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Good morning, everybody! I hope you’re having a good week, and that you’ve had a great September. (Can you believe this is the last newsletter before October kicks off?)  In particular, I trust that those who’ve started into a new school year, or whose calendar shifts into a higher gear in fall, have settled into an enjoyable rhythm. And for those who are lamenting the arrival of cooler weather, may the beauty of the leaves turning color be a welcome consolation.

Last week I launched a new newsletter experiment with the first installment of a book project / Bible study on the subject of spiritual gifts. It’s early yet to see how that will go, but I do plan to continue with it over the next few months. I hope those who are interested will find the study helpful. It’s a little too labor-intensive to crank out new sections every week, but I’m expecting to get the 2nd section together for next week.

In the meantime, it occurred to me that this might be an excellent opportunity for Pastor Aldo to share a little information with everyone. Over the past little while, we’ve made some announcements about a “robotics” project designed to add a dimension to our youth ministry. I hope it has generated some interest. I know it has also raised some questions about exactly what will be happening. Since the project is to launch in earnest this week, I thought it might be good to let Aldo say a little more about it, and this seems like the ideal place.

So, for now I’m going to close my part, wish you all God’s richest blessings this next week, and “give the microphone” to Aldo. See you soon!

—Pastor Ken

And from Aldo ….

Dear Church Family,

Our Youth Group is excited to launch a brand-new Youth Robotics Project. The word "robotics" might sound a bit complex or intimidating to some parents and teens, so I’m writing to share what this project is all about, why we are doing it, and our pastoral heart behind it—as well as to ask for your prayers and support.

Many of us are familiar with LEGO: you take scattered blocks, follow instructions or use your imagination and build something creative. The platform we are introducing comes from VEX Robotics, a world-renowned organization designed for educational robotics competitions. They have

  • Hands-on Components: Beyond regular blocks, VEX includes microcontrollers, motors, gears, levers, and sensors.
  • Goal-Driven Challenges: Youth work in teams to solve concrete tasks (for example, designing a robot to move, lift, and stack objects within a limited space and time).
  • Engineering Mindset: Students must design, build, and code, learning how to achieve their goal using the simplest structure, the least energy, and the fastest speed.

Building a robot cannot be done alone in most cases. It is never just about technology—it is about character, communication, and teamwork. Youth have to work through disagreements, troubleshoot when things fail, and learn to put the team ahead of themselves. As Proverbs 27:17 reminds us: "As iron sharpens iron, so one person sharpens another."

For parents wondering: This Youth Robotics project is not our only offer. We recognize that not every teen is drawn to circuits or code. Robotics is just one new doorway into youth life, running alongside our regular fellowship, small groups, Bible study, and relational gatherings. Whether your teen loves building machines or prefers art, games, music, or quiet conversation, there is a vibrant place for them here.

Today, we face a real challenge: traditional church formats often struggle to reach teenagers, and many young people assume that faith has nothing to do with real life. Yet youth are facing immense cultural pressures every day. They need the church more than ever—not just as an institution, but as a safe harbor where they can discover their God-given gifts, make trustworthy friends, and be real with one another.

Please join us in interceding for our Youth Program:

  1. For Marlani. Praise God for her stepping up to lead our youth ministry. Pray that the Lord sustains, encourages, and protects her with fresh vision, wisdom, and energy, and that she feels deeply valued and supported by our entire church family as she shepherds our teens.
  2. An open door for us to connect with these young people, that God removes hesitation among parents and youth, drawing them to step out and register. And we may learn how to love them, and walk alongside them.
  3. An open heart for young people (especially unchurched teens) to experience the church, build authentic friendships, and encounter Jesus.

Through this Robotics Project, we are praying for two things:

As the program gets underway, we may be able to introduce some meaningful extensions:

  • Intergenerational Mentorship: Many youth drawn to robotics are interested in engineering and technology. We plan to invite engineering professionals in our congregation to mentor our high schoolers—sharing advice on university applications, career paths, and walking with them as older brothers and sisters in Christ.
  • Faith & Ethics in Tech (AI & the Future): In an era where AI and robotics are reshaping society, we want to host discussions on technology, human dignity, and biblical boundaries. The Christian faith speaks directly to the real world: all things were created through Christ and for Christ (Colossians 1:16–17). We want to help our youth see the future through God’s eyes.

If you have youth in your family or know young people interested in technology and engineering, please encourage them to come. It’s not necessary to sign up ahead of time—this is part of our regular Youth program and the door is open to all youth who’d like to be part. Again, there will be more going on at Youth than just the robotics project, so please encourage all youth to come and participate whether or not robotics is their thing. May the Lord guide us and work through us to touch and shape the next generation.

Thanks, and have a good week!

Pastor Aldo