Merry Christmas!

Remember to spend time focusing on Jesus privately and with others this Holy-day Season. May God bless you with Love, Peace, Joy and Hope!

 

Middle School Christmas Chapel

MIDDLE SCHOOL CHAPEL

Wednesday: Christmas Chapel! We sang Christmas songs and then had an advent prayer time. It was a holy moment as the entire middle school was silent and prayerful for 10+ minutes. Students could journal, draw, write down prayer requests, pray for the requests, or just sit and pray.

 

Cliff Wiener & TCHS Choirs

HIGH SCHOOL CHAPEL

Tuesday: Mr. Wiener's brother, Cliff spoke. He and his family are missionaries with YWAM, based out of Perth, Australia. Cliff asked the question, “what does it mean to seek God with all your heart?" First understand who God is. Then move toward God and he will run to you. God will also give you the strength you need to follow him. Cliff has recently developed online discipleship resources. Please visit stepstudyteach.com. To watch the chapel CLICK HERE

Thursday: We were blessed by the high school choirs, along with both string and brass ensembles. To watch the chapel CLICK HERE

MIDDLE SCHOOL CHAPEL

Tuesday: Mr. Wiener's brother, Cliff, spoke. He talked about glasses and how you need the correct prescription. We are often asking what other people think and what we think of ourselves. We need God's "prescription" to see him and life clearly. God loves us, knows us, thinks of us and wants the best for us!

NEXT WEEK

High School: pray for students taking exams

Middle School Wednesday: Christmas chapel

Lindloff Family, Christmas Singing, Nina from Ukraine

HIGH SCHOOL CHAPEL

Tuesday: Mr. Lindloff and his family blessed us with their presence at chapel. We were able to enjoy an advent devotion that their family does at home. At Christmas we remember that Jesus has come and look forward to his coming again! To watch the chapel CLICK HERE

Thursday: The chapel band led us in Christmas singing. We sang God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen, Angels We Have Heard on High, We Three Kings, and O Come O Come Emmanuel. During this time we also took about five minutes in silent prayer after Mr. Wiener read a few verses from Isaiah 9. To watch the chapel CLICK HERE

MIDDLE SCHOOL CHAPEL

Tuesday: Singing led by Mr. Pelt! Then we were blessed by a special guest, Nina O. from the Ukraine. Nina shared her testimony and her involvement in a Ukrainian ministry, the Inspiration Center. She challenged the students to have a vision for ministry here at home and maybe someday overseas.

NEXT WEEK

High School Tuesday: Cliff Wiener; Thursday: HS Choir

Middle School Wednesday: Cliff Wiener

Thanksgiving Open Mic Chapels

HIGH SCHOOL CHAPEL

Tuesday: Our annual thanksgiving chapel. After Mr. Pelt led us in singing Give Thanks and Tyra & Charles read Psalm 100, we had an open mic. It is one of the most encouraging chapels of the year. Many students shared what they were thankful for. One common theme for thanks was for the TC community and the teachers!

MIDDLE SCHOOL CHAPEL

Tuesday: After our singing time, Olivia and Kyle read Psalm 100. Then we had an open mic time. Teachers were invited forward first to share. Then many students came to the stage to publicly share what they were thankful for.

NEXT WEEK

High School Tuesday: Mr. Lindloff & family; Thursday: Singing & Prayer

Middle School Wednesday: Special speaker from Ukraine

Small Groups, Kirk Baker, Parable of Good Samaritan

HIGH SCHOOL CHAPEL

Tuesday: Small Group chapel on distractions. We read from Psalm 34. Some of the questions were “What distracts you the most from seeking God?”, “How does your phone distract you?”, and “What are specific things a person can do to overcome distractions?”.

Thursday: Kirk Baker, Moody Bible Institute professor of pastoral studies and TCES dad, was our speaker. He spoke about the importance of our hearts. Our hearts can prompt us to do and say things that are not good. So how can we develop a more faithful heart? Focus on the gospel, living it out each day, and be honest with people who can encourage us.

MIDDLE SCHOOL CHAPEL

Wednesday: We looked at the Parable of the Good Samaritan as a way to build heavenly treasures. Students read the parable and explained how to apply the parable to their lives. Also Mr. Wiener re-read the parable as students acted it out. Did they sure make the parable come alive!

