SALMON CREEK

UNITED METHODIST

CHURCH

12217 NE HWY 99

Vancouver, WA 98686-3621

(360) 573-3111

www.salmoncreekchurch.org

NON-PROFIT

ORGANIZATION

PAID

PERMIT #610

VANCOUVER, WA

Thank you for reading the Circuit Rider! If you have

questions or concerns please feel free to contact us.

12217 NE HWY 99

Vancouver WA, 98686

360.573.3111

Submissions for the Circuit Rider can be sent to

communications@salmoncreekchurch.org. Articles

and Announcements are due by midnight on the

second Monday of each month.

Visit us online at

salmoncreekchurch.org

the

UMW News

Vision 2020

Gaiser NEWS

SPR Updates

All Church Study

Spiritual Growth

Finance report

Job postings

&more!

February 2016 Feature

Lent 2016– Rooted in Prayer– All Church Study

February 10 Ash Wednesday Worship 7:00 p.m. in the Chapel.

John Harrell will preach on Luke 11:1., the disciples request,

“Teach Us To Pray.” Imposition of ashes will be offered.

On Saturday, February 13 the Mission Team will release the first

weekly edition of a Prayer Journal to pray for our Mission partners

through-out the season of Lent. Watch for it in an email, or pick up

a copy each Sunday during Lent at the information center.

Sunday, February 14. Lillian Pak will preach in worship on the

Lord’s Prayer Luke 11:2-4

Sunday, February 28, the Children’s Ministry Team will host a

Prayer Workshop for the entire congregation after second service

in the Fellowship Hall. The stations that will be offered:

Making Prayer Beads

Praying for Children Around the World

The Five Finger Prayer

Book Table of prayers to use with children

Display of Acolyte Prayer Cards

Sign-up for the SCUMC Prayer chain and learn how to pray

with the chain.

Saturday, March 5, the Rev. Duncan Ferguson Ph.D. will be here

to lead the following workshop from 10 a.m. – 3:00 p.m.

Workshop: The Spiritual Pathways of the World Religions: Life-

giving and Life-denying

The workshop will be divided into two sections, one from 10 a.m.-

12-noon, followed by lunch, and one from 1:00-3:00 p.m.

Registration is encouraged. Please invite your friends for this day

of exploration.

The morning workshop will focus on discerning those dimensions

of a spiritual pathway that are healthy and life-giving and those that

are unhealthy and life-denying. We will draw upon the practices of

two great religious traditions to illustrate these different kinds of

spiritual pathways: The Indigenous Wisdom Traditions and Islam. In

particular, we will focus on the tendency of some religious outlooks to

turn extreme and exclusive and explore the ways that parts of the

Islamic faith have turned extreme, although others have as well. We

will ask: why does a religious faith turn extreme and become harmful

and dangerous?

The afternoon session will be focused on two issues: The first is to

explore how those deeply rooted in the Christian faith, a position that

occasionally is exclusive in its outlook, might be open to learning

from other faith traditions and reaching out in openness and

collaboration with people from other faith traditions. The second

issue will be to explore spiritual practices from other faith traditions

that can be nurturing. We will look specifically at Judaism, practices

in Hinduism (Yoga) and Buddhism.

Sunday, March 6, Duncan Ferguson will be preaching at both

services. Sermon Title: Jesus Prayed, “Sanctify Them in the Truth”

Scripture: Luke 15: 1-7; 2 Cor. 5:16-21; John 17:15-23

Dr. Duncan Ferguson is an author and renowned scholar who

continues in global leadership in Christian churches. Duncan is an

expert in world religions. He has served in India and now is Director

of the Pilgrims of Ibillin in Nazareth, Israel. He resides with his wife

Dorothy on Whidbey Island and attends Langley United Methodist as

a retired Presbyterian pastor. He and Pastor Joyce Emery have

been colleagues for over 25 years. We are honored that he has

agreed to come and serve with us for a weekend during Lent.

We are also seeking to offer a Labyrinth for walking and a praying

during Lent. Watch the bulletin and Currents for more information.

