It’s hard to believe that it’s already February!
Our Winter Retreat is 2 weeks from tomorrow, please have your teens money and permission slips in by February 15th. It’s not too late to come, or invite friends. You can find out more information about Winter Retreat at http://valleycreekchurch.com/winterretreat/
We had a really great service on Wednesday night.
We ended the How To Survive A Zombie Attack with Part 4:Live. Matt challenged everyone with living out the life God planned for us and living it to the fullest, not just surviving, but thriving! We also ended our 24 hour fast with a great “break-fast” catered by Chef Adam. And we set our goal for what we want to give to missions in 2012.
It is very exciting to see our great students growing in their faith, and awesome to see God move in their lives! What a privilege!
Next Wednesday we begin a new series called Soundtrack Of My Life. We are starting off the series with a great guest speaker and a combined night, both Jr. high and Sr. High will meet together from 6:30-8:30.
We are looking forward to starting a new series, and seeing God move through peoples stories and music.
We are enjoying our How To Survive A Zombie Attack series!
Wednesday was part 3: Attack. We talked about prayer being our greatest weapon, fasting, and giving to others. Matt challenged the group this week to pray and fast, and come together next Wednesday and set a goal for giving for the year 2012. We give to missions through Speed The Light. STL helps to provide missionaries with the things they need to spread to gospel to the world. You can find out more about Speed The Light here http://stl.ag.org/
This Wednesday is our last week of our Zombie series part 4: Live. We are looking forward to a great night and fun meal together!
We had a great night last night! We are still in our How To Survive A Zombie Attack, last night was part 2: DEFEND. Matt talked about finding our security in God alone, and defending each other, “so that none are lost,” from John 17:11-12. Here is a link to a full write up on what Matt challenged the group with, http://mjreed.com/zombieattack2/.
Next week is Part 3: Attack, we are looking forward to a great night!
We are also getting excited for Winter Retreat on Feb 17-19, we need all permission slips and money in by Wednesday Feb 15th. We are looking forward to a fun weekend away! You can find out more information at http://valleycreekchurch.com/winterretreat/.
Thank you for all you do in supporting VCSTUDENT!
VCSTUDENT is heading to Elk River MN for our first winter retreat ever! We are looking forward to a fun weekend of games activities. This retreat will be a great get-away, focused on building relationships, spending time together, and just having fun!
We are meeting at the Oak-Land Jr. High School at 4:00 pm on Friday, February 17th. The cost of the trip is $45, please turn in your money and Waterpark waiver by February 15th at the latest. We will be spending two nights at Twin Lakes Church in Elk River. On Saturday afternoon we will be heading to the Wild Woods Waterpark so bring a swim suit, a towel, and spending money for the concession stand if you would like (Girls need to either have a one piece suit or a t-shirt to put over top). We will also be playing some group games outside so bring some warm winter clothes!
All the meals will be covered except for breakfast on Sunday morning. We will be stopping at Mcdonald’s on our way back to Oak-Land Jr. High School, so please bring some spending money for breakfast (approx. $5). We will be arriving back at the Oak-Land Jr. High School on Sunday, February 19th, at around 9:30am for the first service at Valley Creek Church.
If you filled out a VCSTUDENT permission slip at the beginning of the 2011-12 school year, you do not need to fill out another one, just the water park waiver.
Yesterday we kicked off our four-week How to Survive a Zombie Attack series. It’s a facetious metaphor for church life done in appropriate and fun way. We literally littered the cafeteria and next week we’ve got more fun decorative surprises to accent the room.
Our title last night was “Unite.” The key verses were “I pray that they will all be one, just as you and I are one—May they experience such perfect unity that the world will know that you sent me and that you love them as much as you love me.” (John 17:21a,23b). We talked about how key unity is to youth group (church life). In short, as in surviving a zombie attack, we come together with a shared vulnerability (we all need saved), commitment to hope (better days are ahead), and unity in purpose (common goal). To accomplish God’s will as a church body, we must put aside differences, welcome outsiders with open arms, and work hard to fulfill the vision God has given us.
For a full write-up on last night’s message, visit http://mjreed.com/zombieattack1. Next week’s title is “Defend” and we’re exploring guarding the truth, protecting unity, and living in purity, so that none are lost (John 17:11-12).
