Apparently, while we had our head turned or something, our website had (at least since we started tracking these things) our 50,000th visit! Hooray! As near as Orin can tell, it was someone in California checking out the lyrics to our song from the NCCYM comedy event a few years ago, May God Bless and Keep You (Far Away From Me). We’re also over 100,000 page views, which is noteworthy.
Thanks, Oddwalkia, for the support over the years and into the future!
For those looking for a handy download of the slides from our 2012 NCCYM Workshop (or if you’re just curious), click here! For those who missed it, Shannon and Orin led the room in sharing strategies and tips for connecting teens to the body of Christ – not in specific “use this icebreaker, play this game” sorts of ways, but larger, long-term strategies and techniques. Enjoy!
Oddwalk had a great time at the National Conference on Catholic Youth Ministry over the weekend in Orlando, FL. We saw a lot of old friends and met a few new ones as well. We also had the opportunity to share our ministry in a variety of settings, including the Center for Ministry Development booth, the Resource Expo Stage, a breakout session, and the Youth Ministry Extravaganza. All of these went extremely well. Congratulations goes out to the NFCYM staff and the Orlando volunteers for a great conference.
Since a few of you have asked us for the lyrics to the song we performed at the Youth Ministry Extravaganza, we’ve decided to list them here. Enjoy!
Wishin’ Wonderland
(parody of Winter Wonderland)
Adapted by Shannon Cerneka and Orin Johnson (Oddwalk Ministries)
Orin: It’s staff meeting Monday, I’m falling asleep, The principal’s fighting with the DRE,
Someone keeps moving the school desks at CCD.
No one really knows what it is that I do,
My office is tiny and my budget is too,
Meanwhile, down at the [superlong mega-seeker-church name] they have more money than they know what to do with,
I can’t imagine what I’d do with a budget like that…
Shannon: Well, let’s go walkin’ and wishin’ together. Orin: Together?
Shannon: Together!
Both:
We’d have a pool and a sauna
and the guys at Benihanas,
At youth group they’d make us lobster and steak, just Walkin’ in our wishin’ wonderland.
Orin: You mean, I’d never ever ever ever ever ever have to eat pizza ever again? Shannon: No Orin, never.
Orin: Wow!
Both:
And we’d pay off all the coaches
At the high school which encroaches on ev’ry event we plan ev’ry lent, Walkin’ in our wishin’ wonderland.
Orin: Wait, could we pay them off all year long, and like the band director and everyone else too?
Shannon: Sure!
Both:
Then in our fifteen-thousand seat arena we’d have praise and worship ev’ry night! Monday-Wednesday-Friday it’s Matt Maher. Shannon: Chris Tomlin at the others?
Orin: Oh, alright!
Both:
We’ll hire people who seem cooler
just to talk to middle-schoolers
And someone else who will play: hunter, bear, karate walkin in our wishin’ wonderland
During Holy Week we’ll play a movie,
Probably “The Passion of the Christ.”
Orin: What if all the teens have lots of questions? Shannon: Jim Caveizel will be there should they arise.
With such success, our pastor’s beamin’
We just might get one whole free weekend
And all alone we will stay, with Downton Abbey all day,
Orin: Hang on, I’m getting a text… it’s my pastor, it says, “Nice prayer at staff meeting, next youth group the pizza’s . . . on him!” Both: Walkin’… in our wishin’… wonderland!
Well, it’s that time of year again. Time for me to select my top Oddblog posts for each month of 2010. In a few of the months, it was difficult to pick just one, so I didn’t. Feel free to praise me, disagree, or offer your own list. Happy reading!! JANUARY While we didn’t blog much in…
Here are a couple more videos from our trip to New Orleans for the National Conference on Catholic Youth Ministry earlier this month. Thanks to YouTube’s SCRKmom1186 for posting these. The first is from our appearance on the Exhibit Hall Stage. Be sure to notice an appearance by Oddwalk friend, Butch Ekstrom, and a guy…
Enjoy a couple videos from NCCYM, and play “Spot the Oddwalkers (and Family)!” First, the Flash Mob we were a part of, promoting the Youth Ministry Extravaganza: And a “Behind the Underbelly” look at the folks in the Extravaganza:
Thinking of hiring Oddwalk? View this new promotional video to see us at our versatile best!