WHAT'S INSIDE
JUNIOR HIGH
- Note from Caleb
- What's Coming Up?
SENIOR HIGH
- Note from Jenn
- What's Coming Up?
JR/SR HIGH PARENT RESOURCE:
Articles by TheSource4Parents.com and HomeWord.com
WHAT'S INSIDE
JUNIOR HIGH
- Note from Caleb
- What's Coming Up?
SENIOR HIGH
- Note from Jenn
- What's Coming Up?
JR/SR HIGH PARENT RESOURCE:
Articles by TheSource4Parents.com and HomeWord.com
April showers bring M...*a reminder of the cleansing wash available to us through the life, death, and RESURRECTION of Jesus Christ!* I don't think that's how the phrase goes... but if it wasn't such a mouthful, boy wouldn't that be fun to proclaim to our world during this season! Though it may be a mouthful, we can still celebrate and live out what that means for each of our lives. This month has always been so fascinating to me. To watch the world around us come back to life as its baptized in life giving showers. Flowers and trees begin to bud, grass begins to regains its deep green and all that laid dormant for so long begins to stretch out to soak up all the sun it can get. As warm weather comes and rain falls, we are reminded each day of the radical love of our Jesus and His sacrifice to bring us back to life with Him as He conquered death that Easter morning!
I am so excited for this season and all that lies ahead this month as we look at the specific people Jesus intentionally sought out during his ministry here on Earth. We will be challenged by His example that is laid clear for us to follow today. We will also be celebrating Easter by proclaiming the greatest story ever told! We hope you will join us for our Holy Week services. This year, our Holy Week services are as follows:
Maundy Thursday: 7:00 pm
Good Friday: Noon & 7:00 pm
Easter Sunday: 9:00 & 10:45 am (No Jr/Sr High Sunday School)
To go along with this series, we have been doing a Bible Reading Texting Plan. Continuing through the next few weeks, we will be sending out scripture for students to commit to reading His Word daily. If your student is interested in joining us follow the following link to join: https://www.remind.com/join/nextgenbv
"Jesus loves me, this I know, for the Bible tells me so." If you grew up going to church, it's probably the first
song about Jesus you can remember singing. "Jesus loves me" may seem like a pretty straightforward and
foundational belief, but let's be honest . . . singing about Jesus' love is a lot easier than actually imitating it.
In this 4-week series, you'll challenge students to observe, imitate, and be transformed by the radical love of
Jesus for all people, but specifically His love for children, for the poor, for the stranger, and for the sinner.
Week 1: Jesus welcomed strangers and valued children.
Week 2: Jesus helped the poor and loved sinners.
In celebration of Mother's Day, we will not be having Junior or Senior High Youth Group. Enjoy celebrating mom's with family!
Parents of Students!!
We will be starting a new series called "Family Feud" on April 28th. This is a four week teaching series diving into the realities of living as a family. Arguments, laughter, frustrations, expectations; there are so many difficult things to navigate but through it all, God has given us families to experience His amazing love in unique ways. Join us on Sunday Mornings from 9:00 - 10:15 am in GP 1 & 2. See you there!
Parents!
Registration is OPEN for The Great Escape next summer! The Great Escape is our Junior High Summer camp in Green Lake, WI the week of July 8-13. The cost is $490. We only have a few spots left. If your student is still interested in going, please contact me to see if the spots are still open!
Join us on this 2 month journey as we dive into scripture. This texting plan is a jump start to our brand new series diving into scripture in a new way. We will be looking at the Bible as more than just a check off our "to-do" list, but as the life-changing Word of our living God. We are so excited for this time and we hope you'll join us! Follow the link below to sign up for our daily Bible verses.
Parents!
Use the link below to sign up for our Junior High Parents Remind to stay up to date on important updates and information for Junior High Ministry.
Check out our website!
It is begining to feel like Spring...I think. Now that we are past spring breaks, the end of the year is in sight. For many students the countdown to summer vacation has begun and senioritis has set in (fully). I encourage you to think about what God might have for you in this season. It is easy for us to "wish away" the time before summer. But what to what or to whom, might God being calling you? This is a unique and limited time, especially for Seniors, to be around the people on your "route". Who might you offer a word of encouragement, or an invitation to attend a youth event? Let's look at those around us and really focus on seeing them the way God sees them and pouring out His love.
We will also be continuing to send out Bible verses to study each day. If you are interested in joining this journey, join our Bible Verse Remind group by texting @nextgenbv to 81010 or search for the class code: nextgenbv in the app. You also use this link to sign up. https://www.remind.com/join/nextgenbv
Please let me know if you have any questions.
"Jesus loves me, this I know, for the Bible tells me so." If you grew up going to church, it's probably the first
song about Jesus you can remember singing. "Jesus loves me" may seem like a pretty straightforward and
foundational belief, but let's be honest . . . singing about Jesus' love is a lot easier than actually imitating it.
In this 4-week series, you'll challenge students to observe, imitate, and be transformed by the radical love of
Jesus for all people, but specifically His love for children, for the poor, for the stranger, and for the sinner.
Week 1: Jesus welcomed strangers and valued children.
Week 2: Jesus helped the poor and loved sinners.
