Middle School Fall Breakaway

Middle School Fall Breakaway 09

Event Update & Event Reminder

Middle School Summer Information

For some of these events you may need to fill out a Medical Release Form.  These forms are downloadable at www.hillndale.com

May 17th Graduation Sunday

During the morning services on May 17th, our seniors will be honored. At the end of  first service and toward the beginning of the second service we will honor each of the seniors.  We would love for all of you to be a part of this service.

Once again we will also be having a graduate brunch in between the services during the Sunday school hour where we will present each graduate with a gift from the church.

This year we are also planning an All Church Open House Reception from 12:30-1:30 p.m. that day. We will provide a table for you to display your mementos and photos and decorate as you like. You may also want to provide a basket to accept gifts. You will have an opportunity to set up your display during second service after being recognized during the service.

The reception is reserved for our church families and we will be advertising and inviting the families of Hill-n-Dale as the date approaches.

We hope you decide to be a part of this special day!!

30 Hour Famine Information

Dear Parent:

Our youth group will be participating in World Vision’s 30 Hour Famine. Through the Famine, your son or daughter will play an active role in fighting world hunger and helping save kids’ lives. Your child might already be signed up and working on raising support. However, if you child is not, there is still time. Included in this mailing is information regarding this year’s 30 Hour Famine. You can get a fund raising packet from the church office or youth room if you would like to try to raise money before the Famine. However, we still encourage your youth to come and be a part of this event no matter how much money they have been able to raise.

To help you and your son/daughter get the most out of the 30 Hour Famine, we have provided them with a Student Guide (included in fund raising packet) that’s filled with information about the event, World Vision’s work, and more. In addition I’d like to highlight a few important points you as a parent may want to know.

World Vision is a Christian relief and development organization dedicated to helping children and their communities worldwide reach their full potential by tackling the causes of poverty and injustice. Motivated by our faith in Jesus, we serve the poor as a demonstration of God’s unconditional love for all people. We serve the world’s poor – regardless of a person’s religion, race, ethnicity, or gender. More information about World Vision can be found online at www.worldvision.org.

World Vision’s 30 Hour Famine started in the U.S. 17 years ago as a way for junior high, high school and college-age students to help save – and change – children’s lives. By going without food for 30 hours and raising money to help needy children, young people gain a deeper awareness of the needs in our world and realize that they can play a vital role in making a difference.

During their 30 hours, students go without food (but can drink plenty of water and juices) to experience true hunger and learn powerful lessons of compassion for those who live with hunger daily. The average, healthy person is able to go without food for 30 hours without any ill effects. Exceptions include children under the age of 12; the elderly; pregnant or nursing women; people with specific medical conditions including diabetes, hypoglycemia or eating disorders. If you have any health-related questions about fasting, we strongly advise you consult your family doctor prior to participation. It is not required that students fast in order to participate in the 30 Hour Famine but it does help us truly sympathize with the conditions many children deal with daily around the world. More information on fasting and the 30 Hour Famine can be found at www.30hourfamine.org.

Lastly, you and your family can impact a needy child’s life all year long through child sponsorship. By sponsoring a child, you can have a personal relationship with a child whose life you will change. You’ll receive background information and a photo of your sponsored child. You’ll also receive periodic progress reports and updated photos, and you can even exchange letters and pictures. For a dollar a day – just $30 a month – you and your family can provide improved health, nutrition and education to a child in need. Visit www.30hourfamine.org/child to sponsor a child today!

On behalf of the children and families worldwide who are being helped, thanks to the commitment of your son/daughter, thank you!

Sincerely,

Cody Shepherd, Hill-n-Dale Youth Minister

If you should need to contact me during the event please call my cell phone at (859)533-8621.

Here are some specific things to keep in mind as you pack and prepare for this year’s 30 Hour Famine.

Changes from last year:

• This year we want to try something new to help us better understand the conditions many children live in throughout the year. We encourage your students to find a large box which they will use to sleep in outside. You can decorate it in any fashion as long as it would not be embarrassing to God. We will have adults outside with your students at all times, so there will not be any harm to them. This is only an option and is not necessary in order to participate. If you would rather not participate in this activity, that is completely fine.
• Remember that this year we are having 30 Hour Famine at a later date, which means you can wear some warmer clothes. However, you still might want to pack a light jacket and some pants.

Packing List: (a list of things to make sure to bring)

· Bible, notebook & pencil

· Two days of casual clothes, shoes

· Set of clothes for service event

· Jacket/coat

· Sleeping bag/pillow

· Something to sleep in

· Your financial support packet

· For fun: encouragement cards (optional)

· Camera (optional)

Other Things To Remember:

• The Famine officially starts on Friday, May 1 after you eat your lunch at school. You may not have any food. Only water and 100% juice is allowed to drink.
• Doors will officially open at 4:00 p.m. on Friday, May 1 with our event kicking off at 5:30 p.m.
• Once again we will be finishing off the Famine with a feast at 6:30 p.m. on Saturday. This feast is a potluck meal in which we encourage all parents to bring a favorite dish of the youth. Please bring this dish between 6:00-6:30 p.m. in the chapel/kitchen area of the church.
• Make sure to bring your consent form to be a part of this Famine. You must fill one out to be a part of this event! You can download one at the church website at www.hillndale.com.

Upcoming Fusion Topics

Dear Parents,

This year we have been discussion challenging topics in Fusion youth group including death, depression, self-destructive behavior and more. These “hot topics” are problems not only in our country today, but more specifically they are an issue and problem within the youth community. We want to make sure we are addressing these challenging issues that many youth deal with in a spiritual and Christ-focused manner as well as answer their questions.

