God and Sexuality class April 22nd – May 13th
March 31, 2009
Good Sex, Shorelines Sexual Purity class begins April 22nd
Remember the days when the youth ministry “Sex Talk” was simple and straightforward? Well, maybe it wasn’t that simple or straightforward, but today more than ever, the world our students are growing up in is saturated in sex. Everywhere they look (or listen) they can hear all kinds of messages about sexuality, and most of it is probably not helping them develop a healthy understanding of how their own sexuality fits into God’s plan for their lives.
The need for ongoing dialogue and learning about sexuality and how it connects with faith has never been greater. Trying to help students understand how their sexuality relates to God’s plan for their lives is a great challenge in a day when just about anything goes. Today, teenage sexuality includes things that might make some of us blush, like: • Hooking up • Oral sex (as a “safe” alternative to vaginal intercourse) • Friends-with-benefits • A greater social acceptability of gay and lesbian relationships and experimentation
In Good Sex : A Whole-Person Approach to Teenage Sexuality and God, we will provide tools to help students and their parents in understanding, enjoying, and taking responsibility for their sexuality—all without lecturing, intimidating, or moralizing.
This new and improved sexual purity class offer answer to our students, all of which are biblically based and include the latest in social science and sexual research among adolescents. When students combine this class together with the encouragement of their church family they will be able to face the tough sexual questions of today with real answers. We hope to have open honest dialogue, and help your teens see how their sexuality fits into God’s plan for their lives.
Please contact Pastor Andrew for information on how your students can get involved.
Money Management God’s Way
March 30, 2009
Managing money was a key topic in the recent “Lost” sermon series. Beginning Monday, April 13th at 6:30 p.m., you can learn to experience financial well being and security through God’s plan for your life and finances. The Bible is packed with wise counsel about your financial life. In fact, Jesus had more to say about money than about Heaven and Hell combined. Come and learn how money works and the secrets that can strengthen your marriage, business and financial future.
Join us as we answer critical questions about how to stay afloat and make sound financial decisions during these challenging times. Sign up for Money Management God’s Way at the Connections Center or by calling Robin Maguire at 831.655.0100 x302.
FIREPROOF Small Group Study
March 30, 2009
Join us on Wednesday, May 13th at 6:30 p.m. for the launch of our new small group series, “The Love Dare” from the movie FIREPROOF. We’ll kick off the event with a screening of the movie, followed by small group sign-ups.
In the movie FIREPROOF, a couple dares to rescue their choking marriage from the flames of divorce and temptation using “The Love Dare” book as a guide. This daily devotional steers you through the fiery challenge of developing a strong, committed marriage in a world that threatens to burn it to the ground.
This 40-Day journey equips you to melt hardened, separated hearts into an enduring love that can withstand the flames of fear, pride and temptation. ” The Love Dare” book will help you reinforce and enrich your marriage, earn back a love you thought was lost, and hear more about the One who not only designed unconditional, sacrificial love—He illustrated it.
For more information, contact Robin Maguire at rmaguire@shorelinechurch.org or 831.655.0100 x302.
ESTHER – WOMEN’S BIBLE STUDY
March 30, 2009
Mark your calendars!!
Tuesday Evening April 14th
Wednesday Morning April 15th
“One Night With the King” showing in the sanctuary promptly at 6:30 pm and 9:30 am. Bring a friend!
Serve Saturday April 4th “Easter Fun”
March 26, 2009
- Bring candy, plastic eggs or appropriate toys for the Easter Collection Drive (bins in lobby until April 2).
- Bring an Easter book for a child (preferable in Spanish).
- Donate $2.00 for us to purchase a child’s book in Spanish for you.
- Come to Serve Saturday on April 4 (with your kids, if you’d like) and help stuff eggs and pack up all the Easter goodies.
A Plan for Parents
March 24, 2009
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Parenting Tip
March 24, 2009
A Three-Column Plan
Parents sometimes feel that because their child is a challenge that they, as parents, are the problem. “If I would just do the right things then I wouldn’t have this problem with my child,” they say. Of course, we, as parents do have a lot of influence on our kids, but it’s certainly not the whole story.
Children aren’t robots; they’re people who have wills of their own. You can influence but not control them. That’s why parents must be praying for their kids often. God uses you, as a parent, to mold your child. As you work on the heart you will benefit from developing a character development plan uniquely tailored for each child.
Here’s an idea: Fold a piece of paper to make three columns. In column one, list unwanted behaviors you see in your child. In many cases this is a long list but that’s okay. Putting the problem on paper often helps sort it out. In the second column try to group the behaviors into character issues. We find that challenging children often lack qualities like self control, sensitivity, perseverance, and gentleness, just to name a few.
In the third column identify positive character qualities as headings and then specific behaviors you’d like to see to replace those unwanted behaviors. Taking this information, develop a strategy to motivate your child to make small changes.
