if we think it is necessary. Also, remember it's your job to decorate your small group room and dress up on Friday night. We strongly encourage you to dress up like your small group. If you think it would be too difficult to dress up as your small group, at least dress up in some kind of board game costume.

2) Working in small groups. We simulated small groups and discussed how to resolve possible conflicts that might arise.

3) Homework. Your homework for this week has been to give up some of your time to work on your faith. On option that we presented was to come to mass on Saturday morning at 8:15. Katie said she'd go out to breakfast with us afterwards!

Also, some of you still haven't turned in your affirmations. PLEASE email them ASAP.

That's it! I missed you mucho last weekend and can't wait to see you this Sunday!

Grazie,
Joey and Melissa

Disciple Update #2

Tue, 17 Nov 2009 03:05:45 -0500

Guess who, disciples and ‘rents?

That’s right, it’s your friendly neighborhood YATLs with your Disciple Update #2!

Yeah … it’s another long email coming your way. Get excited!

Here’s a recap of last Sunday's meeting:

1) Liz and Brian’s (Biege, not Beige!) talk.
We, along with the Cori Team, heard a great and meaningful talk about the role we play on Luke 18. In our large group discussion, we shared our thoughts on the importance of letting God work through us, realizing that it is His work and not our own, and that we want Luke 18 to be more than just a fun experience for the Lukers. Speaking of fun …

2) Theme and its relevance.
Our board games theme is fun and awesome and all, but it can be so much deeper that! Even though, on the surface, board games seem to have nothing to with our relationship with God, there are a TON of meaningful points we can take from it. We talked about how certain games like Mouse Trap, Don’t Wake Daddy, Operation, and Monopoly make us see God in new, interesting, and meaningful ways. When you find your small group lost in awkward silence (which you will, trust me), it would be a great icebreaker to ask the Lukers about their favorite board games and then try to connect it to their Faith! In general terms, we talked about how the “your move” slogan really fits into our mission for the retreat by a) conveying to the Lukers that it is their responsibility to put their Faith in their own hands and b) a call of surrender to God and that it is ultimately His move. Speaking of your move …

3) Team Shirts.
For those of you who couldn’t make it to our meeting, THE TEAM SHIRTS ARE IN AND THEY’RE LEGIT! If you have your shirt, remember to wear them on Sundays at noon Mass to send a clear message to our parish that the Luke 18 team is pumped up and ready for Luke 18. Speaking of messages …

4) Talks.
The talks have been assigned! I cannot stress that both the CT talk and homily skit are REALLY important parts of our retreat! As the attachment indicates, each talk has a talk support person. These are your go-to comrades that are here to help you with your talks as much as you need. Never hesitate to get a hold of these people if you feel nervous, unsure, or creative about your talk or skit. Jason and Katie Sharp are leading the CT talk/homily group. So give your talk support peeps some loving this week let them know about any ideas you have. Speaking of giving some love…

5) Homework challenge.
The homework this week is to affirm your fellow disciples! Be sure to email us this week with the affirmations of those disciples that were assigned to you. Major props to the three disciples that have ALREADY emailed their affirmations: you know who you are! Ten points for you! And none for Gretchen Wieners (there’s another Mean Girls reference for you, Julia). Seriously though – get these in PRONTO. We’re putting them up on our website! Speaking of website …

6) Disciple page.
Yep! There is now a SECRET webpage on our youth ministry site made for you disciples and parents!!! It has our disciple updates, affirmations, and other information that is really important disciple stuff. We will be updating the page often, so be sure to check it often. To access it, go to sclparish.org and click YOUTH. That will take you to SCL’s Youth Ministry Site. Here’s where it gets sneaky. There is a bullseye-looking thingy above the calendar. Click the middle of it. Also, feel free to check out the rest of our website if you’ve never seen it before. Speaking of checking out things you may never have experienced before ...

