Student Ministries Newsletter
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Hey!
At Crossroads, we often quote the line "the family is the
faith-forming center."
This comes from Marjorie Thompson's
book of the same name, where she writes, “the Christian family is a sacred shelter… a place of acceptance, nurture, and growth that empowers family members to participate in God’s ongoing acts of love and compassion. The family cannot protect its members fully from the pain and brokenness of the world, but it can offer a place of understanding and engaging life in the world from a place of stability and love.”
What a transformative image and powerful call! It is also an incredibly humbling and often daunting vision, where providing "acceptance, nuture, and growth" could become another item on our endless to-do list. Luckily, God is inviting us into a way of life where we operate out of those qualities, where compassion, stability, and love are the core of our mission and purpose and set the tone and the tasks for our everyday life.
Your student could attend every program we offer, but they will still be most profoundly shaped by their family's story. This is humbling for me too! We are prayerfully reflecting on more ways to integrate the family into students' faith experiences in new and exciting ways.
Today, I invite you to check out the new
Family Resources section of this newsletter and the
Family Discussion Ideas paired with descriptions of our Weekly Intersect Gatherings. These are designed to spark meaningful conversations with your student- conversations where your repeated, open, honest vulnerability as the adult can create space for vulnerability (or at least some internal reflection!) from your teenager.
Let me know how it goes, or ideas for other resources your family needs!
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Erin
(703) 229-3649 (call or text)
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THIS TUESDAY!
Taco Tuesdays for
Middle Schoolers
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Tuesday, October 22, 6:00- 7:30p at CUMC
The 2nd and 4th Tuesdays of every month
Delicious tacos, exciting group games, friendships new and old, and small group discussion on a relevant theme. Any 6th graders through 8th graders welcome, so feel free to bring a friend
Register
here for each session (so there is plenty of food!). Free.
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High School Girls Outing
Wegmeyer Farms
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Sunday, October 20, 11:30a-2:00p
Depart from CUMC after the 10:00 service
Field trip! When we asked the High School girls how this group can support them in dealing with the stress and pressures of the school year, one of the ideas was group outings for fun and friendship. We will be going to Wegmeyer Farms in Hamilton after church for pumpkin picking, hay rides, apple cider, and more fall fun!
Register
here. Bring money for a pumpkin if you'd like.
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Middle School Candy Swap
and Movie Night
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Friday, November 1, 7:00-9:00p
CUMC Basement
As long as you have a costume, Middle School is not too old for Trick-or-Treating! So bring that pillowcase of candy you got last night and swap out the ones you don't love for some more favorites. One person's Air Heads is another's Reese's Peanut Butter Cups!
We will also be collecting excess candy to give to our homeless friends in DC, plus voting on a movie to watch. Bring your comfiest pillows and blankets and join us!
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Tuesday, November 26, 6:30p-midnight
CUMC Basement
9th- 12th graders are invited for an awesome night of fun and craziness at Crossroads! Each event will include pizza, snacks, Nintendo Switch on the projector, games, Church-wide Hide and Go Seek, and a group outing. At this event, we will be going to play Laser Tag at Ultrazone Laser Tag!
Register
here. $15/student
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Weekly Intersect
Gatherings
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Intersect High in the Evening
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Every Sunday, 6:30-8:00p
in the CUMC Basement
Sign up to provide a meal
here
!
This week, high schoolers will be discussing the value of
storytelling in our world- "When the stories we tell
conceal, rather than
reveal our understanding of ourselves and our world, they isolate us from others. But when the mission of storytelling is to interact with others and identify a common ground, our stories have the potential to build authentic communities of shared meaning and values."
Family Discussion Idea:
"How might we see people differently if we tried to see their lives as part of God’s story? How can we remember to do this in moments of frustration or disagreement?"
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Intersect Middle in the Morning
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Every Sunday during the 10:00a Service
in the Discipleship Room
This week, middle schoolers will be discussing the power of understanding our lives are a Heroic Journey, and how that reveals the incredible love God has for each of us. We will be looking at
Matthew 6:30-34 in the Message translation.
Family Discussion Idea:
"Where have you seen the gift of God's love this week? Do you usually experience it in nature, in people, in reading, in music, etc.?"
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When I talk with students about
rest, and how they manage the pressures and stress of daily life, most of them say that they watch Netflix or scroll on their phone. While it can feel good in the moment to just zone out, this article highlights the types of rest we really need to thrive and take on the day! The tangible advice is great for any age and could be incorporated into your family's rhythms!
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Author of my current favorite book,
Harbor Me (an exceptional middle grade novel!), beautifully shares the value of reading slowly in this talk:
"Isn't that what this is all about -- finding a way, at the end of the day, to not feel alone in this world, and a way to feel like we've changed it before we leave?"
If you have more time to listen about powerful ways to learn, check out this episode of the TED Radio Hour Podcast,
Teaching for Better Humans.
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A Milestone Passage
for High School Students
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Confirmation is a passage that guides students to personally owning their faith and living in the way of Jesus in their everyday lives. It provides resources to deepen their love for God, others, and self through questions, service, and the ongoing support found in Christian community. All High School students are invited to participate.
Learn more about this transformative experience at an upcoming Information Session!
- Tuesday, November 19th, 7:00-8:00p at CUMC Discipleship Room. Register here.
- Sunday, December 8th, 11:30a-12:30p at CUMC Discipleship Room. Register here.
All dates for Confirmation Gatherings and more information can be found
here.
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