LEGACY 5K

Last Sunday, Yourfriendlyneighbourhoodyouthpastor (and 1000 others) participated in the annual Legacy 5k run/walk for Markham Stouffville Hospital

Proceeds from the Legacy Run benefit patients in our Maternal/Child unit, which provides specialized care to mothers, newborn babies and paediatric patients through a family-centred interdisciplinary model of care.

Funds from this years run will support the neonatal intensive care unit to ensure more newborns receive access to intensive care, close to home. Of the approximately 3,000 babies delivered at Markham Stouffville each year, about three per cent require admission to the special care nursery to receive critical care for special medical needs, or because they are born prematurely.

Our goal is to get new moms and babies home as soon as possible, to give our tiniest and most vulnerable patients a healthy and happy start to life.

A portion of funds will also support the renowned Dr. Bear Program, which provides all children who receive care at the Hospital with psychological preparation and support to reduce the stress associated with hospitalization and surgery.

YOUTHQUEST BASKETBALL

Today we had a full house with over 40 boys!!! We finished our month of integrity by sharing stories about how we have shown integrity in our lives. Here are some examples:

-One guy talked about how he used to go on the Viva for free but one time he paid because it was the right thing to do even though his friends didn't pay and didn't want him to pay
- Another guy talked about how he is going to buy Drake's new CD instead of just downloading it for free to support Canadian artists
- Another guy mentioned that when he goes to parties he doesn't do drugs even though some of his friends do because he is his own person.


Way to show integrity guys!!!

MARKHAM YOUTH WEEK

Next week is Markham Youth Week. There will be various events happening including:

Youth Week Kick-off
Date: Sunday, May 2, 2010
Time: 8:00 a.m. to 2:30 p.m.
Location: Markville Shopping Centre (Centre Court)

Cost: FREE

The Mayor's Youth Task Force and Markville Shopping Centre kicks off Youth Week with 16 talented acts of youth in Markham. The show includes singing, dancing, belly-dancing and even magic shows. This celebration includes the Mayor's Youth Awards, presented to Markham youth who exhibit high academic achievements and community involvement.

4th annual Battle of the Bands
Date: Friday, May 7, 2010
Time: 7:00 p.m. to 11:00 p.m.
Location: Milliken Mills Community Centre, 7600 Kennedy Road
Cost: $2 / person

The Mayor's Youth Task Force (MYTF) is partnering with giant music equipment supplier (Long and McQuade) and entertainment provider (Sound Plus Show Systems) to throw the annual MYTF: Battle of the Bands. This concert showcases 17 bands within a 3 hour show. Winning band is awarded with gift certificates from Long and McQuade.

For more info, visit www.markhamyouth.com

JUNIOR HIGH SUNDAY SCHOOL

ENCOURAGEMENT JAR

Every day we are burdened by negative stuff in our lives. On Sunday we took time to talk about encouraging one another and being the kind of people who lift each other up instead of tearing people down.

Our verse of the day was John 13:34-35, "A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have love you, so you must love one another. By this all men will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another."

We each got a mason jar and then took time to write encouraging notes to one another. Our take home challenge was to write an encouragement note to someone outside of our youth group (a family member, a friend at school, a teacher, etc).

JUNIOR HIGH YOUTHQUEST

Here's a picture from a couple of weeks ago at TMC. It was our last day watching the Quest video and our last day of $2. Needless to say, there was a little excitement in the air. It was also yourfriendlyneighbourhoodyouthpastor's birthday.

JUNIOR HIGH YOUTHQUEST

Tonight we had lots of fun bowling at Markham Bowl. Our next meeting will be at TMC on Friday May 14th.

DEEP THOUGHTS

Community always involves a kind of promise, whether or not it ever gets stated out loud. It is a promise of commitment and loyalty. In a world of uncertainty, you can count on me. When that promise gets broken, so does someone`s heart.

