June 19 - Promotion Sunday, Graduation Celebration, Special Guest at The House, Last chance for Summer Camp

11:00am @ The House

If you have a graduating Middle Schooler into High School or a High Schooler into College and Career then please plan to attend the 11:00am at The House for a brief time of celebration of your child's accomplishment.  

New Middler Schoolers:  If you have a new Middle Schooler, please plan on them staying for the 11:00am so that they can meet and make new friends and be a part of our promotion celebration.

Special Guest at 11:00AM at The House

We also have a guest speaker at The House this Sunday, a candidate for our new Youth Pastor, Ryan Reed.  Ryan will share a bit about himself and why he'd like to be our youth pastor at Hillside.  You can find out more about him on his blog: www.ryanr.org 

You are Invited to meet our Special Guest:

Following the service at 11:00am, parents and students grade 5th through college are encouraged to come directly to the House to meet Ryan and his wife Stacy.

Summer Camp - Last Chance!

We still have 3 spots for HS girls and 3 spots for HS boys for summer camp...deadline is June 20 to put your name on a spot and pay your deposit of $100.  Junior High has some spots in August.  www.MountHermon.org for more information.  HS:  Week 6, July 17-23. JH:  Week 9, August 7-13.

Cost:$545 per child.  $100 due at time of reservation; $445 due June 30.

If you have a 2nd through 6th grader that you would like to send to Summer Camp, please give me a call and we will talk about all of the options out there for your child.

Summer of Service

This summer our focus will be on serving others whenever and where ever possible.  Jeff Broussard is coordinating our Summer of Service so check in with him about ways that you can be plugged into a place of service with others.

Stay Up-to-date even if you are away from Hillside

Youth Facebook Page & the Family Ministry Blog will help you keep informed about what's going on...sign up to follow or to receive email updates.  http://hillsidefamilyministry.blogspot.com/

http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=314878230206

 

If you have any questions, or want to register for one of the summer camps, please feel free to contact me directly and please be sure to RSVP if you have a graduate.

For parents only...encouragement to not "go it alone"

FOR PARENTS ONLY: 

Over the next three weeks, we are talking to your student about the importance of community & to be in service to others. What that means is simply this—we need other people. God never meant for us to go through this life alone. There are times when each one of us knows that very well, and then there are other times when it’s the last thing on our minds. Wherever you are at, you need other people. And they need you. It’s part of how we see God in action in our world. It’s also how we learn more about Him and ourselves. So as we kick off this series and begin or SUMMER OF SERVICE, I thought you might appreciated the thought represented in the article below.  

Recently, I ran across the following article from Carey Nieuwhof, the Senior Pastor of Connexus Church in Canada. It’s a very candid confession, and one that may reflect your story at some point in your life. 

FIND A FRIEND 

By Carey Nieuwhof

By default over the years, I have been a pretty private person. I handle most things pretty tightly. I don't have a lot of people who are close to me, but those who are close to me are people I trust implicitly and establish a deep loyalty to.

When I was going through a tough season a few years ago, I went to see some Christian counselors, and their helpful message was simply this—I couldn't go through this alone. Everything inside me said, "Yes, I can," but I realized they were right. I couldn't do it alone.

I remember the night I shared what I was going through with my community group at the time. I'm sure my pride had kept me from talking about it before. Plus, I had earlier been convinced I would just wake up out of this at some point and it would go away. I didn't need to tell anyone. Clearly, that strategy was failing. So I talked to our community group through some tears one night. The love, prayer, empathy and compassion that poured forth was huge. I was humbled and blown away.

Toni, my wife, continues to show an unbelievable kindness. And I have a handful of close friends near and far (some live a long way away), some colleagues and some staffers who tracked with me through this season. I am so grateful for them.

Friendship is still not easy for me. I am really quite private at my core. In this networked world, I know thousands of people by name, but if people get too close, I can still push away. I'm working on that. God's working on that. There has been some big progress on that, I think.

But what I want to say is that I have come to realize that you can't do it alone. We are social beings. We are meant to be together.

I am always surprised that when I sit down with someone to talk through a life situation they are going through, and I ask them "Who else do you talk to this about?", the #1 answer is "No one," That breaks my heart.

If you're going through a hard time, find a friend. Talk to them. Pray with them. For me, it was hard, but life giving, to include a handful of people in a circle. It was life giving to see a group of people in my community group care deeply. We can’t do this alone—and we were never meant to do it that way. 

