1– Decide if a St Luke Summer 2010 Service Trip is right for you.

Pray about your decision, discuss it with family and friends. This is a serious commitment. There is plenty of important information in this packet, but for more information, you can always visit the Youth Ministry/Summer Service trips page of our website, ask a friend who has done a trip before, or call or email Amanda with questions. Ready to make the commitment? Time to decide which trip is right for you: look at the dates and age restrictions, but you may also want to consider things like trip size, location and the type of service work.
2– Ask a trusted adult to consider joining you.

Anyone over the age of 21 is invited to join us as an adult
leader; they do not have to be a parent of a participant. Want to share this experience with a trusted adult?
Show them the adult leader letter and interest form. You do not need to bring an adult leader with you, but you
can help us find some great leaders for the trips by just asking the great adults you know. Interested adults
should fill out the “Adult Interest Form” and return it to the Youth Ministry office.
3– Fill out the contract and pay your participant fee.

The contract is included in this packet. Read all the statements and carefully consider your responses. Talk about them with your family. Pray. Return your contract with a deposit of $50 to the St Luke Rectory by November 15, 2009. Turn in an additional $150 by January 10, 2010 (except for Su Casa participants, who will contribute only an additional $100). This covers part of the cost of the week: the rest is covered through fundraising. Your contribution covers things like food, lodging, transportation costs, and it helps support the service we are doing, but cost should NEVER stop you from participating: if necessary, please contact Amanda to make other arrangements. Total participant fees for adults and teens: $150 for Su Casa & $200 for all other trips. Checks may be made out to: “St Luke Youth Ministry”.
4-Attend formation meetings.

Your commitment is not just for the one week during the summer you are actually on the trip: you are also agreeing to prepare yourself by attending these meetings, and you are taking responsibility to remember to attend these meetings. There is a schedule included in this packet and available on the website: put it on your refrigerator and add the dates to your calendar.
5– Help at a Stock Sale and the Flower Sale.

On you service contract, you will be asked to pick a weekend to help at a Stock Sale. During Stock Sale weekends, we station trip participants at the doors of the church before and after mass to collect donations from parishioners. Pick a weekend, and you will be assigned a mass time to come help out. You will also be asked to help sell flowers outside the church on May 9.
6– Turn in medical forms.

At the first formation meeting, you will receive the medical forms and waivers you will need to complete for your particular trip. These forms help us keep you safe and healthy. Help us help you. Please return them to your adult trip leader by Sunday, March 7.
7– Pack what you need.

At the third formation meeting, you will receive a suggested packing list for your trip. A copy of the packing list can also be downloaded from our website. One important part of our service trips is simple living, so when you are packing for your trip, pack those things you truly need and leave behind those things that will distract you from focusing on your relationships with God, yourself, and others.
8– Jump in the car.

Each group will leave early on the first morning of their trip. Get some sleep, grab your bag, pack a lunch for the road, and meet us in the St Luke parking lot for a great trip.
9– Work, pray, and love.

This is it! Spend the week working with others, building relationships, and praying and reflecting over your experiences.
10– Keep it up!

We hope you come away from your week of service and your year of preparation with a fresh outlook. Carry the great things you have found into all the corners of your life: share your stories, sign-up for local service opportunities, keep in touch with your trip friends, get involved in new ways at St Luke, and let this experience change your life!