Go Karting, Beach Bummin’, Gaga Balling, and Alligator Eating

The summer has flown by, and here we are at the start of a new school year. I have not even been here a full year, and already I have had the privilege to build relationships with countless youth in our community. All I have to say is “Yay God!”

By the church we stayed at in the Dells.

Our summer kicked off with a weekend trip to Wisconsin Dells with six of our 9th grade students. We spent two days in the park, riding A LOT of go karts (and getting stuck!) and a few water slides. This weekend also provided a unique opportunity to talk about what it meant to be confirmed and to ask questions that haven’t yet been answered. I also had the fortune to get to know some of our small group leaders better, and to hear some of their experiences, frustrations, and joys about their role in confirmation.

VBS crafts!

The following week we invited over 90 youth, and more than 30 volunteers (of all ages) into our building for a week of Beach Bash fun for Vacation Bible School (VBS). Each day we sang songs, collected offering, heard stories, made crafts, played games, and so much more that all revolved around one teaching from the Bible. We learned together what it means to know that God is the way, the truth, and the life, and had lots of fun doing it! We also reached our offering goal of $250, and were able to purchase a fish pond through the ELCA Good Gifts store, which means we provided a pond, fish, fish food, and education to a community that will now be able to keep a sustainable food source.

Campfire.

The second week in July, six middle school students and I hopped in the van and drove 3 hours to Okoboji Lutheran Bible Camp in Milford, Iowa. All of the students stayed in cabins with youth from other churches, and had a counselor or two that devoted their whole week to these youth. The week’s theme was Alive!, and we talked all week about how God is not dead, he is alive! There was time for Bible study, great food, campfires, and free time—during which all of our youth made it out on the lake tubing on a giant inflatable hot dog! We also got to play a lot of Gaga Ball, which is a game like dodgeball, but played in a confined space, and the ball is only thrown at your feet. It’s very intense.

Worship in New Orleans.

Shortly after returning from camp, I jumped on a bus with about 40 others from Austin for a 20+ hour ride to New Orleans! We joined almost 34,000 other Lutherans for daily worships, service projects, Bible studies, and a little sightseeing too. I had the good fortune of running into a lot of friends and mentors from my life, which was exciting for me. I also mentioned to our group that one of my goals was to eat alligator, so on our last full day down there, Jessica and I ordered some deep fried alligator, and brought it upstairs. We shared it with most of our group, and had some takers and some that probably will never try it again. (I enjoyed it thoroughly.)

I tried to keep it short, but so much happened that I wish I could share with all of you! Always feel free to stop by my office, or check out the website where we have loads of pictures from all of our adventures this summer. I am grateful for the opportunity to have served and received so much already, and I look forward to the ways in which God will sow the seeds he has planted in so many this summer.

God’s Peace,
Ashley

Summer Camp!

We have had 3 full days at camp, and only 1 is left! It has been an amazing week of games, Bible studying, worshiping, eating, and so much more. We have 8 middle school students at Camp Okoboji this week, and I consider it an amazing blessing for our congregation!  This week's theme is "Alive!" and everything is to the theme of Indiana Jones. Each day we learned a memory Bible verse to the tune of a different popular song. The overall theme for the week is 1 Thessalonians 5:9-10.

 For God chose to save us through our Lord Jesus Christ, not to pour out his anger on us.  Christ died for us so that, whether we are dead or alive when he returns, we can live with him forever.

He's not dead, Jesus is alive!

Campfire worship with camp director Dan, and one flaming fire!

The boys heading out tubing--do you see the "Jumbo Dog" they get to ride on?

(Click on the "Photo Album" tab at the top for more photos of our week so far!)

I wish more families could get a glimpse of what happens at camp, because each youth is surrounded by counselors whose goal it is to surround them each with God's love and their undivided attention.  Tonight we experienced what they call Mime Worship.  It is a very moving time where we watched the story of Jesus unfold through music and dramatic movement.  It was an emotion-filled night, and we closed with worship through song.  While we were singing, counselors and campers had the opportunity to pray one-on-one with each other, and lift up anything that may have been heavy on their hearts.

How often do we take the opportunity to pray with each other in such a genuine manner?

