St. Paul Lutheran Church in Cassopolis has an answer for those kids in need of a positive outlet for all that pent-up cold weather energy.

Kids in grades 5-12 are welcome to join the church every Wednesday night from 5:15 to 7 p.m. at Squires Elementary School in Cassopolis for an evening of sports, refreshments and a positive message.

Wednesday Game Night has been in progress since summer 2010.

Last summer St. Paul began sponsoring a youth game night on Wednesday evenings featuring a variety of sports including basketball, volleyball, softball, football and other healthy outdoor activities.

When the cold Michigan weather hit, the activities were moved indoors to the Squires Elementary gym, at 725 Center Street in Cassopolis, where they have continued throughout the 2011 winter months.

Pastor Paul Doellinger, who was installed at St. Paul Lutheran in August 2010, stated that members of the St. Paul Ministries Board supervise the activity at the gym every Wednesday Night.

“The kids get a chance to stretch their legs, play some basketball or other sports and enjoy each other’s company,” he said. “It’s a great time. We also give them pizza or other refreshments at the end of the night, along with a short Bible-based message. Both the kids and our church members enjoy it.”

The local pastor indicated that they have been averaging 10 to 14 kids per Wednesday and that all area boys and girls grades 5-12 are welcome.  Attendance has included youth from Cassopolis, Dowagiac, Edwardsburg and Niles areas.  Membership at St. Paul Lutheran is not required.

When warm weather arrives St. Paul plans to move the activities back outdoors to widen the number of activity options and give the kids a chance to enjoy the fresh air.

“We expect that St. Paul’s ‘Game Night’ will be an option for kids in Cass County as long the interest continues,” Doellinger said. “We encourage parents and their kids to check us out.”