The Rock Junior High

Winter Camp 2008 FAQ's

Winter Camp is going to be excellent this year! 

Thought I should post with some answers to your FAQ's!

Location: We're staying at Mountain River Lodge (a gorgeous, just-built conference center complete with sleigh rides, rivers and snow outside and hot cocoa, hot tub, and latte machine inside.)

How much?  $155

How do I save a spot?  Make your $100 deposit by November 3rd!

Is it just our church?  No - another church is going to go along with us!

Will I be able to ski/snowboard?  Yes -  although you'll have to pay extra!

Who do I talk to if I have more questions?  Contact Chandra Blair at: blairchandra@hotmail.com!

Special Olympics Summer Classic!!!

On Saturday, August 25th, 2007 (7:30am - 12pm) - we have the opportunity to join 900 athletes, 125 coaches, 800 supporters, and 200 other volunteers at the annual Special Olympics Summer Sports Classic.  Special Olympics student volunteers help supply athletes with the opportunity to be stars!  Special Olympics athletes supply student volunteers with a treasured memory of bringing God's love to another person!

Want to volunteer?  There are only two things you need to do - and both must be done by August 10th!

1. RSVP with Laura Lowery at: KeepItG@therockchurch.net -or- 425.239.6499.
2. Get your Special Olympics Volunteer Application (Download so_volunteerregistrationscreen_07.pdf) completed, signed and turned into Laura Lowery.  (Adults need to do this as well!)

Volunteering with the Special Olympics is always a fantastic experience - I'm looking forward to doing it with you guys!

PS - We'll be volunteering to help out with softball - here's a link to the Special Olympics main website page on softball!

!!! No Fun If I Can't Hang Upside Down? !!!

So - can I get some opinions on this?  The All Night After Party is coming up on June 22nd and I was just told by the rental company that they aren't allowed to let us flip upside down on it anymore...  so - we can throw ourselves into the wall, we just can't run, flip, and then throw ourselves into the wall...

Would giant inflatable sumo wrestling be better?

Summer Camp 2007

 

Camps and retreats are not only a lot of fun but are probably one the most impacting and life-changing things we do all year. There is something about getting away for a few days from the hustle and bustle of life that really makes a difference in students’ lives. It’s a great opportunity to build friendships and memories that will last. As you can probably tell by now I am super excited about retreats and camps and believe they  are often turning points in student’s lives. I have many fond memories of summer and winter camps from my youth days. It was at a winter camp when I was 14 that my eyes were opened to what this whole “God thing” about. It’s not just about rules, regulations, church, or even the afterlife. I thought being a Christian was trying to be good enough person to qualify for heaven and God was waiting to strike me down if I messed up. What I found radically changed my view of God and what this life is all about. I gave me hope, purpose, and reason to get out of bed in the morning. It was pretty simple really…it’s about relationships. God wants to know me and I can know him. It’s not just some kind of fire insurance its about having meaningful relationships with God and people. That winter camp and other retreats like it kindled in me a passion that if I could help even one student really realize that eternal “LIFE” can start now then I could make an eternal difference.

We wanted to let you know about our upcoming summer retreat July 11^th – 15^th for all 6-12 graders from the current 2006-2007 school year. The cost is $225 dollars if you register with a $50 deposit by Sunday June 17th. Make checks payable to The Rock Church and give deposit payment as well as the camp registration form (linked below) to one of the youth staff by June 17th. The full amount is due Sunday July 8^th. We do not want any student to not go just because of finances so talk to us if that’s an issue and we will work with you on a plan. We would love for as many students as possible to attend as it will be one of our biggest events of the year and be another opportunity to continue to build positive relationships with God and each other. Included with this letter is more detailed information and you can contact matt@therockchurch.net or any of the youth staff if you have further questions.

You should be getting more information in the mail by the end of this week. If you don't it probably means we do not have your mailing information. Send Laura or I a quick note with your student's name, address, phone, and email address and we will get that taken care of.

Camp Registration Form

Download what_to_bring_and_release_form_web.doc

Poo Flinging Fun

OK - So, hopefully you got the flyer but if not, here's the deal...

