What to Look For In This Email:

• Scott’s Thoughts
• Parent: Summer Informational Lunch
• Prayer Point
• Weekly Lineup
• 2012 Ministry Calendar

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Scott’s Thoughts:

There are very few things in the world that get under my skin more than the way that the media has monopolized our current youth culture.  From MTV to Lady Gaga, Primetime Television to Silver Screen, the world that our students are living in is dark and muddied, and has opened a wide gate for our teens to waltz right through as they follow their peers.  And the unfortunate thing is that our culture changes as often as the sun sets.

With that being said, there is an incredible resource that I want to pass your way- The Center for Parent and Youth Understanding (www.cpyu.org) – It is an incredible website, updated on a daily basis, with articles, quotes, pictures, new releases, and a simple blog that interacts with our culture from a biblical point of view.

Walt Mueller, the founder of CPYU, regularly blogs about the state of our culture, prompting each of us to think about what is happening and while giving us great questions to think about in regards to current songs, shows, and artists.  Often times he will include questions that you use with your teens to get them to see our culture from a Biblical vantage point.

Of all the websites out there, this is one of my top 5 resources- one that I love to peruse through to gain an understanding of what is going on in the world of our teens!!!

www.CPYU.org

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Parent: Summer Informational Lunch
February 12 and March 04
12noon-2p

It is crazy to think about the summer already- but it is a necessity!  From sports camps to summer vacations, the summer continues to shrink with each and every year!!  This year, we are excited about what God is going to do in the lives of our students and our community through the course of the summer!!  With that being said, we want you to be fully aware of what to expect, where we are going, what we are doing, and all the simple nuts and bolts of the summer at hand!!

Similar to last year, we will be providing you with a top notch lunch, the basic 4-1-1, and the opportunity to sign up your students at a discounted price.  We will also be giving away Camp BOGO’s again for students to use to bring friends to camp with them for free.

Mark your calendar now, and pray with great anticipation as the summer comes crashing towards us!! It is going to be incredible.

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Prayer Point:

• Join me in praying for ec56.
• We have some incredible students and some awesome leaders within our 5th-6th grade ministry.
• Pray for a group of 5th grade boys that are tirelessly working to have a prayer time during the recess!!
• Pray for our 5th grade girls who have been challenged to read the New Testament this spring semester
• Pray for our leaders: Pat Sanford, Ingrid Myers, Jana Johanson, Jonathan Shriver, Gavin VonHeuvel.
• Pray for our student leaders: Kyle Hubbard, Christian McCormick, Kourtland Smith, Hunter Holbrook, Kendall Hubbard
• Pray for God to light a fire within our 5th-6th graders!!

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Weekly Lineup:
// Sunday:
9:30a (ec56)
11:00a (Escape22)
5.00p (Decatur HS C:Group)

// Wednesday:
6.00-7.30p (Bport MS Girls C:Group)
7.00p (theMIX)

// Campus Groups: All our Campus Groups will be back up and running by the first week of February.  We mirror the GFC LifeGroup schedule, which begins the week of January 29.  Stay-tuned next week for a complete listing of all our Spring Groups, with times, leaders, and specific date that they are beginning.

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2012 Ministry Calendar– 

// February
10- Cupid’s Kick’it (5th-8th Graders||6-9p||$5)
12- Parent Summer Informational Lunch (12-2p)

// March
04- Parent Summer Informational Lunch (12-2p)
07- GFC Students VMA’s (HS||7-8.30p)
11-14- HS Mission Adventure (HS||Overnight||$$ TBD)

// May
06- Senior Recognition Sunday (12th||9.30-12noon)
11- Kick’it at the Movies (5th-8th Graders||6-9p||$5)

—

// June
04-07- theDASH HS Camp
25-28- Game’d JH Camp

// July
9-12- San Angelo Mission Trip (JH)
15-20- Mission Galveston (HS)

–
Scott Johnson
Student Pastor
Grace Fellowship
940-782-9588
http://ttocsj.wordpress.com
http://twitter.com/ttocsj

C:Groups

C is for Campus…

C:Groups are school-based, age-specific groups meeting in different homes throughout the community!

Check out where we will be this Spring!!!

Bridgeport High School Guys
Monday Nights at 6.30p
Home of Kalyb Brown

Bridgeport High School Girls
Monday Nights at 6.30p
Home of Julie Casillas

Decatur High School
Sunday Nights at 5p
Home of Graham McCain

Paradise High School Guys
Monday Nights at 6.30p
Home of Jacob Owens

Paradise High School Girls
Monday Nights at 6.30p
Home of Kaitlyn Bowling

Springtown High School
Monday Nights at 7p
Home of Nikki Jones

Bridgeport Middle BOYS
Wednesday Nights at 6.00p
Home of Bryce Powers

Bridgeport Middle GIRLS
Wednesday Nights at 6.00p
Home of Madi and Mary Trammell
(Mike and Jana Johanson)

Paradise Junior High GIRLS
Wednesday Nights at 6.30p
Home of Kalli Winters

HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!!

