Christmas at Saint Matthew

December 24
2:00 pm - “Family Christmas Eve Worship”
4:00 pm - “Family Christmas Eve Worship”
7:00 pm - “Saint Matthew Christmas Eve Worship”
9:00 pm - “Heritage Christmas Eve Worship”

Snow Blast 2010

We’ll be staying at Whispering Pines Conference Center in Sierra Village. The cost is $150 if received by December 10. After December 10 the cost goes up to $160.

Mexico Mission Trip 2010

Mexico Meeting #1 is December 6 from 1-2:30 pm in the Worship Center at church. This meeting is for all high school youth (along with their parents) that are interested in going on the Mexico Mission Trip that is April 4-10, 2010.

A $125 deposit is due at the meeting. After December 6 the deposit and cost goes up $50 to $175. If you want to participate in the Amigo Program (that can take up to $125 off the cost of the trip) you need to be/become active in the high school ministry.

ABS on December 3

New Impact Series

This series will answer a lot of the “why” questions that we get when it comes to the way that we run the Teen Ministry. Not only will it introduce you to the five eternal purposes of God to: reach, share, care, offer and service, but it also teaches you who each purpose is intended to reach the: community, crowd, congregation, committed and core.

ABS on October 29

Impact on October 4

ABS on September 24

Student Leadership

“. . . I urge you to live a life worthy of the calling you have received.” Ephesians 4:1

Jesus expected leaders to serve.

Jesus gave his disciples an image of leadership that we use as our standard for Student Leadership within our High School Ministry.

“Jesus called them [the disciples] together and said, "You know that the rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and their high officials exercise authority over them. Not so with you. Instead, whoever wants to become great among you must be your servant, and whoever wants to be first must be your slave—just as the Son of Man did not come to be served but to serve and to give his life as a ransom for many.” Matthew 20:25-28

Jesus shattered what most people think leadership style is all about: being in charge. He goes even further to define true leadership as serving others. “Serving others” is how we define ministry. This type of servant-leadership is not attractive to most people. It goes in direct opposition to the attitude of running to the car to ride in the front seat or being first in line to eat or telling everyone what to do.

We’re not looking to fill our leadership team with the cute, fun and popular. We’re looking for people who love Jesus and are willing to make ‘servant-leadership’ the standard their lives reflect.

If you’re in 10th-12th grades and would like to be this kind of leader, pick up a student leadership application from the church office and turn it in by Sunday, September 20.

Fall LOG Weekend

October 30 - November 1
LOG is a Christian retreat that offers a way for students to help themselves and each other live their lives as a part of a Christian community. It introduces and reinforces the fullness that a Christian life can be, in a way that is geared towards high school students.

Team applications are due by Tuesday, September 8.

Participant applications are available September 15 and are due A.S.A.P. as this retreat fills fast.

Team Meeting #1 is 9/15 from 5-10 pm in Novato.
Team Meeting #2 is 9/29 from 7-9 pm in Walnut Creek.
Team Meeting #3 is 10/13 from 5-10 pm in Novato.
Team Overnight begins at 3 pm 10/17 to 11 am 10/18 in Novato.
Team Meeting #4 is 10/20 from 7-9 pm in Walnut Creek.
Team Meeting #5 is 10/27 from 7-9 pm in Walnut Creek.

Impact

Student Impact resumes Sunday, September 20 from 11:00 am-12:15 pm in the Teen Center. Registration forms are available in the church offices and at the Welcome Center at church.
Impact is our large group meeting for Middle Schoolers and High Schoolers that’s designed to be inviting, have a friendly, fun, challenging, and exciting atmosphere. This morning program shatters the “church is boring” stereotype and will help you celebrate life. It is filled with laughter, antics, videos, singing, dramas, a message and small groups that challenge teenagers towards spiritual maturity.

ABS - Area Bible Study

The ABS (Area Bible Study) resumes Thursday, September 10 from 7-9 p.m. in the Teen Center. Registration forms are available in the church offices and at the Welcome Center at church.
Because of High Schoolers need for fellowship and relationships with other Christians; we meet midweek for in-depth Bible study and small group time. Each week we study the Bible and then break into smaller groups for discussion, prayer and accountability.

