Attention Middle School Students! We're going to the Skycroft Resort center on the Appalachian trail near Frederick, MD .....hangin' out, eating, singing, worshipping, playing, learning more about God, relaxing, hiking and more! Bring your friends, neighbors, cousins, or come by yourself and meet new people. Were going to have an awesome time!!
Our theme this year is "Unmasked: How the gospel redefines us before God". Basically we are playing off of the idea that students are always trying to define themselves by trying on different personalities...the cool kid, the jock, the emo kid, the popular girls, the tech nerds....which one fits and how does the gospel give us a greater identity in Christ? And you better believe we will have some masked men running around...you know like super heroes!
Application & money is due Monday October 26th
Destination: Skycroft Retreat Center Dates: November 13th – 15th. Leaving Church at 5pm back by 4 Cost: $149 – For all food, 2 nights, transportation and other costs. Make check payable to Covenant of Grace. What to Bring: Sleeping bag, pillow, bath towel, Bible, journal, pen, recreation clothes for gym time and outside, spending money $15-20, warm clothing, toiletries, and a stuffed moose.
At Velocity we had a night devoted to worshiping God through prayer. The whole evening went well as the kids took turns reading scripture and praying over Gods attributes. The below lesson gives you at home the scripture and format to worship God at home.
8th Graders & Parents – Monday October 19th 6:00pm
DETAILS
WHERE: BlackFeet Indian Reservation, Montana Near Glacier National Park
WHEN: July 17 – 25/26 of 2010
WHO: Students going into 9th grade in fall of 2010 – Exiting Seniors Upper classmen get priority of available spaces. There are 28 spaces for the trip.
Every week I am going to post a quick recap of the previous nights lesson with a Word document attached where you can download the lesson's outline and questions so you can carry the conversation further at home with your youth. The purpose is to equip the families with material to further spiritual growth in the lives of their children.
We have been going over a series in Velocity called, Living by Faith in Troubled times. Its a sermon series from Tim Keller from Redeemer Church in NYC. Below is a quick recap of the introduction to the series.
The study is going over the little explored Old Testament book of Habakkuk which might sound really obscure but it is really relevant for our times today! Habakkuk is writing during a time when his country is dealing with violence, economic crisis, wars, injustice, suffering and trials.
We decided to study this because it our times are pretty difficult too. We turn on the TV, the internet and see reports of evil and injustice, wars and crimes, and hard economic times. Thus having a study on how to have faith in troubled times is very important for everyone these days.
So the book of Habakkuk is a dialogue between the prophet Habakkuk and God. In fact its a prayer by Habakkuk and God answering him. Habakkuk starts out by complaining to God about all the hard times. Hab. 1:2,3 "How long, O Lord, must I call for help, but you do not listen? ... Why do you make me look at injustice? Why do you tolerate wrong? " So Habakkuk is pretty honest and frank about his feelings but the one thing we learn about Habakkuk is that even though he doesnt understand and even though he questions God it was never a choice for him to leave God...to find answers somehwere else. He was faithfully wrestling with God. And that kind of unconditional faithful wrestling produces maturity, wisdom and grace. If we never struggled or went through hard times or if we always knew what God was up to then we really wouldnt need God. It was never an option for Habakkuk to walk away from God and he faithfully prayed and stuck to his relationship with God.
The problem is we all have this assumed omniscience....we think we know how things should end up and if they dont that upsets us. We need to realize we dont have the control of every outcome and we need to learn to let go and trust.
Habakkuk learns this throughout this book and we reflect on living by faith in troubled times in this series so wonderfully put together by Tim Keller.
If you would like to read more and actually download the lessons we've down the last several weeks, I have included the first lesson here and will have the next lesson up next week. My goal starting next week is to have the lesson from Monday night posted on this site on Tuesday so you can read it for yourself or use it to create dialogue with your children.
Week 1 Lesson on Living by Faith in Troubled Times. You will have to copy and paste this link just as it is and it should open up a word document.
http://dl.getdropbox.com/u/2372651/Habakkuk.1.doc
Something to keep in mind about this lesson is, it may seem on an adult level but I really use it as a guide for me and definitely teach it at a middle school level.
I also recommend listening to Tim Kellers sermon titled: "The Problem of Suffering and Evil" Its an excellent sermon by one of the best preachers in America today.
This is part one of a four part lesson, the other parts can be found on YouTube.com or when the first one finishes you can scroll on the bottom of the video screen for parts 2-4. Its really worth listening to!
Saturday October 30th - Serve the City. Working at the Samaritan Village. Meet at church at 8:30 am. Back by 4:30pm.
Monday Nov. 1st - Deadline for youth group night to turn in MS Retreat App and Money.
Monday Nov. 1st - Chili Bowl! Glow in the Dark Football, Nerf Tag in Moonbounce, Chili, Music, Fun! 6:30 -8:30pm. Bring Friends! Free T-shirt.
What is Velocity?
Velocity is the Middle School youth ministry program at Covenant of Grace Presbyterian Church in Reisterstown, MD. We meet Mid-August - End of June on Monday nights from 6:30 pm to 8:15.
Velocity is defined by moving swiftly and rapidly in a certain direction. Velocity is a group of students moving with speed towards God because he first moved towards us!
“Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us. Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before him endured the cross…” Hebrews 12:1-2
The goal of our student ministry is to Expose youth to God's love, to Equip them to Exalt God, Enjoy other believers and Experience the work of the ministry. This purpose statement is fulfilled when we fulfill these five purposes: Expose = Evangelism Equip = Discipleship Exalt= Worship Enjoy = Fellowship Experience = Ministry
Our hope is that this blog will help contribute to a family oriented youth ministry where the youth ministry works alongside the family in order to minister to youth. Each week lessons will be available as a ministry tool to help equip parents and engage youth. Studies have shown that parents are 2-3 times more influential than any church function. Home is the number 1 place where faith is nurtured. Please view this blog as an extension of the church youth ministry and use it to engage, equip, inspire and grow spiritually.