Merry Christmas

Wishing you and your families a wonderful Christmas!!!

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What to Look For In This Email:

• Scott’s Thoughts
• Grace Fellowship Christmas
• 2012 Ministry Calendar
• Weekly Lineup

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Scott’s Thoughts:

There are several things within student ministry that gets me fired up, that gets me excited, but few can even compare to the joy that is found when our students use their God-given gifts and talents in order to make much of the name of Jesus Christ!

Over the last year, we have seen God do some extraordinary things in Kyle Hubbard’s life, a junior at Decatur High School. From playing the guitar, to running the sound board, he was becoming an incredible asset on the musical side.  One of Kyle’s musical abilities was showcased last night at theMIX, as he performed his first rap song before our students, and did an incredible job.  And through each and every line, he was making MUCH of our Savior, Jesus Christ!

I posted a video of his performance on my blog, I would encourage you to go and check it out- see what kind of rappers are coming out of Wise County!! Way Cool!! Oh, and as for his rapper’s name… he goes by RebelYoung!!

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Grace Fellowship Christmas

Every year, since I have been here, GFC has gone to great lengths to present the Christmas story in a real and life-changing way.  And this year, I am believing to be the best one yet!

When Jesus stepped out of heaven and entered the world through a MESSY manger, he came with one objective: to provide hope to a messed up world.  Here we are, 2000 years later, and our world is still as broken and messy as ever… and the hope that Jesus provides has never changed.  Jesus came to bring hope to our messy lives!

Our Creative Team has worked tirelessly for the last several months to make this true to life miracle a reality. We will sing together, we will laugh together, we might even cry together… but one thing is for sure, we will be challenged by the story of Christmas, by the miracle that truly can change lives!

We look forward to seeing you and your families this Christmas Season!  Can I just say, this would be an incredible opportunity for you to bring those in your life that do not know Jesus YET.  Ask them to come and then take them out for dinner or coffee afterwards to talk about the Christmas Miracle!!

Your life… Your words… what Jesus has done in YOU worthy of being shared!!

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December 17-18: Grace Fellowship Christmas.
December 17 — 4pm & 6pm
December 18 — 9:30am & 11:00 am
**ec56 and Escape22 Christmas Parties will be during their normal hour on December 18**

December 24/25
December 24 — 6p (Grace Fellowship Family Christmas)
December 25 — 11a (Christmas Day Baptism Service.)

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2012 Ministry Calendar–
January
01- ec56/Escape22
04- theMIX

February
10- Cupid’s Kick’it (5th-8th Graders||6-9p||$5)
12- Parent Summer Informational Lunch (12-2p)

March
04- Parent Summer Informational Lunch (12-2p)
07- GFC Students VMA’s (HS||7-8.30p)
11-14- HS Mission Adventure (HS||Overnight||$$ TBD)

May
06- Senior Recognition Sunday (12th||9.30-12noon)
11- Kick’it at the Movies (5th-8th Graders||6-9p||$5)

—

June
04-07- theDASH HS Camp
25-28- Game’d JH Camp

July
9-12- San Angelo Mission Trip (JH)
15-20- Mission Galveston (HS)

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Weekly Lineup:
// Sunday: 9:30a (ec56) and 11:00a (Escape22)
// Week of Christmas: no student activities:
No ec56 or Escape22 until January 01
No Mix until January 04

–

Scott Johnson
Student Pastor
Grace Fellowship
940-782-9588
http://twitter.com/ttocsj

What to Look For In This Email:

• Scott’s Thoughts
• 2012 Spotlight – Mission Adventure:HS
• 2012 Ministry Calendar
• GFC Christmas Lineup
• Weekly Lineup

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Scott’s Thoughts:

This morning was an exciting morning. It started early at Cook Children’s Hospital as I was visiting a few of our students who have been admitted there for various reasons.  From there, I ventured north a bit to Birdville High School, surprising my wife with a Starbucks Latte.  While there, I was privileged with the opportunity to sit back and observe Mrs. Johnson in action!

Driving away from the school, I couldn’t help but be reflect on what I had just witnessed.  From the medical field to the teaching profession- both are extremely vital to the future and well being of our country!  The medical community works tirelessly to ensure our health and well being… learning new methods and new technologies to better serve our community.  And at Cook Children’s Hospital, they go out of there way to ensure the comfort of these precious little kids and teens!!  And as for our teachers… they do not get the thanks and the praise they truly deserve.  While educating a specific subject might be the task at hand, most teacher’s ultimate goal is to educate the coming generation on how to be embrace life and how to grow up gracefully!

