Nugget Blog
Student Ministry Parent Update Email Vol 1 Ed 3
It's June, an exciting and crazy busy month for Jr High and High School kids and families. As graduations and promotions come and go this week, here are some things to know.
Wednesday June 23: Jr/Sr High Hot Dog Extravaganza & Worship Night at Moonlight Beach
To kickoff our summer activites, we're inviting all Junior/Senior High/College students and their families to a BBQ at Moonlight Beach! Wednesday, June 23, from 5-9pm, we'll be at Moonlight eating, playing and worshiping. Food will be served at 6, worship at 8. Boys bring drinks (soda or h20 bottles), girls bring snacks (chips, brownies, etc). Please RSVP/sign up on Sunday with Kelsey, or email mike@ncpcfamily.org.
Friday June 25: Game Night!
Friday night we'll be meeting at NCPC to play some fun games and eat food that isn't good for you! Junior/Senior High students are welcome to join us from 7-10pm. Tournament starts at 730, so don't be late!
Sunday June 27: Car Wash Fundraiser 11am-130pm at NCPC
If your student is headed on one of our summer trips, please encourage them to be a part of the Car Wash on Sunday, June 27. All proceeds will help offset your camp costs. Sunday and Wednesday, your student can pick up "tickets" to sell for $10 to friends/neighbors/co-workers, which they can redeem at the car wash. Whatever they sell, you (the paying parent) keep to help pay for camp. Your teen is expected to then come work the car wash, for which they will receive a portion of the additional funds raised. Some of the extra money raised will help our camp scholarship fund, helping families who are applying for additional financial support due to hardship. If you know of anyone who would like to donate to our scholarship fund, have them contact me.
Tuesdays at Ponto
All summer, we're going to the beach! Every Tuesday, a group of us from NCPC will be at Ponto from 9a-12pm. Come hang out at the beach with us! (don't forget a towel and something to drink!)
College Bible Study
Beginning June 22, Tuesday nights at the apartment of Mike and Kyle, college students are invited to come have dinner and join in a great Bible Study! Dinner is at 6pm (please RSVP to Mike via text or email for dinner), and the study at 7pm. Park on the street, and join us at 1045 N Vulcan St, Apt C (upstairs).
Summer High School Swim & Studies
This summer, swim & studies for High School will be held at different homes in Encinitas. Swim and Studies are Thursdays from 6-8pm. We have pizza, swimming, worship and Bible study every week. The first two weeks will July 1 and 8 at the Abramson's: 3216 Brookside Lane, Encinitas. Please bring a few bucks to help offset food costs.
Jr High Summer Youth Group
For Junior High, we'll also be having a number of Summer Swim & Studies. But first, we'd like to meet in the Dome for June 30 and July 7. We will also be having pizza, games, and Bible Study, from 6-8pm. Next year's 7th and 8th grade students are encouraged to come out and have some fun!
Hume Registration
We still have about 10 spots for Hume Lake Summer Camp open. Ponderosa at Hume Lake is the best high school youth camp in the nation. We're headed there July 25-31. Get more info here at http://ncpcfamily.org/
Junior High Summer Camping Trip
We're planning on heading to Big Bear for a Jr High Camping Trip August 8-11. More details will follow in the next few weeks.
That's a lot of info! But its all relevant. As always, please check out ncpcfamily.org/students or email mike@ncpcfamily.org for updates and information.
So stoked for Summer
I received a CD that is a choir of the Swaziland children singing worship songs to God. It blew me away. They have so much joy and hope in the Lord. They look to Him for everything and in everything. They have so much hardships yet they never cease to know God is King. I Love that. They sang a song called All in All. It's a very simple yet powerful song:
You are my strength when I am weak
You are the treasure that I seek
You are my all in all
Seeking You as a precious jewel
Lord, to give up I'd be a fool
You are my all in all
Jesus, Lamb of God
Worthy is Your name
Jesus, Lamb of God
Worthy is Your name
Taking my sin, my cross, my shame
Rising up again I bless Your name
You are my all in all
When I fall down You pick me up
When I am dry You fill my cup
You are my all in all
Jesus, Lamb of God
Worthy is Your name
Jesus, Lamb of God
Worthy is Your name
He is the treasure that we seek, He is my strength,He took my sin,my shame, He fills me up. It broke me. It's so moving to hear the song from these kids. God is good and has so much love for everyone no matter who or what or where you are from. God is Love. I just felt led to share this with all of you. God Loves you no matter what.
Hume Lake High School Camp!
We're headed to Hume Lake again for summer camp and we would love for you to join!
All the info you need is here!
Get your $100 deposit in ASAP. If you have any questions, please email mike@ncpcfamily.org.