Side Note: The January Parent’s Newsletter was mailed today. Download it here.
Last Wednesday night we continued our Babies series and covered a multitude of topics in both Jr High and Sr High groups. The most notable subject defined the ABC’s of salvation using the illustrations above: Admit you’re a sinner (“I can’t do this without you”, Believe Jesus died for your sins (“I know God made a way for me”), and Confess that Jesus is your risen Savior (I need You, Jesus).
Salvation is a common theme we throw around church, but what I’ve seen over the years is that teens have a difficult time explaining its meaning. Almost every teen was blown away when I stated that it’s not good people who go to heaven, it’s forgiven people I’ve found that the measure of understanding is equal to the ability to explain in a personal way. Because its the core of faith, we’ll be revisiting this teaching more than once over the course of the year.
This series has spurred unprecedented levels of discussion and we’re excited to continue it tonight with topics like the third commandment, universalism, and giving without receiving.
Our December parent’s newsletter was mailed out today. If you’d like to be on the mailing list, contact matt@valleycreekchurch.com. You can also download the past two below!
Mark your calendars for Christmas in the Park on December 15 at 7 pm. Join us at Central Park (next to the YMCA in Woodbury) for a night of music and a retelling of the Christmas story. Christmas at the Park is a free, family event for our community so be sure to invite your friends and neighbors!
Click here for directions to Central Park.
Last week kicked off our “Babies” series and the youth room was rockin’ some sweet baby pics from students and leaders. The premise of this series is moving our understanding of the Gospel from baby to adult, milk to meat… relying on the truth of God’s Word.
We’ve been looking at a series of random of topics. This past Wednesday we looked briefly at what the Bible had to say about the third commandment, good people and heaven, demons, coincidence/providence, pursuing God’s blessing, and dating.
The most striking conversation revolved around the “baby” view that good people go to heaven. Most were surprised when I said that it wasn’t good people that go to heaven – it’s forgiven people. So we’re going to look at it again tonight a little deeper, relying on Romans 3:23, 6:23, 10:9 Mark 10:18, John 14:6, Ephesians 1:13, and a few more verse.
Parents, I encourage you to tackle topics like these with your teens.. don’t be afraid to dig a little deeper yourself to steer discussion. Feel free to contact me if you have questions. Say a prayer for tonight’s service.. I have a feeling it will be powerful!
It is a curious blessing to grow our intelligence. The concept of being able to learn is an outrageous gift that sets the human brain far above the abilities endowed to other creatures. We adopt pets and we see how smart some animals can be; we teach them tricks and we are entertained. We study the elements of God’s intensely complex creation and we discover microscopic components that perform consistently accurate actions as they are designed to do. But humans can take in new knowledge, and process it, and get smarter.
We consider ourselves as “fearfully and wonderfully made” and “made in the image of God.” wow. We have the capacity to think, to reason, to choose. So when we read scriptures that tell us about the “REnewing of your MIND,” we know it is God’s direction to REMIND us of His truth, to incorporate His wisdom in our thought processes. It is a divine gift.
REnew your MIND today, and every day, as you read the Word for intelligent insights that grow your brainpower. Get smart. Let the Holy Spirit REMIND you of what Jesus taught, and learn from Him.
It is a curious blessing, the REnewing of your MIND.
Making a list is an easy way to capture the scope of a project. If there are many needs, there is a long list, and much work to be done. A list of volunteers helps to assign and complete the tasks in good time. A list of resources makes the work possible. A list of all the lists keeps things organized.
At Thanksgiving we are encouraged to count our blessings. Have you ever made a list of the things you HAVE, instead of the things you need? Take time from your busy day – when your lists are all about your needs – and make a long list of the many blessings you have been given in Christ. Tally the prayers that He has answered for you and the needs He has already met. Number your friends and family in the body of Christ as fellow volunteers in the common cause of His kingdom. Consider the “unsearchable riches” of HIs resources available to you. Better yet, make a list of God’s promises that are yet to be given!
Life is all about making lists and getting things done, whether simple or complex, depending on your culture and your position. “To whom much is given, much is required.” It is easy to list what is still needed. Make a longer list of what is (or what is to be) “given.” Be blessed in the count.