I Have To Do What!?!

This week we are beginning a three week series that will come from the Sermon on the Mount in Matthew 5-7. To give parents a better idea of what we’re talking about and to help them bring the discussion home, we wanted to make sure you have an overview here.  Take a look and make a note to discuss each after church or sometime the week following each message.  The series is titled “I Have To Do What?!?!” because the Sermon on the Mount has some revolutionary ideas. Jesus gives a lot of life instructions in this sermon. Most of the time when we read it, we are overwhelmed by the challenge that Jesus puts before us. It is almost like Jesus says, “You think you have your life under control, but you actually don’t.” We are going to take a close look at three different chapters that make up this Sermon and see how what Jesus is asking us to do is actually possible and that it will certainly change our lives for the better.  Jesus did not give us impossible commands; He gave us the blueprint on how to live a happy, healthy, fulfilling life.

• 5/6 – Above and Beyond – We’ll take a look at Matthew 5:38-42. Jesus tells us that we should not retaliate when we are injured by other. We will learn what exactly it is that we are supposed to do in those situations. Instead of retaliating, Jesus calls us to respond with love and forgiveness, not the last laugh.
• Think of a situation at school or home when you have retaliated and tried to get someone back. What did you do? How did you feel? Would the scenario have played out differently if you had responded in love and forgiveness?
• 5/13 – Anxiety Away – We’ll take a look at Matthew 6:25-34 to see what Jesus has to say about worry. Worry seems to be an accepted part of everyday life, but Jesus calls us to live a life free of worry. That worry will disappear as we begin to truly trust in Him.
• Worry seems to be a part of everyday life. What is it that you worry about most often? What area of your life do you need to trust Jesus with? Think about why it is that you worry about certain things.
• 5/20 – Judge Not – We’ll take a look at Matthew 7:1-6 and take a look at what Jesus says about judgment. It is a difficult call to follow. There are situations where we have to be able to make judgment calls. We will learn what Jesus meant when He told us not to judge.
• We make judgment calls all day, but we also judge many people that we see. What causes us to judge others? How do you feel when someone judges you? When is it okay to judge?

V-Group Final Parties

Our weekly V-Groups are wrapping up for the semester and our groups are planning fun nights to celebrate the end of a great year. See below for your group’s plans on Wednesday, 5/9 and check back to make sure there aren’t any changes.

• All 6th Grade Boys – 6:30-8:00PM, meet at the new YMCA (Illes & Archer Elevator Rd), bring swimsuit & towel.
  
• Jon, Stewart & Corey (7th) – 6:30-8:00PM, meet at West Side, pizza & games.
• Jerry, Tony & Curtis (7th) – 6:30-8:00, meet at Culver’s on Wabash, bring money for food.
• All 8th Grade Boys – 6:30-8:00PM, meet at West Side, Pizza & Dodgeball, bring your own drink.
• All 6th Grade Girls – 6:30-8:00, meet at Smashburger & Cherry Berry. Bring money for food.
• Bethany, Amy & Angie (7th) - 6:30-8:00PM, meet at the Harney’s house, see flyer for more info.
• Bridget, Brenda & Maddy (8th) - 6:00-8:00PM in E205, pizza and a movie.

While we will no longer have our weekly V-Group times over the summer, we will still have monthly opportunities to see each other (in addition to Velocity on Sunday mornings). Check back soon for more info on what we’ll be doing over the summer.

Student Ministry Survey

There are a lot of exciting things on the horizon as we plan to open the new student center this August.  Our student ministry team is working hard to think and dream about the future of Jr. High and High School ministry at West Side and we need your help.  We want to make sure that our efforts go toward things that will best equip you and your family to thrive at West Side.

Parents, please take 10 minutes and complete this short Parent Survey. Your feedback will help us greatly as we move forward into the new year!

Students, we’ll be asking you to fill out a paper copy in the next week or two but if you miss it or would prefer to do it now, you can complete our online Student Survey  instead.

Thanks for helping us take West Side Student Ministries to the next level in 2012!

Family Mission Trips 2012

Last year we took our first Family Mission’s Trip for students and their parents and it was a huge success!  This year, we’re expanding it to two different trips.

• June 11 through 14 we’ll return to Springfield, MO to work with Victory Missionto serve the homeless and those in need. Cost is $75 per person. Register online by May 13.
  • Sign up and pay online
  • Sign up and pay in person
• August 8 through 11 we’ll work with Jesus People USAto serve low income women, children & seniors in Downtown Chicago with Jesus People USA.  Cost is $100 per person.  Register online by July 15.
  • Sign up and pay online
  • Sign up and pay in person

Space is limited for each trip so sign up today!