Saturday's Padre game ticket info
Thank you so much for supporting our Africa trip by coming to the Padres game. Its going to be a great day. I will be at will call at the main entrance one hour before the game. I will be there from 430-535. If you are going to be late let me know. What I can do is leave the tickets at will call or call me and I will meet you at the gate. My number is 760-717-9700. Looking forward to seeing you all there! It really means a lot that our NCPC family is behind us on this trip.
Thanks
Mike Ehl
Special Event: Student Ministries April 28
For more information, please email Mike Forrest at mike@ncpcfamily.org.
Headed to Africa!
Student Ministry Parent Email Vol 1 Ed 2
For this edition of the somewhat regular parent/staff email, I wanted to focus on some resources to get you thinking about parenting your teenager in a Christ-centered way. At a recent Children's Ministry Conference that our Children's Directors attended, the overwhelming theme focused on the fact that the number one influence on a child's faith is the parents. Nothing determines the likelihood that your teenager will love Jesus more than you. Not youth group, not church, not other adults, not friends.
Take a deep breath. The scary part is over.
With the above in mind, I searched some of my favorite spots and then used some basic Googling, and here are some helpful websites, articles, devotions and books that may help you continue to grow in Jesus as you parent your teen. If you ever have questions about any of this, please connect! Our church staff is in the middle of a four-week dialogue about how we can better equip parents to love their kids. Hope the following is a good start.
Look at http://www.
Check out this blog post aimed at ways college students can faithfully represent Christ to their campuses. I really like the approach this author took: instead of being afraid that a student will "lose his faith", he challenges the believing student to go on "the offensive" for the Gospel, if you will. http://blog.marshillchurch.
Lifeway has a Christian magazine called 'living with teeneagers.' I've only looked at the sample sections online, but it looks intersesting. Check it out here: http://www.lifeway.com/
Lifeway also offers family devotions called Heart Connex. They're free! Check them out and possibly subscribe at http://www.lifeway.com/
About.com has an article how to be effective parent to a teenager. I thought it was interesting, though it left one really important thing out. In my opinion (as a 33 year old single male who has no kids and has never been married!), the single most important thing you can do for you kid is to ask their forgiveness. If you model grace and humility, coupled with love, I believe you're on the right path (though the way is narrow and difficult!). See the article here: http://christianteens.about.
A great resource book is called "Helping Your Struggling Teenager". I keep a copy in my office for those dreaded "what do I do with Johnny since I found out he ________" phone calls. Its a great reference book, to help with what certain struggles might look like, how you can help, and what professional counselors can do to help. Find it here: http://www.amazon.com/Helping-
Also see a new book called "Hurt", on the world of today's teenagers. I have a copy on my desk and hope to get to it soon (while on vacation in May!), but it comes highly recommended and Doug Swagerty is also reading it. Only $10 at Amazon! http://www.amazon.com/Helping-
So there it is. A bunch of stuff that will hopefully at least get you thinking. If you have more resources that may help other parents, please click on this blog at http://ncpcfamily.org/blogs/
Grace,
Mike Forrest
North Coast Presbyterian Church
www.ncpcfamily.org
mike@ncpcfamily.org
Easter Services at 9am & 11am
Please note that we will have two services on Easter Sunday, at 9 and 11 am.
Our childrens ministry will be in full swing for both services, for kids nursery to 6th grade. 7th-12 grade students are encouraged to attend the service with their families.
If you have any questions, please contact any staff member, or email hello@ncpcfamily.org
Hope you have a wonderful Easter season as we remember the price Jesus paid to offer redemption to the world and the ease with which we may obtain it.
Grace!
High School Attending Lacrosse Game 3/25
We will not meet at church, but meet at San Dieguito. The game is at 7pm and features two of our high school guys (on opposing teams...).
If you have any questions, please contact Mike Forrest at 619.920.3763 or mike@ncpcfamily.org
Book: The Power of Half
Been reading a book for the last few weeks called the power of half. It’s the story of a family from Atlanta that decided to sell their 1.6 million dollar home, buy one that was half the price, and give the rest to the Hunger Project (which used the money to empower two major villages in Ghana, giving 40,000 people access to fresh-water, medicine, micro-loans, education and more – all of which was self-sustaining by the local people). Half of one house changed 40,000 lives.
The remarkable part of this book is not that the parents let their 14 year old daughter convince them to do this, but that they entered into this two year process of meeting together and talking about what their family response to hunger and poverty should be. Sure, to sell their house is an astounding, counter-cultural act of sacrifice in the name of philanthropy. But how they did this – not just what they did – is why every American family should read this book.
Go to a bookstore, find The Power of Half, grab a latte and read the first chapter. Also, bring enough money to purchase the book once you’re hooked.
Special thanks to NPR for featuring the father/daughter (Kevin and Hannah Salwen).
Check out The Power of Half at their website or Facebook fan page.
Nugget Blog
Blogging all the Nugget Thoughts of junior high students at NCPC.