Gawk at giraffes.  Laugh at Lions.  Ogle ostriches.  (Watch out for the monkeys - they fling poo.)

Woodland Park Zoo
THIS Saturday (the 19th)
Meet at Laura's house @ 9:30 am
Bring $20 (yep - this covers lunch and dinner.)
Get somebody to pick you up at Laura's house at 7:30 pm

See you there!!!

Dancing Mice and the 30 Hour Famine

I can’t believe we are less than a week away from the 30 Hour Famine… but first, the dancing mice.  Chandra taught on temptation yesterday and amidst fevered discussion of the merits of cream puffs vs. tofurkey, we touched on an excellent video illustrating the way temptation bites you on your proverbial butt… 

 

Speaking of videos, we also watched a horrifying video that showed us a little bit of the lives of children soldiers in Uganda.  World Vision (the creator of the 30 Hour Famine) is doing a great deal to help these children in Uganda and we are doing what we can to support World Vision in their efforts this Friday and Saturday.  You’ll find the details regarding what you need to bring with you here if you are participating and remember – participants need to stop eating at 12:00 pm this Friday!

While we are doing a lot of exciting things this weekend, I’m very excited about the Mercy Mile.  We’ll send two teams to 196^th Street and Alderwood Mall Parkway in Lynnwood and walk the Mercy Mile (signs, matching shirts and all) starting shortly after 10:30 am on Saturday, the 28^th.  We hope that our presence will raise awareness about what World Vision is doing to help children in Uganda and other parts of the world and that people who see us will be motivated to help!

If you have questions about what we’re doing – shoot me an email at KeepItG@therockchurch.net.
Otherwise – here's the everything you need to know if you are a participant in the PDF file below - see you this weekend!  Download 30_hour_famine_stuff_to_bring.pdf

PS - Here's the reading schedule for this week - we're all meeting in the main service on Sunday so no lesson is planned - but we do have a memory verse:

Monday: Matthew 4:2 | Tuesday: I Samuel 2:1-10 | Wednesday: Psalm 12:1-7 | Thursday: Psalm 68:4-20 | Friday: Proverbs 28:27 | Saturday: Matthew 19:16-26

And the verse is... Proverbs 28:27

He who gives to the poor will lack nothing, but he who closes his eyes to them receives many curses.

 

Next Junior High Event - Unleashing a Herd of Rabid Skunks on Protesters

Okay, I wouldn't really take our group to unleash herd of rabid anythings on protesters, but I'd be tempted.  (Did I mention we're talking about temptation this Sunday...)

In a time where all kinds of people claim to know the mind of God, how do we know that God doesn't really "hate your tears" or "hate fags".  When nut cases like the congregation at Westboro Baptist* Church go out and plan to protest memorial services at VT because they claim that the Virginia Tech Shooter was "doing God's will" - how do we know they're wrong?  We appeal to a standard - the Bible. 

My opinion, is just another opinion, but the Bible is something different.  The Bible says "God is love" (1 John 4:8), the Bible also says love is patient, kind, never rejoices in wrong, etc... (1 Corinthians 13)  Logic is like math in a way (any NY based professors of philosophy will, I hope, forgive my over-simplification) if God = love and love = never rejoices in wrong and killing a bunch of defenseless college students is wrong, then God's will is not for a lonely, mentally unstable college student to go on a killing rampage at school.

We also have the example of Jesus Christ that the Bible provides - I recall Jesus getting upset with people in the Bible, but it always seems that Jesus got upset with people like Westboro Baptist Church - not the prostitutes, or the tax collectors or other people society frowned on. 

There is a list of things that God hates in the Bible though...  haughtiness, lying, the shedding of innocent blood, a person who thinks up wicked things to do, people that rush into evil, a false witness, a person who stirs up dissension (Proverbs 16) ... you do the math.

*I would be remiss to not note that no other Baptist Church in the  ENTIRE FREAKING WORLD aligns itself with Westboro.

Mmmm...Starvation...

