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St. Mark's United Methodist Church(317) 846-4912

Parent Connect Newsletter

May and June 2022

Message from Don

Greetings!

Summer is right around the corner! And that means that Cornerstone is getting ready to GET BUSY! From Spring Retreat in May to Workcamp and Week of Hope in June and July, there is a bunch going on. And summer is Cornerstone's "busy season!"

There are a number of events listed below. Some require a sign-up and others do not. If you have a student that is a member of the Class of 2022 (or 2019, 2020, and 2021), pay particular attention to the description of Adopt-A-Grad below. We are always looking for ways to keep our students engaged in their faith life "post-Cornerstone," and Adpot-A-Grad and Capstone Young Adult Ministries are two ways to do that. If you have a college-aged student (even if they are not in college), encourage them to sign up for Adopt-A-Grad and to get involved in Capstone Young Adult Ministries.

And as always, thank you for allowing me to be a small part of your students' lives!

Blessings,

DKB
Capstone Adopt-A-Grad
April 20 - July 31
Although graduation marks a significant change in a student's involvement in our student ministry, we still care deeply and want to walk with our students and help in whatever way possible.

One way we’ll do this is through a new program that we want graduates to participate in during the coming year. Adopt-a-Grad is a really simple idea. We will match every one of our graduates who wish to participate with a person or family from St. Mark's who will pray for and encourage their adopted graduate during this first post-high school year.

If a graduate is interested in being adopted by someone in our church family, all they have to do is fill out the Adoptee Info Sheet (contact DKB to get one) and turn it into DKB. We also need a good picture (a Senior pic would be perfect).

To be clear, this program is only in place to encourage and support our graduates. The only expectation of them after they turn in the form is to sit back and enjoy the amazing people of this church who love Jesus and love our students and graduates. Graduates are absolutely welcome to communicate back to their adopters if they so choose, but they do not have to.

If you have any questions about this program or Capstone Young Adult Ministries, feel free to ask DKB at [email protected].
Cornerstone Cookout
May 15 - May 155pm - 7pmLOCATION: The Byrd House - 14076 Springmill Ponds Circle, Carmel, IN 46032
WHEN:      Sunday, May 15^th from 5:00 to 7:00 pm

WHERE:   The Byrd House – 14076 Springmill Ponds Circle, Carmel, IN 46032

WHY:        It’s almost summer and we need to get together, gear up for Spring Retreat, play some games, and spend some fun time with the Class of 2022.

WHAT:      We will gather together at The Byrd House from 5:00 to 7:00 pm. Hot dogs and hamburgers will be provided. Everyone should bring food to share as follows:

                 Last name starting with A through L - Side dish

                 Last name starting with M through Z - Dessert

                 Feel free to bring any balls, frisbees, and/or outdoor games to play.

WHO:        All students in grades 7 - 12 are welcome to attend.

SIGNUP:   NONE – Just show up
Spring Retreat
May 20 - May 225pm - 11amLOCATION: Epworth Forest Retreat Center
You can count on this being a wonderful time to grow together in faith and friendship. As always, we request that you come with a heart to learn and an expectation to encounter God.

We will NEED parents/adults to help drive and spend the night with us. Please indicate your willingness to help when you sign up your student(s).

Any students currently in 6^th through 12^th grade are invited to attend.

Cost: $95 per youth

Sign up: Will be active soon. Keep an eye out!
Capstone High School Graduate Luncheon
June 12 - June 1212:30 pm - 2:00 pmLOCATION: Cornerstone Commons
Celebrate the Class of 2022 with St. Mark’s! Join us for a light lunch, some memories, a game, gifts, and the commissioning of the Class of 2022.

All students in grade 12 and their families are invited to attend. Please sign up to let us know you are coming so we can plan for food.

If you have any questions, contact Don Broad at [email protected].
Cornerstone Evening Out - Mini Golf
June 12 - June 125:00 pm - 7:00 pmLOCATION: Pirate's Quest Mini Golf (at Woodland Bowl)
Once a month, Cornerstone has an “Evening Out” where we will gather someplace other than at St. Mark’s.  Any student in grades 7 through 12 AND any friends they wish to invite are welcome to attend.

The cost for 18 holes of miniature golf is $8.00. There are also arcade games inside and a snack bar that could require additional funds.

There is no need to sign up. Parents will need to arrange for transportation to and from the event.
Club 56 Mission Camp
June 13 - June 16LOCATION: St. Mark's UMC and various locations
Club 56 kids love to give back to the community! Our biggest mission event for 5th and 6th graders takes place every summer in June during Mission Camp.

This is a 4-day event that allows the youth to participate in local mission projects both inside our church and out in the community.

Go to stmarkscarmel.org/missioncamp for more information and to register.
Workcamp 2022
June 19 - June 258am - 3pmLOCATION: Port Huron, MI
Students currently in grades 8 through 12 are invited to join us as we journey to Port Huron, MI (just north of Detroit on the shore of Lake Huron). We will spend the week serving needy and elderly homeowners in the Port Huron area with needed home repair projects. It will also be a time of devotion, worship, personal spiritual growth, and FUN!

Sign-ups are currently open at www.stmarkscarmel.org/workcamp, so don't miss out. Details are available at the sign-up site.

If you have any questions, feel free to ask DKB!
Cornerstone Cookout
June 26 - June 265:00 pm - 7:00 pmLOCATION: St. Mark's UMC
We will gather at St. Mark's to share some food, play some games, talk about what happened at Workcamp, and just hang out.

No sign-up is needed - just show up! Bring a dessert or side dish to share.
Week of Hope 2022
July 24 - July 298am - 3pmLOCATION: Pittsburgh, PA
Students currently in grades 6 through 8 are invited to join us as we journey to Pittsburgh, PA. We will spend the week engaging in community service projects in the Pittsburgh area. It will also be a time of devotion, worship, personal spiritual growth, and FUN!

Sign-ups are currently open at www.stmarkscarmel.org/weekofhope, so don't miss out. Details will be available at the sign-up site.

If you have any questions, feel free to ask DKB!
Be a AAA Parent
Doug Fields -Author of Intentional Parenting
When I'm asked about what parents can do everyday (besides praying) that can make a huge difference in their kids' lives, I tell them three things that can make them "AAA Parents."

Affection. Everyone needs affection to thrive, but kids want affection from their parents. I'm convinced that one of reasons teenagers are so sexually promiscuous (especially girls) is because they lack affection from the significant male figure in their life. My parents were great, but they weren't overly affectionate, so I chose to change the script in how I parented. I pour affection on my kids through hugs, back rubs, and snuggling during TV time.

Affirmation. Mark Twain once said, "I can live for two months on one good compliment." Unfortunately, many kids go two months without any genuine affirmation from their parents. Through their words parents yield so much power to shape their kids. Imagine your child has a bank account and each encouragement, affirmation, positive comment, intentional and personal word of kindness is a deposit of a penny to their account. Each negative comment is like withdrawing a quarter. How is your child's bank account doing?

Attention. Simply stated, this means parents need to focus and engage on what's happening in their kids' lives. Giving kids attention means more than popping by their bedroom and waving goodnight -- it means tucking them in. It means more than asking how their day went -- it means asking and really listening to the answer and then asking more questions. It means more than making sure they get homework done -- it means helping and coaching in a way that they feel confident and empowered. Kids need to feel that they matter to their parents!

Parenting isn't easy. Intentional parenting is even more difficult, but the rewards your child will reap through affection, affirmation and attention are worth the difficulty it takes for parents to make these into daily habits!
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