JUST A REMINDER:
HOMECOMING SERVICE AT RIVERSTONE CHURCH
FRIDAY NIGHT (July 3rd)
5pm- PICNIC
6pm- SERVICE
See you there!
Friday, July 3, 2009
THURSDAY & FRIDAY
We really can't believe that today is our last day of Summer Camp 2009. It has been a really wonderful week, with so much deep growth and passion imparted into our students. At the same time, we had WAY too much fun. :)
The Cereal teams have had a great week. The scores have been close day after day, so Thursday's games were worth tons of points, each team hoping to pull away from the pack for the victory. (By the way, the winning team will be announced at the Homecoming Service Friday night- 5pm picnic, 6pm service.) We took a favorite game, corn hole, and twisted it- RiverStone Camp style. Instead of throwing bean bags, the students had to toss ham hocks. Normal, right? :) We also played a game where the kids had to try to catch eggs in a cup.... while holding the cup in their mouth. It was a great new game. Definite keeper. :) The scores have been tallied and the students are begging to know the results. And they will.... tonight.
Thursday night features what always seems to be a camper favorite- the dance! With a different theme every year, the dance continues to inspire some really interesting costumes. This year's theme was PROM THROUGH THE AGES, so we had outfits from the 1940s and outfits from prom this year. With some great performances by the Jonas Brothers, the cast of Grease, High School Musical, Taylor Swift, and MC Hammer, the students were fully entertained. And our counselors did quite a job lip syncing those songs.
Scott spoke to the students about how to take this passion and desire and have it impact their daily lives, especially on their campuses. It is amazing to see God move on their hearts and give them each a conviction to see real change happen at the schools in Cobb County next year. The counselors made another fire tunnel, this time the students being encouraged to move much quicker through it. :) We ended the night jumping and dancing and worshiping God.
It was a great week for our students and counselors. We consider ourselves blessed to be under the teaching of Scott Thompson this week. As well, we are so grateful to Daniel Bashta, Kim Walker, and the band for leading us in worship this week. And of course, Cory and Kristin are awesome leaders for our students, as well as the cell group leaders and other adults who volunteered their time this week to minister to the campers.
Our camp week was also blessed to have the Sozo Ministry here every day to minister to the students and adults. It is such a powerful ministry, changing hearts and healing lives and making a permanent impact on the future of the kids. We are grateful that these adults took the time to come here and invest in our students.
The prayer room has been busy every morning. It is amazing to see these students and adults getting up at 6am to go pray for our camp, for the day, for their schools and their friends. We are so grateful to the adults who set up the prayer room and committed to that place throughout the week.
While we are thanking adults, we'd also like to take time to thank the nurses Kim Long and Shana Owen and Dr. Richard Bardwell for taking this week and being here for our students and counselors in case of emergency or sickness. Praise God, we have not kept them very busy. (Though I personally fell down a hill. You're welcome for that fact.)
Also, we'd like to give a HUGE thank you to Chip and Veda Bush. They have run the administrative side of camp for ten years now and are hanging up their jump drives and retiring. They together have served our camp year after year selflessly, staying up late at night and getting up early in the morning and working months and months in advance, to make sure that the details of camp are in line. We pray many blessings for them in return for their service to our youth.
For your students (and you as well), each evening service, each morning Awakening, games, and teaching impact groups will be available to watch on demand on our live broadcast site. (Thanks so much to Boo and the other guys who made this possible again this year.)
Thank you again for allowing us to live with your students and hang out with them this week. We are so grateful for the opportunity and we look forward to MORE that God has planned for them, and our schools, and our youth ministry, this year.
Hope to see you at the Homecoming Service tonight!
The Cereal teams have had a great week. The scores have been close day after day, so Thursday's games were worth tons of points, each team hoping to pull away from the pack for the victory. (By the way, the winning team will be announced at the Homecoming Service Friday night- 5pm picnic, 6pm service.) We took a favorite game, corn hole, and twisted it- RiverStone Camp style. Instead of throwing bean bags, the students had to toss ham hocks. Normal, right? :) We also played a game where the kids had to try to catch eggs in a cup.... while holding the cup in their mouth. It was a great new game. Definite keeper. :) The scores have been tallied and the students are begging to know the results. And they will.... tonight.