Pastor Joyce Emery will be preaching the rest of the Lent on the

prayers of Jesus: Matthew 11:25-26, John 12:27-28, John 17, John

11:41-42, Matthew 26:26-44, Matthew 27:46.

During this season of Lent we will focus on the prayers that Jesus taught his disciples and the prayers that he uttered. The book we will be

using is entitled: What the Prayers of Jesus Tell Us About the Heart of God, by Shane Stanford. Books can be ordered for Small Groups from

Lillian Pak. Lillian.pak@salmoncreekchurch.org

We note that the God of all creation, the God-head three, Father, Son and Holy Spirit continued to commune during the time Jesus was on

earth. These prayers give us profound insights into our daily living as disciples of the One, Triune, God.

◄ January 2016 February 2016 March 2016 ►

Sun Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri Sat

1 7:00 EOCF-Head Start 9:00 Felida Friends 2:00 Knit 1, Pray 2 6:00 Boy Scout Venture Crew 6:30 Boy Scouts Court of Honor 7:00 Branches 7:00 YRT meeting

2 7:00 EOCF-Head Start 9:00 Tues. AM Small Group 11:00 Fresh Start-AA 5:00 Upward Star Basketball 6:00 Missions comm. mtg. 6:30 FANN Distribution 7:00 Council on Ministries

3 Serving at WHO 11:15 Games with kids at SC 12:30 Grant House Quilters 5:45 Soccer 6:00 Praise Team 6:30 Men’s Group

4 Serving at WHO 6:45 AM Men’s Group 7:00 EOCF-Head Start 9:30 JOY Bible Study 11:00 Fresh Start-AA 5:00 Upward Star Basket Ball 5:45 Handbell Practice 6:00 VBS Steering Committee 7:00 Spiritual Growth Mtg. 7:00 Choir Rehearsal

5 Serving at WHO 7:00 EOCF-Head Start

6 Serving at WHO

7 Communion

Sunday Serving at WHO 8:30 & 10:00 Worship 9:30 Coffee Fellowship 10:00 Sunday School 3:00 Disciple II 4:00 Youth Superbowl Party 6:30 Lenski’s Small Group

8 Circuit rider article

due 7:00 EOCF-Head Start 9:00 Felida Friends 6:00 Boy Scout Venture Crew 6:30 Boy Scouts 6:30 Youth Core Team Mtg 7:00 Branches

9 Serving at Share 7:00 EOCF-Head Start 9:00 Tues. AM Small Group 11:00 Fresh Start-AA 6:30 Finance Comm. Mtg.. 7:00 Stephen’s Ministry

10 Ash Wednesday 11:15 Games with kids at SC 12:30 Grant House Quilters 5:45 Soccer 6:00 Praise Team 6:30 Men’s Group 7:00 Ash Wednesday Worship

11 6:45 AM Men’s Group 7:00 EOCF-Head Start 9:30 JOY Bible Study 11:00 Fresh Start-AA 5:00 Upward Star Basket Ball 6:00 Handbell Practice 7:00 Choir Rehearsal 7:00 Trustees

12 7:00 EOCF-Head Start

13

14 Fair Trade Coffee

Sale 1st Sunday in Lent 8:30 & 10:00 Worship 9:30 Coffee Fellowship 9:50 Sunday School 3:00 Disciple II 4:00 Youth Group 6:30 Lenski’s Small Group

15 7:00 EOCF-Head Start 9:00 Felida Friends 10:00 Upward Star BasketBall 2:00 Knit 1, Pray 2 6:00 Boy Scout Venture Crew 6:30 Boy Scouts 7:00 Branches

16 7:00 EOCF-Head Start 9:00 Tues. AM Small Group 11:00 Fresh Start-AA 1:00 UMW 6:30 Worship Comm. Mtg. 6:30 FANN Distribution 7:00 Boy Scout PLC

17 11:15 Games with kids at SC 12:30 Grant House Quilters 3:30 Kid’s Club 5:45 Soccer 6:00 Praise Team 6:30 Health Ministry Mtg. 6:30 Men’s Group

18 6:45 AM Men’s Group 9:30 JOY Bible Study 11:00 Fresh Start-AA 5:00 Upward Star Basket Ball 6:00 Handbell Practice 6:30 Cancer Support Group 6:30 SCCPD Bd. Mtg. 7:00 Choir Rehearsal 7:00 Boy Scout Comm. Mtg

19 7:00 EOCF-Head Start 12:00 Book Club

20 10:00 Who is my Neighbor?