I have also had the blessing of being in fellowship with some great staff and members of other congregations represented this week.  This morning, I even had the opportunity to share a devotional time with the camp staff. This is a powerful week for all of us, and I pray that the seeds planted this week will continue to flourish long after we leave this blessed place.

In His Peace,
Ashley

Look Up to Jesus!

Today's memory verse is Psalm 56:3, which says, "When I am afraid I will trust in You."

In the weeks and days leading up to VBS I was a little nervous.  I knew there would be lots of kids coming through our doors, lots of adults and youth ready to help, and I knew we had the supplies, but what if someone didn't show up?  What if I forgot something?  What if more kids showed up than what we were ready for?  (Okay, that would actually be a great problem to have!)  But when Monday rolled around, most of the volunteers showed up, the couple supplies I forgot to put away didn't matter, and more kids arrived--but we were ready for them!

Whenever I am afraid, Lord, I will remember to trust You!  God works in and through all situations, and I am grateful to say that VBS is running rather smoothly thus far.  But more than that, I've gotten to spend some time with some of these kids, see their faces light up, hear them answer questions I didn't know they could, understand stories from the Bible in new ways, and see the sparks between them and their classmates and leaders.

Theme Center: examining grains of sand.

Big D's Diner: enjoying Look Up treats!

Preschoolers playing Duck-Duck-Grey Duck.

God is doing his thing, and I couldn't feel more blessed to be with these people this week.  Thanks be to God, and thanks be to all of the children, families, and helpers this week!


In His Peace,
Ashley

VBS in 3, 2, 1,... GO!

'Tis the night before VBS, and all through the building,
it looks like a beach, where children will be stirring!

(Okay, sorry, overly cheesy,...)  Well St. Olaf is decorated and ready for the 82+ children and 30+ volunteers to flood in tomorrow morning! We have so many activities planned, and through the course of each 3 hour day, God will be planting so many seeds in the hearts of children, youth, AND even adults! This will be an amazingly blessed week, and I invite all congregation members to stop in between the hours of 9 and noon to see what's going on!

For those that will be joining us, one way you can join in the fun is by participating in COLOR DAYS! Each day of the week, we're encouraging the children, volunteers, staff, and innocent bystanders to wear a certain color:

Tuesday-BLUE

Wednesday-GREEN

Thursday-RED

Friday-ORANGE/YELLOW

And finally, just in case you missed it this morning, check out the sanctuary!

Thank you to all of those that are supporting this week--financial donors, volunteers, pray-ers, and shoppers! It wouldn't be happening without you!!

"I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me."
-John 14:6

God's Peace,
Ashley

Sun, Water, and Waves!

This past weekend we loaded up the church van and spent a couple days in Wisconsin Dells with six of our 9th grade students.  It was a fun weekend of water slides, roller coasters, go karts, fellowship, food, and some worship.  We stayed at a beautiful little church right in the Dells,... thank you Bethany Lutheran for your hospitality!

We did get into some discussion Saturday evening about baptism, and what it means for them to be confirmed in the fall.  Some of us had memories of our baptisms, and there were some good questions asked by the youth.  Here are some more questions to ponder at home (for all ages!):

When were you and/or your kids baptized?

Do you ever talk at home about what that promise is?

Do you know what it really means to be confirmed?

Thanks for a fun weekend, and I look forward to more great discussion in the fall!

God's Peace,
Ashley

Greetings!

Greetings from the St. Olaf office of Ashley Corbett!  I've started a blog now to keep everyone up to date on the happenings here with St. Olaf families.  To kick things off, I want to share a little bit about the baccalaureate community worship I had the pleasure of attending last night.

The theme of the evening, as selected by student leaders, was "Make a Joyful Noise," and boy did they!  There was a student worship band (whom you see in the picture), a choir, and a string ensemble.  The keynote speaker of the evening was Pastor Rob Zahn (from Spirit Alive Church in Kenosha, WI), and we focused on the scripture Mark 4:35-41, which is when Jesus calms the storm.  He reminded us that Jesus never promised to calm the storm, but he did promise to calm us.  So hold on tight for the ride of your life when you're on that boat and the waves are crashing over the edge, and all you want to do is is make it stop, because God is protecting you.

Congratulations class of 2012, may you continue to seek God's call in your life!

 God's Peace,
Ashley