Heart of a Champion series

This week we’re beginning a three week series in Velocity called Heart of a Champion.  We’re taking a closer look at someone the Bible says was, “A man after God’s own heart.”  To give parents a better idea of what we’re talking about and to help them bring the discussion home, we wanted to make sure you have an overview here.  Take a look and make a note to discuss each after church or sometime the week following each message.

•  4/15 – A Look Inside – We’ll take a look at the story of David & Samuel found in 1 Samuel 16.  We’ll learn that people tend to look at external appearance but God looks at the heart.
• Thinking about the people at your school, what do they tend to judge people on?  If you’re honest, what are the things you tend to think about first when you think about people?  Are they internal or external?
• 4/22 – Measuring Up – We’ll take a look at the battle between David & Goliath found in 1 Samuel 17.  We’ll learn that God doesn’t need the biggest and strongest to go great things, just the people who will trust Him with their whole heart.
• What do you think is standing in the way of God using you or your friends to do great things?  If you knew God was going to work through you, what one great thing would you want to do for Him?
• 4/29 – Learning to be Loyal – We’ll take a look at the friendship of David & Jonathan in 1 Samuel 20.  We’ll learn that even people with a great heart need loyal friends to help them through the toughest times.
• Do you have someone in your life like Jonathan who will always be there to help when you need it?  Who are the people in your life who you know you’ll always be there for like Jonathan was for David?

Family Night Live: Values

On Sunday, April 15th the second edition of Family Night Live, a new resource developed by West Side’s Family Ministry team will be released. Each FNL experience is designed to provide families with an opportunity to have fun and talk about how you can grow together. This edition focuses on helping your family identify and live out your values through a few fun activities. The cost is $3 but we think it’ll be well worth your investment. It comes with a DVD, supplies and tons of great memories!

Stop by our table in the concourse on 4/15 or 4/22 to get yours. If you miss getting a copy then, you can always ask a family ministry team member and we can get you one. Once you have yours, set aside a couple of hours with your family to try it. Afterward make sure you tell us about your experience. Submit your story online by May 20th (www.wschurch.org/FNL) for a chance to win a great prize for your family!

If your family missed our first release, FNL: Weird Edition, let us know and we’d love to get you a free copy.

LSCA Summer Camp

Summer camp at Lake Springfield is a can’t miss for every age but the Jr. High and Niners (for students who just finished 8th grade) weeks are extra special.

• Jr. High 1 – July 1-6 (going into 7-8th grade)
• Niners – June 17-22 (going into 9th grade)

Find out more and register online at www.LSCAcamp.org.  Register by May 1st to take advantage of the early bird rates!

Arise & Awaken

These are intentional events we’ve designed just for our current 7^th graders and their parents.  We’re bringing together a few God-honoring adults from our church to help students make that important transition into adulthood.  We’ve been working all year long to make them incredibly memorable so I hope every 7th grade family will make it a priority to participate.

• ARISE for fathers & sons is June 22-24 at Camp CILCA.  Signup online by 5/6 for a discounted rate of $99 ($49.50 each).  The final registration deadline is 6/3 ($119).  Read the full info letter here.
• AWAKEN for mothers & daughters is June 8-9 in Bloomington, IL.  Signup online by 4/29 for a discounted rate of $79 ($39.50 each).  The final registration deadline is 5/27 ($99).  Read the full info letter here.

Space is limited so take a minute right now to register online and save your spot!

Not in 7th grade?  No problem.  If you’re younger, we’re planning to offer this event each year so you can particpate next year.  If you’re already through 7th grade and want to do something like this, let us know.  We’ll get you some valuble resources to help you create an event like this for your family.

Mall Mania

Coming up on April 25, 6:30-8:00PM at White Oaks Mall Food Court we’re planning this fun event in place of our regular V-Group time.  You do not want to miss it!  We are going to meet up at the food court at the mall at 6:30PM.  We’ve got a scavenger hunt and several other challenges planned.  Plus, we’ll have some fun prizes for our winners.  It should be a GREAT time so pick up some invite cards start inviting your friends.  We hope to see you there!

NOTE: We will NOT meet at the church.  Students should be dropped off and picked up from the mall food court.

Easter Help

Our biggest Sunday of the year is coming and we need your help!  ABFs and Student programming do not meet on Easter (4/8) but it’s a huge day for children’s ministry.  We’ll have lots of guests and we want to make sure all of our families have a terrific experience.  Would you and/or your family consider volunteering to serve in either our children’s ministry?

We’d love to see all of our students (and their families!) jump in to serve on this big day either before or after they go to worship.  We’re especially targeting the 10:15AM service to come and serve together but they can use help at every hour.  You can contact Jessica Schildman (Early Childhood) or Missy Farley (Elementary) if you have questions or to sign up.