five15 blog

retreat registration

Luke Middleton — Tue, 18 Jun 2013 05:00:00 GMT

five15 Retreat Registration closes in 10 days! Are you registered? If not, you can register here.

Worship & Ministry Night This Saturday

Katherine Sawyer — Thu, 13 Jun 2013 05:00:00 GMT

Theme: My soul thirsts for You

Psalm 63:1-8

Hope to see you there!

changes for next year

Luke Middleton — Thu, 06 Jun 2013 05:00:00 GMT

Here's a fun video some five15 teens put together (thanks, Jonathan Alexander, for shooting and editing!) to summarize some of the key areas of change next year for five15.

Did you catch all the changes?

5:15 pm start time, food, longer worship, and middle school and high school splitting up when we focus directly on the Word of God.

five15 admin transition

Luke Middleton — Mon, 03 Jun 2013 05:00:00 GMT

There are some changes around the five15 office I want you to know about.

Katherine Sawyer has served five15 as its administrative assistant for the last year and a half and has been on the church’s administrative staff for over five years. This fall, Katherine will be going back to college and subsequently will be moving on from working at the church so that she can focus on her studies. Katherine’s last day at the church office will be near the end of June.

I have really appreciated Katherine’s kind and gracious spirit as I’ve worked with her and as I’ve observed her interacting with everyone in five15. She is an example of faithful and steadfast service of others. I am grateful for her faith-filled willingness to take on the administrative responsibility for five15. Even over the last year, she has gone beyond the scope of her staff duties and has served five15 out of her own time by helping lead a group in our five15 Girls Gatherings and also by being a part of a recent panel that discussed “wisdom from above” in James 3:13-18.

I’m thankful for the ways Katherine has invested in five15 over the past year and a half. If you see Katherine in the coming weeks, please take a moment to thank her.

You are probably wondering how we will pick up the slack with Katherine gone. Well, as the church office begins work on a long-term plan, we’ve created two temporary positions that Diane James and Heather Alexander have agreed to take on. During the summer, we’ll begin preparing for an official job opening and interview process. If you hear from Diane or Heather regarding five15, please give them your full support as they take on these new responsibilities.

I’m grateful that God has continued to raise up members of this local body to serve in various ways to build up the other parts (Ephesians 4:16). There’s going to be a lot more of that this coming year and I look forward to what the Lord will do.

Photos from Senior Night

Katherine Sawyer — Wed, 22 May 2013 05:00:00 GMT

Here are photos of the graduating seniors and their parents from our recent Senior Night. You all will be missed!

(Thanks to Kate Mullery for the photos)

Reminder...

Katherine Sawyer — Tue, 21 May 2013 05:00:00 GMT

If you are planning on joining us at the five15 Retreat (for rising 9-12th graders and their parents), just a reminder to register online!

manskool this saturday

Katherine Sawyer — Thu, 16 May 2013 05:00:00 GMT

Manskool for five15 dads and sons is this Saturday, May 18, at 8:30 a.m. in Room B12 (downstairs classroom in the basement). Please be sure to exit through the basement doors after this meeting is over, so as not to disturb the wedding taking place on the Main Level at that time. Thanks!

Children's Ministry Needs Helpers

Katherine Sawyer — Thu, 16 May 2013 05:00:00 GMT

Children’s Ministry needs more helpers for next year. Will you help serve the younger generation? Please email CMhelpers@yahoo.com to sign up. They need your name, phone number, preferred classes, and which week of the month you’d like to serve. Thanks!

Car Wash this Saturday (Dominican Republic Team Fundraiser)

Katherine Sawyer — Tue, 14 May 2013 05:00:00 GMT

The team of parents and teens traveling to the Dominican Republic in July is putting on a car wash fundraiser this Saturday, May 18, and we need your help.

Here are the details:

Shell Station on Burke Center Parkway near Kohl's, Safeway, and Chipotle.

Arrive at 9:30 a.m. to set up. Car Wash 10:00a.m.- 2:00 p.m.

People needed to wash cars or hold signs on the street corners.

If you cannot serve all four hours, shifts are ok.

Bring buckets and rags/old towels.

Please contact Ken Jones or Dorrie Peace to volunteer to serve.

Thanks!

Vacation Bible School

Katherine Sawyer — Tue, 14 May 2013 05:00:00 GMT

Our church is putting on a VBS on Monday-Friday, August 5-9, and we need volunteers! Both teens and parents are welcome to serve. Please click here for the online volunteer registration. (Note that if you click "disagree", you will not be able to register. If you are over 18 or have the permission of a parent/guardian to serve, click "agree".)

The deadline to sign up to serve is Sunday, June 2.

For more information, or if you have any questions, please contact John Suh or Monique Burgos.

Thanks in advance for serving!

this saturday is senior night

Luke Middleton — Wed, 08 May 2013 05:00:00 GMT

This Saturday's five15 Meeting is our annual Senior Night!