NEXT WEEK

High School Tuesday: Thanksgiving chapel

Middle School Tuesday: Thanksgiving chapel

Curt Ammons, Dr. Bergsma, Mr. Pelt

Special Guests are our Veterans Day Chapel

HIGH SCHOOL CHAPEL

Tuesday: Our guest speaker was Curt Ammons, a pastor with the Chicago Church of Christ. He shared about his life, drifting along without an anchor. Then God placed some people in his life that witnessed the love of Jesus to him. He spoke to us about being real in our faith and about what genuine faith involves: knowledge, acceptance, trust, commitment. To watch the chapel CLICK HERE

Thursday: We had a special Veterans Day chapel. Dr. Bergsma, retired captain from the US Navy, was our speaker. Dr. Bergsma joined the Navy when he was 17 to join in the efforts in WWII. He shared about joining the Navy and also what life was like for a high school student during WWII. We were joined be several other veterans from Park Place. Mr. Bill Kretz, a Specialist in the Army during the Korean war, recited, with great emotion, a poem he wrote. To watch the chapel CLICK HERE

MIDDLE SCHOOL CHAPEL

Wednesday: Our band director, Mr. Pelt spoke! He showed some great photos of the young Mr. Pelt with band instruments (especially the trombone). His encouragement to the students centered around "we are made to work", "find your purpose in working in the Lord", "find your identity through Christ", and "the work is finished through Jesus".

NEXT WEEK

High School Tuesday: Small Groups. Thursday: Kirk Baker

Middle School: Bible stories acted out

Week of Singing: Hymn Sing & Chapel Band

HIGH SCHOOL CHAPEL

Tuesday: Hymn Sing at Faith CRC, across the street. What did we sing? Joyful, Joyful, We Adore Thee; How Great Thou Art; When I Survey the Wondrous Cross; Christ the Lord is Risen Today and Take My Life and Let it Be. Students read the hymn history before we sang each song. A special thanks to Mrs. Erdman, our organist, and Mrs. Slinkman, our pianist!

Thursday: Chapel Band! Olivia, Anna, Elijah and Jonah led us in worship. We sang, Revelation Song, Cornerstone, All the Poor and Powerless and You are My Vision. What a blessing this week to take time out of classes to worship our Lord in song.  To watch the chapel CLICK HERE

MIDDLE SCHOOL CHAPEL

Wednesday: none this week

NEXT WEEK

High School Tuesday: Curt Ammons. Thursday: Rev. Bergsma

Middle School: Mr. Pelt

HIGH SCHOOL CHAPEL

Tuesday: Pastor Greg Schuringa from Faith CRC (across the street from Timothy) blessed us today. Pastor Greg shared his testimony in the context of Romans 8:28, "And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose." Through funny stories and stories involving great difficulty, Pastor Greg encouraged students to always trust in God's goodness!  To watch the chapel CLICK HERE

MIDDLE SCHOOL CHAPEL

Wednesday: After Mr. Lundeen & the middle school worship team led us, our chapel time was a small group activity. Students had to line up according to their birth month. This was the basis for their small groups. After an opening question, the students discussed and shared their answer to this important question: what is one way to help you focus more on heavenly treasures? The responses were insightful and wise!

NEXT WEEK

High School Tuesday: Hymn Sing at Faith CRC. Thursday: Chapel Band

Middle School: assembly

Language is a Gift

HIGH SCHOOL & MIDDLE SCHOOL CHAPELS

Tuesday: Mr. Wiener (that’s me!) spoke about how language is a gift. We use language to learn, use language to label and use language to love. Sin has corrupted language. But God has called us to use language to honor him and bless others. Some of the talk was devoted to the reasons why taking God's name in vain and swearing are wrong. To watch the chapel CLICK HERE

NEXT WEEK

High School Tuesday: Pastor Schuringa

Middle School: Small Groups

Small Groups, Student-led, Steve Noble

HIGH SCHOOL CHAPELS

Tuesday: We had our 2nd small group chapel of the year. The focus was on reviewing what we learned in Manny Mill’s chapel last week. Students discussed “you are Joshua”, 100%, the cross of Christ, and the five application points.

Thursday: A special student-led chapel on the theme of “Treasures in Heaven”. After an opening survey, we enjoyed a humorous skit about heavenly & earthly treasures. Students shared about what Matthew 6:21 meant to them. We sang Seek Ye First and As the Deer Panteth. To conclude, a challenge was given: who will commit to spending the first 10 minutes of everyday seeking God? To watch the chapel CLICK HERE

MIDDLE SCHOOL CHAPEL

Tuesday: Steve Noble, middle school youth pastor from Christ Church of Oak Brook, spoke. With labeled cans of various sizes and ping pong balls, he made a profound Biblical point in an engaging way. We are tempted to build our lives on our own strength. Instead we need to live a life based on the love of God!