If you have not found your way into a community group at Hillside yet, please note that most of our current groups will be taking a summer break and we are looking to launch new groups this fall.  So begin now to open a time in your weekly schedule for next fall so that you can join into a community that will enhance your life journey and hopefully deepen your walk with Christ.  Your commitment to opening a time and opportunity to join a community group and your own spiritual development will be worth it.

If you have any questions about Community Groups at Hillside for adults contact Pastor Steve Pridemore (steve@hillsidemarin.org) or for children and youth, contact me (terri@hillsidemarin.org).

© 2010 Orange. All rights reserved.  

Get connected to a wider community of parents at www.orangeparents.org.

Student Ministry starts a new series June 5

WHAT WE’RE TALKING ABOUT:

Here is an overview of what we’re talking about in Student Ministries for the next three weeks, finishing out our 2010-11 school year.   

The summary below is called the “parent cue”.  The purpose of the parent cue is to help you dialog with your child about the sessions each week, to help bring home the ideas and allow you to share your family core values on this subject or to form family core values. The question is intended not just to be asked by you, but to be responded to by BOTH of you. Use this opportunity to find out what God is teaching your child, and allow your child to see what God is teaching you as well. 

WE:

Series Overview

In following Christ, there is one truth that most of us forget—we were never meant to do this alone. We need other people. It’s critical not just because we need friends, but also because in community we understand more about who God is. We see how He is working in other people’s lives. We learn things that God has taught them, and we get an opportunity to love and serve others. The WE series helps us discover the “WHY” behind community—why we need it, why we should pursue it. 

Session One - June 5

We need other people. We get that when we feel lonely, don’t we? But the reality is that there are times when the last thing we want is someone around—whether it’s our own grumpiness or because we just don’t want to be hurt again. But God made us in such a way that people fill a very specific need in our lives. And while God does supply all our needs, He created us to need other people, too.

Session One Parent Cue: Where do you have the greatest sense of community in your life? How has this been a good thing? How has it been a difficult thing?  

Session Two - June 12

We talked last week about how we need people, and if we’re honest, we all have realized that at some point or another. But there’s a reluctance to take that next step because it’s risky. It’s scary. And most of all, it’s messy. True community costs us something. But if we don’t have it, it will cost us a lot more.

Session Two Parent Cue: Share a time when you were hurt by someone. Then share a time when you felt lonely and really needed other people around. After some time and perspective, which one was worse? Why? 

Session Three - June 19 (Promotion Sunday in our Family Ministry environments)

People’s stories are powerful, aren’t they? There’s something about hearing what’s going on in another person’s life that puts things in perspective for us. We may be thinking that God has forgotten us, that He doesn’t care about what’s going in our world, but then we hear someone share how God showed up when they really needed Him. And because of that, we begin to think that maybe, just maybe, He can be there for us, too. That’s the power of community. It’s how we see God at work in our world. It’s how we grow closer to Him. And it’s an important part of growing in our relationship with Him.

Session Three Parent Cue: What have you learned about God from other people in your life? 

Summer Camp is coming...have you made your plans yet?

Summer Camp season is nearly hear.  Here are a variety of camps for your consideration.


Mount Hermon Senior High Camps, Santa Cruz Mountains

Ponderosa Lodge is a one-week camp experience full of laughter, play, community and worship as students experience life to the fullest.  In one week at Ponderosa students can skate, surf, play laser tag or paintball, make new friends, swim, kayak, ride mountain bikes or mountain scooters and experience our zip line or leap of faith. Most importantly, in one week at Ponderosa students will encounter the God who knows them, who loves them and who wants to change their lives for eternity.

 July 17–23, 2011

Cost:  $545 (minus $100 deposit if paid before 5/15, after 5/15, please pay in full, payable to Hillside)

Speaker:  Jer Swigart, Lead Pastor of Open Door Community, 

Walnut Creek, California

Register for this camp by contact Terri Woodard (terri@hillsidemarin.org or 924-2297 x105)

We have a church group reservation, so please help us fill this week and send our youth off as a community to camp.  I will be returning spaces to camp this week that will not be used by the Brazilian church youth, so Hillsider's need to talk to Terri ASAP.

July 24–30, 2011

Cost: $545 (payable directly to Mount Hermon)

Speaker:  Jeff Mazzariello, Pastor of Spiritual Formation at Marin Covenant Church, 

San Rafael, California

To register for this camp- please contact Mount Hermon directly.