Thursday night features what always seems to be a camper favorite- the dance! With a different theme every year, the dance continues to inspire some really interesting costumes. This year's theme was PROM THROUGH THE AGES, so we had outfits from the 1940s and outfits from prom this year. With some great performances by the Jonas Brothers, the cast of Grease, High School Musical, Taylor Swift, and MC Hammer, the students were fully entertained. And our counselors did quite a job lip syncing those songs.
Scott spoke to the students about how to take this passion and desire and have it impact their daily lives, especially on their campuses. It is amazing to see God move on their hearts and give them each a conviction to see real change happen at the schools in Cobb County next year. The counselors made another fire tunnel, this time the students being encouraged to move much quicker through it. :) We ended the night jumping and dancing and worshiping God.
It was a great week for our students and counselors. We consider ourselves blessed to be under the teaching of Scott Thompson this week. As well, we are so grateful to Daniel Bashta, Kim Walker, and the band for leading us in worship this week. And of course, Cory and Kristin are awesome leaders for our students, as well as the cell group leaders and other adults who volunteered their time this week to minister to the campers.
Our camp week was also blessed to have the Sozo Ministry here every day to minister to the students and adults. It is such a powerful ministry, changing hearts and healing lives and making a permanent impact on the future of the kids. We are grateful that these adults took the time to come here and invest in our students.
The prayer room has been busy every morning. It is amazing to see these students and adults getting up at 6am to go pray for our camp, for the day, for their schools and their friends. We are so grateful to the adults who set up the prayer room and committed to that place throughout the week.
While we are thanking adults, we'd also like to take time to thank the nurses Kim Long and Shana Owen and Dr. Richard Bardwell for taking this week and being here for our students and counselors in case of emergency or sickness. Praise God, we have not kept them very busy. (Though I personally fell down a hill. You're welcome for that fact.)
Also, we'd like to give a HUGE thank you to Chip and Veda Bush. They have run the administrative side of camp for ten years now and are hanging up their jump drives and retiring. They together have served our camp year after year selflessly, staying up late at night and getting up early in the morning and working months and months in advance, to make sure that the details of camp are in line. We pray many blessings for them in return for their service to our youth.
For your students (and you as well), each evening service, each morning Awakening, games, and teaching impact groups will be available to watch on demand on our live broadcast site. (Thanks so much to Boo and the other guys who made this possible again this year.)
Thank you again for allowing us to live with your students and hang out with them this week. We are so grateful for the opportunity and we look forward to MORE that God has planned for them, and our schools, and our youth ministry, this year.
Hope to see you at the Homecoming Service tonight!
Some photos!
Winners on the game show!!
Gross.
Praying for our schools.
Uh.... smile campers. Or do whatever you want.
Yay for the Pre-Campers!!We'll probably be putting up most of our pictures on the Riverstone Summer Camp website as well as our facebook group. So check there in the next few days to see all the pictures. And don't forget that you will be able to watch videos on demand at our live broadcast website.
Thursday, July 2, 2009
TUESDAY & WEDNESDAY
Hey friends.
So sorry that a blog post didn't get up yesterday. We had a busy and super fun Tuesday, which led to one exhausted blogista (that's me).
Tuesday's games were up on the field. Thanks to a late night Monday (remember the 3 hour prayer tunnel?), the students were dragging a bit by the morning. So we intro-ed a new game, kind of like a human foosball game, that pretty much ended up looking like a bunch of kids standing still and throwing balls back and forth. Sleepy kids + a standing-still game = not quite the enthusiasm that one would hope. :) But then we brought back and oldie- mattress pass. And as has been the case for the last ten years or so, one of the Vickroy boys won the game. This time, Nathan, the rising 9th grader, rode the mattress like a champ and returned victorious.
The morning Awakening prayer time has been very powerful- to see our students interceding for their schools, their teachers, their friends, and their principals is AMAZING. I hope you get a chance to talk with your student about the heart of a lion that God has placed in him/her regarding their school year. 2009-2010 should be quite the year in Cobb County.
The evening activity was a hoe-down led by the best hoe-down caller in the world- Bob Cagle. For an hour, our cowboys and cowgirls stomped and swung around Mobley Hall
The Tuesday night evening service focused on how the love that God has for us should be the motivating factor in the things that we do and the way that we love other people. Scott has given us a beautiful new perspective on evangelism- we love because God loves us first! And the night ended with the students singing their own songs of love to God and receiving love from Him. The murmur, the hum, of hundreds of teens singing their own songs about how they love God is a heavenly sound.
Wednesday morning's games were, well, gross. I'm gonna let your kids tell you all about it, or you can watch it on demand in the near future on our live broadcast page. It involved a serious amount of buttermilk.