Whatever you do, don’t show the paper to your child. That’s too much for any one person to see. Choose one character quality to work on and look for positive ways to correct as well as proactive ways to teach the new character quality.
You’ll be surprised at the small steps of progress you’ll see. But it’s those steps of progress that will encourage you and your child. After all, in many homes children are making small steps in the wrong direction so turning things around is a tremendous blessing.
If you’d like help developing an Action Plan for your child, or you want to learn more about this six-step character development plan, you’ll find it in the book, Home Improvement, The Parenting Book You Can Read to Your Kids by Dr. Scott Turansky and Joanne Miller, RN, BSN.
Great things happening daily in the Community Outreach Department!
March 24, 2009
Both Serve Saturday (feeding the homeless at Dorothy’s Kitchen) and the Convalescent Home visits in the last two weeks were great successes. We were blessed to have new workers join our team. As the team grows, so can the lives we impact for Christ. As reported previously, our Food Pantry is in the final stages of readiness. We have a new refrigerator for that usage and two enthusiastic coordinators, Bob and Sherri Peters. All that’s left to do is go shopping and ask you to pray if God wants to use you in this great, hands-on ministry. We are now inviting people to volunteer for 2 hour shifts on Tuesdays and Thursdays (hours yet to be determined). Call 655-0100 or contact dfederico@shorelinechurch.org or jatwell@shorelinechurch.org if you want to be considered for a position with the Food Pantry. All volunteers will be fully equipped and trained.
Also this last week we introduced our e-newsletter, “The Community Outreach Minute” to our team members. We will be emailing them out on a weekly basis to keep people abreast of what’s happening in our department, but also of upcoming service needs. If you aren’t getting one, and would like to, please call Jennifer at 655-0100 or email at jatwell@shorelinechurch.org. Not only will this save some trees, we will be able to get up to the day news out to you, and it’s just one more place to hear about Community Outreach. For our friends that aren’t online, we will always have some printed copies at the booth on Sundays. Also, we are always open for new and creative ideas for where/how our team can serve. We value your imput and want to encourage service through many different channels that are appropriate for the church. Please feel free to contact either of us and we will bring your ideas to our advisory team. We’re here to serve Jesus and the church, our community and you!
Journey through Grief
March 19, 2009
If you are grieving the loss of a loved one, you don’t have to walk the journey alone. Join the Grief Support Group on Monday evenings at 6:30 p.m. in room 1201, beginning March 23rd. The Grief Support Group is a safe place to share with others who are on their own grief journeys – if your heart is hurting, we’re here to listen and offer support. For more information contact Kim Parker at kggwparker@vzavenue.net.
Parenting Tip
March 18, 2009
March 17, 2009
Anger Confuses Correction
A good correction routine teaches children that they must change. Their current course of action will not work. It’s unacceptable and needs adjusting. Unfortunately the clear message that the child has a problem and needs to work on it is sometimes missed because of parental anger. A parent’s harshness can confuse the learning process. Instead of thinking, “I’m here taking a Break because I did something wrong,” the child thinks, “I’m here taking a Break because I made Mom mad.” The child’s focus changes from correcting what he or she did wrong to avoiding parental anger. It’s important to remember that your anger is good for identifying problems but not good for solving them. When you’re tempted to respond harshly, be careful to take a moment and think about what you need to teach in the situation. It’s easy to react with anger when your kids do the wrong thing but it’s more helpful to move into a constructive correction routine. For example, Dad yells, “I’ve had it! I called you five times and you didn’t come, so I’m not taking you to the party!” The child gets a mixed message. Is missing the party the consequence for not coming when called, or is it the consequence for making Dad angry? Children who grow up with explosive parents learn to focus more on pleasing people than on living with convictions about right and wrong. They may learn to make changes in life, but not because they’re determined to do what’s right. Rather, they make changes to avoid upsetting people; they become people pleasers or just plain sneaky. Kids then believe that what they did was okay as long as Mom or Dad didn’t find out. As long as no one gets angry, then there’s no problem. When you make a mistake and correct in anger, it’s important to come back to your child and talk about it afterward. Clarify what was wrong, why the consequence was given, and apologize for your harshness.
This parenting tip is taken from the book, Good and Angry, Exchanging Frustration for Character In You and Your Kids, by Dr. Scott Turansky and Joanne Miller, RN, BSN.
You’re a part of God’s family!
March 18, 2009
One way to experience what that means to be a part of God’s family is to get connected with others in your church family. You can do that by plugging into a small group Bible study. Small groups provide a way to connect with others, feel a sense of belonging, and hear from God through His Word. At Shoreline Community Church, we make a big deal about small groups. On Sunday, May 3rd we will be launching our new H.O.S.T. small group leadership training and launching several new exciting groups with a variety of topics, and scriptural studies! Come to the Connections Center or call Pastor Dave Hopkins at 831.655.0100, x303 for more information.