21 Lighting One

Candle 2nd Sunday in Lent 8:30 & 10:00 Worship 9:30 Coffee Fellowship 9:30 Blood Pressure Check 9:45 Acolyte Training 10:00 Sun. School 11:30 Women’s Min. Mtg 3:00 Disciple II 4:00 Youth Group

22 7:00 EOCF-Head Start 9:00 Felida Friends 10:00 Upward Star BasketBall 6:00 Boy Scout Venture Crew 6:30 Boy Scouts 7:00 Branches

23 Circuit rider

mailing 7:00 EOCF-Head Start 9:00 Tues. AM Small Group 10:00 Upward Star Basketball 11:00 Fresh Start-AA 6:30 SPR

24 12:30 Grant House Quilters 3:30 Kid’s Club 5:45 Soccer 6:00 Praise Team 6:30 Men’s Group

25 6:45 AM Men’s Group 9:30 JOY Bible Study 11:00 Fresh Start-AA 5:00 Upward Star Basket Ball 6:00 Handbell Practice 7:00 Choir Rehearsal

26 7:00 EOCF-Head Start

27 7:00 Youth Timberline Ski Trip

28 4th Sunday in

Lent 8:30 & 10:00 Worship 9:30 Coffee Fellowship 10:00 Sunday School\ 3:00 Disciple II 4:00 Youth Group

29 7:00 EOCF-Head Start 9:00 Felida Friends 10:00 Upward Star BasketBall 6:00 Boy Scout Venture Crew 6:30 Boy Scouts 7:00 Branches

Notes:

February Birthdays 1. Jim Roberts 3. Lila DeBolt 3. Linda Sloan 4. Sue Sloan 5. Bill Forrester 5. Rainbow Matsumoto 6. Cindy Smith 7. LaRoy Herndon 8. Tammy Burleson 9. Joyce Murphy 13. Joyce Kidder

14. Dick Garrison 16. Grace Whalen 17. Nick Andersen 17. Aiden Horner 18. Roger Brindle 18. Allison Hogan 18. Bill Miller 20. Jackie Youngblood 21. Carolyn Fox 22. Kiana Scott 24. Kathy Bachman

25. Dick Peterson 25. Zachary Scott 26. Cindy Harrington 28. John Buriff

Hello to Salmon Creek United Methodist Church members and friends. Please know that Ginny Hazen's program has been changed from

January to February 16. "Oils of the Bible" is the interesting title of her program. "We will experience the aroma of the essential oils," says

Ginny. Church women and friends are invited to enjoy and learn from Ginny's program.

Frankincense and myrrh were costly gifts presented at Christ's birth; there are also other oils in the Bible. "We will meet Tuesday, February

16 at 1 p.m. in the St. Paul Room," says President Phyllis Browning. She adds, "We always have a prayer, a surprise or two, sing-a-song,

enjoy a devotion, book report, financial update and accept an offering. We introduce new members and guests, enjoy the program, and

have a social time with light refreshments followed by a business meeting."

Everyone knows that February 14 is Valentine's Day, so there's more acts of love that day, simple or extravagant. UMW fills its ministries

with love year round. It was Pearl Buck who said, "Love cannot be forced, love cannot be coaxed and teased. It comes out of Heaven,

unasked and unsought."

Please make use of the excellent reading materials in the SCUMC library over in the Family Ministries Building. If you want UMW books,

they are in the back on the left corner. The Upper Room daily devotional to take home is in the Narthex of the Sanctuary. Many thanks to

the JOY women for quilts dedicated by Pastor Joyce. I was there and heard the touching prayer of love and hope for others.

