This past weekend, a small group from Mt. Carmel joined some other youth groups in the area for a retreat called Climbing Higher. This was a really great weekend, and the small group of Mt. Carmel students really provided the opportunity to get to know each other better. It was also really fun to see all my MLUPC friends who I don't get to see very often! 
The band "Brother" led worship, and each session was really amazing! The students learned some new songs that impacted them and it was such a blessing to see my students really getting into worship and praising God. This is certainly an exciting thing for a youth leader!
The speaker focused on these verses from Romans throughout the weekend: "Therefore, I urge you brothers, in view of God's mercy, to offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God--this is your spiritual act of worship. Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God's will is--his good, pleasing, and perfect will" (Romans 12:1-2). It was so interesting to hear the students' perspective on what the pattern of this world is and how we can change our lives to reflect the pattern of God's world. Here are a few pictures from the group sessions this weekend.
