News
05.06.08
Parent Meeting:
It has been a couple weeks, so thank you for your patience. We now have the audio from our parent meeting on April 20th. We talked about summer plans and ways your student can plug in here at Common Ground!
02.27.08
Text Messages:
We are trying out a new way to communicate with students and parents about upcoming events and important reminders. If you would like to receive a periodic text message specific to parents of Senior High Parents subscribe here. Your standard text messaging charges will apply. If your son or daughter wants to recieve texts that are relevant to them they can register here.
01.14.08
Parent Meeting:
Sunday we had a great meeting with the parents of our students. Jason and Travis shared their vision and goals for the senior and junior high ministries, and highlighted details of our upcoming winter camps and Peru 2008. You can use the player below to listen to the audio from the meeting.
01.14.08
Forward Motion:
We’ve all made resolutions and set goals, but too often we fall short of what we expected to accomplish. Unfortunately it’s often the same when we try to become the Christian we really believe God has called us to be. We fall short of the goal and become increasingly discouraged. In this series, your student will learn that following Christ is more about the small steps we make every day, not about the huge leaps of faith that we think we need to make. They will set a goal, determine the first step and then make it. The series will end with a celebration!
Week One (01.09.08)
Following Christ is about steps, not leaps. This week your students will be introduced to the myth: that Christianity is all about taking big leaps of faith. They will encounter some of Scripture’s most daunting verses, and wrestle with what it means to have a life of spiritual growth. Each student will set a goal for himself or herself, and the next few weeks they will revisit their goals.
Week Two (01.16.08)
The way you get from where you are to where you want to be is one step at a time. This may sound ridiculously obvious, but we all forget it. We want to go to the gym one time and look like a model; we want to make one smart comment at work and be promoted right to the top. But we know deep down that isn’t the way things work. The good news is that in our spiritual development, God has not left us alone to work out the mess. He has sent His Spirit to guide us. This week, students will look at the power of the Holy Spirit to guide their paths, and they will make a plan for beginning to take the first step toward their goals.
Week Three (01.23.08)
Celebrate the steps you take in your relationship with God, and celebrate the steps others take as well. It’s all about celebration, not the cheap kind of celebration that comes from making a big deal out of nothing, but the real party that comes naturally when we know that we have made even the slightest move in the right direction. Your students will talk this week about what it looks like to encourage each other and celebrate with each other whenever they make progress toward one of their goals.
A STEP DEEPER:
Many of you crave forward motion in your family. You know what you want your children to be. You want them to be kind, respectful, responsible, intelligent, creative individuals. You want them to be able to succeed when they grow up and leave your home. But sometimes you look at them and you think that it may never happen.
This month, think about helping your student make one step. Think of one new thing that you would love for your child to do. Maybe it’s to improve his or her science grade, learn how to do laundry, cook a meal or change the oil in the car. Once you have decided on one goal for your child, communicate your desire to teach this skill and let your child know why it is important to learn it. Then spend time during the month helping teach your child how to accomplish the goal.
If you want your student to improve his or her science grade, sit with him and study flash cards. If you want them to know how to do laundry, do a load or two together until he or she gets the hang of it. By communicating to your child why you want him or her to know or do a certain thing, you communicate respect. By spending time helping them learn, you are letting him or her know of their importance to you. You will also alleviate your child’s fear of disappointing you if they get it wrong.
The most important thing that fuels forward motion is celebration. Make sure that you celebrate your child’s step! Tell him or her that you are proud of them for working so hard or for learning something new. When your child knows that they can make you proud, they will be much more motivated to continue working on their new goal.
10.24.07
November Series ‘Attached’:
Every one of us is attached to something—some person, thing or experience. The trouble with our attachments is that sometimes they let us down. For the next three weeks your students will be exploring the attachments that become part of their identity, and uncovering the truth about their identity in Christ.
Week One (11.7.07)
Students will be challenged to look at their lives and consider the things that require the greatest amount of their time, money and attention. In their small groups, they will take a quiz that will help them begin to identify attachments that may be shaping their identity. It is not a time for critique or judgment, but a time to peel back the curtain and look honestly at places of attachment. This week you may want to ask your student about attachments that they see in their lives.
Week Two (11.14.07)
Students will be challenged to find their identity not in the things of the world—things that always change and have the potential to let them down and break their heart—but to find their identity in knowing that they are the beloved children of an awesome God. You may want to ask them what they heard the speaker say, and ask them what it means to be attached to a relationship with Jesus Christ.
Week Three (11.28.07)
Now students have identified the things they are attached to, and have recognized potential dangers associated with creating an identity based on things that do not last. They have considered the truth that they have already been given an identity as the beloved child of God.