On Wednesday is when the students switch to their new Leisure Impact groups. (As you probably know, they go to 4 different teaching impact groups- one per morning. But As for Leisure, they go to the same one on Monday/Tuesday and then a new one on Wednesday/Thursday). And of course, water aerobics is in full effect. There is a new group called "Jam Band" that is super fun to walk by- and boy, is it loud. :)
Something new we have this year is a resource center for our students. For very low prices, Daniel Bashta and Kim Walker are selling their CDs and t-shirts, and there are books and journals and other resources that the students can use to continue to grow in their faith even once camp is over. It's another way that our youth minister Cory is showing his commitment to our students year round. It's awesome.
The Cool Beans Coffee Shop is HOPPIN' as usual! I went Wednesday for the first time right at 2:30pm when it opened and the line was already fifteen people deep! Smoothies and coffee drinks, chairs and magazines, the whole room is set up in a way that allows for students to connect to each other and the counselors in cool hang out location. We are really grateful to have this new staple at camp.
Our evening activity on Wednesday was such a huge hit last year that we knew we had to bring it back- the BIG GAME SHOW! We had kids winning water bottles, Chick-fil-A coupons, and even $50! We played Family Feud, the Matching Game, Quiz Questions, and Deal or No Deal. The students absolutely loved it again (as did the adults).
Wednesday night's service was fun. The prayer service to prepare for the night was just a room full of dancing counselors and students. It was a good time- dancing on behalf of what God was ready to do in the hearts of our students. Scott talked about courage- about stepping up and being a champion on the campus where they go to school. Using the example of Jonathan and his sword bearer, Scott challenged our students to live boldly for Christ. And then, for an hour or so, the students danced for their campus. They danced for their God. They danced to proclaim that each of them wants to be a champion for Christ.
On Thursday morning, Cory met with the counselors and said, "Last night was awesome, but it was not the mountain top", reminding us all that though last night (Wednesday) was very powerful, God is not done with us yet. Continue to pray for us today, knowing that God has a mighty MIGHTY plan for the rest of this week.
We hope you get to participate along with us by watching the service live tonight.
And of course, we hope you are able to join us at RiverStone Church on Friday night for the Homecoming Service- bring a picnic and eat with us at 5pm, then the service will begin at 6pm.
So sorry that a blog post didn't get up yesterday. We had a busy and super fun Tuesday, which led to one exhausted blogista (that's me).
Tuesday's games were up on the field. Thanks to a late night Monday (remember the 3 hour prayer tunnel?), the students were dragging a bit by the morning. So we intro-ed a new game, kind of like a human foosball game, that pretty much ended up looking like a bunch of kids standing still and throwing balls back and forth. Sleepy kids + a standing-still game = not quite the enthusiasm that one would hope. :) But then we brought back and oldie- mattress pass. And as has been the case for the last ten years or so, one of the Vickroy boys won the game. This time, Nathan, the rising 9th grader, rode the mattress like a champ and returned victorious.
The morning Awakening prayer time has been very powerful- to see our students interceding for their schools, their teachers, their friends, and their principals is AMAZING. I hope you get a chance to talk with your student about the heart of a lion that God has placed in him/her regarding their school year. 2009-2010 should be quite the year in Cobb County.
The evening activity was a hoe-down led by the best hoe-down caller in the world- Bob Cagle. For an hour, our cowboys and cowgirls stomped and swung around Mobley Hall
The Tuesday night evening service focused on how the love that God has for us should be the motivating factor in the things that we do and the way that we love other people. Scott has given us a beautiful new perspective on evangelism- we love because God loves us first! And the night ended with the students singing their own songs of love to God and receiving love from Him. The murmur, the hum, of hundreds of teens singing their own songs about how they love God is a heavenly sound.
Wednesday morning's games were, well, gross. I'm gonna let your kids tell you all about it, or you can watch it on demand in the near future on our live broadcast page. It involved a serious amount of buttermilk.
On Wednesday is when the students switch to their new Leisure Impact groups. (As you probably know, they go to 4 different teaching impact groups- one per morning. But As for Leisure, they go to the same one on Monday/Tuesday and then a new one on Wednesday/Thursday). And of course, water aerobics is in full effect. There is a new group called "Jam Band" that is super fun to walk by- and boy, is it loud. :)
Something new we have this year is a resource center for our students. For very low prices, Daniel Bashta and Kim Walker are selling their CDs and t-shirts, and there are books and journals and other resources that the students can use to continue to grow in their faith even once camp is over. It's another way that our youth minister Cory is showing his commitment to our students year round. It's awesome.