Escape To Water's Edge - Fall Retreat

September 11-13
Join us for our annual fall retreat on Lake Don Pedro. We leave Friday afternoon at 3:30 pm. On Saturday we'll spend the day swimming, skiing and tubing on the water. We'll return to church by 4 pm on Sunday.

The cost is $50 for incoming 9th graders, $60for 10th-12th graders. Your 2009/2010Teen Authorization form and payment are due now.

Summer ABS

Friday Around Camp

Friday Night

Friday morning's chapel started with all 1000+ in Ponderosa Chapel with a time of worship through music. We then grouped together with our church and celebrated communion and journeyed out to the lake for Lauren Murk's baptism.
This morning's rec chapel was the great race. The great race had 28 teams going to 10 different stations all over camp. There were puzzles to solve, mystery things to munch, and physical challenges. Saint Matthew had a number of teams in the top 10.
During free time another 27 went up to high adventure, spent some time discussing faith and life, swimming, biking and playing hearts.
Well the dinner bell rang . . . tonight we find out who won recreation, our closing chapel and victory circle. See you tomorrow with more details.
Also Kyle has a big surprise for his mom and dad...

Thursday Around Camp

Thursday Night

Thursday began with Early Morning Worship with Campaign in Ponderosa Chapel. Afterwords we heard from this year's mission speaker, Gerhard Duvengage, from Jabulani Africa Ministries (JAM). Gerhard shared how missions are more than just going over seas . . . we have mission opportunities right outside our door.
After chapel everyone dressed up in in their rainbow duds and painted mugs for Super Spirit Day. Super Spirit Day was a series of relay races on the upper lawn. There were plenty of wild and crazy costumes and some wild and crazy relay races.
Another group of 26 went to high adventure and 36 went to paintball during free time.
After dinner each team sent a counselor to ran the gauntlet on the lake. Justin Bayne & Zach Pattison represented their teams and Saint Matthew.
In evening chapel, Jim unpacked the story of The Good Samaritan and gave us four questions for us to wrestle with during cabin time. 1) Have I paused long enough to see the needs in front of me? 2) What are the excuses have I been using to justify not helping others? 3) How do I view people? 4) Who should I be neighborly toward. Afterwords he offered the opportunity for students who had been drifting away from God to rededicate their lives to Jesus Christ.
During evening free time a number of students from Saint Matthew shared their gifts during Open Mic on the Hume-N-Bean's deck.
When the evening bell rang the guys from Saint Matthew headed up to Victory Circle for some "guy time" with God. And the girls from Saint Matthew headed out to the Skate Park with some "girl time" with God. It was a great day!

Wednesday Around Camp

Wednesday Night

Wednesday at Hume:
Morning finds kids waking up a little bit slower but biscuits and gragy are worth moving for. Some truly extraordinary teens participated in the biathlon for their teams--before breakfast!!!! The swim was 200 yards and Saint Matt's dominated the top ten, with Ricky Niese in 3rd and Kevin Allan in 4th. The run was 3.2 miles around beautiful Hume Lake, Selena MacDuff came in 3rd for the girls, Matt Day came in 2nd for the boys and Ryan "Lil" Niese came in 8th for the boys.
We went from breakfast to morning worship. Morning worship was acoustic southern gospel (not Pastor David's favorite).
After worship there were 7 breakout sessions and students were able to chose two. The sessions included: "Staying Lit", UFC (untamed for Christ), "The Tangible Cross," "Tough Times and Sunday School Verses" and "What Nobody Ever Tells You About Missions." Afterwords we had a breakout session with our cabins to discuss what we learned and how it can change how we choose to live. The girls were so moved by the staying lit charge (to stay grounded in God's word) and to live out their commitment to Christ, that they went to bed late looking up and recording inspirational bible verses.
During free time we had 40 kids who went to "High Adventure" challenging the 50 foot drop of screamer as well as taking a leap of faith on the high ropes 40 feet up in the treees as they conquered their fear of heights.
The evening was finished off by a concert by Campaign and evening free time. The week has been blessed by lots of God moments. Teens feeling the love of God and His forgiveness. Its exciting to watch them shine with the love of God.
OHHH how could I forget??? We had four teams in the Basketball tournament. Eric Alman. shot a three pointer for his team (which included Zack Fitterer and Matt Abele), but the exciting games were the girls; Cassandra Lewandowski, Kristen Curry, McKenzie Brantley, who took first place (9:8) after 4 games of double elimination. Woot Woot!!!!
God's peace,
Kathy Fitterer
PS Hi Tom. I love you.