A Couple of High School young ladies have registered for this week since they had a conflict with the previous week. 

Redwood Glen Camps has a variety of options for children and youth this summer.  Hillside and I have a long history with Redwood Glen so if you would like more information please contact  me (terri@hillsidemarin.org).

Discovery Camp - $199
June 19-24, 2011
Completing 2nd - 5th grade

Director: Stephanie Benziger, Community Baptist Church Waterford, CA

Registration: Sunday, June 19, from 2:00-4:00 p.m.  

Camp ends at 10:00 a.m. on Friday, June 24

You and your cabin mates will have a fun-filled time together learning about some interesting Bible characters and stories. You will likely make life-long friends with other campers from all over the Bay Area along with some of the greatest counselors. All week long you will enjoy crafts, swimming, singing and worship, hiking in the redwoods, exploring Pescadero Creek, awesome games, memorable campfires and much more.

Children's Music and Drama Camp - $199
June 27 - July 2, 2011
Completing 2nd - 5th grade

Director: Jeanette Calixto, First Baptist Church Alameda, CA

Registration: Monday, June 27, from 2:00-4:00 p.m.

Camp ends after Drama Presentation in Amphitheater at 11:00 a.m. on Saturday, July 2 (BBQ lunch available for purchase by family and friends, discount tickets available in advance)

Through drama and songs, you’ll meet some kids a lot like you who learn something new about living for God in their everyday world. Along with preparing and performing a complete Christian musical on the last day of camp, campers will have opportunities to create life-long friendships with kids from all over the Bay Area, enjoy times in the pool, hang out with friends, worship together in our Chapel in the Woods, create memories at campfire, eat great food, play some fun games, and so much more!

Adventure Camp @ Indian Point - $199
June 27 - July 2, 2011
Completing 4th - 6th grade

Director: Carolyn Neitzke, First Baptist Church Sacramento, CA

Registration: Monday, June 27, from 2:00-4:00 p.m.

Camp ends at 10:00 a.m. on Saturday, July 2.

Imagine spending the night in a tent with your friends, cooking your own food over a campfire, exploring endless trails and stomping through the creek! And this is just the first day! Our Adventure Camp gives you an opportunity to enjoy an incredible week living at historic Indian Point in a tent group and learning how to make all kinds of cool foods, including bread-on-a-stick right over a campfire. You’ll enjoy times of singing and worship in an outdoor chapel when we learn about our theme. We’ll also be making cool crafts, hiking along trails among the tall redwood trees, playing fun games, swimming in the camp pool, and so much more. Come and create new friendships and memories that will last a lifetime at Adventure Camp.

Youth Music and Drama Camp - $199
July 11-16, 2011
Completing 6th - 12th grade

Director: Jeff Tessier, First Baptist Church Vallejo, CA

Registration: Monday, July 11, from 2:00-4:00 p.m.

Camp ends after Drama Presentation in Ampitheatre at 11:00 a.m. on Saturday, July 16 (BBQ lunch available for purchase by family and friends, with discount lunch tickets available in advance)

Along with preparing and performing the musical on the last day of camp, campers will have opportunities to create life-long friendships with teens from all over the Bay Area. Enjoy times in the pool, hanging out with friends, worshipping together in our Chapel in the Woods, create memories at campfire, play some outrageous games, and so much more!

Junior High Camp - $175
July 18-22, 2011
Completing 6th - 8th grade

Director: Danny Balderas, First Covenant Church Oakland, CA

Registration: Monday, July 18, from 2:00-4:00 p.m.

Camp ends at 10:00 a.m. on Friday, July 22

We are pulling out all the stops to make this year’s camp the very best ever!  This is our fastest growing camp over the past 5 years as more and more youth have experienced an awesome week of hanging with new friends, challenging talks from the camp speaker, and lots of activities throughout the day including swimming and yummy food.

Senior High Camp - $175
July 18-22, 2011
Completing 9th - 12th grade

Director: TBD

Registration: Monday, July 18, from 2:00-4:00 p.m.

Camp ends at 10:00 a.m. on Friday, July 22

We’ve been waiting a few years to do this, but the wait is finally over.  We have added a Senior High Camp this year. youth have experienced an awesome week of hanging with new friends, challenging talks from the camp speaker, and lots of activities throughout the day including swimming and yummy food.