NEXT WEEK

High School Tuesday: Mr. Wiener

Middle School: Mr. Wiener

Prayer, Manny Mill, Adam Thompson

HIGH SCHOOL CHAPELS

Tuesday: Prayer Chapel. Mary and Mrs. Fox set the tone of chapel by playing a cello/piano duet of 10,000 Reasons. The opening prayer was in English, Chinese and Spanish. Arianna, Emily and Josh shared about the role of prayer in their own lives. Psalm 63 was read, and we all prayed the Lord’s Prayer. For the last ten minutes we had time to pray alone or in small groups. To watch the chapel CLICK HERE

Thursday: Today we had a special speaker: Manny Mill. He is the founder of Koinania House, a prison ministry. Here is a link to the recent Christianity Today article about the ministry: CLICK HERE. Manny briefly shared his testimony and then turned his attention to the book of Joshua. He challenged all the students to be “Joshua”. God is calling all of them to be leaders in this world. To watch the chapel CLICK HERE

MIDDLE SCHOOL CHAPEL

Tuesday: Adam Thompson, senior at Moody Bible Institute, spoke. By using his testimony of faith and the parable of the prodigal son, Adam encouraged students to base their lives on Jesus Christ and not on doing "enough" good deeds to please God.

NEXT WEEK

High School Tuesday: Small Groups; Thursday: Student-led on Matthew 6:21

Middle School: Steve Noble

Chapel Band & Homecoming Interviews

HIGH SCHOOL CHAPELS

Tuesday: The student chapel band led us for the first time this year. It was a wonderful time of worship as we sang My Lighthouse, This is Amazing Grace, Great are You Lord, and Good, Good, Father. Thanks to Arianna, Anna, Olivia, Jonah & Elijah! To watch the chapel CLICK HERE

Thursday: Homecoming Interviews. Mr. Rink & Mr. Whartnaby interviewed the 4 senior girls and then the 4 senior boys on homecoming court. Some of the questions asked were "if you could go anywhere in the world, where would you go and who would you bring with you?" and "if you spoke in chapel, what would your talk be about?”. To watch the chapel CLICK HERE

MIDDLE SCHOOL CHAPEL

Tuesday: The high school chapel band led the middle school in worship.

NEXT WEEK

High School Tuesday: Prayer; Thursday: Manny Mill

Middle School: Adam Thompson

Noah M., Rachel R., Small Groups

HIGH SCHOOL CHAPELS

Tuesday: Rachel R. spoke about a cross country trip she took this summer. Besides the adventure and stunning scenery, she learned about loving and respecting people. Noah M. spoke about how God used Rahab. She was an unlikely person to do God's work and yet God still worked through her. We should not live with labels. We easily label other people and even ourselves. These labels can hold us back. God calls us all to step out in faith and serve him!

Thursday: Our first small group chapel of the year. After introductory questions, students looked at Hebrews 12:1-2 and discussed goals for the school year.

MIDDLE SCHOOL CHAPEL

Thursday: Noah M. blessed the middle school with the message he shared in the high school chapel on Tuesday. Enjoy the video of our singing!

NEXT WEEK

High School Tuesday: Chapel Band; Thursday: Homecoming interviews

Middle School: Chapel Band

Rogalski, 1st Graders, Students Share

HIGH SCHOOL CHAPELS

Tuesday: Matt Rogalski, TC class of 2007, encouraged us with a talk on God’s amazing grace. Matt is currently a student at Western Theological Seminary in Holland, MI.

Thursday: We had our annual chapel with the 1st graders. We sang This Little Light of Mine, If You’re Happy, and Awesome God. Mr. Wiener told a story about being a blessing by sharing with others. He used the Octoberfest set characters in the story. But the godly example of the story was TC student, Claire, who showed care and did share. To watch the chapel, CLICK HERE

MIDDLE SCHOOL CHAPEL

Thursday: After singing, we saw a slide show that featured the summer from middle school students’ perspective. Then students were invited to the stage to share how God worked in their life this summer. We heard wonderful testimonies from the students!

NEXT WEEK

High School Tuesday: Noah Marrera; Thursday: Small Groups

Middle School: Noah Marrera

International Students, Student & Teacher Summer Sharing

HIGH SCHOOL CHAPELS

Tuesday: An encouraging chapel that helped us learn more about (and welcome better) our eight international students from China. Mr. DeKoekkoek led our time. Each student shared and showed photos/video.

Thursday: Part 2 of students sharing about summer mission and serve trips. Elmhurst CRC and Immanuel Lutheran groups shared along with Daisy and Catherine & Savannah. It was so encouraging to hear from students how God through them and in them this summer.

MIDDLE SCHOOL CHAPEL

Thursday: Like last week, after singing (check out the video below!), we had summer teacher photos. By standing up, all the students guessed what teacher went with what photo. The middle school teachers also showed other photos from their summer and shared how God worked in their lives.

NEXT WEEK

High School Tuesday: Matt Rogalski; Thursday: 1st graders join us!

Middle School: Student summer photos & sharing