7) Jr. High Night.
Ok hear me out. How cool would it be if you disciples got kind of a head-start on getting to know potential Lukers? YOU CAN! Go to SCL on Wednesday from 3:00-4:30 to help with the Junior High Night!!

Ok that’s all for now … my fingers are starting to cramp up ;)

Stay classy in Christ,
Joey

Affirmations

Tue, 17 Nov 2009 00:51:57 -0500

Here’s a running list of affirmations. We’ll post them as we get them emailed to us.

Brian Bach
- Brian, Brian, Brian... What to say? You always have a smile on your face, ready to brighten anyone's day. You are SO friendly, too; you have a Hello to offer everyone you meet and such a sweet aura about you. It's very easy to see God's love shining through you. Can't wait to Luke it up with ya!

Molly Baumgartner
- You are a great role model for Lukers as well as disciples involved in SCL Luke 18. Molly, you have great leadership skills and you are so easy to talk and relate to. I admire your strong faith and you encourage me to be a better Catholic because of your involvement in youth group- I also love that you live your faith and continue to act out what you learn in retreats. I look forward to seeing you Luke 18 weekend!

Billy Bommarito
- I have never met someone that can put a smile on everyone’s face so quickly. The second you open your mouth, we can expect to hear something that will make us laugh. Just your smile alone is contagious. The way you can always find the positive in a negative situation is an admirable quality. Though I do not know you very well, I feel as if I could walk up and start a conversation with you and not have it be the least bit awkward. You are inviting and ready to welcome anyone with wide open arms. Your profound insight on the topic during group discussions challenges me to think things through and allows people’s thoughts to go to a deeper level. It is a privilege to be able to spend so much time with you. Stay awesome!

- Billy is just Billy. He will talk to anyone that is around him like he has known them for years. He makes people feel welcome and comfortable in any situation. The insight he shares with others in youth group is very inspiring. Billy has a heart of gold and uses all of his gifts and talents to help everyone around him. Billy is one of the most genuine people I have ever met, and that is greatly appreciated by all.

Bridget Coyne
- The first thing I think of when I think of Bridget is strength. Bridget is one of the strongest people I have ever met. She is constantly challenging herself in all aspects of her life, including her faith. She loves each member of her family along with her faith family and you can see this love for them through her daily actions. Bridget is an inspiration to me and I look to Bridget as a role model for expressing my faith. Bridget is filled with love for her faith and it’s incredible. I always love being with Bridget and she is always very easy to talk to. I can talk to Bridget about anything. She is one of those people that you can just walk up to and she will listen to you even if she most likely doesn’t care. But she is such a caring person and is concerned for others and is interested in everyone’s life and is always there to help. I don’t know how many times I have struggled in school and Bridget has been there to help me through it or take time out to help explain it. She is always worried about others and puts herself last. This is a quality of Bridget that I find incredible. I struggle with putting others first and Bridget has been a role model for me in helping me develop and become a better person. Also Bridget has helped me become stronger in my faith. Bridget has been through so much and yet she still cares for others instead of herself. She is an inspiration to me and others in her life.

- Bridget I have known you for many years, at SCL and Cor Jesu, and the first thing that comes to mind is your happy attitude and big smile. Every time I see you at youth group you are having a great time laughing and joking around and whether you know it or not your attitude has an affect on others. I also admire your strong faith- you are very involved in the youth group and retreats :) Thanks for always being yourself and I can't wait to have a great Luke 18 experience with you

Helen Demse
- When we met I looked up to you because of your self motivation, hard work, and amazing personality. Through the years we have hung out and become really great friends. You have helped me through tough times in my life and have been there for me on so many occasions. thank you for being such an amazing awesome person.

Liz Demse
- You have such an amazing personality. Whenever I see you, you look so happy to talk to me and it makes me feel good. You are always so positive and so happy and I really admire your dedication to your faith. Ever since I met you at CJ, I have always looked up to you and you really inspire me to work harder in my relationship with Christ. I think it is awesome that you still take the time out of your busy college life to help out with SCL and Luke 18. Thank you for always having a smile on your face, it gives me a reason to smile, too.

