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PARENT NEWSLETTER #4
6. Youth Activities
9. Parent/Family Info
===========our sponsor===========
"MY FAITH," "MY FAMILY," "MY SCHOOL," "MY FRIENDS"
from "The Middle School Survival Series"
These books are filled with quick and easy-to-read lessons along with funny stories from the authors. Plus there are quotes and questions from students just like yours.
Learn more and purchase any of the books in the "The Middle School Survival Series" here.
https://shop.youthspecialties.com/store/home.php?cat=379
*Save 30% off the retail price of any of the 4 books above when you purchase one (or all of them) from Youth Specialties.
Just use coupon code YPNAR1 when you check out. The coupon expires on May 14, 2008.
Also available in your local Christian bookstore.
Find a Christian bookstore near you:
http://www.youthspecialties.com/store/dealers/
=================================
1. TOOLS FOR PARENTING TEENS
If you've ever wondered why your teen can seem so mature at one moment then remind you of their three-year-old tantrums the next, you're not alone. This article, from YS President, Mark Oestreicher, will help you understand a little more about this stage of early adolescence.
SUMMED UP IN ONE WORD: TRANSITION
Nikki is 11 years old, and in 6th grade. But she looks more like a 16 year-old. And I've had more than one mom comment to me that they would pay big money to have fingernails as nice as Nikki's.
But Nikki still loves to play with Barbie dolls. In fact, it's not uncommon for her to bring a couple with her on youth group trips. The other kids tease her about it--but she's naive enough to think they think it's fun that Barbie is in tow.
It's not that Nikki is neither a child nor a teenager: she's bits of both.
Then there's a group of guys I called the "Punk Pokemons." Their group was five 8th grade guys--all taller than me--who were trying very hard to be tough. They wore baggy pants and spiked their hair.
And they never smiled. Never. They were 100% committed to being disinterested.
But on a regular basis, they would gather in the back corner of our junior high room at church to trade Pokemon cards (those goofy little trading cards that were popular with kids a couple years back). It was hilarious to see the snarling wannabe tough guys saying things like, "I'll give you two Pekachus for one Mewtwo."
Nikki and the Punk Pokemons are in transition. Not quite adults, but not kids anymore either.
If you ask me to define the young teen years in one word, I'd have to use the word "transition." Everything about the world of a young teen is somewhere in-between where they've been and where they're headed.
The signs of "work in progress" show up in every area of a young teen's life, including her faith. She's finding that her "childish" faith system isn't working anymore, faith-bit by faith-bit. She begins the search--sometimes consciously and proactively, sometimes not--for a richer, more complex adult faith system. And much of this is accomplished through experimentation.
Here's what I mean: your young teen might show less interest in church, but more interest in spiritual things. By spiritual things, I don't necessarily mean youth group retreats and the church children's choir. For a young teen, the dimensions of the spiritual life are just opening up, and their noticing depth and spirituality in music, in movies, in TV shows, in conversations with friends, even listening in on adult conversation.
But they're in transition! They'll continue to have pieces of childish faith and elements of an adult faith at the same time.
Just as you would never try to rush the physical growth of you child (by pumping them full of hormones or steroids), it's a bad move to attempt to rush this spiritual transition either. But you can help them: by listening, discussing, and staying open and not threatened. Watch for these signs of transition in faith, and ask open-ended, non-threatening questions to help them develop their faith-thinking.
Share more openly about your own spiritual journey: your longings and doubts, your hopes and a-ha moments, places where you've seen God active in your life in the past week.
And most of all: be aware that this transition means they won't stay this way for long--so cherish this time!
**
Mark Oestreicher is the president of Youth Specialties (www.YouthSpecialties.com), the leading provider of resources and training for Christian youth workers. Marko speaks to parents, teens and youth workers around the world, and writes books (mostly for youth ministry and young teens). He lives in San Diego with his wife, Jeannie, and his two kids, Liesl and Max.
RELATED RESOURCES:
"My Faith," "My School," "My Family," "My Friends" (from "The Middle School Survival Series")--SPECIAL OFFER: Save 30% off any of the 4 books from the Middle School Survival Series when you use coupon code YPNAR1. Offer expires 5/14/08.