Watch for publicity about UMCOR health kits. We recognize already a donation of 48 toothbrushes from a Dentist of the Wendel Family

Dental Group. I was asked to recognize this as the beginning of our supply drive. Women please come to UMW for the February 16

meeting at 1 p.m. We will welcome you.

St. Francis of Assisi wrote, "Lord, grant that I may seek rather to love--than to be loved. For it is by giving that one receives."

Lucille Harwood

See the December Circuit Rider under United Methodist Women paragraph two to read more about Ginny's program on "Oils of the

Bible" or view the UMW bulletin board in the St. Paul Room.

United Methodist Women (UMW)

Frankincense is extracted from the Boswellia sacra tree Myrrh

A Message from Our Pastor

Vision 2020

Keeping our Resolutions – Soup & Bread in the Year Ahead

January 31, 11:30 a.m. (after second service) in the gym

As we commence on our vision quest as a congregation, your congregational leaders are very mindful that the vision

must focus on Jesus Christ as the head of the church and on His disciples, you and me, of all ages. We pray that

each one has a personal relationship with Christ and is seeking to “know Christ, grow in Christ, serve and share

Christ.” Where do you want to be in your life with Christ at the end of 2016? How can your family of faith support you

in keeping these resolutions? Please come to an all church soup and bread luncheon on Sunday, January 31. John Harrell will guide the

conversation for those who are willing to sit and talk after lunch, and those of all ages who will need to share by moving through a fun process,

Pastor Joyce will be the travel guide. Please come! (And bring a pot of soup if you like to share!) This is a part of the visioning process. We

will conclude by 12:45 p.m.

(Hold the Date) Visioning Retreat Saturday, April 23, 2016

Time and place to be announced. All those in elected positions will be expected to attend. All those who are interested in claiming God’s

vision for our future are welcome to attend. Retreat Leader: The Rev. Mary Huycke, former District Superintendent of the Seven Rivers

District (central Washington) and founder of Courageous Space.

Who is My Neighbor? Saturday, February 20, 10 a.m.-12 noon

This vision event scheduled for Saturday, March 5 has been moved to Saturday, February 20 because of the Lenten All Church Study issues

and a desire to make sure that the youth are engaged in this neat exercise. Come and read fascinating demographic material provided

through a Pacific Northwest Conference contract with MissionInsite. Look at where our members live. Talk about your heart for your

neighbors at home, at work, and at school. Take a fun assignment. Report back.

The Art of Soul Tending

You and I can make a list of the subjects we want to cover in a teaching moment with our students, children, grandchildren, team, youth group

members or Sunday school class. We can put on the hat of expert, authority figure or, wise one and expound on the material that needs to be

mastered. We can hope that those listening will comprehend and process all that we share. But the most profound moments of interaction are

those moments when a question, a pondering, or a thought comes from our young friend as we journey together in all kinds of settings in life.

We listen to them deeply and then they wait to hear from us. Our response might be a probing question, or an insight. These are the “miracle

moments” when true learning takes place.

As we enter this New Year, I pray that there will be many more opportunities for young and old to journey informally together where we can talk

together and grow each other’s souls. Deep listening is an art, and it takes time. As we focus on our youth ministry in this edition of The

Circuit Rider, please join me in prayer “O Lord, give us time together to grow in Christ, every age together.”

Listening…

Pastor Joyce Emery

Administrative Board

Did you know? Salmon Creek Church is seeking to elect a Treasurer, an officer of the Corporation to provide oversight, checks and balances

to our bookkeeping, reporting and investing practices. This Treasurer will work with Winston Asai, Chair of our Finance Committee, Pastor

Joyce Emery, and our excellent Bookkeeper, Michelle Westlund. This elected leader will look at the big picture, understand our financial

policies and make sure that we follow them and keep them up to date. Do you have the skill set to serve Christ in this manner? Please talk to

Pastor Joyce Emery, Winston Asai, Carolyn Officer or any member of the Nominating Committee. A job description is available. This is a

volunteer position and will require four to eight hours per month.