- Many of you know Liz and for those who do not, she will make it a point to get to know you. Liz is an amazing person with an even more amazing personality. Her glass is always half full and never half empty. She always focuses on the positives and leaves all the bad behind her. When Liz enters a room I truly believe the room lights up purely by her presence. She is strong in her faith, strong in her self, and a very dear friend. Liz Demse is always reliable and always there.

Elizabeth DiMaggio
- Elizabeth is a very cool person and very faith-filled. I have only known her for less than a year I think, but she is really nice and easy to talk to. I love seeing her at youth group stuff, mass, and out and about. I look forward to spending more time with her preparing for and on Luke 18.

- Elizabeth, I do not know you very well, but every time I have ever talked to you, you are always really, really nice. It seems like you are this nice with everyone, and I think that is a great thing to have. You can always lighten up someone's day with your smile or just being there for them. I was very happy to see you in the group of disciples for this year, and I hope that it will be a great experience for you.

Garrett Edler
- Patience is the first word that pops into my cerebellum when I hear your name. You offer so much dedication to the lukers and your fun, happy spirit just feeds everyone's enthusiasm. I think you are a truly wonderful guy because you are open and friendly to everyone you meet. Then, of course, there's the fact that you are ALWAYS ready for a good laugh (and often supply them quite readily). I'm looking forward to the weekend with you, man :)

- It is truly hard to narrow down Garrett's strengths, but I will do my best. Garrett is the type of person who always acts straight from the heart. He has a warm smile that lights up a room. Garrett will always listen to people and what they have to say without passing judgment. Sometimes he'll put in his two cents, but I love the fact that he takes people as they are and really hears what they have to say about things. Furthermore, Garrett is extremely genuine. His face and actions always coincide. He epitomizes the ideal disciple, not just for Luke 18, but for all of life.

James Faust
- Wow, where to start? James you’re a great guy and a great friend. You always make things fun when there’s nothing to do and always know how to make a group laugh. If I ever needed anything I know I could come to you and talk to you about it and you would give great advice. You’re really funny and fun to hangout with. You’re just so amazing I don’t know what to say ha ha ha ha lol.

- James, I have known you since the first grade and you are a very easy person to talk to. You have always been very friendly and can cheer someone up with your great hugs. You’re a very smart guy and you always bring something great to the table. I’m so glad that we have been friends for so long. You are great at making people laugh and I like that about you.

Tina Furrer
- Tina is one of the most confident people i have ever met. She inspires others to have some more confidence and to try new things. She doesn’t seem to care what other people think and is her own unique person. Not only is she confident in her personality, but she is confident in her faith. She takes the opportunity to participate in youth group and shares her love and kindness with others. Tina is a great person!

- Tina, when I first hear the name Tina Furrer the first word that comes into my head is WOW! Tina is one of a kind. She does the craziest things and is never embarrassed to do them. Her loving, caring, enthusiastic personality will make her a fantastic leader. I know I can go to Tina about anything, because I know she will always be there to listen to what I have to say. Tina is extremely passionate about her faith. In no way is Tina embarrassed to admit to being involved in her youth group. Tina is going to make an amazing leader because she is going to really listen to what the lukers have to say and she is going to strengthen them in their belief in God. Im excited to experience Luke 18 with you!

Alex Gable
- Alex, although I have only been on one Steubenville retreat with you, it has been wonderful getting to know you better. You are very easy to talk to about anything. Since I first introduced myself to you, I have always felt welcome around you and enjoy sharing laughs. I thank you for your kindness and openness.

- I haven’t known you for long, but what I do know of you is amazing. You are someone that you can talk to and tell about anything and you always can find a way to help!! Which is AWESOME!!! You are a really sweet guy and you always seem up beat and happy. You’re always willing to help when someone needs it and are a very generous person. You also, always have funny stories to tell and never make it awkwardly silent.

