MONTHLY UPDATE | August 2020
Student Ministry Family,

It has been SO GOOD to finally be able to gather again for Student Ministry activities! I loved getting to see so many of your faces and return to a semblance of normalcy throughout the month of July, even in these crazy days. This has certainly been a Student Ministry Summer unlike any other! Thank you each and all for jumping back in and working to follow the new guidelines in this season of pandemic.

As you know our church reopening plan is responsible, gradual, and flexible . Flexibility has already been called for as we needed to step back from on-campus Sunday Morning Bible for a time in response to continued case growth in Jefferson County. Thank you for helping us demonstrate our love by doing together what it takes to keep one another and our neighbors safe.

Now we need to ask for your flexibility again. Due to changes in the State of Alabama's Safer at Home Order, and at the instruction of our church's reopening team, we will now be required to wear masks at our outdoor gatherings . As a reminder, here is what we are asking of everyone at our Student Ministry gatherings for now:

1. Six feet of separation between anyone from
different households is required at all times.

2. Wearing a mask is required at all times.

I, too, am getting to practice my flexibility these days! After crafting this month's email, I received word about the Mountain Brook Schools schedule change and consequently got to make some on-the-fly adjustments to our Student Ministry August schedule as a result. Flexible!

Just as this summer looked unlike any before it for our Student Ministry, I'm confident this school year won't be like that preceded it either. Nonetheless, Student Ministry will go on!

As the new school year begins in the coming weeks, I know so much will be so different for all of us. I am praying alongside your family in what might be anxiety ridden days. I ask you pray for our church leadership, too, as we strive to do the work of ministry in creative, effective, and safe ways. Our Student Ministry team is here for your family! Let us know how we can come alongside your family in these days. We’re always open to shared meals and conversation. We're here to listen and encourage.

Take note we have scheduled a Student Ministry Family Meeting on August 23 at 7 pm in the parking lot. Obviously we don't have a full year plan to share as normal, but we will update you on what we do have planned, and will try our best to answer any questions you may have.

Remember, too, as the new school year starts and you get all those schedules for activities & sports, share them with us. We still want to show up to support MBBC Students as they're doing their thing!

As so much is so different and we press on into the unknown, let us remember what Jesus told us, "... remember, I am with you always, to the end of the age."

THAT is good news!

Blessings!

Ben Winder
Minister to Students
205.603.6803 | ben@mbbc.org
Weekly Programs Update
Sunday Worship Services | Sanctuary
9 am - Traditional | 11 am - Contemporary

We are worshipping together in the Sanctuary each week, and we would love for you family to join us as you are able. W e are asking you to pre-register each week on our website .

If you can't be with us in person, both services are being streamed on the church website & Facebook Live each week as well.
Home Church Bible Study
Our on campus SMBS restart has been put on hold for a little longer, so be sure to visit our Home Church page each week for a pre-recorded Sunday Morning Bible Study lesson for adults & students. In our current series Wayne Splawn, Ben Winder, and Mary Splawn are helping us dig into the Sermon on the Mount. You can access the videos anytime, and a full back catalogue is available, too!
Sundays, 7 pm | Parking Lot
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THE BROOK: Summer Series
August 2, 9 & 16

We will wrap up our Summer Series at The Brook with three more gatherings in August. Join us for (physically distanced) fun, worship, and teaching.
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THE BROOK: Fellowship Night - Family Movie Night!
August 23

After our Student Ministry Family Meeting we're going to bust out our movie screen & microwave popcorn again for the best free fun you can have in a parking lot! Bring your favorite snacks and drinks - and your whole family!
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THE BROOK: Mission Night
August 30

We'll work together on a project to benefit an MBBC Mission Partner.
More details will be announced soon!
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**Due to changes in the Alabama State Mandate and our church's reopening policy, we will now be required to wear masks at our outdoor gatherings in addition to practicing physical distancing.

We ask that each person bring a chair and a mask each time we gather.
Project 119 MBBC Bible Reading Plan
We firmly believe the single most important thing one can do to grow their faith and their relationship with Jesus is to spend consistent time encountering God in scripture and prayer. Especially if you do it in the context of the most vital place of discipleship: your family!

As a resource to help you and your family do just that, Mountain Brook Baptist encourages you to utilize the Project 119 Bible Reading Plan . Each day provides a reading from the New Testament, Old Testament, and Psalms.

We also follow Project 119 for our Daily Devos on Instagram , so you might find checking those out to be useful for your personal and family discipleship, too.
Special Events This Month
With the opening of school delayed, we have just a little more time to squeeze in some more summer activities with our Student Ministry family!
Bring Your Own Lunch
Tuesday, August 4, 11:30 am | Parking Lot
Bring your lunch from home or pick up your favorite take-out
and join us for a physically distanced lunch in the church parking lot.
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Birmingham Civil Rights Walking Tour
Thursday, August 13, 10 am | Kelly Ingram Park
We'll take an informative day trip staycation together as we tour the outdoor aspects of the Birmingham Civil Rights National Monument. Meet at Kelly Ingram Park (6th Ave. N & 16th St) and we'll learn & reflect together.
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Campus Prayer Walks & Pops
Tuesday, August 18
5:15 pm - MBJH | 6 pm - MBHS
Join us as we walk around campus and pray for the new school year.
Since it is hot we'll even hook you up with a Steel City Pop!
Come to either or both schools - there will be pops at both stops!

If you go to another school, we'd love to pray for your school, too.
Let us know when to meet you on your campus, and we'll bring you a pop!
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Student Ministry Family Meeting
Sunday, August 23, 7 pm | Parking Lot
Our annual Student Ministry Family Meeting will look a lot different this year - doesn't everything!? While we can't lay out our plans for the whole year as we usually do, we still invite you to join us in the parking lot as we share what plans we do have for our weekly programming, special events, and more. It is also a great time to ask any questions you may have.
Then, your whole family can stay for ...
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Outdoor Family Movie Night
Sunday, August 23, 7:30 pm | Parking Lot
We'll be watching a movie on our inflatable screen in the parking lot!
What will it be this time? Cast your vote on the Student Ministry Instagram to help us pick our flick! We'll serve popcorn (sealed bags).
Bring your favorite movie snacks and drinks - and your whole family!
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Mission Night - Sunday, August 30, 7 pm | Parking Lot
We'll work together on a project to benefit an MBBC Mission Partner.
More details will be announced soon!
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As always our adult leaders are eager for time with you beyond these events.
Let us know if we can buy you socially-distanced lunch or ice cream.
We're game to hang out, in person or via FaceTime. Hit us up!
A RESOURCE FOR YOUR FAMILY
Each month we try to connect you with a resource that might be helpful for your family as you navigate life and faith.

This month we offer this blog post from the Fuller Youth Institute which addresses questions about technology use, especially during a pandemic:
We're all navigating this brave new world and doing our best to figure out the proper boundaries with technology for people of faith, especially for Gen-Z. Here are a couple of books I'd offer if you'd like a deeper dive on the subject:
Your MBBC Student Ministry staff is always here as a resource to help you navigate technology or anything else that comes up along the journey of raising your kids to be all God is calling them to become!

Let us know how we can help!
STAY CONNECTED
Make sure you stay connected with MBBC Students
to keep up-to-date on everything that's happening!