The Staff Parish Relations Committee is assigned the task of hiring all church staff and then supporting them as they work with our congregants. As a committee, we are committed to hiring people who can work within our mission, (Knowing Christ, Growing in Christ, Serving Christ and Sharing Christ). Staffing a church is an interesting challenge in today’s world. Many of the members who normally would be able to do long term volunteer positions no longer have the time or the flexibility. Families are busier with both parents working, or they may be single parent families; our treasured retired members are often traveling or caring for grandchildren, or their own parents. In other words, our times have changed, which means the way we get tasks completed in an effort to be a vibrant and active church, must also change. Most churches are faced with this challenge, resulting in the need to reframe job descriptions and perhaps hire additional staff. Salmon Creek UMC is in that position. We have grown in many ways, beyond the small family church that could be run largely by church members volunteering or working part-time. The church has to carefully consider the trade-offs of task priorities, time to accomplish the task and the cost to accomplish the task. All must be considered with our members’ needs in clear focus. Over the last year, all new job descriptions were written and were published in the Charge Conference Book. New jobs were posted on the website and announced during the announcements at church. A formalized hiring process is in place: 1. Determining need and writing the job description 2. Posting the job on church website, craigslist, colleges and universities as appropriate, using the formal and informal networks,

announcements at church 3. Screening and pre-interviews 4. Interviews 5. 2nd round interviews with church members (stakeholders) doing the interviews 6. Debriefs, 7. Hiring decision 8. Offer 9. Acceptance 10. Assignment of a mentor / liaison The most important part of the process includes listening to the needs of the church. We do this before, during and after the hiring process is started. We try to talk to stakeholders first; this helps us determine job requirements. After several candidates are interviewed and the field is narrowed down, we bring in some of the people who will be directly impacted. For example, when we were hiring for the youth ministry position, we had parents and youth spend time with the candidates, and then meet with SPR to debrief. It is a priority to include the stakeholders as we go through the hiring process. Salmon Creek UMC has some outstanding employees to compliment the depth and breadth of the volunteers who make this church be alive, sharing the joy of Christ with our members and our community.

Staff-Parish Relations

SPR – Thank you Wendy Egly and Ministry Job Openings

Did you know? Wendy Egly will conclude five years of service with

us as Accompanist on January 24, 2016. Wendy has provided

leadership for our Praise Team for the past year. She has worked

faithfully with our Chancel Choir as accompanist (and director now

and then) and encouraged all ages of congregants to use their

musical gifts to glorify God. Wendy is a very skilled sound and video

technician and has offered us guidance there as well. We will miss

Wendy and offer words of praise and thanksgiving as she embarks

on new avenues of service. Thank you for your service in Christ.

Godspeed. Until we meet again!

Ministry Job Openings:

SPR has posted an Accompanist position. Please check at the

church website for the job description. Please use your

contacts to help SPR find this person. The rate of pay:

$125 per week for rehearsal and Sunday morning. The

focus will be on the 8:30 a.m. worship service. We are

looking for a person gifted and called to this service.

SPR will be posting a Handyperson Position to supplement the

work of the Trustees. This will be a 10 hour per week

position, $15.00 per hour, flexible hours. Research is

being done to see if this position could be a job-share

position with another Vancouver congregation. Please

keep your eyes and ears open for folk that might be perfect

for this position.

Would you be willing to be a part of a team of people who plan the 10:00 a.m. worship service from beginning to end for each Sunday during

Eastertide? (April 3, 10, 17, 24, May 1, 8) An overall theme will be chosen based on scripture. This will be a pilot project where the team

creates worship experiences together. Each person on the team will take a lead in a different component of the worship experience. The

roles are:

Team leader

Along with the Pastor and the Director of Music, the team leader is responsible for the overall coordination and implementation for this church

season.

Music Leader

The music leader coordinates the music used in worship.