The Cool Beans Coffee Shop is HOPPIN' as usual! I went Wednesday for the first time right at 2:30pm when it opened and the line was already fifteen people deep! Smoothies and coffee drinks, chairs and magazines, the whole room is set up in a way that allows for students to connect to each other and the counselors in cool hang out location. We are really grateful to have this new staple at camp.
Our evening activity on Wednesday was such a huge hit last year that we knew we had to bring it back- the BIG GAME SHOW! We had kids winning water bottles, Chick-fil-A coupons, and even $50! We played Family Feud, the Matching Game, Quiz Questions, and Deal or No Deal. The students absolutely loved it again (as did the adults).
Wednesday night's service was fun. The prayer service to prepare for the night was just a room full of dancing counselors and students. It was a good time- dancing on behalf of what God was ready to do in the hearts of our students. Scott talked about courage- about stepping up and being a champion on the campus where they go to school. Using the example of Jonathan and his sword bearer, Scott challenged our students to live boldly for Christ. And then, for an hour or so, the students danced for their campus. They danced for their God. They danced to proclaim that each of them wants to be a champion for Christ.
On Thursday morning, Cory met with the counselors and said, "Last night was awesome, but it was not the mountain top", reminding us all that though last night (Wednesday) was very powerful, God is not done with us yet. Continue to pray for us today, knowing that God has a mighty MIGHTY plan for the rest of this week.
We hope you get to participate along with us by watching the service live tonight.
And of course, we hope you are able to join us at RiverStone Church on Friday night for the Homecoming Service- bring a picnic and eat with us at 5pm, then the service will begin at 6pm.
Tuesday, June 30, 2009
MONDAY
Another great day! Summer Camp 2009 is shaping up just amazingly. Our games for the morning were gross (of course), but hilarious. Just look at what had to be licked off this piece of plexi-glass!!
The schedule this year is a little different than it has been before. After games each morning, there is a new gathering called "Awakening", where our students and counselors gather together and intercede for different topics each morning. It is really awesome to see our students sincerely and voluntarily praying for important topics for an hour each day.
Monday is when we start our first rotation of teaching and leisure impact groups. For teaching groups, the students are hearing from the Hambricks, Ann Marie Hallett, Ernie Wagoner, and Scott and Lacey Thompson. Each speaker is covering a different topic, from dating to prayer to intimacy with Christ to prophecy.
The evening activity was a cabin scavenger hunt. Each cabin received a list of items and questions that had to be found around camp. You'll never guess what item (person?) was worth the most points.
Yep, that's our worship leader Daniel Bashta! 500 points if you found him and brought him to Mobley Hall.
I hope you got a chance to watch the live broadcast of our evening service. It was an awesome night. Students prayed for each other to be healed and there were testimonies of healings! Then after Scott spoke about the fire of God consuming the offering (from 1 Kings 18), the counselors and students who have been participating in IHOPs around the country formed a "fire tunnel". The students walked through and were prayed for by the people forming the tunnel. It ended up being a 2 1/2 hour time of worship and ministry.
Needless to say, many students are dragging a bit on Tuesday and will probably take a nap.
We are excited about what God is teaching us and doing in and around us. Keep praying for us!
The schedule this year is a little different than it has been before. After games each morning, there is a new gathering called "Awakening", where our students and counselors gather together and intercede for different topics each morning. It is really awesome to see our students sincerely and voluntarily praying for important topics for an hour each day.
Monday is when we start our first rotation of teaching and leisure impact groups. For teaching groups, the students are hearing from the Hambricks, Ann Marie Hallett, Ernie Wagoner, and Scott and Lacey Thompson. Each speaker is covering a different topic, from dating to prayer to intimacy with Christ to prophecy.
The evening activity was a cabin scavenger hunt. Each cabin received a list of items and questions that had to be found around camp. You'll never guess what item (person?) was worth the most points.
Yep, that's our worship leader Daniel Bashta! 500 points if you found him and brought him to Mobley Hall.I hope you got a chance to watch the live broadcast of our evening service. It was an awesome night. Students prayed for each other to be healed and there were testimonies of healings! Then after Scott spoke about the fire of God consuming the offering (from 1 Kings 18), the counselors and students who have been participating in IHOPs around the country formed a "fire tunnel". The students walked through and were prayed for by the people forming the tunnel. It ended up being a 2 1/2 hour time of worship and ministry.
