Reading Through the Bible

I am excited to announce that one of our student leaders Dominic Heiden has finished reading through the Bible in its entirety and is starting again this week. My wife, Jessica, and I will be joining him and we will be encouraging everyone in our lives to join as well.

So that means, you and your family are invited to join us as we read through the Bible. Just a couple chapters a day. It is incredible how much easier it is to here Him speak when we are in His Word everyday! Here is the link to the plan we will be using.

If you would like any other ideas or suggestions on how to read the Bible with your family, discussion topics, and creative ways to get into God's Story please e-mail me!

Paul / paul@hopecenter.cc

Christmas in the City

On Saturday December 8th, we will be joining Walnut Creek Presbyterian for our annual event Christmas in the City! This year will be different from previous ones, but we have a lot of fun planned. We will be meeting at Walnut Creek Presbyterian at 6:00pm for pizza and to check in, then walk to the Walnut Creek BART station, go to Union Square, ice skate, get some hot cocoa and return around 11:30pm (probably earlier). What an amazing holiday celebration with friends!

To register: cost is $30 and please make sure that we have a year long permission slip for your child.

Happy Holidays!
Paul / paul@hopecenter.cc

3 Awesome Invitations!

There are so many awesome events coming up for you and your student to experience together that I wanted to highlight them for you:

1. Will the World End on 12/21/12? A Sunday morning class during 2nd service on Dec. 2nd.

Join Paul Scholz in the Generations Room on Sunday 12/2 from 10:45am-noon for some pancakes and discussion around the topic of the end times. This is a very controversial and confusing topic for many, so let’s come together in grace and look into a Biblical perspective of the end times. All are invited! Students please bring your parents. Email any pre-questions you have to paul@hopecenter.cc

2. Community Worship at Morello Hills Church on Sunday 12/2 from 6:30p-9:00. Community Worship is an event where multiple youth local youth groups get together to worship God in creative ways. We have had the wonderful opportunities to worship in January at St. Matthew, March at Walnut Creek Presbyterian, and in August at Hope Center. You and your student are invited to come and worship through the Stations of Christmas with us!

3. SUMMER CAMP MEETING - we will be meeting between services on Sunday December 9th to discuss summer camp plans for 2013! Please come to find out what is going on, give input, and reserve your student's spot!

Paul / paul@hopecenter.cc

Winter Calendar!

Dear Lighthouse Parents,

As the crazy holiday season is approaching, I pray that you and your family are able to have some special, intentional time together. When Mother Mary found out that she was going to give birth to the Savior she responded, “My soul glorifies the Lord and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior” (Luke 1:46-47). Imagine if that was the center of our celebrations this season!

For the next three months, we have some amazing upcoming events and awesome staff.  They are committed to connecting with your student in a variety of ways, both fun and challenging.

The Way I’m Wired devotional will continue through the school year. While there may be some changes in Thursdays and other events, each week students are expected to be in their devotional and then bringing it to Lighthouse. Please help us by encouraging your teen and taking time to have conversations with them about the way they are wired.

Please note some important dates: Click here to see a full view of the calendar http://www.hopecenter.cc/files/12_Winter_Calendar.jpg

• Nacho Libre Nacho Fundraiser, Fri Nov 9^th 6:45-9:00pm at Hope Center. We are having a movie fundraiser for Rancho Agua Viva in Ensenada, Mexico. Please bring your whole family and bring friends for this fun evening.        
• Christmas in the City: Saturday, December 8^th from 5:30-11:30pm. This event will be different than years previous, more details are still being figured out.
• Also stay tuned for our next Community Worship date! 

Do not hesitate to contact me with any questions, I am here to serve you!

Paul Scholz

Hope Center Covenant Church

Director of High School Ministries

paul@hopecenter.cc

916-223-4327 cell

925-685-4673 ext 13 church

Challenge Day at CP

I have wonderful, fantastic, incredible news! College Park High School is hosting Challenge Day on Tuesday November 13th and we are helping!

