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OCF Church@yoyoyocf
MSM - April 2025
Letter from MSM
Dear MSM Parents,
Welcome to our April Newsletter! At the beginning of each month, we send out all the information that is going on within YOCF. Make sure to stay connected to our Instagram @yoyoyocf for updates! Check out below our plans for the coming weeks and the ways we will be connecting with each other daily, weekly, and at upcoming events!
We meet every Sunday morning at the 11:00 am service, except communion Sunday; this month's communion service will be on the 30th. We have all our students start in the main church service for the first set of worship. After worship, they head into the youth room for their message. We teach the same passage as the main service so we will be in the book of Deuteronomy.
Our weekly youth group is continuing this month which means that students will meet at the church every Wednesday from 6-7:30 p.m. We will play games, hear a message, and meet with small groups during this time. This is a great opportunity for students to grow in their relationships with their peers and spend time talking about what they are learning.
This month we have a lot of exciting events coming up! Be sure to continue further down in the newsletter for more information on each specific event, but here is a quick overview of what we have coming up.
April 9, we have an all-church worship night! This will be held in the main auditorium and will go from 6:30-8:00 p.m.
April 16th we will not be having youth group as it is the week of Easter.
April 20th is Easter Sunday, meaning we will not be having middle school so that students can sit with their families.-
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The angel said to the women, “Do not be afraid, for I know that you are looking for Jesus, who was crucified. He is not here; he has risen, just as he said. Come and see the place where he lay. Then go quickly and tell his disciples: ‘He has risen from the dead and is going ahead of you into Galilee. There you will see him.’ Now I have told you.” So the women hurried away from the tomb, afraid yet filled with joy, and ran to tell his disciples.
Matthew 28:5-8
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With Much Love,
YOCF Staff
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SCHEDULE & ANNOUNCEMENTS
SEE'S CANDY HUME FUNDRAISER
Hume Personal Fundraiser
If you are planning on sending your student to Hume, we have an opportunity for personal fundraising through See's Candy Yumraising! Through Yumraising you will receive a personal storefront link that you can send to friends and family for them to buy from. This fundraiser is an easy way to help get your student to camp! If you are interested then please sign up here.
This fundraiser will end on April 4th!
If you have questions about this fundraiser please feel free to reach out [email protected]
Hume Lake Registration
We are stoked to be returning to Hume Lake this summer with our students! The registration is now available so be sure to sign up as spots for campers are limited and fill up quick. The links for payments are below, but you can also access the different payment options on the OCF website under the Student Ministries tab.
Hume Full Payment :Due by 4/30
Hume First Payment :Due 1/31
Hume Second Payment :Due 2/28
Hume Third Payment :Due 3/28
Hume Final Payment :Due 4/30
Sunday Morning Youth
Every Sunday morning during the 11:00 am service we will have a youth service during the teaching portion of the service. We start off in worship during the main service and then transition to the youth room for our own message. This month we are starting a new study on the book of Deuteronomy as we will be teaching the same passages as the main service.
The last Sunday of the month is Communion Sunday meaning no YOCF
Wednesday Nights
Our Wednesday night youth group is back! This means we will meet every Wednesday at the church to play games, hear a message, and break into small groups. This time is a great opportunity for students to grow in fellowship with one another.
Where: Youth room at OCF
When: Wednesdays from 6-7:30 pm
Improving Communication With Your Teenager
Jim Burns -President of HomeWord and Executive Director of the HomeWord Center for Youth and Family at Azusa Pacific UniversityAs I've interacted with hundreds of parents over the years, I've come to the conclusion that if you are having trouble communicating with your teen, you are in the vast majority. Here are my five best tips for how to improve:
1. Make mealtime family time. A large amount of research has shown that teenagers who dine regularly at home with their families are more satisfied with life. They are better students, less likely to be sexually promiscuous, and tend to be less involved with drug and alcohol abuse. Families that dine together regularly are more connected to one another. Why? It's all about the communication that happens around the dinner table. Hectic schedules make dining together difficult, but the rewards are worth the effort.
2. Make bedtime communication time. I found that one of the best times to have good communication with my teens was their bedtime. This was a carryover from their younger years when we tucked them into bed and said a prayer. At bedtime I found them more in tune with talking about their day, their problems or whatever was on their mind. The relaxed atmosphere seems to work well for good communication. This is not a good time, however, for tougher conversations.
3. Have parent-child dates or hangout times. By the time kids are teenagers, they are very focused on their friends and peers. They are establishing their identities apart from Mom and Dad, but most are willing to do something fun with their parents; they still like to eat or shop. My habit was to have a monthly date with each of my children. Times like these create a relaxed atmosphere where communication comes easier.
4. Walk around the block. My good friend John Townsend, author and speaker extraordinaire, regularly took his sons on a walk around the block. At first they would complain, he said, but about the second time around the block "the floodgates of communication would open." Do whatever it takes to keep the communication lines open with your kids.
5. Listen more, talk less. Parents can find it challenging to really listen to their kids. It often seems easier to lecture and scold, but listening produces better results. Sometimes kids just want to talk and they aren't really looking for a parent's opinion or another lecture. When you feel you need to weigh in on a topic, it helps if you ask for your teen's permission to share your opinion. This gives them a feeling that you really care for and respect them. Remember, some of the best communication comes through listening. Listening is the language of love.