The sr high students from The Meeting House are going to be working with Urban Promise in Camden, NJ and Wilmington, DE over march break (march 11-17, 2012).  Urban Promise is an organization that seeks to reach children in lower income areas, raise them up as leaders in their communities, restore the community, and give hope to the next generation.

 The students are hosting a fundraiser to raise support for this trip and the ministry of Urban Promise.  We are excited to invite you to attend our coffee house and silent auction.  If you have questions please contactlisa.hanselman@themeetinghouse.ca 

Coffee House Details:

7-10 pm Friday February 10th

@ The Oakville Production Site 

Do you have anything you could donate to the silent auction?  Please contact Lisa.Hanselman@themeetinghouse.ca

Hi Parents, 

Here is the place that each week we will be posting an article for you that will help you understand what we’ve taught your youth this week in our midweek gatherings.  We want you as parents to be as informed as possible but also to engage with your kid during the week with the questions, ideas and message we are teaching.  

BIG IDEA:  God has given us an amazing way to know Him!  He has reveals Himself to us through the Bible.  The Bible isn’t about rules or religious traditions, rather the Bible is Gods gift to us, it’s His love letter to His creation and a practical guide to help us navigate this amazing adventure called life.  

When we think of the Bible we often think of a huge dusty old book sitting on our grandma’s coffee table.   It’s a book that’s full of old school words and the majority of those words don’t even make sense to us.   How can this book be such a huge part of our connection with God when we don’t understand it?   This week we are going to be talking about the Bible as God’s word to each of us and why its important for us to be ROOTED in what God is saying to us through the Bible. 

Question 1: Why do you think God would give us the Bible?      Why is it important for us to read and study a book that is thousands of years old?
Do you feel it’s out of date?

Question 2: If you believe that the Bible is actually the words of God to us, should that change the way someone lives their life?

2 Timothy 3:15-16

There’s nothing like the written Word of God for showing you the way to salvation through faith in Christ Jesus. Every part of Scripture is God-breathed and useful one way or another—showing us truth, exposing our rebellion, correcting our mistakes, training us to live God’s way. Through the Word we are put together and shaped up for the tasks God has for us.

Question 3: What is the purpose of the Bible in our lives today according to this verse in 2 Timothy?

Question 4:  Jesus refers to us as sheep and to Himself as a Sheppard.   He says that His sheep listen to His voice.

Why is it important for a sheep to hear the voice of the shepherd?

  HINT:

- Safety, protection, direction, survival

- How does this apply to our relationship with God?

Question 5:  Do you spend time listening to God speak to you through His Word? Why or why not?

Question 6:  What are some practical ways we can engage with God’s Word on a daily basis?

Hi Parents,

Each week we will be posting an article for you that will help you understand what we’ve taught your youth in our midweek gatherings.  We want you as parents to be as informed as possible but also to engage with your kid during the week with the questions, ideas and message we are teaching.   

Big Idea – The Church isn’t a building, a service or only on Sunday, the Church is the people of God who together are called to be “the Body of Christ” in the world! 

There are a lot of reasons why people go to Church.  Maybe it’s because their parents make them.  Maybe it’s because they find friends there, maybe it’s because they find guidance and peace there.  Maybe people come to church because they feel it’s a good thing to do and it makes them feel better about themselves.  Maybe they go to Church only on Easter or Christmas; or perhaps people go to Church because they have a deep love for God and want to worship Him with others.   There are many reasons why people go to church but today we are going to discover what it truly means to be the Church and what God’s purpose is for it.

Question 1: What is the Church?     

Question 2: Why did God create the Church and why does God want us to be a huge part of it?

Scripture:
* Have a student read this portion

Acts 2: 42-47
The Fellowship of the Believers

    ⁴²They devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and to the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer. ⁴³Everyone was filled with awe, and many wonders and miraculous signs were done by the apostles. ⁴⁴All the believers were together and had everything in common.

Question 3:  From the verse pick apart what are some things that the early Church was all about.

