Hoekema, Small Groups, Contentment

HIGH SCHOOL CHAPEL

Tuesday: Pastor Jon Hoekema of Horizon Community Church spoke on prayer, specifically prayer being about deepen our relationship with God rather than what we can get out of God. It is about seeking his face, his presence, not just about his hands, what he can give us.

Thursday: Kendra opened in prayer. Sarah, Macy, Joe, Brett & Gus shared how small groups have been valuable this year. Students then left to their small groups with the time focusing on the theme of courage. The Scripture passage was from Acts 4, focusing on "When they saw the courage of Peter and John...They were astonished and they took note that these men had been with Jesus." Some of the questions discussed were "what story of courage inspires you?" and "how can you show courage by standing up for what you believe in?".

MIDDLE SCHOOL CHAPEL

Miss VanDenBerg's homeroom led chapel on contentment. They acted out the Parable of the Workers in the Vineyard from Matthew 20. They also did a humorous skit on how social media breeds discontentment. Miss VanDenBerg challenged us to be content and thankful. For those on Instagram, she challenged people to post pictures of things that bring joy and use #tcjoylist.

NEXT WEEK

High School. Tuesday: Amanda & Mackenzie on Haiti trips; Thursday: Adams' Band

Middle School: Adams' Band

Location: Timothy Christian Schools

 

Chapel Band & Pechanio

HIGH SCHOOL CHAPEL

Tuesday: The student chapel band led us. By the way, they are really sounding good! We sang Take It All, Ten Thousand Reasons, Lord I Need You, How He Loves, Set a Fire, The Doxology.

Thursday: Former TCHS Bible teacher, Matt Pechanio, spoke. He shared about his missions trip to India and related the trip to Lent. Going to India was an amazing opportunity and yet a difficult trip. It made home all the better when he returned. Lenten disciplines, or fasts, should not be seen as burdensome religious deeds. Rather, they should be seen as opportunities. As we journey through Lent, these opportunities make the "homecoming" of Easter that much more wonderful!

MIDDLE SCHOOL CHAPEL

None this week due to IOWA testing.

NEXT WEEK

High School. Tuesday: Pastor Jon Hoekema, Thursday: Small Groups

Middle School: VanDenBerg Homeroom

Location: Timothy Christian Schools

 

Dooley, Black History, Mr. Ridder's Homeroom

High School Chapel
Tuesday: Louis Dooley shared his testimony. Growing up in East St. Louis, he endured much hurt in school and at home. This led to a lucrative drug dealing "business" even before graduating from high school. At age 19 he was sentenced to life in prison for attempted murder and armed robbery. Soon after going to prison, he committed his life to Jesus Christ. Louis earnestly sought to grow deeper in his faith. To his astonishment, the parole board let him out of prison after 15 years. Louis gave a stirring call to be committed to Jesus and to live for Jesus.

Thursday: We enjoyed the yearly black history chapel. Malik led off with a rap that he wrote–great performance! Tyra read a moving poem by Langston Hughes. Montanna created a PowerPoint of great quotes from African Americans that was shown while Kairra played the piano. Kendra and Arianna led singing with others. Anita & Mark read from Deuteronomy & Galatians. Fabian was our emcee.

Middle School Chapel
Mr. Ridder's homeroom led chapel. The theme was wisdom. After Taylor and Grace helped with the singing, Bible passages were read and the students performed skits. Mr. Ridder tied it all up at the end, encouraging students to listen to wise people and follow godly wisdom. We also watched a video that you might like to see: Keith & Kristyn Getty, The Perfect Wisdom of Our God.

Next Week
High School
Tuesday: Chapel Band lead worship; Thursday: Matt Pechanio

Homecoming, King's Choralier's, "Jesus Calms the Storm"

HIGH SCHOOL CHAPEL

Tuesday: 2014 Homecoming Court was announced. Mrs. Songer and Mr. Whartnaby interviewed the seniors on the court: Jenny, Sarah, Haley, Charis, Josh, Gus, Flavius, and Conner. Some questions asked: "What is a perfect day with friends?", "What is a favorite Bible passage?", "Advice for freshmen?", "What superpower would you like to have and why?".

Thursday: Special afternoon concert by the King's Choraliers. This singing group, of near 40 men, began in 1950 in Grand Rapids, MI. They stopped at Timothy on their Midwest concert tour. Some of the songs they sang were Psalm 150, A Mighty Fortress is Our God, Da Animals are Coming', This Little Light of Mine, and the Timothy Fight Song with the TC faculty men. Be sure to check out the video.

