I'll be posting short Advent devotions daily. As Christmas approaches try to commit to spending some time in God's word.

With the holidays quickly approaching, your sons and daughters will soon have some much needed time off of school. It’s a good idea to start thinking of the things you might want to do as a family over both Thanksgiving and Christmas break. A little pre-planning can lead to some new family memories. Unfortunately, Thanksgiving and Christmas break will go by pretty quickly and the time can escape you if you don’t plan ahead.

In MS worship we spent the past 2 weeks talking about Thankfulness.
First we talked about 3 different people in the Bible expressed their thankfulness in different ways. We looked at Anna, the leper, and Jesus as He thanked God for the provisions of the loaves and fish.

We then talked about how true thankfulness is a result of selflessness and can be shown by forgiving, loving, and worshipping (Colossians 3:12-17). Jesus cleansed us from our sin the same way He cleansed the Lepers of their Leprosy. As people who follow God and were created in His image, out of our gratitude for what He has done for us we need to forgive people, love God and love people, and worship Him with our entire beings.

As you and your family celebrate thanksgiving take some time as a family to not just talk about what you’re grateful for, but also how you can show that thankfulness daily.

Hebrews 10:24-25And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds, not giving up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but encouraging one another – and all the more as you see the Day approaching.

One last thing – there are no youth services this Sunday morning and no CORE Sunday evening. Please worship together as a family.

Blessings,

Margo Most

MS Hangout

Starting Next Thursday we'll be hanging out. Don't miss this time with food, friends and fun!

Packing List

SOS is right around the corner...time to start packing!

SOS 2015 Packing List:

Packed lunch for the way to Cincinnati

Clothes:

·         Shorts – NO SHORT SHORTS. We will ask you to change if your shorts are too short

·         Shirts – enough for the week – NO SPAGHETTI STRAP SHIRTS OR CAMIS

·         Sweatshirt

·         Pajamas

·         Swimsuit – NO BIKINIS – if that’s all you have then please wear a shirt over it.

·         Tennis shoes – MUST be worn to the work projects

·         Other shoes

Toiletries:                                                                      

·         Soap

·         Shampoo

·         Toothpaste

·         Toothbrush

·         Contacts/glasses

·         DEODORANT

Bible and Pen

Sunscreen

Water bottle

Drawstring bag – (You’ll need to take things with you to each work project)

Towel – For the pool

Snacks - that can be easily packed and taken to work projects

Spending money – The amount is up to you. They may want to buy snack/drinks. Students will sometimes purchase things that different ministries might be selling (ball caps, jewelry, etc.).

Please pack light – preferably in a soft-sided bag
*******Space is limited*******

No phones, lap tops, or gaming systems, electronics

SOS TRAINING

Don't forget there is a mission trip training this weekend.

Friday, May 8th from 6pm-9:30pm and Saturday May 9th from 8am-4pm in the youth room.

Remember you have to write out your testimony (3 minutes or less) - email or bring me a copy.

If you haven't yet mailed out a support letter for prayer and/or financial support I encourage you to do it soon. June will be here before you know it!

SOS Next Steps

Here's a recap from yesterday's training.

Things to do:
1. Write and send out your support letter asking for prayer and financial support. Email or bring me a copy

2. Write a brief 3 minute testimony. Email or bring me a copy.
Include:

Life Before Christ - Even if you were young when you came to know Jesus, you had a life before knowing Him. This helps people to understand there is a decision they need to make - They weren't "born a Christian."

Accepting Christ (conversion) - Explain why you wanted to accept Jesus.
Briefly explain the Gospel (what Jesus has done for everyone).
Explain how you accepted Him (Prayed - admitted you're a sinner, asked Him for Forgiveness, Asked Him to come into your life).

Life After Christ - How is your life different because of Jesus?