Students will now be challenged to lean fully into Christ by fostering a growing relationship with their Creator. That feels risky to a student—and even to an adult. It’s not the reality, because trusting in God is never a real risk, but it sure feels that way sometimes. You may want to talk to your student about ways that you try to lean fully into Christ and things that make it really difficult for you.
EXPERIENCE:
It may not seem like your student needs you, or it may fell like they no longer want to spend time with you. But the truth is, they still need to know you care. No matter what has happened in your family, no matter what hurt has passed between you and your student, they need to feel loved and supported by you—their parent. This month spend some quality time with your student. You may want to choose from the list of ideas below, or create your own experience. Make sure that the time you spend involves your focused attention. Ask questions about things that interest him or her. Be ready to listen and learn, but allow yourself to relax and simply enjoy time together.
• Go shopping for clothes or room decorations (make this leisurely and don’t rush).
• Go to a coffee shop and listen to a local band play.
• Ask them about a good movie that they have seen recently, or ask about one they want to see and go see it together. Listen to them talk about their favorite parts.
Jason Barthelemy
Senior High Pastor
09.20.07
Well the school year is in full swing and so is the Fall Program for the Common Ground Senior High Ministry at Grace Church. As the new guy around the office, I have to say that I have been blessed to get to know the students and families who call this ministry their own.
A few things to be aware of:
D-Groups are kicking off on Sunday, September 30th! D-Groups are small group Bible studies that allow students to grow deeper in their relationship with Jesus through getting into God's Word, spending time serving those in need and sharing life with their group and leader. These groups meet on Sundays from 5:30 - 7:30 p.m.at Grace Church. To sign up click the registration banner on http://www.commonground247.com
On Wednesday evenings the senior high gets together in the Undergound at Grace Church for interactive worship, engaging teaching and life-changing community. I am currently teaching on a series called "Anger Management".
Week One (September 19)Ticked Off
Theme: Everyone gets angry but not about the things that matter.
Week Two (September 26)
Ready to Rumble
Theme: The Gospel Challenges us to be people who get angry about what makes Jesus angry (pt. 1)
Week Three (October 3)
Join the Fight
Theme: The Gospel Challenges us to be people who get angry about what makes Jesus angry (pt. 2)
Jason Barthelemy Senior High Pastor
07.10.07
Summer is in full swing and so is Common Ground!
First off, our Wednesday nights have become the place to be, due to a change in atmosphere and a variety of speakers. For the duration of the summer, we are meeting in various homes each week. Many thanks to the Lords, Meiusis and Platners for making this possible. Also, every other week we have our gracious and competent elders giving messages that relate to the life of Grace Church. Attendance is higher than last summer, which is very encouraging.
On the mission front, we have also seen an increase in interest. In fact, we had so many student interested in going on short term missions that we had to add a second trip. Now we have almost three times as many students having a global impact. Our travels will be taking us to Puerto Rico and Costa Rica. The Puerto Rica team leaves this Saturday, July 14, and will be gone for ten days, led by Pastor Caryl Hayward and one of our stellar volunteers, Ben Buchner. The team to Costa Rica will be out August 11-20.
There have been many questions and concerns about Holly Long’s bout with mono. I am pleased to say that she is doing much better, with her critical counts (liver and t-cell) on their way back to normal. She will continue to rest until she is 100% in order that she does not relapse. We are looking forward to having her back very soon and ask for your continued prayers to this end.
Finally, we are glad to announce that we have hired for the position of Student Ministries Administrator. Heather Polhemus will be joining us starting next Monday, July 16. Heather attended Northwestern College and received her Bachelor of Arts in Youth Ministry. She has been working at Grace Church in a facilities administration role for the past two years and is excited to transition to our department. Her passion for students and strong, detailed work ethic make her a perfect fit for this position. Should you need to reach her, beginning Monday, you can contact her at hpolhemus@atgrace.com or (952) 224-3065.
Despite the seeming lack of staff and presence of other complications, God is definitely at work in the high school ministry at Grace. We look forward to what He has in store for our future.
Serving Him with you,
Jed Culbertson
Student Ministries Program Director
06.28.07
-Summer has been rolling with a bang. Our Wednesday nights in students' homes have been great times of refreshing and getting back to our "common ground." We'll take the 4th of July off before we reconvene at the Meiusis.
-We have hired for the position of Student Ministries Administrator, and will let you know more at the appropriate time. Please continue to pray as we continue to seek God's man for the senior high pastor position.
-We are starting a new Bible study on Sunday mornings during the 9:00 hour at Grace. For more information, check out the calendar.
06.11.07
Welcome freshman parents! We are excited to welcome you to the Common Ground family. During this time of transition it is important for us to let you know that caring for your student is our top priority. We will not sit back spouting excuses for why this can't be a top-notch program. With your help, we can make high school a time for your student during which they will grow fit for the task of facing this world and standing for Christ in its midst.