Learn more or purchase any of the 4 books above here:
https://shop.youthspecialties.com/store/home.php?cat=379
Living with Questions
https://shop.youthspecialties.com/store/product.php?productid=543
Don't Buy the Lie
https://shop.youthspecialties.com/store/product.php?productid=243
**
2. LINKS TO LEARN FROM
- VA Schools Teach 'Net Safety Lessons
http://ap.google.com/article/
- Study Ties Bedroom TV to Unhealthy Habits in Teens
http://www.reuters.com/article/scienceNews/idUSN0439129420080407
- Family as Solution to Underage Drinking
http://www.moberlymonitor.com/articles/2008/04/08/news/news1.txt
- Panel Allows Parents Glimpse of Teenage Minds
http://www.thestamfordtimes.com/stamford_templates/stamford_story/
3. INSIDE YOUR TEEN'S WORLD
...Random things you may not have heard about...
Emoticons meet Mood Rings
http://www.emoodicon.com/
Violence Among Girls on the Rise
http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/local/173133_girlfights13.html
Teen Ink: Website and magazine written by teens
http://www.teenink.com/index.php
4. LEARN THEIR LINGO
...Some slang and texting lingo for you to speak (or at least understand)
- off the heezy = or "off the heezy for sheezy," meaning very cool. See "off the hook."
- off the hook = Exceptionally good. "Did you see John's new 22 spinners? They was off the hook!"
- kewl = cool (Text message shorthand, actually it is considered "leetspeak" because it's not shorter than the original word. It is used in online chat, IM, e-mail, blogs, or newsgroup postings and it is usually spelled all lowercase.)
5. A LITTLE ENCOURAGEMENT...AND HUMOR
"Children have never been very good at listening to their elders, but they have never failed to imitate them."
~James Arthur Bladwin
6. YOUTH ACTIVITIES
Youth Gatti Land
Many youth have asked for the return of GattiLand. For all who have requested this fun evening, it’s back. We will go to GattiLand on Sunday, April 13th, from 6:00-8:00 PM. The cost is $8. Bring a few extra bucks for the games. Please sign up for this event so we can make arrangements for all of us! A Parent Consent Form is required.
Youth Paintball Land
Sign up for a St. Francis Youth (7th-12th grades) Paintball fun scheduled for Sunday, April 20th, from 11:00AM – 5:00PM. Many of our youth have requested this fun, full-day activity again. We are going to one of the hottest action-thrill sports of the new millennium. It is a 76-acre farm in Lanesville, Indiana. The cost is $45 and this includes 500 paintballs and the safety goggles. You need to sign up, have Parent Consent form, bring a lunch and wear lots of clothes to cover your body. We need a $20 deposit to hold your spot by Wednesday, April 16th. Call Raleigh or Mary Caroline at 228-1176 for more info.
EYC Polaroid Party
The EYC will have a picture perfect time with the Polaroid Party on Sunday, April 27th from 2:30 – 5:00 PM at the Vicarage. This is a scavenger hunt that takes place all over Louisville with Digital Camera’s. We will have adults drive while youth give them very detailed directions. It is a must do fun activity. Friends are welcome but you must sign up so we can have enough drivers.
Middlers Lazer Blaze
The Middlers will travel to Lazer Blaze on Sunday, April 27th from 2:30 – 5:00PM. The cost is $15. Bring a few extra bucks for the video games or food. Please sign up for this event so we can make arrangements for all of us! A Parent Consent form is required.
Church-Wide Capture the Flag
Sunday, May 4th, between 6:00 and 8:00 PM at the Vicarage the EYC (9-12th grades) and Middlers (7th and 8th grades) will come together for a game of capture the flag in the St. Francis bowl. This will be a fun night of activity and fellowship. For those who would enjoy playing please come dressed for play and for those who would like to cheer please come ready to hoot and holler. Dinner will be served and friends are always welcome.
Youth Restaurant Night
Join the youth group as we travel to our restaurant of choice for the evening of Sunday, May 4th. We will meet at the Vicarage at 6 PM and return by 8 PM. Friends are welcome, but please sign up so we can plan transportation.