Environment leader

The environment leader oversees the development and presentation of the visual environment in the sanctuary in a way that is conducive to

worship.

Arts leader

The arts leader is responsible for exploring and implementing creative ways to celebrate God through the performing arts in worship.

Children and Youth leader

The children and youth leader is responsible for thinking through and discovering ways to make worship more accessible and meaningful to

children and youth.

Support leader

The support leader oversees the diverse group of tasks integral to worship including working with ushers and greeters and coffee hour hosts.

You can work alone on your worship role or work with a team that you recruit of people you know who have gifts and talents that will support

the strategies that the team develops. This will require four weekly planning meetings before Eastertide (March 2016) and then implementing

the plan. If you would like to be a part of the team talk to Pastor Joyce Emery or John Harrell, Ministry Associate.

Eastertide Worship Planning 10 a.m. Service

Finance Report

Preliminary December / YTD 2015 Financial Report

Happy New Year. Overall, our financial report remains very strong as we enter into 2016. We had a very strong December, and were able to make up the

shortfall in Pledge Income that we had seen all year! Both Pledge income and total income ended up at 101 % of Plan! With the strong income in

December, we had a surplus in December of $ 3,853, and that increased our YTD Surplus to $ 24,398 for the full year 2015. We are still finalizing the

2016 Budget and will publish a summary, after it is approved by the Administrative Board. Looking forward to a strong 2016, and we want to thank

everyone for their continued stewardship in 2015.

Following is a brief summary of our December, 2015 financial results:

Month of December YTD December, 2015

Favorable / Favorable /

Actual Budget (Unfav) Actual Budget (Unfav)

Income 53,417 39,765 13,652 482,516 477,176 5,340

Expenses 49,564 39,707 ( 9,857) 458,118 476,485 18,367

Surplus /

(Deficit) 3,853 58 3,795 24,398 691 23,707

As always, thanks to everyone for their continuing faithfulness and stewardship in 2015, and if you have any questions, please contact any member of your

Finance Committee!

Respectfully submitted,

Winston Asai

Chairman, Finance Committee

Our mission at Salmon Creek UMC is to “make disciples of Jesus Christ for the transformation of the world”. We encourage everyone in our

faith community to be intentional about your own personal spiritual growth. At Salmon Creek UMC we promote using the spiritual growth

framework called “The Roadmap to Spiritual Growth”, which comprises four areas of focus,

Knowing Christ, Growing in Christ, Serving Christ, Sharing Christ

Here is a recommendations for investing in one of these four areas for your Roadmap to Spiritual Growth.

Growing in Christ

Upper Room eLearning Opportunities

When we hear someone mention the Upper Room Ministries, many of us think of the great pocket sized devotional they publish on a bi-monthly basis. You may be excited to know that they also offer many spiritual formation resources that you can access of online, particularly the courses found at the Upper Room eLearning website. The resources offered there are accessible anytime and anywhere. In this online school, they have an array of courses for your choosing. All courses are designed to enrich your spiritual life and can be completed at your own pace. They are also priced very reasonably. To check out the courses they are currently offering go to, http://urelearning.upperroom.org.

Roadmap to Spiritual Growth

CICO is the abbreviation for Check-in Check-out, a proven strategy to help at-risk

students be successful in school. CICO gives students a chance to check in with a

staff person in the morning, get a snack and ensure they have all the supplies they

need to have a successful day. Students receive a card that they use to record

feedback from their teachers throughout the day. At the end of the day the students

check out with a staff person and receive feedback on how their day went, and

another snack.

Since we began CICO last year we have seen positive impact on a number of

students. One example is Hanson who struggled with behavior as a 6th grader, now

after a year on CICO he rarely displays behavioral issues and mentors other students

on the program. JJ, an 8th, grader has, in the past, had ongoing behavioral issues,

he asked to join CICO this year and several teachers commented on how respectful

and focused he has been.

What makes CICO successful? It isn't the snacks, it is the regular connection and

feedback with positive, supportive adults. However, the snacks help draw students into the program, we have had several self-referrals this

year. These are tweens and teens, they are always hungry!