MIDDLE SCHOOL CHAPEL

After Taylor opened with a solo, Amazing Grace, we looked at "Jesus Calms the Storm". This story, from Matthew 14, was acted out with many students participating. I was the narrator. The students were the actors. It was quite crazy on the stage with the disciples, the boat, the waves, the wind and "Jesus". But we ended on a serious note, with prayer. Students were challenged to consider what hurts, frustrates, worries, or depresses them. With a tight fist and then with hands open, we acknowledged our pain and then looked to Jesus with simple faith.

NEXT WEEK

High School. Tuesday: Louis Dooley; Thursday: Black History Chapel

Middle School: Mr. Ridder's Homeroom

Location: Timothy Christian Schools

 

5 Famous Hymns, Small Groups, Sytsma Homeroom

HIGH SCHOOL CHAPEL

Tuesday: Hymn Chapel, part 2 (5 hymns every Christian should know). Ms. Salvatori played the piano. Nathan & Flavius led off with prayers of thanks. Josh & Vince read Scripture about God's strength within us. Amanda & Sarah led us in confession. Mr. Ven Housen shared a moving testimony of how God has used Blessed Assurance in his life.

Thursday: Small Groups: all students met with their assigned group (based on grade & gender). The theme was strength. The Scripture passages discussed were Ephesians 1:18-22 and Philippians 4:13.

MIDDLE SCHOOL CHAPEL

Mrs. Sytsma's homeroom led a chapel on love. Through a "classroom" skit, a story about a bridge building carpenter, Scripture, and a music video they drove home the point that God is love, and we should love one another. Enjoy the video!

NEXT WEEK

High School. Tuesday: Homecoming interviews, Thursday: King's Choraliers

Middle School: Jesus calms the stormy sea

Location: Timothy Christian Schools

Community Worship, Pastor Troxel, I Am Second

HIGH SCHOOL CHAPEL

Tuesday: A recap of the Humboldt dinner started off the chapel. Mr. Pelt and Mr. Wiener led a time of singing with guitar, vocals and...harmonica. Next, Mr. Wiener shared how God touched his life at a recent worship conference. Then students were invited to share how God is speaking into their lives. What a blessing to be a part of the TCHS community!

Thursday: Pastor Troxel, from Bethel OPC in Wheaton, was our speaker. He spoke of God's definition of love by contrasting style and class. "Style" puts the attention on yourself, and "class" seeks to benefit others. He made the point with poignant stories and a call to look to Jesus. Jesus is our example of love and our loving Savior.

MIDDLE SCHOOL CHAPEL

Mr. Gesch led us in singing. We sang Lean on Me, I Have a Maker and Sanctuary. Because of the snowy morning and resulting lower attendance, we did something different in chapel. In the spirit of the Olympics, we watched the Scott Hamilton iamsecond.com video. He gives a wonderful testimony of his commitment to Jesus Christ and trust in God. We also watched Bethany Hamilton's video.

NEXT WEEK

High School. Tuesday: Hymn Chapel, Thursday: Small Groups

Middle School: Mrs. Sytsma's homeroom

Location: Timothy Christian Schools

 

Thoughts on Our Lack of Prayer

Before I address the title of this post, a few comments on chapel. Due to the polar vortex, we had only one chapel last week: high school chapel band leading worship through singing on Thursday. I was gone for this chapel, so I don't have photos but I do have great appreciation for this dedicated group of students.

Why was I not at chapel? I was at the Calvin Symposium on Worship in Grand Rapids. While there is much to share, I will focus my thoughts on just one thing: a spiritual high point. The time is filled with worship services, fellowship and workshops. At workshops people will often stay longer to ask the speaker(s) questions. I was at a workshop on a particular church and worship, and when it concluded, I felt led to not ask a question but to request prayer–prayer that I may truly be led by God more and more as a Bible teacher and "chapel guy".

The resulting prayer was a holy moment as tears streamed down my face. I am so glad that I asked for prayer and not merely some follow-up question. Afterwards, this time led me to think, "why are Christians, in general, so reluctant to ask others to pray for them for personal matters of their lives?" How is God calling you to humble yourself and ask someone else to pray for a need in your life?

NEXT WEEK

High School. Tuesday: Jason Turner, Thursday: Craig Troxel

Middle School: Mr. W. (me) on the Gospel

Location: Timothy Christian Schools