Solid Rock: NOT NEXT WEEK DUE TO SPRING BREAK
Solid Rock meets on Wednesdays. Please join us Wednesday nights from 6:45-7:45 PM in the Vicarage for 7th – 12th grades. This is a great way for us to explore our faith in a fun way through discussions, movies and activities. We will have lively discussions as we journey together through life. If you would like to join us for dinner please bring a few bucks and meet us at the Vicarage at 5:45 PM.
This Spring the guys and the girls will split up three out of four sessions to discuss issues that are only related to their gender in a way that will help them navigate through their teen years, more effectively. Because, to whatever extent guys are different from other guys and girls are different from other girls, to an even greater extent, guys as a whole are different from girls as a whole. These sessions will be faith-focused and God-centered.
Sunday School:
Join us on Sunday’s for Sunday School in the Vicarage at 10:00 AM. Sunday School is a time where we learn more about how we can be faithful in this world today. Join us as we learn how to love God with all our hearts and make a difference in our world.
We have started a series called "Teens vs. Parents". This class is designed to help our teens understand what the family is so that they can help bring the family together.
Youth Purpose Statement
The purpose of the St. Francis Youth Group is to develop strong bonds with each other while pursuing our journey with Christ. We fulfill this through outreach, Bible Study, and by simply having a good time.
7. YOUTH PICTURES
Check out the pictures on our web site. http://www.stfrancisinthefields.org/youthPhotoAlbum.asp
8. MISSION NEWS
Missions, St. Francis, and You!
SUMMER MISSIONS
The Mission Planning Team is excited to share with you that we have two missions the summer of 2008. A team of adults and youth will travel to David, KY June 8-13 to participate in a Vacation Bible School for the community and work projects around the David School. The next mission of adults and youth (10th through 12th grade) will travel to the Dominican Republic, June 21-29 to work on projects that partially consist of building pews, painting and help with a VBS. We are currently looking at other projects that will help our friends in the DR.
The Mission Team is truly blessed to be a part of a parish that prays so diligently and gives so freely of its time and resources. Thank you again for making our call of having two missions this summer a reality.
SUMMER OPPORTUNITIES
Kroger Cards—It really does work!
This is a labor-free, expense-free fund-raiser. On sale everyday from Raleigh! It does not cost you any extra money to use these Kroger cards but the Mission Team will receive 4% of every dollar spent. Remember that this card can be recharged at any Kroger service desk or cashier with cash, check or credit card. Our mission fund will continue to receive 4% of your grocery, floral and pharmacy purchases. Each dollar raised goes directly to the projects in David, KY and the Dominican Republic.
Do you shop at Kroger? If every family bought one month’s groceries using a Kroger Mission Card, the Mission team would be well on its way to our fundraising goal of $15,000. With only 100 families taking part in our year round Kroger card Mission fundraising activity, we could make an average of $450 per month which means the fund will receive at least $5000 per year. Let’s increase this labor-free, expense-free fund-raiser. At this point we only have 42 families using these Kroger cards. We are averaging less than $300 per month.
9. PARENT/FAMILY INFO
Shoes and Clothing Drive for the Dominican Republic - The mission team is beginning its children's shoes and clothing drive for the trip to Dominican Republic. The shoes and clothing should be gently used or new, and don't forget the big boy sizes, especially in shoes. Whether dress up or casual, the clothing needs to be the light weight summer type suitable for a tropical climate.
The team also needs at least 20 very large hand-me-down suitcases to haul the items in.
A box may be found in the breezeway in the front of the church.
Upcoming Events …
Family Fun Night … Friday, April 18, 5:30 – 8:00 p.m. … family fellowship including a movie, costume contest, games and pizza! You don’t want to miss this fun evening! Contact Cindy Thompson for more information at cindyt@stfrancisinthefields.org
Young Adult Cookout and Fellowship … Thursday, April 17, 6:30 – 8:00 p.m. Contact Mary Carolyn Rhodes for more information at Marycaroline@stfrancisinthefields.org
Confirmation Class … Wednesday nights beginning April 16 at 6:30 p.m. Contact Adrienne Beeuwkes at Adrienneb@stfrancisinthefields.org to register.
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