Emma Geisler
- Emma, you are such a great girl! I love spending time with you, and I’m so glad we’re doing Luke 18 together this year. You always make me laugh. You are going to be an amazing Disciple and I know the Lukers are going to learn so much from you, and they’re going to love having you as their leader! I’m looking forward to growing closer to God with you, and getting help from you with that along the way. You are one of the nicest people I have ever met and you always have a minute to share with me and I love you for that. Thanks for being one of the best friends I have, I’m excited for the rest of the upcoming planning meetings and the retreat itself!

- I think that Emma is such a cute and loving girl with such natural beauty. She always has a smile on her face and I don’t think I’ve ever seen her in a bad mood. When I walk though the halls of Ursuline and see her, she always looks refreshed with a positive attitude. Emma you are a fantastic girl and you always seem to brighten up the room. You are so beautiful inside and out and I love that you are such a bright and happy girl. You seem like you always look at the glass half full and have a great view on life.

Robert Golterman
- Rob, you might be the funniest kid I know. You also might be the smartest kid I know. I have seen that you have worked so hard throughout high school to become an incredible student, athlete, and person. I am so happy to see you come back to Luke 18 every year even though you are very busy. I think it shows that you really care about your faith and really care about strengthening your relationship with God. I consider you a very good friend of mine, and I hope to stay friends forever and help strengthen each other's relationship with God.

Melissa Keating
- Melissa, you are such a wonderful person. Ever since I first met you, you have been nothing but nice. I always enjoy seeing you, because you are always so happy, and you give great hugs. I have missed you since you have been away at college, but I am excited that I will be seeing you for Luke 18. I am so glad that I met you, because your faith in God has fueled mine. I just love seeing you and hearing you talk about God. I truly admire your faith and love.

- You are such a confident and beautiful person. You inspire me to be true to myself. When I am upset I can call you and you will make me feel better. You really are a fantabulous role model and seeing you when you are back from school brightens my life.

Emma Laurentius
- When I hear the name Emma, I always think of the one and only EMMA LAURENTIUS. She is the most genuine and surreal person I have ever met. I am very blessed to say that she is one of my best friends because she is someone you can always count on. She is always there when you need her help and if you ever need someone to tell you the honest truth, she is the one to do so. Her personality is not like anyone else and I am able to feel comfortable and be myself when I am with her. Even if we are just doing something random or just sitting around the time spent with Emma is always a memorable one. Emma is a great person who will fight for what is right and be completely against something if it is wrong. Because I’m such a scholarly person I looked up the meaning of Emma, which means universal, whole, or complete. And when I think of Emma this name truly fits her personality because she always puts her best effort forward and her whole heart into anything she does. She is truly a great character and I love her dearly. Also when researching the name Emma it is said that in the bible the Hebrew meaning of the name Emma means healer. This Hebrew meaning describes Emma because whenever I feel down or need help with any situation she is always there to make me feel better and heal me. Emma may seem tough on the outside but she is the sweetest person on the inside. Her sense of humor is genuine and every minute spent with Emma is never dull. Emma is truly a unique person. She is compassionate towards everyone around her and she cares about every person. She has not only helped develop me into becoming a better person, but after knowing Emma and being friends with Emma for the past ten or so of my life, I have truly become a better person not only in my faith but in my life. Emma has made me realize things in life that I would have never known before. And looking back at our years in grade school and the great times we have shared, she has truly made an impact on my life. Emma is one of my best friends and I know she will always be there for me.

- Oh Emma, It has been way too great growing up with you. You are such funny and admirable person. If someone is having a bad day, you are always there to cheer them up. Sometimes the things you say make me wonder what goes through your mind, but I love you for that. I am so glad that we have remained such good friends all these years. You have never let me down.