We currently have 25 regular participants in CICO, this requires 50 snacks a day. We have another church partner who provides our

morning snacks. It would be wonderful if Salmon Creek Church could help with afternoon snacks. The most popular snacks are granola

bars (peanut free), fruit snacks and corn nuts - value size packages are the best. If you would like to donate snacks to Gaiser you can bring

them to church and leave them in the Gaiser Partnership box in the Narthex. Contact Kathy Hardy with questions about the Gaiser

Partnership.

Gaiser Partnership– CICO

Thanks So Much Christmas Elves! The Mission Team wants to thank everyone who supported the Salvation Army Adopt-A-Family program in December. Christmas elves bought presents of gifts and food items, they sorted and wrapped gifts and they delivered sleighs full of goodies to six families! The Salvation Army sends a heartfelt thank you for Salmon Creek’s participation. In all 161 families, representing 656 individuals, received Christmas love countywide. From the Salvation Army, "We greatly appreciate the blessing you were in someone else's life. Sometimes a thank you is not spoken but afterwards the gratitude is felt. You have made a difference in the lives of those you adopted."

Thousands and Thousands of Kids in Clark

Ready for Jesus’ Unconditional Love

By John Harrell

Picture, if you can, an awkward, scrawny seventh-grade boy with

big glasses, a cracking voice, and high-water pants, circa 1999 or

2000. He rides the school bus, likes to sing, has trouble with math,

and is starting to ask who he is in the world—what his purpose is,

where he fits in, and why the “in-crowd” doesn’t seem to notice him.

Now picture him about two miles down the road, at a little church

on the corner. Same kid, same year—but completely different

context, because here, he is surrounded by a crowd of Christians

who have decided to follow Jesus and, as a result, are absolutely

devoted to making sure that their middle and high schoolers are

loved unconditionally and empowered with purpose in Jesus’ name.

Many of us can remember what adolescence was like—the joyful

highs, the painful lows, the awkward re-negotiations of relationships,

and the discovery of who we are. Neuroscience tell us that those

memories stick with us because the synapses in our brains do much

of their long-term formation during adolescence, the “everything-is-

changing-and-all-bets-are-off” period of development between

childhood and adulthood. As adults, it’s not impossible to un-learn

patterns of thinking that we form as teens, but it is very difficult.

That’s part of why it’s so crucial that kids know that they’re loved.

I’m a Christian to this day in large part because during that weird

period of junior-high, when fitting in at school was so hard, it was the

people at church who made sure I knew I was welcome in Christ’s

family and I had a calling and a purpose, no matter what clothes I

wore or what lunch-table I sat at. They showed that not only was I

worth living for, but they introduced me to a God who showed that I

was worth dying and being raised for. That’s a love more powerful

than I know how to say.

I won’t pretend that every adolescent has my story or that by

2016 the times haven’t changed. But some things stay the same.

There are, at this very moment, thousands of teenagers in Clark

County who live every single day of their lives wondering if anyone

understands what they’re going through, who will love them

unconditionally and stand by their side through thick and thin.

They’re wondering if there’s more to life than grades, relationship

drama, stress, or sitting alone five days a week. They’re wondering if

there’s anyone who is willing to love them for who they are.

As disciples of Jesus, people committed to “sharing Christ,” you

and I have an opportunity to be that voice of God’s love, forgiveness,

Dispatches from Youth Culture

and restoration in the life of a middle- or high schooler who may need

nothing more than just someone to believe in them or say hello.

Jesus tells us to "go into all the world and proclaim the good news to

the whole creation” (Mark 16:15 NRSV), and surely that includes the

thousands and thousands of kids in Clark County for whom “good

news” may just be a high-five or a listening ear, offered without

judgment. That can make all the difference between having purpose

and being adrift, between hope and despair, between life and death.