3. Memorize your verses and say them to one of the leaders.

4. Pray:
For our team as we prepare to serve. 
For the encounters we have with the people in Cincinnati.

SNOW CAMP 2015

Snow Camp 2015 Recap

What is the best way to start a new year? Filling a 55 passenger bus, driving to New York and spending the weekend with a bunch of Middle School students! Snow Camp 2015 was an amazing weekend for both students and adults. During the course of the weekend 7 students prayed to accept Jesus and over 30 students made commitments to give the Lord certain areas of their lives that they felt conviction about. The leaders and students spent time together making plans and praying about these new commitments which ranged from reading the Bible more and breaking bad habits, to changing their friend groups. I encourage you to pray for the kids as they are trying to take their next steps with Christ by looking up and following Jesus and leaning into real relationships; and pray for the Adult leaders to know the best way to help the kids as they journey together.

Friday night at snow camp is a wild time! After unloading the bus and surviving the hike up the icy hill with our luggage, we pick a team name and start the first round of weekend competitions. This year our team name was Second Hand Bandaids...no specific significance…just a name that everyone seemed to like. The Friday night competitions consisted of sumo suits, bungee cords, and inflatables…These competitions are a great way for the kids to start working together and becoming a team.

On Saturday we had 3 Chapel Services where we had the opportunity to spend time in worship and reflection. The speakers focus on having the kids think about where they are with the Lord and where they want to be. During one chapel service there were 4 chairs on the stage and the speaker explained that each chair represented a different response to God: Commitment, Compromise, Convenience, or Conflict. The kids were challenged to be honest with themselves and to figure out what chair they were “sitting” in and what was in their lives to keep them from being in the first chair. Our time ended with many kids responding to this and spending time in prayer with leaders and peers. Seeing groups of teens praying with each other and broken before the Lord is something that I wish everyone could experience!
On Sunday our chapel time was focused on looking beyond ourselves. We were given 20 minutes to spend reading the word, praying, and writing letters to Christians in need all around the world. Many of these letters will go to family members of people who were killed for their Christian beliefs. 
The snow camp competitions culminated in the infamous Donut relay. It’s quite a sight to see teams of kids sprinting across ice and snow covered ground, being pulled in kayaks, tubing down a hill all while holding a tray of donuts; and finally launching the frosted donuts from a slingshot to their teammates who had to then eat the donuts as fast as they could. I am very excited to say that our team won the donut relay!!!

All in all the weekend was amazing, God was glorified, and lives were changed!

Packing List

Middle School Snow Camp

January 16^th-18^th

Important Things You Need to Know and Bring

Check-In at church at 3:00pm on Friday, Jan. 16th – Bus will leave at 3:30pm! Feel free to stay for prayer before we leave.

BRING DINNER to eat on the bus – we DO NOT stop to buy dinner.

If you are bringing prescription medication that needs to be administered by a leader, please label it with the student’s name and dosage instructions.

On Sunday, we will leave camp at 1:30 pm and will return between 5:30 pm and 6:00 pm.  Check the blog or facebook for updates on arrival time.

(www.fbcuth-middleschool.blogspot.com)

Emergency Contact Info:

Circle C Ranch – 1-800-231-6866     Margo Most–440-225-9387

What to Bring:

·         A SLEEPING BAG and PILLOW or blankets if you have no sleeping bag.

·         WARM CLOTHES for outside activities. All buildings are winterized, but outside it is COLD.

·         Sleepwear, personal items, towels, sport clothes.  NO DRESS OUTFITS are needed.

·         BIBLE, notebook, and pen.

·         (Optional) Bring spending money for a cookout, Miss Kate’s Place, and The Country Store.

·         (Optional) Snacks for when you’re in the cabin.

What NOT to Bring:

·         Sleds or toboggans - we supply plenty of inner-tubes.

·         Phones, radios, CD players, mp3 players, iPods, TVs etc.

 ALL the entertainment you’ll need is supplied by Circle C.

·         Sweat-shirts or T-shirts that advertise rock groups, tobacco, etc.

***Parents, please make sure your child doesn’t pack his/her phone. If they need to use a phone they can borrow a leader’s phone

Parents: Pray for your child to grow in Christ and for endurance for the MS Team!