Here is the plan:

We'll have shoeboxes out to fill with notes of encouragement for graduating seniors
Worship
Announcements (Retreat registration, Retreat activity team, VBS serving, Lamb Center serving, CM serving, Manskool, Dominican Republic)
Testimonies from a graduating senior and a parent
Prayer for graduating seniors
Seniors group photo and seniors group photo with parents
Seniors "launched" and picked up for surprise fun night by Crossroads
After the seniors depart, we'll talk briefly about the upcoming year, play a game, and hangout over snacks

I hope to see you there!

worship night reminder

Luke Middleton — Sat, 04 May 2013 05:00:00 GMT

Just a reminder about something we announced at a recent five15 meeting: Ian and Chloe have put together a worship night for anyone in five15. It's tonight (Saturday, May 4), 7:30 - 9:00 pm, in the guest reception room at church. All five15ers are welcome to join.

five15 retreat registration now open

Luke Middleton — Tue, 30 Apr 2013 05:00:00 GMT

We are now 110 days away from the 2013 five15 Retreat for rising 9th - 12th graders and parents! On Sunday, August 18, we will return to Camp Hebron in Halifax, PA and stay through Wednesday, August 21.

The theme for this year’s retreat is “The Depth: Knowing the Love of Christ” which is taken from Ephesians 3:14-19 where Paul’s prayer for the Ephesian church is that they would have strength to comprehend the depth of the love of Christ. Guest speaker Jon Smith from Covenant Life Church will be joining us to help us connect the love of God to our mission to make disciples of Jesus Christ.

My prayer for this retreat is that we would be strengthened by the Holy Spirit to comprehend more of the Father’s love in what He has done for us through Jesus Christ. Additionally, I pray that this time will be one of building relationships, community, and memories that will carry us into the 2013-2014 school and ministry year and beyond.

Registration for the retreat is now open online and will be open through Friday, June 28. You can register here.

If you have any questions, please contact Susan Thorson, who is serving as one of the administrators for the retreat and is overseeing registration.

I hope to see you in August!

Recent Highway Clean

Katherine Sawyer — Thu, 25 Apr 2013 05:00:00 GMT

Thanks to the group that served this past weekend to clean a portion of Ox Road, especially Sarah Lannon for coordinating.

five15 forum and parents meeting this saturday

Luke Middleton — Tue, 23 Apr 2013 05:00:00 GMT

We have a five15 Forum and Parents Meeting this Saturday. Our location in the church building will be different this week, so please note that below. We will not be using the basement or the basement entrance at all this Saturday. Please use the main level entrance to the church this Saturday.

6:30 pm: Everyone meets in the Main Auditorium for worship, testimonies (three of them!), and announcements.

7:00 pm:

Middle School Forum: continuing through the Westminster Larger Catechism, looking at Question #7, "What is God?"
High School Forum: continuing through the book of James, Daniel Hinders will lead a panel discussion on "Wisdom from Above" in James 3:13-18. The panel will consist of three guest church members: Peter Lewis, Katie Strylowski, and Scott Remer.
Parents Meeting: following up our last parents meeting, we will continue our dialogue about how to best minister to and serve each age group in five15. Some parents who have been serving on the Evaluation Team that has been examining this topic over the past month will share with parents what they've been working and some possible recommendations. We'll spend the last half of our time gathering input from parents to assist the team as they move toward making a recommendation to the elders.

I hope to see you on Saturday!

Highway Clean

Katherine Sawyer — Mon, 15 Apr 2013 05:00:00 GMT

As Sarah Lannon announced at this past Saturday's Gathering, we have "Adopted a Highway", and need volunteers on Sunday afternoon, April 21st, to help pick up trash along either side of Ox Road, for about a mile and a half.

Please click here for more information and to sign up through the church event registration site by Wednesday (4/17), or email Sarah.

Thanks!

for the guys

Katherine Sawyer — Fri, 12 Apr 2013 05:00:00 GMT

Guys, here's what you can look forward to at this Saturday's Guys Gathering:

Games
Testimony from Seth Middleton
Devotion from Joseph Henson on Psalm 25:8-11

For info on the Girls Gathering and pizza contest here.

Hope to see you on Saturday!

we need your pizzas!

Katherine Sawyer — Thu, 11 Apr 2013 05:00:00 GMT

Just a reminder that our guy/girl gathering this Saturday will include a pizza contest.

Hope to see you there!

this saturday's guy/girl gathering

Katherine Sawyer — Mon, 08 Apr 2013 05:00:00 GMT

Guys / Girls Gathering (Saturday, April13,6:30 pm)

Pizza contest!
Girls Gathering: Continuing in "Who Am I?" by Jerry Bridges, focusing on "I am a saint, a servant of God"
Guys Gathering: details coming later this week

Audio from 3/2/13 Gathering

Katherine Sawyer — Fri, 05 Apr 2013 05:00:00 GMT

If you missed the 3/2 five15 Gathering, audio is now available for the message 'You Must Be Born Again' from John 3:1-8. I (Luke) hope it serves both teens and parents in how they think about conversion. If any teen or parent has any thoughts on this subject and specifically how we as a church and five15 can better do ministry with these truths in mind, please reach out to me so I can hear your thoughts.

recent mission trips

Katherine Sawyer — Thu, 04 Apr 2013 05:00:00 GMT

Here are photos of the teams who participated in our two recent mission trips, to Rancho 3M in Mexico, and Habitat for Humanity in WV.

pizza, anyone?