Online Registration (Paper registration forms available in the Parent Resource Center)

Parent Resource Center (Everything a parent would want to know about our programs)

SUMMER STAFF SEARCH:

We are now accepting applications for our 2011 summer staff. 

Volunteer Counselors and Program Staff (Use this link to go to our counselor/program staff resource page)

If you can't find the information you need or have questions regarding our program camps, e-mail us at program@redwoodglen.com.

Cazadero Children's Camp will be Aug 1-5, 2011 at Cazadero Baptist Camp. Camp is for children who have completed 2nd grade through 6th grade.

Cost:  $175 (Plus a counselor needs to be provided if more than 7 children attend from any one church, so if you would be interested in being a counselor for the 5 days of children's camp please let me know.)

Registration information and forms for the 2011 Golden Hills Baptist Association Children's Camp are now available for download under documents on the GHBA website (www.goldenhillsba.org).  The theme this year is "Hero Training Camp."  Children’s Camp is a great opportunity for the children to meet new friends, enjoy great activities, and learn about God during an exciting week away from home. This summer, we will use a curriculum that teaches children about the biblical concept of the conscience using stories about David. It’s our prayer that camp will give children a vision for living their lives for God. After all, that’s what a true hero is. 

For additional information contact Beth Patel at Beth.Patel@comcast.net camp director or Terri (terri@hillsidemarin.org).

May 2011

There are several exciting things coming Family Ministry in the next few weeks as we move blissfully into the lazy days of summer.  

COMMUNICATION is important!  

To make sure that you get the latest communication regarding things happening in Family Ministry, please update your contact information with the church by completing a Welcome Card on Sunday.  We depend on the contact information you provide to reach families with children and youth.  You may also update by emailing your current contact info to admin@hillsidemarin.org.  If you have signed up for the on-line church newsletter, please note that address needs to be changed by going through the church website and signing up for it with your current email address.  

DUE NOW...Summer Camp Registration.
Where: Mt. Hermon's Ponderosa LodgeWhen: July 17-23 for HS (MS parents contact us and we will discuss options.) 

What: Basically the best week of your life. The total cost is $545 with a $100 deposit due by  

May 15.  Balance ($445) due June 15.   Financial assistance is available.

Visit the camp website for more information www.mounthermon.org  

If parents and students want to receive our regular emails and reminders, please fill out the Welcome Card fully on Sunday or contact the church office at 924-2297.

For questions about Family Ministry, please contact Terri Woodard terri@hillsidemarin.org, or call 924-2297 ext. 104.

5/22  Farewell to the Burleson's.  
Join us at San Clemente Park Picnic area #1 from 12-2pm for a taco feed and fun.  Ben has served as our Youth Associate for the past two years running our youth department.  Jenny has served as a part of the start-up team for Waumba Land and been a teacher to our 2-3 year olds for the past two years.  Their daughter, Riley arrived 16 months ago and is a part of the Waumba Land kids.  They not only serve but they are part of a Community Group with Tayo & Amy Fadeji.  Ben has decided to continue his theological studies at a Seminary in Kentucky that closer to family in Tennessee.


6/19  Promotion Sunday
Besides being Father's Day, children will be promoted to their next grade levels on 6/19.  Parents will drop off children in their usual places but pick them up in the next grade level room if they are changing environments.  


Prekindergarters who will be starting in Kindergarten in the fall will be dropped of in Waumba Land 4 and picked up in the UpStreet Room.


5th Graders will be dropped off in UpStreet and then we will move them to The House for Youth Group Orientation and we hope parents will leave them for 2nd hour to experience a youth group service.


8th graders and 12th graders will remain in their current groups through the summer and will make the shift after summer camp.


6/26-8/28 - Camp Can-Do Island is coming!

A summer full of tropical fun will happen every Sunday starting on June 26th through August 28.  Camp Can-Do Island is available only at the 9:30am hour.  

If you would like to see Camp Can-Do or Waumba Land available at the 11:00am, please sign up to be a part of those ministry teams by seeing Terri.

Summer Camp!!!!   Registrations are due now !
Where: Mt. Hermon's Ponderosa Lodge
When: July 17-23 for HS (MS parents contact us and we will discuss options.) 

What: Basically the best week of your life. The total cost is $545 with a $100 deposit due by  

May 15.  Financial assistance is available.

Visit the website for more information www.mounthermon.org  

If parents and students want to receive our regular emails and reminders, please fill out the Welcome Card fully on Sunday or contact the church office at 924-2297.

