High School

   
Philosophy of Ministry
These are the best days of your life! Well they're supposed to be at least. High school teens have deep friendships, are enjoying new freedoms with growing up, and thinking about what their future holds. Unfortunately high school can also be a time of deep anxiety over self-esteem, preparation for college or other paths of growth and self discovery. 
 

 

Just for High School
Jeff Shankel   Message from Jeff.....

April 3, 2020

Have 1 Minute to Read? – Upcoming Details 

1.  High School and Family Zoom Worship-ish Gathering

 

Join Zoom Meeting Instructions - additional

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Find your local number: https://zoom.us/u/aoSxJwfSi

2.  Wednesday Hot Lunch Program

   *  THIS Wednesday, 4/8, 10:00am - 11:00am
   *  Westminster Presbyterian Church Parking Lot, 240 Tiburon Blvd., Tiburon, CA
    *  If you are able, we are collecting bag lunches for the food insecure - See Details Below

3.  2020 High School Mission Trip with Youthworks - (theme) "Neighbors"

      When:   Sunday, 7/26 (6:00am) - Saturday, 8/1 (6:00pm)
      Where:  San Diego, CA
      Who:     Anyone having just completed 8-12th grades  (We would love to take one or two parents. Is that you? Please see me.)
      Why:     To remove the distractions of home and grow together as a group in service
      Cost:     $550 + 4 meals 
      Sign-up Deadline:  Sunday, 7/19
                   * RSVP by completing the registration form - https://forms.gle?PiAqJHMSwLvGm2SZ8
                   * $50 (deposit) or $550 either can be paid online or by check
                         +  Online - https://my.e360giving.com/app/Giving/wpctiburon and select "Youth Mission Fund" from the drop down menu
                         +  Make checks out to "Westminster Presbyterian Church" - put "High School Mission Trip" in memo line
                   *  Need more details?  Contact me and we'll send them over!

 

Have 5 Minutes to Read? – High School Mission Trip Update

We are currently still planning on going to San Diego on the original dates given, 7/26 – 8/1.  We are still planning on working with the same partners we always work with there as well.  Having checked in with several of them this week they are worried about how they will cover an increasing workload without the necessary volunteer infrastructure that groups like ours provide.

Youthworks (who hosts this site for us) was considering shutting it down for the entire summer but we have offered to run the site for the one week that we will be there.  I just got off the phone with one of their directors and they are taking us up on that offer.  So, this year will be different.  WPC youth and leaders will be leading the trip for all incoming churches!  Youthworks is currently reaching out to churches to see if they would like to partner with us in San Diego from 7/26 – 8/1.

We get asked from time to time, “Why do you always go to the same place?”  This year we’ve discovered another reason.  We can be a resource that others cannot.

Obviously, this is all happening assuming that shelter-in-place orders have been lifted.  It's our goal to give you at least 20 days’ notice of trip departure.  In other words, if we say we're going to leave July 26th then we would let you know by July 6th.  With so much in flux I'm afraid that's the best we can do.  But please know, we are currently committed to going.

We plan on serving the people of San Diego if for no other reason that all our partners plan on and expect us to be there.  We don't want to let the people of San Diego down.  We also recognize that each of you has a different situation.  Some of you can't wait to give your child this opportunity while others of you would rather your child sit this one out.  Please know, we are going to respect every family decision.

We will keep you posted.  I welcome your feedback on this whatever it is.

Have 5 Minutes to Read? – Opportunity to Serve Others Now

This past week we’ve been in touch with families wishing there was something they could do to alleviate some of the suffering and also just to have a good reason to get out of the house.  At the same time, we’ve been in touch with our friends at Sausalito Presbyterian Church who’ve been hosting our hot lunch program about their needs going forward.  Since many of their volunteers are seniors and considered “at-risk” and many of the vendors who’ve been providing them with food have had to scale back service we thought you might be able to help in a small way.

 Further, the Marin Health and Human Services (our public health department) asked us to help so we could spread the word about COVID-19 best practices.  Since many in the homeless population place far more trust in churches than the government they’re hoping we can relay some information to protect that population with the meals we provide.  This is considered an “essential service.”

 This is what we need:

1.  Brown Bag Lunch (in your bag please include) 

  • * Peanut Butter and Jelly

  • * Thinly sliced deli meats and cheese

  • * Bananas, Oranges, Cuties

  • * Yogurts

  • * Hummus, Guacamole, etc

  • Soft foods such as:

    • * Juice or Water

    • * Chips/Crackers are okay and appreciated

    • * Soft Cookies or other soft treats

2.  Say a prayer for each bag.

3.  Print and enclose the attached flyer for each bag.    Flyer Insert for Bag Lunch

4. You’re also welcome to include:

    •  * An encouraging note

    • *  Sanitary supplies

 Feel free to make as many as you’d like.  Our goal is to have at least 25.  Please do keep in mind that we’ll be doing this every week for the foreseeable future.

One of our high school adult leaders Jeff Heely has volunteered to be at WPC this Wednesday between 10:00am – 11:00am to collect all the bagged lunches.  He will take them all to Sausalito Pres.  We’re doing this with the Friday Morning Men’s Group who also wanted to help.   Thanks to them!  And special thanks to Jeff!

 If for some reason you need to reach Jeff Heely here you go:  .

 Lastly… looking for other ideas or need some help with this?  Call/text/email/Facebook/Instagram/Tweet/Snap/zoom me anytime!

Have 5 Minutes to Read? - COVID-19: What We're Doing (or at least trying)

First, I must start by saying we’re here for the spiritual needs of the youth in our community. We want everyone to feel included and yet never pressured to be a part of something they don’t want/need to be.

