Vinewood Community Church FALL 2015 STUDENT MINISTRY

Finding a Secret Place Hi  All!!  

Fall  is  almost  here!  This  is  by  far  one  of  my  favorite  seasons  in  Lodi.  When  Tawney  and  I  started  to  prepare  for  our  move  back  to  Lodi  from  the  Bay  Area,  we  were  so  excited  to  be  experiencing  the  fall  colors  of  Lodi  again.  During  our  fall/winter  seasons  away,  I  would  close  my  eyes  and  try  to  picture  myself  standing  in  Lodi,  outside  in  my  jacket  and  jeans,  taking  in  God’s  artwork.  When  I  lived  here,  I  took  it  for  granted,  but  the  fall  sunsets  and  colors  are  incredible.  I  would  encourage  you  to  take  it  all  in  as  we  look  into  fall.  

In  this  season  more  than  most,  I  find  myself  doing  more  reflecting.  I  think  its  because  there  are  facets  of  this  season  that  cause  people  to  bundle  up  and  go  inside.  In  considering  the  main  article  for  this  release,  I  could  not  get  the  idea  of  “finding  your  secret  place”  out  of  my  head.  When  I  think  of  my  secret  place,  I  think  of  being  alone.  I  think  of  places  like  closets,  basements,  beside  beds,  gardens,  cars,  and  backyards  to  name  a  few.  A  secret  place  strikes  me  as  a  place  where  I  can  pray  and  read  out  loud,  sing,  cry,  get  angry,  etc.  It  is  a  place  where  I  can  be  me  without  the  pressure  of  the  watching  

#vinewoodstudents September - October �1

CC UPDATE Connect with Jesus | Grow Together | Serve the World

Resources: Interested in growing? Here’s some fertilizer!

Students

The Shack - William P. Young

Can I ask that? - Jim Candy, Brad M Griffin, Kara Powell

Can I ask that 2? - Jim Candy, Brad M Griffin, Kara Powell

Leaders

The Screwtape Letters - C.S. Lewis

For Parents

When Godly People Do Ungodly Things - Beth Moore

Music

Album: Empires Artist: Hillsong United

Album: Anomaly Artist: Lecrae

For those who prefer to listen to their books, check out

audible.com.

Vinewood Community Church FALL 2015 STUDENT MINISTRY

public,  or  family.  Its  a  place  where  I  can  do  battle…  

I  know  it  seems  strange  to  combine  the  image  of  cozy  Fall  and  battle,  but  its  no  secret  that  a  life  living  to  glorify  God,  leaves  us  a  bit  exhausted  at  the  end  of  the  day.  We  spend  out  days  battling  the  temptation  to  do  what  we  want  to  do  for  ourselves  (gossip,  lie,  lose  our  temper,  steal,  flirt  with  adultery)  and  at  the  end  of  it  all,  we  rejoice  in  our  victories,  but  are  none  the  less  exhausted.  Not  to  mention  our  frustration  with  the  days  failures.  

We  get  our  strength  for  the  day  and  tomorrow  from  God  alone.  To  prevent  our  desire  to  live  a  life  that  honors  God  from  becoming  an  empty  routine,  we  need  to  be  reminded  why  God  is  good  and  worthy.  It  is  from  a  place  of  realizing  how  much  we  need  God’s  good  grace  and  how  majestic  He  is  that  we  are  reminded  why  we  fight  for  righteousness.  

In  our  secret  place,  we  can  “do  business”  with  God.  We  can  confess  our  failures,  and  plead  for  answers.  We  can  escape  the  labels  and  critique  of  the  world,  and  trust  that  God  is  not  going  to  see  us  the  same  way  as  the  world  does.  It’s  also  interesting  how  some  of  us  may  find  being  alone  with  God  to  be  the  most  intimidating  or  the  most  challenging  place  to  be.    

Oswald  Chambers,  author  of  My  Utmost  for  His  Highest,  wrote:  “Prayer  is  an  effort  of  the  will.  After  we  have  entered  our  secret  place  and  shut  the  door,  the  most  difficult  thing  to  do  is  to  pray.  We  cannot  seem  to  get  our  minds  into  good  working  order,  and  the  first  thing  we  have  to  fight  is  wandering  thoughts.  The  great  battle  in  private  prayer  is  overcoming  this  problem  of  our  idle  and  wandering  thinking.  We  have  to  learn  to  discipline  our  minds  and  concentrate  on  willful,  deliberate  prayer.”  

So,  where  do  you  spend  your  time  with  God?  Is  it  secret?  Is  it  private?  Does  it  allow  you  to  be  vulnerable  with  God?  If  you  needed  to  yell  out  in  your  frustration  to  God,  could  you  do  it  and  not  worry  about  anyone  seeing  or  hearing  you?  [By  the  way,  yelling  (the  ugly,  messy  kind)  to  God  is  totally  permissible.  Watch  how  He  handles  it!]  Happy  Secret  Praying!!  