For questions about Family Ministry, please contact Terri Woodard terri@hillsidemarin.org, or call 924-2297 ext. 104.

STUDENT MINISTRY - Search for a Youth Pastor/Director of Student Ministry is underway.

With the departure of Ben Burleson (elsewhere in this newsletter) our student ministry is in the process of seeking a new part-time youth pastor for Hillside.  Terri began the search in April and has received many good resumes.  The interview process is beginning and we are hoping to have someone in place in the near future.  In the meantime, the student ministry leadership team is stepping up to ensure the continuation of ministry during this period of transition.  So prayers and thanks go out in advance to Jeff Broussard, Bob Griffin, Eliza Hyatt, Andrew Subido, Evelyn Prosser, Laura Targgart for providing weekly Sunday services at The House for the kids, activities throughout the summer including summer camp support.  These leaders, along with Terri, greatly appreciate the support of our students and their parents through this process.  

If you have college students returning home for the summer, we would love to have them join us in leadership for middle school and high school ministry.  Please contact Terri for more information regarding a volunteer summer internship at Hillside.terri@hillsidemarin.org

Hillside Students' Spectacular Saturday - May 7th

HILLSIDE STUDENT MINISTRY has something spectacular planned for Middle School and High School Students and their friends - a City Day Trip!

Date:  May 7th
Time:  2:00-10:30PM
Cost:  $40/person

Sign up no later than April 17.

Due to some seating limits - this event is on a first come, first pay basis so get your event permission slip and $40 (checks payable to Hillside Church) to Ben Burleson ASAP.

For more info contact Ben at ben@hillsidemarin.org or call him at 924-2297 x106.

Coming to Family Ministry in April 2011

WAUMBA LAND (Preschool Environment)
April will be an exciting month for our kids in Waumba Land at Hillside.

We will start by learning how Jesus was a good friend.  He healed a woman who touched his robe. Then he told his disciples that he wanted everyone to be his friend and sent his friends to places near and far to tell others about Jesus.  We finish up with the amazing story of Jesus' resurrection - The Easter Story.

Our Waumba Land environment will be open for both services (9:30am & 11:00am) on Easter Sunday only.


UPSTREET (Elementary Environment)
Our April virtue is HUMILITY.  Is there a better way to teach kids that they need to live life with a humble heart than through the stories leading up to and including Jesus' resurrection?  


This month, as we all learn different aspects of humility, it's not just for your kids!
The apostle Paul give good counsel on how to go about that:  "Think of yourselves the way Christ Jesus thought of himself."  Jesus while having equal status with God, choose to not cling to the advantages of that status no matter what.  At times when he could have used his privileges of being God's only son, he didn't.  He made another choice - to live life by putting others first (selfless), he made a habit of doing  what he knew he should (obedient) and then gave himself as the ultimate gift by providing a way for each of us to come before a Holy God and spend eternity in heaven.


Our kids need to understand what humility is and what it isn't.  They also need to understand why God wants us to have it.  Humility is so important that he gave us Jesus to be our model.  There is no better time to talk about humility that at Easter.

On Easter,  we will offer UpStreet at both services (9:30am & 11:00am).


STUDENT MINISTRY (Middle School and High School)
In April we will finish up our current series "Grow Up". Do the teens in your life ever wish they could just grow up? Maybe they yearn for the day they will get their driver's licenses. Or graduate from high school. Or go away to college. They don't really want to be kids anymore. They want to be seen as adults. They want to feel like they've moved on, grown up. We all know how that happens physically, but what about spiritually? How do we know we're growing in your faith? How do we know that you're moving forward in that area of our lives? The good news is that God is just as passionate about growing our faith as we are. 


Then on April 17 we will begin a 2-part Easter Series that will end on Easter Sunday. Most Christians look at the cross as a reminder of all that Jesus Christ did for us. Actually the cross means more than that. Not only is it a place where Jesus did something for us, but it is also the place where He showed us how to die so we could truly live.  Our speakers and your small group leaders, will unpack that thought with your teens during the last two weeks of April - you won't want them to miss it.  It's the reason that we are followers of Jesus and how that manifests in us and how we view the world around us.


Student Ministry will only be at 11:00am @ The House.  Students are encouraged to serve on Easter Sunday at 9:30am in the Preschool and Elementary environments, as a part of the host team or kitchen team.