SENIOR HIGH WINTER RETREAT!!!

January 30- February 1, 2009 at Lake Champion Retreat, NY

Theme: "Reflect" with speaker Matt Dawson

Cost: $135 through January 14 / $145 January 5-18

To download registration form and medical consent form please click here

To download invitation postcard click here

WHY ELEMENT?

Purpose: To share the life saving message of Jesus Christ with Sr. HIgh students, educate them in their understanding of scripture, strengthen their friendships, and send them off sharing their lives with as many as possible.

Community: We work hard at ccreating two kinds of community. Large community is when we are in the presence of many believers. We talk, laugh, sing, pray, and cry with one another. It cannot be just about us. We care about hose who are alone, new, hurting or have a desire of know God. We may not be friends with everyone but we are friendly to all. We have much in common, but our human limitiations do not allow us to really share our lives closely with more than a few people. So we use smaller groups to create a second kind of community. Caring adults lead the small groups and helps connect students to our ministry. A small group allows students to be known, cared for and loved. It allows the students to ask questions, feel comfortable and is a source of strength and stability in their lives. Small groups allow students to go deeper with each other and our desire is for them to go deeper in their relationship with Christ. It's incredible when God is real in a student's life and non-believing students see it, feel it, and then want it for themselves. Community is God's plan for all of us.

Element meets in the Refinery at Calvary Church the 1st and 3rd Sunday of the month.

Element small groups meet in homes the 2nd and 4th Sunday of the month.

Key Parts of Element:

Opening Song ~ Upfront Greeting ~ Student Challenge ~ Theme Video ~ Drama ~ Praise Set ~ Student Sharing ~ Message ~ Small groups

Environment Components:

1. God - the one thing we want students to experience is God: through His Word and His presence in us.

2. Greeting - students are known, welcomed, and accepted.

3. Small Groups - promoted regularly. Leaders are present, involved and available in these home-based settings.

4. Relational Ministry - we want our leaders, caring adults, and students' peers to know them personally.

5. Clear Tools -to be given both verbally and physically so that students can take them home. Small group communities follow up with discussions about the lessons. Steps are taken to develop spiritual habits so that students can live them on their own. Will include take home notes and announcements.

Worship: Every aspect of a believer's life should be in worshipful service to God. Romans 12:1 - "Therefore I urge you brothers, in view of God's mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing. This is your spiritual act of worship." We desire to promote this attitude among our students through prayer, teaching, as well as singing worship songs. Those who lead are to be Christ-like, setting forth a model of one wholly dedicated to glorifying God.

Teaching: Each teaching time will be our opportunity to communicate the truth of scriptpure and apply ti to evryday living. We believe the study and understanding of God's Word is of upmost importance in the life of a believer.

Relationships: We were created for relationships. If we have a relationship with God, we have a responsibility to love Him and others. Our relationship with God may be personal but it wasn't intended to be private.

Celebration Nights: Several times a year - including 5th Sundays - Element will extend a salvation message. Students will be encouraged to bring unsaved friends to the large group community.

Retreats & Activities: Activities are designed to promote community and will provide a holistic atmosphere where students are accepted and can enjoy spending time together while surrounded by Christian role models.

Ministry & Missions Opportunities: Becasue we believe it is important to put our Christian faith into practice, we will have regular ministry opportunities where out students can get involved in planned service projects. Christ's last command to the disciples before He left this earth was to, "make disciples of all nations (Matt. 28:19). By calling our students to participate in acts of service we desire that each one will grow in their own faith as well as develop a heart for serving the Lord and a love for sharing the gospel of salvation.

Students of Element

Defining our students - who are we reaching?

Community - students living apart from Christ. They do not attend our ministry or church.

Crowd - students commited to attending our ministry. They are hearing about Christ.

Connected - students committed to deeper relationships.

Committed - students committed to spiritual habits. They are growing in Christ.

Core - students committed to doing ministry. They are serving because of Christ.

Our Mission

Community - to promote student interest in our student ministry and ultimately Jesus Christ.

Crowd - to provide opportunities for students to experience God's love leading them towards a relationship with God.

Connected - to encourage students to commit to deeper relationships with Christ and other Christians.

Committed - to get students to commit to spiritual habits.

Core - to get students to serve in a ministry.

The 2008 senior celebration video, shine on