Zach Manuel
- I first met Zach on my eighth grade Luke 18. The only thing I really knew about him that he was Peggy’s son but I got to know a little more about him when we were in the hallway after Luke 18 playing with the water fountain. We were testing out all of the ways you could drink out of a water fountain. I remember thinking that Zach and his friends were really cool. Zach has a great personality and can make anyone smile. He can always make someone laugh. I don’t see him that much but when I do, he acts like ive seen him every day and makes me feel very welcomed and comfortable. Zach Manuel is a great guy with a big heart!

Julia Merlo
- Julia, you are an amazing person, everything you do always has the power to bring a smile to my face. I’m really excited to be on the team with you, grow closer to you, and learn from you in these upcoming months. I love the energy you always carry with you, it makes everyone feel loved and included. Every time I talk to you I feel as though you care about everything I say because you are such a great listener; I love telling you about my life or just sharing a joke. You are going to make a great Disciple and I know your small group will love having you as their leader and they’re going to learn so much from you. Thanks for being amazing and the life of our meetings!

Tori Montgomery
- You are so happy. You have such a contagious happiness, I can always count on you to make me laugh. Even though you have been through so much in your life, you still manage to smile. I really admire that about you. I think it’s great that you keep coming back to youth group, and I loved getting to know you more over fall retreat and junior/senior. I am so blessed to know you and I wanted to say thank you for always brightening my day.

- Tori, you are amazing. I love going on retreats with you. We don’t see each other much, but the times we do are great. You always say what’s on your mind, and it amazes me. You have such good insight, and you are so nice. When we first met we weren’t that close, but I feel like we have grown so much, and I really enjoy having you as a friend.

Molly Moran
- Molly has had one of the most difficult life journeys of anyone I know. Any yet, somehow, her faith has come out stronger than anyone I know. Molly was a beacon of light to me all throughout our days at Lindbergh. In times when I felt it would have been easy to turn to sin, Molly used her logic and humorous nature to bring me back to God's reality. Molly has a wonderful voice that is meant to praise the Lord. Additionally, Molly has the courage that many lack. She knows when she finds truth and always points it out to others. We need someone who has carried her cross and who now has her bravery to be an unwaivering disciple of Christ on this year's Luke 18 team.

Brittany Pallme
- Brittany, even though I haven’t personally known you that long but from what I have seen you have always been very welcoming and sincere to everyone. You are always friendly to me at meetings and you never have something bad to say. You are very easy to talk to, and I feel like I could confide in you. You have very good input to offer at our meetings and you are very inspirational. I love that you’re always happy and willing to help!

- You are such a great person.You’re always so nice to everyone and joke around which is fun. You're just really fun to be around because you're always so accepting of everyone and hug everyone. I'm jealous of your acceptance because sometimes i find it hard to be kind to people or i judge them but even if you do that you don't let it show you just show your kindness and that's what cares. You have a very strong personality and i know you will do great in college because you're such a great friend and so good at making them. I wish you peace and I'll be praying for you especially during Luke 18 ;)

Nick Schmidt
- Nick, thank you for just being you. I love talking to you, whether it be at Mass, Steubenville, or prayer nights. You always think things through and look past what simply lies on the surface. You offer tremendous insights in group discussion and say things that help me learn and grow in my faith. Your sense of humor is wonderful and keeps me in a cheerful mood. May God continue to bless you along your faith journey in life.

Pat Schmidt
- Pat is a very genuine and kind person. He goes out of his way to share his compassion and care with others. Pat welcomes everyone into his life. He is an active listener, a quality I know I struggle with along with many other individuals, and it truly is a gift from God. Spending time with Pat is always a gift for me, and I’m sure many feel the same way.

Catie Schroeder
- I think it is great how you share so much during the meetings. I can see that you are growing stronger in you faith. I am excited about this upcoming Luke 18 with you.

- Catie, I’ve known you since grade school but I never really had many chances to talk to you. I think you are really pretty. You are so bubbly and enthusiastic at the meetings and I love listening to your ideas because you have so much to offer. You are very friendly and willing to talk to everyone. You show so much confidence and I really admire that.