Needless to say, many students are dragging a bit on Tuesday and will probably take a nap.
We are excited about what God is teaching us and doing in and around us. Keep praying for us!
Monday, June 29, 2009
SUNDAY
What an exciting first day!
Once the kids were unpacked, the games began. With our AWAKENING theme this year, we focused our team names around breakfast cereal- get it? Wake up, eat breakfast? We have some clever interns. Here is the Froot Loop team.
And what is cereal without a little milk?
Yep, that's a baby pool full of milk and cereal. And marbles. And your students grabbing them with their toes.
It was an awesome kick-off to camp. Or shoe-off. Whatever. :)
After games, we have a prayer meeting to prepare for the service. Usually, there are about 30-50 counselors and older campers that attend the Sunday night prayer meeting. Amazingly, we had over 100 students of all ages (and counselors) at the prayer service. It was a time of intentional intercession where we came to God on behalf of the band, the speaker, and the students.
The service began and the worship was awesome.
Then our speaker, Scott Thompson, spoke in depth on freedom in Christ and how we can take active roles in receiving that freedom. The students really responded and spent time at the end of the service praying together and receiving prayer ministry from the counselors. If this is the first night of camp, we are SURE that we have plenty to look forward to!
In the tradition of Sunday night, we followed the service with a late night obstacle course. Believe it or not, the 8th grade boys were the fastest and the 8th grade girls were the fastest! Needless the say, the college men/12 grade boys were not pleased to be beaten by a mere 2 seconds.
We've had a great Monday so far- can't wait to tell you all about it and show you the pictures! Keep praying for us and know that you are welcome to join us for any evening service this week (which begin at 8:30pm) or you can watch online throughout the day.
Once the kids were unpacked, the games began. With our AWAKENING theme this year, we focused our team names around breakfast cereal- get it? Wake up, eat breakfast? We have some clever interns. Here is the Froot Loop team.
And what is cereal without a little milk?
Yep, that's a baby pool full of milk and cereal. And marbles. And your students grabbing them with their toes.
It was an awesome kick-off to camp. Or shoe-off. Whatever. :)
After games, we have a prayer meeting to prepare for the service. Usually, there are about 30-50 counselors and older campers that attend the Sunday night prayer meeting. Amazingly, we had over 100 students of all ages (and counselors) at the prayer service. It was a time of intentional intercession where we came to God on behalf of the band, the speaker, and the students.
The service began and the worship was awesome.
Then our speaker, Scott Thompson, spoke in depth on freedom in Christ and how we can take active roles in receiving that freedom. The students really responded and spent time at the end of the service praying together and receiving prayer ministry from the counselors. If this is the first night of camp, we are SURE that we have plenty to look forward to!
In the tradition of Sunday night, we followed the service with a late night obstacle course. Believe it or not, the 8th grade boys were the fastest and the 8th grade girls were the fastest! Needless the say, the college men/12 grade boys were not pleased to be beaten by a mere 2 seconds.
We've had a great Monday so far- can't wait to tell you all about it and show you the pictures! Keep praying for us and know that you are welcome to join us for any evening service this week (which begin at 8:30pm) or you can watch online throughout the day.
Sunday, June 28, 2009
Sunday afternoon is here!!
Hi all!
We can't believe it is already here- Summer Camp 2009 has officially begun!
As I type (this is Annie, by the way), the counselor lair is filling quickly with counselors registering, grabbing name tags, saying hello to their friends, and preparing for the students to arrive.
Thanks to a construction delay on I-20, the bus may not be here quite at 3pm, but we are ready for the students to show up!! Sunday afternoon is always great- the campers are ready to be here, the counselors are excited, and the staff that has been working for months is finally seeing camp begin.
This is a great day.
More info to come later.... we are so excited to be here!
We can't believe it is already here- Summer Camp 2009 has officially begun!
As I type (this is Annie, by the way), the counselor lair is filling quickly with counselors registering, grabbing name tags, saying hello to their friends, and preparing for the students to arrive.
Thanks to a construction delay on I-20, the bus may not be here quite at 3pm, but we are ready for the students to show up!! Sunday afternoon is always great- the campers are ready to be here, the counselors are excited, and the staff that has been working for months is finally seeing camp begin.
This is a great day.
More info to come later.... we are so excited to be here!
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