The general consensus from youth, parents, adult leaders, staff, and our Elders is:

*  Our youth want to keep in touch

*  Forward momentum is important to a ministry like ours

*  People are looking for their kids to have some normalcy

With so much in flux we can’t promise much. Therefore, we’ll try to facilitate some engagement online and over text also. Our high schoolers are somewhat actively engaged with each other online thankfully. As far as our “How Other Faith Communities Serve” series goes we’re going to be taking week 3 with Khadija Hansia-Gibson and try to add that on to the end in May or maybe this fall. 

Our church was already ramping up its online footprint as I’m sure many of you have taken advantage of the Facebook livestreams. Those will continue to be available and what better way to say to your kids on a Sunday morning, “Wake up! We’re going to church in our pajamas.. on the couch!” We’re streaming podcasts on Spotify and many other platforms (sorry, we’re still waiting on Apple to get back to us). Just search “WPC Tiburon Podcasts.” Lastly, we’ve created a new YouTube channel which has some of our old YouTube footage (Yes, we have old footage) and more resources for life away from church like:

*  Upbeat worship songs for the whole fam (we’re also working on getting this on Spotify)

*  Other short videos to provoke spiritual conversations among family.

*  Recaps of our own worship services, events, and trips

In times like this I hope we can all set a positive example for our youth showing them that it’s okay to lean on others. And considering all our schools and community is going through may we also continue to be kind, forgiving, patient, and full of love. 

As many of you remember, we recently hosted FCD Prevention Works for a Prodigal Parent Series on teen substance abuse including vaping. After some work with John and others there, we're able to provide you a wealth of resources. Please feel free to share.

 For a listing of these articles, please go to:                Substance Abuse Workshop Follow Up

Please know that I am happy to chat with you either in person or over the phone as someone who's talked with teenagers about the topics for 20+ years. We're all in it together.

 

Chin up!
Jeff Shankle 

Current Sunday Series - High School

Current Sunday Series - "How Other Faith Communities Serve"

Temporarily on hold.  We hope to pick up where we left off with Khadija once shelter-in-place restrictions are lifted.  Or, we may push to the fall.

This was a topic chosen by our youth.  The idea for it came out of a conversation about 2 different things our youth were looking for.  First, they felt like we needed to be serving more (applause!).  Second, they really enjoy gathering with other faith communities and hearing about what they’re doing.  The goal of this project is for our youth to gather some inspiration and ideas to then lead either our church or some group within it on a service project at a later date.

Date
Guest
Topic
Description
TBD Khadija Hansia-Gibson Red Crescent Missions Khadija will recap her 2 mission trips helping refugees with the Red Crescent. One in Turkey and another in Indonesia.
TBD BBQ Postponed
TBD Confirmation Class Washing Others'Feet Some of our upperclassmen have offered to start a new tradition: washing the feet of the new confirmation class as exemplified by Jesus
4/5  Palm Sunday NO HIGH SCHOOL SUNDAY SCHOOL
4/12 Easter NO HIGH SCHOOL SUNDAY SCHOOL
4/19 WPC Outreach Commission Blessing Bags We'll hear about more of what our own church's outreach looks like while assembling small bags of essentials to be given to the needy by the congregation.
4/26 Glide Memorial Diverse Worship and Service As requested, we'll return to Glide for worship and service.
5/3 John Daniel, former missionary to India Baptists Abroad John (and his wife) will recap what it was like for him and his wife to move to a foreign land as a result of God's call on their lives.
5/10 Congregation Kol Shofar Mltavah Days Every year Kol Shofar's youth and children's ministry sponsor an event highlighting various outreach projects with hands on tasks.
5/17 Graduation Sunday NO HIGH SCHOOL SUNDAY SCHOOL

 

 

Parent's Corner - High School

 

 Have 7 Minutes to Read? – Teaching Grace in the Home

One of the central tenets of our faith that may differ from others is the idea that we don't really do anything to reach God. Rather, God comes to us. regardless of how "religious" we are or how much we know about the Bible. Despite the mess we make of our own lives and others, despite how often we disappoint ourselves or others, we are always loved. Through the Holy Spirit, God's presence is with us always. Even more, God wants to be there with us especially in the messiness.

We call this grace.

You and I might be able to appreciate the grace God gives us. That we are loved by something so holy regardless of what we do or don't do, but it may be hard to instill this sort of thing in the heart (not just the mind) of a young person. We all know that our faith can't solely be taught. It has to be experienced.

So how do we experience it in the home?

Just say, "I'm sorry" to your teenager more. That's a great starting place.
     "I'm sorry for the tone of voice I used when I asked you about your homework."
    "I'm sorry that I misunderstood the conflict you were having with your brother and jumped to an unfair conclusion."
    "I'm sorry that I wasn't sensitive enough to how tired you were from soccer."

In today's world our youth feel extraordinary pressures from all kinds of angles. We want them to know that their family is a safe place. And we hope that they are an example of grace to others.

If you want to make your home a hub of grace, try the following:

1. Keep your personal antennae up for times when your own fatigue causes you to speak unkindly to your kids.
2. When you feel like you've wronged your kids, tell them that you're sorry and ask for their forgiveness. Say, "Is that okay?" or "Does that make sense?"
3. Make sure you are quick to extend forgiveness to your kids when they need to do the same.

 
Serving Others - High School

Service Projects

Several times throughout the school year, we participate as a group in community service projects. We hosted a Parents Night Out and spent a Saturday working together finishing one of the Habitat for Humanity homes in Marin. Working together in service to others is one of the most surefire ways to help spur those kinds of deeper fellowship we all long for and so badly we need. Check back frequently for upcoming Service Projects or contact Jeff at .

Forms:  High School Mission Trip - Medical Release Form