Happy Spring Break!

I haven't updated in a while, so I thought I would do that and wish everyone a happy spring break! I know so many of you are working and studying so hard this semester! Scott and I have been praying for you...hang in there!

Here's a few things coming up for the summer season:

Annual Road Trip

We'll head West for the first time in roadtrip history! Dates are TBD, but probably in May....

First-Ever College Ministry Missions Trip

Location: Montenegro (Eastern Europe)

Dates: July 25-August 2 (give or take a few days)

Why: We will help run a day camp for children and teens in the city (town?) of Niksic. We need students willing to teach conversational English classes (i.e.-just talk to them); a couple artists to help teach arts/crafts clinics; atheletes to help with basketball and soccer clinics.

Cost: TBD

Photo at Flickr

Holiday and Winter Happenings

November

• Tuesday November 25 Anti-Thanksgiving Dinner 6:30 PM Jones House

Not that we are anti-THanksgiving, we are having the opposite of the traditional turkey dinner, breakfast for dinner! Afterall, you will have enough turkey at Grandma's house. Stay for our regular Bible study continuing in the Gospel of John.

• Sunday November 30 Decorate the Jones House for Christmas 12:30 PM Jones House

Stay after the morning service and kick-off the Christmas season! Bring a few dollars for lunch, an ornamant for the tree and any other decor you would like to donate to the Jones House!

December

• Sunday December 14 Christmas Adoration Gathering 5:30 PM SMIC

You won't want to miss the very special Christmas Adoration! The guys (and Ashley) have great music and creative media planned, so come and bring a friend who may not know the true meaning of the holiday.

• Tuesday December 16 College Group Christmas Party 6:30 PM Jones House

We will not have regular Bible study, but spend time together fellowshipping, eating and giving to a cause to help the last and least of those at this holiday season. Details to come about the cuase we will support this year!

• Tuesday December 23 No College Group: Merry Christmas

January

• January 1-4 College Winter Retreat

Get this on your calendars!! Location and price TBD...details to follow!!

Winter Calendar Coming Soon!!

I know it's been a while, but we will be posting a Winter Calendar soon, here and on Facebook!
We have retreats, parties and other Fun Stuff!

Field Trip!

We are going to down to hang out with catch up with everyone down at the University of Montevallo! So if you are at Montevallo and want to hang out, meet us at The Eclipse Thursday night for coffee!
If you are a B'ham student and want to come with us, let us know by tomorrow afternoon. We can take 3 others with us in our car, 5 would be pushing it, so any more than that and someone else will have to drive.

We can't wait to see ya'll that have been away for a few weeks now!

Small Groups!

We are starting up our small groups for the fall, so if you are interested, email/Facebook Scott or me. We need to know your contact info and days of the week and/or times that you are available, or if you are super-busy, the days and/or times you are NOT available.

The main goal of our small groups this year will be to dig in and really learn and cultivate what it means to "Live to Love" God. Our desire is for you to treasure Christ in your heart as highest and best (as we stumble along attempting to do the same!) We do this by praying through Scripture and daily seeking God in His Word.

Small groups will be small, probably just 2-4 people, but if you have a friend that you want to be in a group with, just let us know that as well. The groups will meet according to everyone's availability, either once a week or once every other week.

Oh yeah, side note, Shades Mountain Independent has a new website:

www.smic.org

so check it out! Sermons are available on podcast, there's a calendar of church-wide events, listing of staff, etc. There's also a nifty thing for official members to sign in and create their very own profile for the church site, kinda like a mini-Facebook for our church. If you are a member, sign up!

And, side note #2: Don't forget about Adoration this Sunday and the time change to 5:30 PM!

We also could use some help in set-up/tear-down, so if you are available Sunday afternoon and/or after the service, contact Jarrod at jarrod@jarrodjones.com.

Road Trip Itinerary

Here's the plan (I think we might be crazy)

Sunday: be ready to leave right after the church service. Have your luggage in your car, or bring it into the Jones House during Sunday school hour.

Driving to Akron, OH, to stay the night with the Owen's. About a 10 hour drive.

Monday: Up early to drive to Toronto. About a 4 hour drive. See Toronto sights all Monday afternoon/evening.
We are spending the night in Toronto at a Super 8 Motel (that's actually super-nice) in the Chinatown district, near U of T.

Tuesday: up early to drive into Niagara Falls, about 1.5 hours drive. See the Falls. Take pictures of the Falls. Leave the Falls.
Drive about 30 minutes to Buffalo, NY to eat lunch at the birthplace of Buffalo wings, the Anchor Bar. (Yum)
Drive to Storrs, CT, to Lauren E.'s place where she is generously housing us. About an 8 hour drive. Lauren goes to U Conn, so maybe we can drive around campus too!

Wednesday: Up early yo catch a train in to Boston. All day in Boston. Meet up with Rachel and Josh and Amanda in Boston.
Spend the night again at Lauren's.

Thursday: Up early to drive into New York City. About a 4 hour drive. Scott will probably drop us all off in the city at the apartment we are renting, then drive the van into Rutherford, NJ, where we like to park. Heather's place comes in around 1PM, so some of us need to go meet her at LaGuardia.

Friday: Ann Marie flys home. More NYC.

Saturday: Leave NYC for home. About a 22 hour drive. Just pray you survive...

Road Trip: What To Bring (and a few things maybe NOT to pack)

OK, here's a list of things that you DEFINITELY need to bring with you:

1. Bath towel/washcloth (we will be staying a few nights in places that do not provide such things like hotels do)
2. Rain jacket/poncho (you WILL get wet at Niagara Falls! And it might rain when we are out and about)
3. Drivers Licence AND Passport OR a copy of your Birth Certificate (to get into Canada) If you have a Passport, that will be the easiest.
4. Pillow (for reasons like #1) (and for the many hours we'll be on the road)
5. Sleeping Bag OR blanket (not everyone HAS to have this, but I am suggesting, just in case. We are taking several air mattresses)

Things you might need to leave at home this time:
1. Laptop
2. Playstation/DVD player/etc
3. Large suitcases

Things to keep in mind when packing:
1.Pack light, cool clothing, but pack a sweatshirt/jacket too. Nights can be cool where we are going.
2. Pack in something that YOU can manage carrying/rolling. You might have to take your bags on trains/subways, so be prepared. Pack as light as possible!

Call me or Scott this week if you have any questions!