In continuing to address these issues, we will be touching on two “sensitive” topics in the upcoming weeks. In the coming two weeks (April 19^th and 26^th), Assurance Care Service For Women And Girls will be coming and speaking to the middle and high school about two different topics. The first week they will be talking about their ministry to women who are facing an unexpected pregnancy. The second week they will be discussing abstinence.

I know that your students are already being taught in schools about these issues from a worldly perspective and I feel it is very important for us to be proactive in teaching our students the Christian view on these topics. We do not want to abuse the innocence of any of your youth regarding these issues, but we do want to be forward in talking about this from a Christian perspective before they are inundated by what the world says.

Assurance is headed up by our very own Cindy McDaniel (the wife of Discipleship and Outreach Minister Ken McDaniel). She will not be using any graphic images but will be showing images of things such as healthy unborn babies to help students realize the reality and truth of these issues. She will be forward but very discreet as she and her ministry team speaks on these issues to our middle and high school students.

This coming Sunday we will not separate the youth as Cindy talks about the ministry of Assurance. However, the following week we will separate the high school and middle school as we discuss the topic of abstinence.

For more information on the ministry of Assurance please check out their website at www.assurancecare.org .

Also, the following week (May 5) David Dicks will be talking about the very sensitive topic of addictive behavior, particularly pornography. We will be discussing this issue separately to the middle and high school groups. David has a great testimony and does a great job of helping youth understand the consequences of addictive behavior.

We encourage you to bring your youth to these upcoming weeks of Fusion, but also understand if you would rather address these issues in a different setting with your youth. Feel free to come along and sit in if you wish so that you can better understand some of the issues and continue the discussions started during our Fusion program.

Please read the letter below from David to get a better understanding of what David will be discussing.

Thank You,

Cody Shepherd, Youth Minister

Dear Parents,

Thank you for trusting me with your kids during Fusion. I have had a great time hanging out with the middle school crew and playing games. It has also been very rewarding spending time with the high school students and developing a relationship with them. Cody has been doing a series on hurts and self destructive behaviors over the past few months. Continuing this series, he has asked me to give a talk on pornography addiction and abuse. It is my belief that pornography represents the greatest threat to Christian families in the church today. I feel so strongly about this because of my own struggle and victory over porn addiction. You can read a brief summary of my story at www.m528.org .

I will talk to the middle school students and the high school students separately. In dealing with pornography, a general discussion of Biblically based sexuality in relationships is prudent for high school students but not necessarily for middle school boys. Young men in high school tend to take the subject more seriously than most middle school boys due to maturity. The basics of my talk will be communicated to each group but my presentation is geared toward maturity level.

This is a sensitive subject, which is why we feel it is important for you to know that we will tackle this issue. Over the past five years, the Lord has placed many men in my path that have struggled with this issue. The sooner a young man can begin to truly understand what porn can do to them, the better.

If you have any concerns or questions, please email me at dadicks@gmail.com or call me at 859-333-1184.

Thank You,

David Dicks

Weekly Announcements 2/22/09

- Please turn in your information and deposit in to day if you are planning on going on one of our Spring Break Mission Trips!!
- Saturday, March 7th there will be Winter Jam (a one night Christian music festival) @ Rupp Arena starting at 5 p.m. The cost is only $10 (at the door) and will feature Hawk Nelson, Tobymac, Newsong, Francesca Battistelli, Brandon Heath, Stephanie Smith, and Pure NRG. We will meet at the arena at a designated place and go in together if you want to sit with us!!
- We will once again be doing 30 Hour Famine on May 1-2. Please mark this date on your calendars and plan on attending.
- We will be going to CIY Move (High School) at Milligan College in Tennessee from June 22-26. Please mark this date on your calendars and plan on attending.
- FUSION tonight at normal time!!

HS & MS Mission Trips (Updated 1/30/09)

Upcoming Events

Special Events & More Coming Up Soon:

• Dec. 22nd – Catholic Action Center Service Project

                  – 7:15 a.m. till 12:30 p.m. including food and drink at Cici’s Pizza.  Bring $5 if possible.

• Dec. 31^st – New Year’s Party (cancelled)

 

              Due to problematic situations we will NOT be having the New Year’s Eve Party.   I am VERY SORRY for any inconveniences caused.

•  January 4^th – Fusion Resumes

·         January 7^th – Vertical Challenge Resumes

·         January 11^th – Youth serve downtown

          – Immediately following 2nd service until 2:30 p.m.

·         January 23^rd- 24^th – Revolve Tour

• February 20-21 – CIY Believe

HS FALL BREAKAWAY!!

Be adventurous and join us for the High School Fall Breakaway on Friday-Saturday, November 21-22nd (provided that you’re a high schooler!)  We will be leaving the church at 5:00 pm on Friday to go to Cedarmore Cabins in Bagdad, Kentucky and will be returning to the church at 5:30 pm on Saturday.

If you are interested in going on this trip, you need to turn in a signed parental permission (they are located in the youth room) form and your $30 to me (Cody) by November 16th.  Also, if you have not previously filled out a medical release form for the church for the 2008 year, then you need to fill one of those out as well (you can get those from Cody). 

What to bring?   Bible, notebook, pen, sleeping bag, comfortable athletic shoes, casual clothes, water bottle, bug spray, bathroom materials and a towel, and a good attitude!!

BE ADVENTUROUS!!  COME ON THE HS FALL BREAKAWAY!!