Hints:
1. Learning about God and growing spiritually
2. Breaking bread (being in community together)
3. Prayer and Worship
4. Radical generosity

Thought: It says in the Bible that the Church is the Body of Christ in the World and that we play our part.
The Body of Christ, like all bodies, is comprised of many parts. There are limbs, organs, and various members that, when left alone, are useless, but when assembled make up the entire body.

READ: 1 Corinthians 12:12-14 describe it like this: “The body is a unit, though it is made up of many parts; and though all its parts are many, they form one body. So it is with Christ. For we were all baptized by one Spirit into one body – whether Jews or Greeks, slave or free – and we were all given the one Spirit. Now the body is not made up of one part but of many.”

This means each Christian is an equal part of the Body of Christ! 

Question 4:  Why do you think the Bible calls the Church the “Body of Christ” What do you think it means?

Question 5: If one part of the Body of Christ is missing can the Body function well? 

 Question 6: What role do you play in the Body of Christ? 

WRAP UP:  The mission of God is to reestablish the broken relationship between Himself and us (humans). You are a huge part of that mission.  God uses the Church to accomplish this purpose!

The Church is the hope for the world.  All of us together make up the Church and God is calling His Church to function in a way that we all use our gifts and play our part in the Body to accomplish the mission of God.

PARENT ENGAGE AT HOME QUESTIONS:

 1.     Why do you think being apart of the Church is important for our family?

 2.     Why did God make the Church?

 3.     What role do you play in the Church?

This month theUNDERGROUND is going to be taking a look at some key things that will help us be ROOTED in our faith. If you’re a Jr High or Sr High student make sure you join us this January! theUNDERGROUND midweek gatherings start up next week!

As the youth ministry of The Meeting House, theUNDERGROUND is committed to challenging ourselves to live more compassionate lives and follow Christ’s example. We do this by focusing on:

Awareness: becoming more aware of issues both locally and globally
Education:  educating ourselves to know how to respond effectively
Action: taking action by using our time, our skills, influence and finances
Transformation:  we trust that God will change and transform us through new relationships with people living in the margins

Throughout the year, we offer numerous ways to get involved in compassion-focused ministries and events across all of our sites.  See the events section for the Compassion Event nearest you!

Additionally, we offer 3 Compassion-motivated learning trips:

• Our grade 7 & 8 students from all sites are welcomed to apply for the Kerr Street Compassion Team.  This team serves for a week at Kerr Street Ministries Day Camp in Oakville in July.
• Our grade 9 & 10 students from all sites are welcomed to apply for the Urban Promise Wilmington Compassion Team.  This team serves for a week at Urban Promise Ministries in Wilmington, Delaware over March Break.

Our grade 11 & 12 students from all sites are welcomed to apply for the Urban Promise Camden Compassion Team.  This team serves for a week at Urban Promise Ministries in Camden, New Jersey over March Break.

SUNDAY MORNINGS

Every Sunday morning, Junior Highs at all sites have their very own teaching time. This involves interaction, questions, Scripture, teaching, and a chance to make it personal.  Sr Highs remain in the adult teaching.  For locations and service times, go to: http://www.themeetinghouse.ca

Jr Highs are involved in an interactive morning that is a slightly altered version of Lifechurch’s curriculum.  The teaching schedule for the year is as follows:

MIDWEEK

All of our locations have midweek programs as well as weekend events.  For program dates, times and locations as well as events, see the events section for all details.

At midweek, Sr Highs have the opportunity to flesh out the teaching from Sunday morning while understanding its relevance to their lives as teens.  Sr Highs experience hanging out and food, prayer, small group discussions, as well as teaching at midweek.

Meanwhile, Jr Highs also have the opportunity to further discuss the Sunday morning teaching while taking the time for some games, small group time, teaching, snack and more!

For helpful information, please check out the following organizations:

To Write Love on Her Arms – an organization that helps those who struggle with depression, cutting, substance abuse, and related issues

Centre for Youth/Parent Understanding – an organization that seeks to better understand the important connections between parents, youth workers, and youth

Family First - an organization that seeks to help strengthen families  

Relevant - helping to connect God, life, and progressive culture

Be sure to check out The Meeting House Student Ministry podcast available on iTunes.