EARTH DAY 2010

Yesterday was earth day. Hopefully you had a chance to do something good for the environment. If you didn`t, it`s not too late. Pick up some garbage, show some love to your neighbour, pray for the world...

YOUTHQUEST BASKETBALL

Today we wind down our month long focus on integrity. We talked about how you can't talk yourself out of a problem you behaved yourself into and also about how you can't enjoy the fruits without the roots. Integrity will be a lifelong process. We had over 30 boys today.

GPS BREAKFAST CLUB

For four weeks Cornerstone has a chance to partner with GPS to provide a breakfast club for this healthy living school. Today we had 30 students!!!

TOWN COUNCIL MEETING

Today, the future land on which the Community-centre like church will be built was one of the agenda items at the town council meeting. It was favourably received and seems to be moving along well towards being officially zoned in which case permission will be granted to move forward and build.

JUNIOR HIGH SUNDAY SCHOOL

A LETTER TO THE PHILIPPIANS

Yesterday we read the entire book of Philippians as a class. This lesson was designed to give us a glimpse of Paul’s insights and his ministry. It helped us understand that to live is Christ, and to live for Christ means to share Christ with all who are around us and to encourage those who know Christ to do the same. This was also an opportunity to go through a book of the Bible as a group.

Main themes:

Chapter 1 – God is at work in our lives

Chapter 2 – Check your heart; check your attitude

Chapter 3 – Put the past behind you

Chapter 4 – Having a joyful attitude

Take-Home CHALLENGE

Write a letter to someone speaking of the joy that Christ brings to your life and encouraging them in their walk with Christ, and then send it!

DEEP THOUGHTS

Whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable - if anything is excellent or praiseworthy - think about such things - Philippians 4:8

YOUTHQUEST BASKETBALL

Tonight we had over 30 boys out! We continued to talk about integrity on and off the court. Congrats to our MVP's for the night.

JUNIOR HIGH SUNDAY SCHOOL

SHHHHHH! THE POWER OF ACTIONS OVER WORDS

This past Sunday was based on the quote from St. Francis of Assisi: "Preach the gospel at all times and when necessary use words."

We started of the class with 15 minutes of silence. That's right. Our junior high Sunday school class was silent for 15 minutes! We could only use actions, facial expressions and movement to communicate. We did various activities in silence including eating a snack, greet one another, play a game and even pray for one another.

Our Bible passages for the day were John 13:34-35 and Colossians 4:5

Our take home challenge was to think about the way we act around our friends. Are we practicing what we believe with our actions? Is there anything we need to change? How can we communicate the love of God without using words?

JUNIOR HIGH YOUTHQUEST

On Friday we watched part 7 of the DVD series, "Quest." It was the final one entitled, "Truth or Dare - How can we continue our quest for truth?"

These were some of the questions we discussed:

1. Why do you think people are so afraid of commitment? What aspects of society do you think fuel our fears?

2. What do you think about Jesus' claim to be the only way to get to God?

3. Over the last 7 weeks at Quest, in regard to our discussions, what is one thing that:

You learned... and what difference does it make?

You decided... and what does that mean for you?

You're wrestling with? What questions, if any, are troubling you?

YOUTHQUEST BASKETBALL

On Wednesday night we had some high energy and a great time together. Our Character Matters trait of the month is integrity, "We are truthful and sincere. We ensure consistency between what we say and what we do as well as between what we believe and how we behave. Congrats to our MVP's for the night!!!

DEEP THOUGHTS

Jesus puts the burden on you if you've done something wrong and also if the other person has done something wrong. You must take the first step in both cases. Why? Because people who value community are people who own responsibility to deal with relational breakdown - John Ortberg

CORNERSTONE FUN FAIR

EASTER FUN FAIR

Sunday was a great day as we celebrated Easter with a family service at 9:30 and then a free community Fun Fair at 11:00. Here are some of the events we had (taken as the event was winding down). It was a good crowd with well over 400 people attending!

CORNERSTONE EASTER FUN FAIR