Katie Sharp
- I can truly say that you are one of a kind. If I was given a dollar for every time I caught you smiling, I would be a millionaire in no time. Your loving and witty personality is a magnet. People are instantly drawn to you. You are one of the people that makes Luke 18 so enjoyable each year. We are blessed to have someone like you help lead the retreat. You are not afraid to be yourself and this is a quality I think many people wished they possessed. I can always look to you to be a role model. If I am having a bad day, I can always turn to you to give me a good, healthy laugh. Thank you for being one of my role models. Never change, you are perfect the way you are.

Kristin Stroble
- Kristin is one of my best friends. We have known each other forever it seems and it is really easy to talk to her and I love being around her. I know that she is very genuine in her faith and she spends alot of time at youth group and on retreats etc. Awesome person.

Scott Trafton
- Oh Scott, Where to begin? I think you are a great guy and I know many other people think the same way; you have a great personality which reflects on others. You are a role model to so many, even though you may not realize that. When you led Cori Team last year, so many of them couldn’t stop talking about how much fun they had with you as their leader and what a great talk you gave. They really respect you, then again what isn’t there to respect about you; you are great!

Gabe Vitale
- Gabe you rock. You are a great guy and very funny. I am excited about this upcoming Luke 18 with you.

- Gabe its truly been awesome to be around you at youth group. You're so kind and loving to everyone in it and are very funny as well. I think your laugh is awesome, and you're so fun to be around because you are nice to everyone. Its been fun to watch you grow in youth group, and it really shows. You have such a unique personality in a very good way and have the great characteristic of not caring what other people think of you and just doing your own thing. I hope you're having fun in college and i'll be praying for you.

Lexi Werner
- Lexi, is one of the sweetest people I know. I’ve known you a good chunk of my life and know that you are always willing to listen to others problems and help them get through the hard times they are going through. You have an absolutely amazing personality, which I know the lukers will look up to. You are always so friendly and whenever I see you, you are always smiling. You are very passionate about your faith, which makes you a great leader. I can’t wait to experience Luke 18 with you.

Extra Credit Homework!!!

Tue, 17 Nov 2009 00:21:16 -0500

Wanna gain some disciple extra credit for the week? Here’s your chance. Your challenge, should you choose to accept it, is to leave a comment on the Luke 18 event page about awesome it’s going to be this year! Just click here post a comment on the page!

Talk and Skit Groups

Mon, 16 Nov 2009 15:07:35 -0500

Click here to see what talk/skit group you are in! Be sure to check who your group coach is is - that is your go-to person when it comes to that group. Whether its a talk or the homily skit, your assigned support adult will help you however he or she can.

Disciple Update #1

Fri, 6 Nov 2009 08:02:49 -0500

Hey there, Disciples and parents!

Great meeting on Saturday! And happy belated Halloween to those of you who couldn't make it!
I hope you are all as pumped as I am for this year's Luke 18!!
We have a truly awesome team this year, and man are we going to need it!

For those of you who couldn't join us, here's a recap of the main points from Saturday's meeting:

WARNING: This is a pretty long email. Sorry. But please read it! Feel free to read it to the tune of "Single Ladies" if that helps.

1) YATL's.
Melissa Stumpf and myself are your Young Adult Team Leaders for this year's Luke 18!! WOOT WOOT!!

2) RESPECT.
I know, it's obvious, but we really need you to be on your A-game when it comes to being cooperative. We have an all-time record of 100 possible Lukers on the list this year, and our ability to take them all relies on you. Melissa and I are totally confident that we have an elite squad of disciples this year, but we are counting on your respect. Among other things, this includes putting your cell phones away during meetings and on the retreat, shutting up whenever we ask, and cooperating with us when we ask something of you. I know I sound like a fun-sucker, but we really really need your respect. K? Thanks.

3) ATTENDANCE.
With such a large number of Lukers this year, we need more than just your respect. We need your commitment. It is essential that you make it to as many meetings as possible. Let me be clear. Eh-em: DISCIPLES CANNOT MISS MORE THAN TWO (2) (DOS) MEETINGS. This includes the Lock-in as well as the meeting last Saturday. I know that you lead very busy lives. We get it; we're busy too. But we find the time to make it fit.