To all the medical community- thank you for your constant concern and love for people… for their health and well-being!!

To all the teachers and educators- thank you for investing your life into the leaders of tomorrow!!

Know that I’m praying for you all!!

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2012 Spotlight–
Mission Adventure: HS (March 11-14)
Rather than do a Winter Retreat- this spring, we are going to place a heavy emphasis on missions and serving our community…
– Sunday, March 11– Wednesday Night, March 14
– Cost: $50 a person
– Students will stay in local homes, 8-12 same-gendered students per home and 2-3 college leaders.
– During the day- our students will be taken to a job site, given the necessary materials, and will go to work for the day (from 9-4p).  Depending on the size of the group we have, will depend on the job sites.  The work we will be doing will be consistent with what we did while in Galveston this summer.
– Kevin Campbell is helping us scout out places and finding job sites that would be good opportunities for our students.  Some will be construction sites. Some will be backyard bible club sites. And some will be a mix of both.
– At night, the students will all come back together at the church for dinner, followed by an evening worship service
– Worship Band: Planning Yesterday (you might remember them from JH Camp this past summer)
– The week will conclude Wednesday, following our evening worship service.

I was curious if I could get you to help us?

Host Home:
Would you be willing to open up your house, allowing us to place several students there, armed with College students? Your responsibility would simply be to host, providing a place for them to shower at night and debrief during the afternoon.  Lunch will be sack lunches that they make, and dinner will be provided at the church.  Breakfast will be eaten at your house, but we can provide cereal and milk for you to have out each morning.

Transportation:
Would you be willing to provide transportation, taking a group of students from house to job site… from job site to house… from house to GFC… and from GFC to house.  We will not allow our high school students to drive, so we would need adults to be willing to help out in this way.

Job Foreman:
With each job, we would like to have a gifted individual, a jack of all trades… You would be responsible for one specific site, making sure we have all the necessary equipment there, and also overseeing the work that is done.  You will be specific to that one site, and will have the same group of students each day.

Food:
Each night, we will be eating as a group at the church.  Your responsibility would be to help to help us plan the meals, prepare the meals, and serve the meals each night.

If you are willing and able to help in one or more of the areas above, let me know!! That would be great!!!

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2012 Ministry Calendar– 

January
01- ec56/Escape22
04- theMIX

February
10- Cupid’s Kick’it (5th-8th Graders||6-9p||$5)
12- Parent Summer Informational Lunch (12-2p)

March
04- Parent Summer Informational Lunch (12-2p)
07- GFC Students VMA’s (HS||7-8.30p)
11-14- HS Mission Adventure (HS||Overnight||$$ TBD)

May
06- Senior Recognition Sunday (12th||9.30-12noon)
11- Kick’it at the Movies (5th-8th Graders||6-9p||$5)

—
June
04-07- theDASH HS Camp
25-28- Game’d JH Camp

July
9-12- San Angelo Mission Trip (JH)
15-20- Mission Galveston (HS)

—
GFC Christmas Lineup

December 17-18: Grace Fellowship Christmas.
Join us for an incredible Christmas presentation for the WHOLE FAMILY! Enjoy powerful music, worship, and a special message form Pastor BJ.

December 17 — 4pm & 6pm
December 18 — 9:30am & 11:00 am
**ec56 and Escape22 Christmas Parties will be during their normal hour on December 18**

December 24/25
Christmas Eve Service: 6pm
Christmas Day Service: 11am (will include a special Baptism service as well)

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Weekly Lineup:

// Sunday: 9:30a (ec56) and 11:00a (Escape22)
// Wednesday: 4:00p (the Cafe Opens) and 7:00p (theMIX)
**the last mix of this semester is December 14**

February
10- Cupid’s Kick’it (5th-8th Graders||6-9p||$5)
12- Parent Summer Informational Lunch (12-2p)

March
04- Parent Summer Informational Lunch (12-2p)
07- GFC Students VMA’s (HS||7-8.30p)
11-14- HS Mission Adventure (HS||Overnight||$$ TBD)

May
06- Senior Recognition Sunday (12th||9.30-12noon)
11- Kick’it at the Movies (5th-8th Graders||6-9p||$5)

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June
04-07- theDASH HS Camp
25-28- Game’d JH Camp

July
9-12- San Angelo Mission Trip (JH)
15-20- Mission Galveston (HS)

GFCStudents TXT Updates!

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Check it out- find out what is coming up… from special guests to new series to big events!!
It is gonna be an awesome 2011!!!
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