So - I'm not sure what all your Easter Sunday involved, but mine involved a lot of food.  My mom and I cooked for 4 hours... I remain uncertain with regard to how many hours/days/years I spent eating, but sheesh!  The eating was followed by a brief attempt to irritate the dogs with C's remote control car... and then I chugged some Pepto Bismol (it really does taste alright when it's refrigerated) and then went to bed.  Yuck.

That leads me to here... trying to write something about the 30 Hour Famine.  What do I say?  The money that I spent on one dinner for my family (and Brenton - thanks for coming!) was enough for World Vision to feed and care for a child for 4 months.   I feel more than a little conflicted. 

That said, participants should wear your orange shirts this Sunday as we'll be showing the 30 Hour Famine promo video to the entire congregation.

On a less melancholy note, our Sunday morning lesson should be awesome... Matt Vaughn will be explaining exactly why you can't chop down a tree with a herring and we will be playing some excellent games that may or may not involve alka seltzer and wrapping people together with cling wrap.

Here's the reading schedule for this week:
Monday: Jeremiah 22:16 | Tuesday: Psalm 1:1-6 | Wednesday: Deuteronomy 11:1-25 | Thursday: John 14:6-7 | Friday: Philippians 3:7-14 | Saturday: John 8: 28-36

and the memory verse:

John 14:6-7
Jesus answered, "I am the way and the truth and the life.  No one comes to the Father except through me.   If you really knew me, you would know my Father as well.  From now on, you do know Him and have seen Him."

Next Sunday - ORANGE SHIRT

Greetings!  Hopefully, HOPEFULLY all participants in the 30 Hour Famine will remember to wear their orange shirts next Sunday...  We'll be introducing the main service attendee-types to the idea, so let's show up in full force, eh?

Also, curious - how did you guys do at the mall?  Comment below if you know what I'm talking about...

Also, also - if you are so inclined and want to submit a "testimonial" about G4Jesus to be included on the G4Jesus flyer that they are making for us - you can submit it as a comment here - or if you're feeling secretive - send it to me at: keepitG@therockchurch.net.

Also, also, also - Here's the reading schedule AND memory verse for next week:

Monday: 1 Corinthians 12:12-27 | Tuesday: Romans 12:1-5 | Wednesday: Romans 12:6-8 | Thursday: Romans 12:9-17 | Friday: Romans 12:18-21 | Saturday: John 19 (Yep - the whole chapter, it's Easter the next day for crying out loud!)

Memory Verse: Romans 12:18 - If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone.

Sunday's lesson?  Glad you asked - Lesson title: "Don't be a hater"  Note: The phrase "Don't hate the player, just hate the game." will not be used.  It's tired, let's let it die.

30 Hour Famine - Fasting?

A couple of students have mentioned that they or their parents were a little concerned about the physical effects of fasting for 30 hours.  World Vision (the people that coordinate the monster effort that is the 30 Hour Famine) have provided some helpful information along those lines - so I thought I would share that with you here!

The average, healthy person is able to go without food for 30 hours without any ill effects.  The following categories of people, however, should consult with a doctor prior to attempting a fast of this nature:

1. Children under the age of 12.
2. Elderly people.
3. Pregnant or nursing women.
4. People with the following medical conditions: diabetes, reactive hypoglycemia, other medical conditions that are associated with hypoglycemia, eating disorders (anorexia; bulimia.)

If you have any other concerns, please do consult with your family doctor before you participate!

That said, our fast will be a juice fast.  We will have juice and water available throughout the event and everyone will participate in scheduled "juice breaks" to make sure we all have the energy to get through the many service projects we have scheduled.  Also, even though we're spending the night together on Friday, we WILL be getting some sleep!!!  Nobody likes to hang out with a crowd of sleepy, hungry people... at least I don't.

Incidentally, God's a lot nicer than me (surprise, surprise) and he likes it when people fast.   Bible-types (like Daniel)  set a precedence for God doing crazy-amazing stuff when we fast and pray (see Daniel 9.) We plan to do a lot of both!

Note: If you find that you are unable to participate in the 30 Hour Famine for health reasons - don't give up!  You can still do a modified fast... let us know - we'll work it out.