If you think you will have to miss more than two meetings, contact Melissa, myself, or Katie Lucchesi. Again, we really need to be prepared for the massive number of Lukers this year and that cannot be accomplished without your attendance and dedication to the retreat. These meetings are really really really important. The dates of the meetings are provided at the end of the email just in case you forgot.

Obviously, because of the whole distance issue, this rule does not apply to college students.

4) THEME.
This year's theme is ... drumroll please ... BOARD GAMES! That's right, board games. Our theme is inspired by the bible verse from Proverbs 16:9 "Your heart plans your way, but the Lord directs your steps." Basically, even though we are responsible for our actions, God always places twists and turns in our lives that lead us into unexpected territory and ultimately to a deeper understanding of His love. We think it's a really fitting theme for the 7th and 8th graders and that it will be oodles of fun on the weekend!

But we need your help. Each small group will be a board game, and the board games we pick are up to you! We already threw around some games at Saturday's meeting, but PLEASE email us with any board games that you would like to be a small group. Also, FYI, the team shirts this year are SAWEEET, and we should have them ready for you in a few weeks. Get excited, folks!

5) ROLE OF A DISCIPLE.
At the meeting, we discussed what our role as a Disciple really means. We had a really good discussion about what discipleship entails, like being a servant, being positive, seeking out those who are quiet, and being real and not hypocritical. The Lukers and Corinthians are going to look to you Disciples as role models of how to live out the Faith. This doesn't mean you have to be perfect, but it does mean you should be honest and open about your struggles. You will change lives on the weekend of Luke 18, whether you see it or not, and that comes with some major responsibilities.

6) HOMEWORK.
Ok maybe don't think of it as homework. Let's call it ... your weekly challenge! To start things off, your first challenge has two parts.

A) Think about a talk you would like to give on the retreat. Take some time to reflect on an experience that you would like to share with the Lukers and pray about which talk that experience best fits. The talks this year are:

- Our Father's Invitation
- Who Am I?
- My Family
- My Faith Family
- What it Means to be a Member
- Hurting and Making Up
- Prayer
- Our Special Mission

Please email Melissa, Katie, or myself with your top 3 choices (in order). If you would prefer not to give a talk, you can say that in your email.
Joey: vitalej17@me.com
Melissa: mstumpf4@slu.edu
Katie: klucchesi@sclparish.org

AND

B) You have to call either Melissa or myself. Just to chit chat. It can be as relaxed or as serious as you would like. My number is 314-330-1470. Melissa's is 314-814-2007. If you call us and we don't pick up, please either leave us a voicemail or text us a good time to call you back. Both of us will usually be free after 7:30 most nights. Just don't bother us during Glee on Wednesdays at 8 :).

Both the emailing of the talks and the calling of a YATL are due by TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 10th!! WRITE IT ON YOUR HAND. NOW!

And I know what you're thinking. "Joey, won't you feel bad after everyone decides to call Melissa instead of you?" Yeah I know, that's why I made Nick Schmidt promise to call me so I would at least talk to one person ;)

Okay, that's all for now. I hope to see most of you at the next meeting on Sunday, November 15th after mass!

Most importantly, please start praying for the Lukers. And know that Melissa and I are praying for all of you.

Peace, love, and happiness,

Joey Vitale

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Mandatory Meeting Dates

Sunday, November 15 12:00 (mass) - 4:00 PM
Sunday, November 22 12:00 (mass) - 4:00 PM
Sunday, November 29 12:00 (mass) - 4:00 PM
Sunday, December 6 12:00 (mass) - 4:00 PM
Sunday, December 13 Talk review - scheduled appointments
Monday, December 28-Tuesday, December 29 Lock-In
Thursday, January 7 Setup 6PM-9PM(ish)