Boys/Girls Retreats

New this year, we will beoffering a Family Milestone event just for our 7th graders and the important adults in their lives. There will be both a Boys Only retreat and a Girls Only retreat and we’recrafting each to be an intentional experience to help students transition into adulthood.

You may have seen these on our Fall calendar. However, we’re planning to adjust the timing a little this year and move them to the spring. If you are a 7th grader or a parent of a 7th grader, make sure you’re on the lookout for more details over the next few months.

Off Site Night

We’re trying something new this year as we kickoff the first month of V-Groups to give groups a chance to get to know each other and catch up from the summer in a casual environment.This coming Wednesday (9/28) all of our groups are meeting off site at a restaurant or somewhere fun. Currently all groups are planning to meet during the regular time frame (6:30-8:00PM) at the following locations:

• 6^th Grade Boys (All) – Dairy Queen on N. Grand
• 7^th Grade Boys (Jerry & Curtis) – Drop off Twist & Swirl, Pick up at WSCC
• 7^th Grade Boys (Jon, Stuart & Corey) – Pizza Machine
• 8^th Grade Boys (All) – Knights Action Park
• 6^th Grade Girls (Melissa & Heather) – Steak & Shake on Wabash
• 6^th Grade Girls (Brigette & Michelle) – Culvers on Wabash
• 7^th Grade Girls (All) – Pizza Machine
• 8^th Grade Girls (All) – Monicals

If you’re not sure where to go or have any questions, contact Chris. You may also want to check back Wednesday before you go just to make sure there have been no changes.

See You At The Pole

On Wednesday,September 28th students from around the country will be gathering around their school flagpoles to pray for their schools, their friends and their communities. The standard time to meet is 7AM but check at your school to find out exactly when people at your school plan to meet. Set your alarm now so you don’t miss this great chance to connect with other christian students and teachers at your school!

Roundabout 2011 Recap

What an amazing weekend! We had record numbers (by far!) at our annual all night Roundabout event. We had 266 Jr. High students, plus lots of great adults. We went all around town ice skating, playing crazy games on the ice, bowling, playing dodgeball, eating snacks, playing video games, and we ended it all watching Cars 2 (at least the people who weren’t fast asleep in the theater). Thanks for inviting your friends and making it such a great night!

Check out more of our pictures on Facebook

Fall Retreat

Our fall retreat is one of my favorite times of the year. OnSeptember30-October 1we will be heading over to the lodge at Little Galilee (just outside of Clinton). We will meet at the church at 5:00PM on Friday and we’ll return at 5:00PM on Saturday. Our theme this year is Wake Up! We’ll take a closer look at some of the things God wants for us that we may be missing as we go through every day life. Don’t miss it!

The deadline to signup is Sunday, September 18th. You can register and pay the $30 cost online now. You may also register online now and pay by check to the church office if you prefer.

Click here to register

YB Normal Recap

We had terrific night on Sunday welcoming in a great new class of 6th graders. Just over 60 students came out for weird food (spaghetti tacos, mashed potato ice cream cones, kitty litter, etc) and weird fun. Why would anyone want to fit in when it’s so much fun being weird? Check out more of our weird pics on facebook.

Goodbye 8th Graders

Last week we said goodbye to our graduating 8th graders as they begin a new chapter of their lives in High School. This is a little highlight video we made of their three years in Jr. High. We’ll miss you guys!

PS – If any of you graduating 8th graders weren’t there when we said goodbye on 8/28, we’ve got amemory DVD for you with lots of pictures and movies for you. There are several left so just let us know if you’d like a copy.

Family Road Map

For a while now, our family ministry team has been working on something new to help more clearly communicate our goals. We want to do all we can to equip parents to be the primary spirital leaders of their homes. As a part of that, we’ve also created a number of “milestone” events to help parents take advantage of the most meaninful moments in the life of a child as they grow.

Parents, please take a moment to look over our Family Road Map to see how you can best take advantage of our programs for all ages of children and families at West Side.

Auction & Giving Update

What an amazing weekend! Thanks to the help of many volunteers and donors, our lunch & auction on Sunday was a huge success. If you weren’t able to make it, you can check out a few pictures on ourFacebook page.

After adding in all of the donations from Sunday and the amount we brought in via the silent auction, so far this summer we’ve raised:

$31,028.18

That is an amazing total!However,overall goal for the summer was $35,000 and I’d love to see us get even closer this week. If you’d like to make a donation but haven’t had a chance yet or if you’d like to give an additional donation to help us get even closer to our goal you can turn donations in to the church office anytime this week.

No matter what, it’s been amazing to watch God work and help us blow past any other project we’ve ever tackled. A special thanks goes out to everyone who helped make it all possible. I love being a part of a church that dreams big and challenges our kids to dream big too!

Amazing what God’s people can do when we work together and trust Him to show up in a big way!

Just Add Hope Silent Auction

The grand finale of our summer project is a pasta lunch (served from 10:30-1:00) and silent auction (open 8:00-1:00) on Sunday morning, August 28. View our list of auction items below or download our flyer now.

• Golf with Eddie Lowen at Illini
• Golf with Eddie Lowen at Panther Creek
• Progressive Dinner with WSCC Staff Members
• Free Sky Studios- mural painting – Troy Freeman
• Apt. C Photography Portrait Package
• Galena Getaway – 2 nights/3 days
• 2 Third Day Concert Tickets
• Guest Host DJ on Powerlight Radio Show
• Golf Lessons from Ben Briesner
• Volleyball Lessons with Britany Owen
• Fireside Café On-Sight Night
• Engle Lawn care
• Cookies from the Batch
• Thirty One products
• Movie Night at Betsy and Larry Lewis
• Game Night with Melissa and Chris Sandel
• Pampered Chef
• Lunch with Cindy Lash
• 3 Illini Football Tickets for Sept. 24
• Canvas Painting by Josh LeVeque
• Pies by Stephanie Dugan
• Uppercase Living pieces
• Autographed books by Dee Henderson
• Hand-made journals and framed art
• Faith Jewelry
• 37 Longaberger Baskets
• Batting Cages with Britany Owen
• Boating with Gary and Paula Borah
• Handyman for 3 hours – Chip Ewald
• Live dinner music provided by Josh Spear
• Dinner and Game night for 4 with Missy Farley
• Speed, Agility, and Quickness Day Camp Training
• Manicurewith Emily Hazelwood
• Avon Gift Basket
• State Trooper Gift Baskets
• Home-made cinnamon rolls by Mary Florence
• Fleece Blanket
• “Honey Do List” – 3 hours of work
• Kimberly Smoot Photography Package
• Karaoke Machine
• 6 hours of yard work from Andrew Fitzgibbon
• Putt Putt Golf for two with the Fitgibbons
• Rage Salon Gift Basket
• Spa and Movie Basket
• Framed painting by Audrey Lazarus
• Hand Painted glass set

If you would like to bid on a silent auction item but aren’t able to bid on the 28th, we will accept early bids beginning now. If you’d like to make a bid online, please send the following information to JustAddHope@wschurch.org.

• First & Last Name
• Phone Number
• Item you’d like to bid on
• Top bid $ amount

Please do not make an online bid if do not plan to actually purchase an item. Fake bids couldsignificantlyhurt bidding at the auction so serious bidders only please.

Winning bidders will be contact within a few days of the conclusion of the silent auction.