MID AMERICA TEC
January 2001
TEENS ENCOUNTER CHRIST

12/2000 Volume 23 No. 2 1206 E. McCarty St., Jefferson City, MO 65101 573-635-5717
Newsletter email:www.midamericatec.com,

From the Director of TEC 176 Dear Delightful Family of TEC 176, I have thanked God so many times throughout the last days for the wonderful guifts you gave and shared on our weekend. Christ used all of you to shine through. You allowed Him to "BE" with us in such a powerful way! This week someone from the weekend said to me, "That was a great weekend, but this is now and it's all back to work … school … etc." I gave that comment a lot of thought through out that day and when I checked my email I'd received a note from another one of you precious people. In this note I was reminded of how for the whole past year one of my dear young friends had remembered and prayed for one of my deepest concerns. This young person had chosen to strengthen me by prayer and sacrifice and she had chosen to BE Christ personified in my life. TEC is not just a weekend full of "warm fuzzies". It is an opportunity to encounter Christ! Then it is our choice whether we will see HIM in our daily lives by choosing to look for Him in all situations and people around us. In is a choice - one we can make every minute, everyday, or one we can choose NOT to make. We constantly are asked if we will love or not, will we choose Christ or not; will we be patient, kind, not hold grudges, forgiving, open, honest, etc. … the ball is in our court. The choice is definitely ours. I heard the words my first weekend "Christ is counting on YOU!" They still echo in my ears and I believe that is exactly what they mean. He needs us to BE His hands, voices, feet, ears, arms. He calls me and He calls you, not to just let TEC be a "cool weekend" but an unending, awesome walk through life into eternity. The Christ you saw, felt and heard on TEC #176 is alive and as real as this piece of paper you hold in your hand but we have to use our eyes of faith. I have been blest by Him and by His presence in so many of you! I praise God for this and I will carry it out to the world. I invite you to continue to join me and to proclaim our loving Lord alive and working wherever we are. With all my love and prayers, Peace, Pam

HIGHLIGHTS: TEC Council Meeting Minutes from November 17th…. Pam Whitney reported on TEC 176. Very good team, the shower situation was not the best but do-able, hoot was very well attended….. Arnold Brucks consented to directing January's TEC. He requested help in forming his team …. Child abuse forms needed to be completed yearly by all adults serving on a TEC weekend …. MA TEC will donate a queen/king quilt for the TEC Convention auction. We will need to pay for supplies of about $175 …. Our statue of the Blessed Mother is falling apart; Andi Olsen will look into the cost of replacing it with a Fontanini statue made of polymer which could handle the temperature changes within the TEC truck throughout the year

2001 National TEC Convention Will be held in Evansville, Indiana, the first weekend in June. The cost of the convention will be @ $160.00. In the past, we have set aside funds to assist anyone wanting to go. Give some thought to attending. It is not just an adult thing … it is for the youth too - very much so! We will likely carpool as there is likely a core of about 12 who will attend. Think seriously about going!

T.E.C. IS IN NEED At the last TEC Council meeting, some immediate and long range needs were discussed. We are looking for either cash donations or donations of specific items. A list of the items discussed were: - new burlap - resource books on the saints - new banners - statue of Mary - new or different sound system for the conference room (have a line on one now) - remote-operated boombox or shelf system compatible with amp for conference room - replacing one of the hoot mics - cash for TEC convention quilt donation - miscellaneous sacramental supplies (charcoal, incense) - possible purchase of a reconditioned photocopier for the TEC office (presently use Kinkos which is expensive!) Estimated purchase cost of $1600.00 If you would like to make a cash donation or know someone who would be like to (parents, former TECites in your parishes, Knights of Columbus councils, etc.) simply send it to the TEC office. All donations will be acknowledged. If you are interested in directly donating any of the above items, contact Lee Menz or Paula Sanning. In regards to the banners, you could take one of ours that is currently falling apart and use it as a pattern to make a new one. If your parish has banners they would like to have recycled which fit our themes of "Die, Rise, Go", we would be happy to adopt them.