By the way, this matters for adults, too. At a church near Seattle,

I once shared my testimony about how I felt God’s unconditional love

through the example of the adults and teens who loved me during my

middle school years. Afterward, a woman in her 50s or 60s came up

to me and said, “I need to tell you that my husband was deeply

moved by what you said. Adolescence was very hard for him, and

he’s carried it with him all these years: but your story has given him a

word of hope.” That was a half-century after the fact. The ways we

seek out the lonely, forgotten kids in our community can have a real

impact on their lives decades later.

That’s where you come in. This week, this month—hey, even

this afternoon—you have the chance to be in ministry with a young

person, and all it takes is a moment of going out of your way to say

hello, to offer a meal or a cup of coffee, to let them know that you

care. There are thousands of kids out there in Clark County who

need God’s unconditional love, and we get to be a part of the “new

thing” that God is about to do through us if we’re willing. Let’s be

ready to follow where the Lord leads, so that maybe some teenager

out there can know that there is life, hope, and purpose in Jesus, the

God Who Became a Teen. Are you ready?

Don’t forget to connect with us

on Facebook.

If you want in on the SCUMY email newsletter,

contact John Harrell at

John.harrell@salmoncreekchurch.org

Mentorship and relationships are a crucial element of youth ministry. The CORE Team is our group of volunteers who work directly with our teens. They lead games at Youth Group events and go on trips—but more importantly, they pray for the students and build relationships with them over time. Look for CORE Teamers having on-the-spot conversations with kids at church, or having coffee with teens or going to football games and plays “out there” in the community, coming alongside them in their daily life.

Meet the SCUMY Youth CORE Team

John Harrell – What's up, y'all? I met Christ 'way back as a middle schooler and live to give him glory as best I can! I'm a huge fan of deep-dish pizza, traveling as far and often as possible, and beatboxing (making the sound of drums with my face). I also like to write, sing, preach, and hang out over coffee.

Amber Bryan – Hey there, I'm Amber! Jesus and I go way back and I strive to follow Him in everything. I am a walking contradiction who enjoys hiking, snowshoeing, and other outdoor adventures while at the same time being a talented couch potato, content to sit at home on a Friday evening with a bowl of microwave popcorn and video games.

Gavin Huckins – Hi there, It's me—just your friendly neighborhood Realtor, Gavin. I grew up in Gresham, Oregon, not far from here. My family made the short journey to Vancouver in 1998 when I was about 12 years old. I have been part of the SCUMC family ever since. I love to help with youth ministry because I have tons of energy that could not go towards a better cause (I also still consider myself a youth). If you know me long enough, you will find that I am an adrenaline junkie, and that I have an optimistic disposition toward life.

Don Hardy – I've really enjoyed being a Youth Group leader over the last 7 years and seeing youth transition from high school to college. My faith has grown in serving on many mission trips and seeing grace in action. I'm inspired and encouraged by the faith of our youth and willingness to live their faith. I always feel I come away with more after each Youth Group and filled with new ways of thinking about being the hands and feet of Christ. I look forward to all the great things God has in store for us this year.

OUR GOAL for the number of youth in weekly discipleship:

10by Charge Conference in 2017

Stacey McAllister -- Stacey McAllister has been part of SCUMY Youth since 2009. She is Native American and enrolled on the Colville Confederated Tribe here in Washington State. Three of her children have been part of SCUMY Youth programs, and she says the youth members have taught her to pray out loud over the years!

Jeff Hildreth – Jeff has been a volunteer with SCUMY Youth for 13 years. He works for Bonneville Power Administration and also plays guitar and piano!

Michelle Krug – I recently graduated from Portland State University and am still working on figuring out this whole "adult" thing. I am extremely passionate about our camping ministry and had the amazing opportunity to work on staff at Ocean Park this past summer. Looking back at my time in Salmon Creek's youth program I appreciate the youth leaders that were influential in my life and look forward to being there for our youth today.

Zach Scott – I like art, baking, and cartoons, and I work at the Salmon Creek Christian Preschool and Daycare. I started attending SCUMY Youth when I was in 5th grade and now have returned as an adult leader. I’ve seen the youth program grow and change over the years. I also play guitar, drums, and bass.