Tuesday Around Camp

Tuesday Night

So here it is, Hume Lake, day 3 already. This morning started off great with a time of early morning worship with Campaign in Ponderosa Chapel.
For Rec. our teams assembled and cheered on the campwide Kajabe crazyness.
After lunch we adjourned to the lower lawn for the camp picture and Saint Matthew took their group picture and was filmed for this week's camp DVD.
Free time was spent on the lake, at the pool and pond, a hike up to the little brown church and hanging out on the Hume-N-Bean's deck playing cards. Four teams from Saint Matthew competed in the volleyball tournament and one of them ended up taking first place!
Later that evening in chapel Jim shared how "Anyone who has seen Jesus has seen the Father," and four key traits of Jesus 1) Jesus hung out with the outcasts of society, 2) Jesus felt compassion for the hurting, the sick and the poor, 3) Jesus brought forgiveness to condemned people and 4) Jesus showed us a new kind of love. Jim wrapped his talk up with the Gospel message that it is God's desire for everyone to be saved. After the Gospel message we had more that 20 students who went forward and received Christ for the first time and the Saint Matthew staff and students shared time in prayer and laughter and a few tears.
God is good!

Monday Around Camp

Monday Night

This morning in chapel we delved into a time of worship through music with this week's worship band, Campaign (they were in Meadow Ranch last year). After worship we heard from this week's speaker, Jim Crews. Jim is the Lead Pastor at Valley Bible Fellowship in Las Vegas. Jim continued from where Rich left off last night and challenged us as followers of Jesus Christ to model - goodness, righteousness and truth.
Today we were also divided up into our rec. (recreation) teams. This year’s teams are “The Pie-Wielders” (mimes-blue shirts) and “The Spritzerizers” (clowns-gold shirts). This week there are 1000 students and adults attending Ponderosa Camp. Because of the number of campers from Saint Matthew, (153), we are split among a number of different sub team (28 total). With names such as Toodles, Squishy McButtercup, Zippidy, Mr. Doodle, Flapjack and Cranky Mike (to name a few). The competition games included Doctor Patsy, Flagga Pockets, Muddy Besteezy and Her Majesty Noodles Alulu (goofy names and even goofier rec. games).
Forty of our campers played paintball in the afternoon and another 22 will play on Wednesday.
PD et al.

Sunday Around Camp

Sunday Night

We arrived safely up to Hume Lake and it's going to be a hot one this week.
This year's theme is "Hey Rube" which has a lot to do with Clowns and Mimes. During the week we're talking through the idea that as Christians we are called to be the “salt of the earth,” and to show love to our neighbors.
The opener was a madcap circus show of clowns vs. mimes (which will carry into our recreation teams tomorrow and through the week). Whiley Smith (one of the Hume staff from Saint Matthew) was in the opener and Jill Skeva (another of the Hume staff also from Saint Matthew) was one of the make-up artists.
Rich Baker (who is one of the two directors of Ponderosa camp) was the speaker who delved into God's love letter to us and shared from the beatitudes in Matthew 5 and set the stage for our theme this week.
All of our students who wanted, got signed up for Paintball and High Adventure that will happen later this week.
Well the bell rang so it's off to bed. We'll post a few pictures tomorrow.
PD et al.

Hume Lake - Ponderosa Camp

Hume Lake begins on Sunday, July 26. Check in starts in the Teen Center at church at 7:30 am. You must be on campus by 8:15 am to check-in. The buses depart from church at 9 am (with or without you). Our return is by 3:30 pm on Saturday, August 1. All your forms and fees need to be turned in before you can go.

Broomball Overnight

Graduate Recognition Sunday

Girls Night Out Study Break

Impact Softball & BBQ

ABS on May 14