Katherine Sawyer — Mon, 01 Apr 2013 05:00:00 GMT

We will be having a pizza contest at our April 13th Gathering!

Pizzas will be judged before the meeting, then we will share them for dinner together and hear how God worked throughout the mission trips that some of our teens and parents recently participated in.

five15 will provide drinks, sides, and desserts - you bring the pizza.

Here are the details:

Please bring 2 pizzas so that we will have enough for everyone.
Bring your pizzas to the kitchen no later than 5:30 p.m.
Please list potential allergens (milk, wheat flour, etc.) on a 3 x 5 index card.
Judging will take place between 5:30 and 6:00 p.m.
Prizes will be awarded in the following categories:

- Best presentation

- Best toppings

- Best crust

- Best overall pizza

invite for parents: "saturday night in the suburbs"

Luke Middleton — Tue, 19 Mar 2013 05:00:00 GMT

This Thursday at 7:00 pm, Woodson High School's PTSA is hosting a program of the United Prevention Coalition of Fairfax County called "Saturday Night in the Suburbs". The event is for parents only. It features a panel of high school seniors who will dialogue on topics such as drug and alcohol abuse, teen parties, parent supervision and enabling, the Internet, and communication with parents. You can find more info here.

I going to be attending this event with a five15 parent to check it out and see what info we can get from it. If any other five15 parents are interested in joining us to check this out and compare notes after, let me know and we can meet up there and sit together.

Canceled: This Saturday's Manskool

Katherine Sawyer — Wed, 13 Mar 2013 05:00:00 GMT

Manskool this Saturday (3/16) has been canceled. If you have questions, please contact Jordan or Ted.

Thanks!

five15 meeting this saturday

Luke Middleton — Tue, 12 Mar 2013 05:00:00 GMT

This Saturday is our regularly scheduled five15 Forum focused on teens. However, as was previously announced at our last five15 meeting and in the monthly parent email, we'll be having a parent meeting, as well.

Here are the details:

6:30 pm - worship
7:00 pm
- Middle School - Westminster Catechism Question #6 "How many persons are there in the Godhead?", Main Lobby
- Senior High - The Tongue (James 3:1-12) - guest speaker Vince Hinders, Basement Auditorium
- Parents Meeting with Luke in Room 204 (parents should have received topics and documents for the meeting in their monthly parent email, if you did not, please contact Katherine Sawyer)
8:00 pm - hang out and snacks

I hope to see you there!

"raising kids in a pornified culture"

Luke Middleton — Mon, 04 Mar 2013 06:00:00 GMT

The Gospel Coalition has a helpful blog post that offers eight suggestions for thinking through the question of how parents can raise children in a "pornified culture."

Here are a couple of excerpts:

Aim to give our kids a huge view of God who is gloriously delightful. We can't simply tell our kids to stop doing certain behaviors; we must also teach them to delight in what God has made.

...

Teach them the gospel. Our kids are spring-loaded legalists. They have to see us model gospel truth through active repentance and forgiveness. They have to know their acceptance before God isn't based on their performance, but on Christ's. They have to know their standing as a family member doesn't depend on their obedience, though their standing does imply a certain type of living.

You can click the above link to read the article, which includes some very practical steps for parents.

five15 gather this saturday: you must be born again

Luke Middleton — Thu, 28 Feb 2013 06:00:00 GMT

At this Saturday's five15 Gathering (teens and parents), we'll be looking at John 3:1-8, where Jesus says, "You must be born again."

Please be praying for this meeting. I hope to see you there.

Sunday School Classes begin this Sunday!

Katherine Sawyer — Thu, 14 Feb 2013 06:00:00 GMT

2 Sunday School Classes are beginning this Sunday, February 17th. Both are Sunday mornings from 8:30-9:45 a.m.

Hermeneutics - Mark Mullery

8 Sessions

Spiritual Gifts - Dave Andrews

5 Sessions

These are open to all ages, so please consider attending!

More info and sign-ups are available online: click here

manskool this saturday

Katherine Sawyer — Wed, 13 Feb 2013 06:00:00 GMT

Guys, Manskool is this Saturday, 2/16, at 8:30 a.m. in Room 202.

Hope to see you there!

Reminder: Possible Serving Opportunity at Habitat for Humanity

Katherine Sawyer — Tue, 12 Feb 2013 06:00:00 GMT

If you are interested in participating in a possible trip to Habitat for Humanity on Saturday, March 30th, please contact Katherine by this Friday, February 15. We are collecting names of those interested to see if we can form a large enough group for this serving opportunity.

Thanks!