Here's what Challenge Day's website states:

OUR VISION
Our vision is that every child lives in a world where they feel safe, loved and celebrated.
OUR MISSION
The Challenge Day mission is to provide youth and their communities with experiential programs that demonstrate the possibility of love and connection through the celebration of diversity, truth, and full expression.

Praise the Lord! For an incredible opportunity for students, for Hope Center to serve the local community, and to come alongside of students that are in need! Please be praying for this event!

This week, we are still doing Off Campus Lighthouse for small groups. Please contact your small group leader for questions on when and where your group is meeting. Also, this Thursday is Fudd's, I believe most groups are either meeting at or around Fudd's. We will be there no later than 8:15pm, so please have your student bring $5 for a snack if they want, pick up at 9:00pm.

Paul / paul@hopecenter.cc

Adolescence is a Cultural Phenomenon

On Saturday, October 6th, there were two awesome conferences. One was a Women and Teen's conference at Hope Center with Laura Kaczor, I heard it was an amazing day! I can only tell you second hand though. The second conference was the one I was at which was a Bay Area Youth Forum in San Raphael with Youth Ministry expert Mark Oestreicher. Awesome, awesome stuff.

Here's a little of what he had to say:
"Adolescence is a cultural phenomenon." Meaning: it doesn't have to exist, it is not a right, it is not necessarily natural.

Timeline of Adolescence:

Year                       Age range                           Length of adolescence

1904                       14 ½ - 16                               18  months long

1970                       13-18                                     5-6 years

*why? Food, globalization different diet, physiological changes

*Mandatory law to secondary education

*Isolated from adults with peers

Average contact with adult world?

Markers graduated high school and turn 18, expect responsibility

2012                       10 ½ - 30?                            20 years (a quarter of a lifetime)

*fat and weight allows kids to go into early puberty

Adolescence no longer accurate, now descriptions of different “stages”. Breakdown of adolescence:

10 ½ - 14               Early adolescence

15 – 20                  Mid adolescence

21-30                     Emerging adult *That means I'm not an adult yet, protect your children!*

*no agreement on markers of adult

*extended adolescence syndrome

“remove natural consequences, protect them, keep them safe, 20’s called teens, 20’s called children”

So that's the problem, what are the solutions? Well let's meet up and talk about it. If you are ever interested in talking about this material, or just want to meet up - I would love to! Let's talk about how to make Lighthouse even better for your student, let's talk about how parenting is going, let's talk about how the Giants and Niners are going all the way! Shoot me an email and we can work out a time.

We still are doing Off Campus Lighthouse this week, please have your teen contact their small group leader to find out when and where they are meeting.

Paul / paul@hopecenter.cc

Talking about Politics?!?

I can't believe I'm about to say this, but yes, we are talking about politics for a three-Sunday sermon series. "God's Kingdom, Man's Politics" (dramatic music in the background), to be specific.

But what do teens care about politics? Most can't vote and even if they could, do they know enough to be informed?

1. Starting last Sunday 10/14, we started talking about our responsibility as Christians to pray for our politicians and our country. We looked at 1 Timothy 2:1-2, Romans 13:1,6-7.
2. This Sunday we are talking about allowing our political opinions to be shaped by the Gospel. We will look at Hebrews 4:12, Romans 12:2, 1 Thessalonians 5:21.
3. Lastly, we will be talking about how the Kingdom of God is more important than the kingdom of men, we cannot allow our political views to divide the church. We will look at Ephesians 4:1-6, Matthew 5:44.

Please feel free to read these verses and open up a discussion about politics with your teen. If you have any questions, please feel free to contact me. I also found a helpful article titled "Talking Politics: What to Say to Your Kids" http://kidshealth.org/parent/positive/family/voting_banner.html#

Paul / paul@hopecenter.cc