When  you  pray,  go  into  your  room,  and  when  you  have  shut  your  door,  pray  to  your  Father  who    -­‐is  in  the  secret  place;  and  your  

Father  who  sees  in  secret  will  reward  you  openly.  —Matthew  6:6  

For  His  Kingdom,                                                                                                                                                  

Cameron

#vinewoodstudents September - October �2

TUESDAYS! *6:15p*-8:00p

September

1: @ VCC: James 4

Blue Ribbon Faith 1900 W. Vine St.

8: @ VCC: James 5

Blue Ribbon Faith 1900 W. Vine St.

15: @ VCC: Guest Speaker

Blue Ribbon Faith 1900 W. Vine St.

22: @ VCC: Guest Speaker

Blue Ribbon Faith 1900 W. Vine St.

29: @ VCC: Guest Speaker

Blue Ribbon Faith 1900 W. Vine St.

October

6: @ Lerner Home 8848 E Harney Ln

13: San Francisco Day* Meet at Vinewood @10:00a - 6:00p * We will leave at 10:00am. I need signed permission slips for this trip.

20: @ VCC:

Oh For The Love Of God

27: @ VCC:

Oh For The Love Of God

Vinewood Community Church FALL 2015 STUDENT MINISTRY

5th  Annual  Boardwalk  Beach  Blitz  Friday,  September  18  -­‐  Saturday,  September  19,  2015  

Get  stoked  with  amazing  Christian  bands,  speakers,  testimonies,  seaside  camping,  and  Boardwalk  fun!  

This  September,  VW  Student  Ministry  is  headed  to  Santa  Cruz  for  the  5th  Annual  Boardwalk  Beach  Blitz!  This  is  a  great  opportunity  to  take  a  break  from  school  and  sports,  and  be  in  community  with  fellow  believers  as  we  worship,  grow,  and  ride  rides!  Join  John  Pritikin,  motivational  speaker  and  founder  of  Feel  the  Power,  worship  leader  Kokua  and  KLOVE  and  AIR1  artist,  Group  1  Crew.    

We  will  depart  September  18,  grab  dinner  and  head  over  to  the  South  Bay,  returning  Saturday,  September  19th.  Please  check  out  https://beachboardwalk.com/blitz/  for  more  information.  I  will  register  all  of  us  Friday,  August  28th,  so  please  secure  your  place  by  filling  out  and  turning  in  the  Beach  Boardwalk  Blitz  Release  Form  and  Vinewood  Release  Form,  with  your  payment  of  $80.

Friday,  February  19th  -­‐  Sunday  February  21st,  2015  

Save  the  dates!!  Next  year  we  will  be  going  to  Winter  Youth  Retreat  at  Jenness  Park  in  Cold  Springs,  CA.  The  theme  is  going  to  be  SUPERHEROS.  Costumes?  Masks?  Full  body  spandex?  Mjölnirs?  YES!  On  Monday  January  4th,  I  will  be  securing  our  places  at  camp.  To  make  sure  you  have  a  place  for  yourself  and  your  friends,  I  will  need  a  non-­‐refundable  deposit  of  $50/person.  If  you  choose  to  pay  the  full  price  before  January  19th,  the  total  cost  (at  this  point)  including  deposit  will  be  $160.  If  you  are  unable  to  pay  the  remaining  full  price  before  January  19th,  the  cost  will  be  $180.  Please  talk  to  me  if  the  price  of  the  Winter  Youth  Retreat  will  prevent  you  from  going  to  camp.  I  don't  want  anyone  missing  out.  To  remind  you,  any  teen  can  go  to  camp.    Please  see  www.jennesspark.com/youth-­‐camps/winter-­‐youth-­‐retreat  for  more  details!  

Vinewood Community Church - 1900 West Vine St. - Lodi, Ca 95242

Pastor Cameron @ cdavis@vinewoodchurch.com

#vinewoodstudents September - October 3

SUNDAYS! 11a-12p

September

6: @ VCC: Can I Ask That? Is Jesus the Only Way to God?

13: @ VCC: Can I Ask That? What doe the Bible say about being gay?

20: @ VCC: Can I Ask That? Does God Endorse Violence?

27: @ VCC: Can I Ask That? How can I follow a God who would let Christians do such bad things?

October

4: @ VCC: Lunch - Bring $$!!

11: @ VCC: Can I Ask That 2? Is it wrong to doubt God?

18: @ VCC: Can I Ask That 2? Is hell real? How could God send someone there?

25: @ VCC: Can I Ask That 2? Can I do something so bad God won’t forgive me?

Own It!

Students we need you! Let us know if you are interested in: web design and the design of this quarterly article!

!!!Fuge 2015 Photos!!!

Want to see our pics from camp? Go to the Student Ministry tab

@ vinewoodchurch.com.

Cameron Davis Vinewood Community Church

1900 W. Vine St. Lodi, Ca 95242