We will then head into to a 2 week discussion, "Good Story" For some of us, the Easter story is a little unclear. (It has something to do with Jesus dyeing Easter eggs with a rabbit, right?) For others, we've heard the Easter story, seen the Easter plays, and attended Easter services so many times that it has almost become white noise. In this Easter series, you'll challenge students' assumptions and attitudes about the Easter story as you help them see that the story of Jesus' death and resurrection is more than just a story—it's true! And it's good news for the entire world.
We are working toward memorizing a scripture each month. Here is April's memory verse:
Jesus came and told his disciples, "I have been given all authority in heaven and on earth. Therefore, go and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit. Teach these new disciples to obey all the commands I have given you. And be sure of this: I am with you always, even to the end of the ages.
Matthew 28:18-20
Guys! Join us on April 10th at Bruno's Pizza to enjoy good food, conversation, and hear from Purdue's Director of Football Player Development, Sean Pugh. This is going to be an awesome night!
Use the link below to register (seating is limited). Register by Sunday, August 7th.
Join Jennifer Woodard as she leads through a canvas painting time and a devotional. Get your creative juices flowing! We will have snacks as well. RSVP to Jenn @ [email protected]
Want up to date messages about what is happening in Next Gen Senior High? Join these groups through Remind.
or text @ngshp to 81010 or search in the app for glass code: ngshp
or text @nextgensh to 81010 or search in the app for glass code: nextgensh
This will be used for important reminders, announcements, cancellations, etc.
For the last 30 years, Colorado Challenge has welcomed youth groups and other Christian organizations from the Great Lakes region. Join us for a week of ministry and adventure as God seeks to win each and every heart.
Your week long adventure will take you white water rafting, rock climbing, rappelling, mountain biking, and an incredible view of Pikes Peak a 14,110 ft mountain. Think you can handle it?
Parents of Students!!
We will be starting a new series called "Family Feud" on April 28th. This is a four week teaching series diving into the realities of living as a family. Arguments, laughter, frustrations, expectations; there are so many difficult things to navigate but through it all, God has given us families to experience His amazing love in unique ways. Join us on Sunday Mornings from 9:00 - 10:15 am in GP 1 & 2. See you there!
The Changing Landscape
Back in the days when social media was in its embryonic stage, the public's fear of online predators---where perverts stalked children and teenagers in chat rooms---gave rise to a set of safety guidelines that included the nearly universal warning that kids should be taught to not share any personal information online. While that guideline still exists, as social media platforms have advanced, today it is advice largely ignored.
Social DNA
Today's social media is based upon the premise of sharing personal information: who you are, your interests, what you think, who you are with, where you are, and what you are doing. Social media technology and platforms are constructed with this in mind. It's part of social media's DNA. To avoid sharing any personal information literally means not using social media.
Teens Growing Comfortable
As the social media landscape has changed, teens have grown more comfortable in sharing personal information. According to Pew Internet & American Life Project's "Report on Teens, Social Media, and Privacy," released in May 2013, since 2006, teens are more likely to share photos of themselves, school name, the city where they live, email address, and cell phone number via social media. While not measured in 2006, Pew found in 2012 that 92% of teens post their real name, 84% post their interests, 82% post their birth date, and 16% have their social media profile set to automatically include their location in posts.
Risk in Perspective
Stalkers and predators do exist (whether online or offline.) Identifying personal information is part of the predator's DNA too. As such, social media use does include a measure of risk. But the notion that a stalker lurks behind every new friend or follow request has been sufficiently debunked. So the risk is fairly minimal and can be adequately managed.
Use Privacy Settings
Risk management means helping kids set adequate privacy settings on all social media platforms. Each social media provider will have a different method for privacy settings. The key is to guard against all profiles/posts being made accessible to the public. Kids should maintain a closed circle of friends/followers who cannot opt into their profile and posts without approval.
The recent results of a long-term study of adolescents has some reassuring news for parents of moody teens. Researchers have found that most mood swings will decline as teens get older.
"We found that early adolescence is the period of the greatest volatility, but adolescents gradually stabilize in their moods," according to Hans M. Koot, professor of developmental psychology at VU University Amsterdam and the EMGO Institute for Health and Care Research, a coauthor of the study. "An important message to teens, parents, and teachers is that temporary mood swings during early adolescence might actually be normal and aren't necessarily a reason to worry."
The study found that over adolescent years, teens' moods of happiness, anger, and sadness became more stable. Anxiety was the only mood that did not align with the overall pattern of stabilization, fluctuating between seasons of more and less anxiety.
The researchers suggest that teens who continue to demonstrate extreme mood swings as they age may need to be monitored more closely, as the lack of mood stabilization may be an indicator of emotional, behavioral, and interpersonal problems.
Now What?
- Adolescence is a season of life when teens experience intense emotions. In a real way, they are experiencing "new" adult-like emotions. Emotions like anxiety, worry, frustration, anger, inferiority, passion, and fear can occur with ferocious intensity. It will take time for your kids to learn how to handle and manage these emotions. Be patient.
- Try not to overreact to your teen's extreme mood swings, but do make the effort to help her or him to understand their emotions and to channel them in healthy ways.
- Do your best to be a healthy role model of emotional stability and consistency. Provide opportunities for your teens to get an insider's look at how you handle your emotions.
- Be a good listener. Become the emotional "safe place" that your teen needs to share and process their feelings.
- If your teen continues to experience extreme mood swings as he or she gets older, don't hesitate to seek an evaluation from a healthcare professional.