First Full Week of Chapels

HIGH SCHOOL CHAPEL

Tuesday: A chapel of prayer and song. We were blessed with prayers from three moms who attend the weekly “Moms in Prayer” group at TC. Students read Scripture and prayed. They prayed for teachers, other TC employees, families, churches, and our nation. Mr. Pelt and Grace led us in singing.

Thursday: Eight teachers submitted photos from their summer. In groups of four, the teachers came to the stage. First students saw the photos. Then seniors who were picked randomly had to guess what teacher went with what photo. Then teachers shared about their photo and used thoughts about the photo to encourage students in their faith.

MIDDLE SCHOOL

Wednesday: First chapel of the year! Nate Mitchell led us in song. We sang The Lion and the Lamb, O Come to the Altar and Reckless Love. I read a list of possible summer activities and students stood for what was true about them. Then some students shared about summer “wow” moments. The point? We need to turn our “wow” moments into worship moments. We concluded by reciting together this year’s theme verses, Hebrews 12:1-3.

NEXT WEEK

High School Tuesday: Mr. Mitchell; Thursday: Summer student ministry sharing

Middle School Friday: Summer teacher photo sharing

School Begins!

HIGH SCHOOL CHAPEL

Thursday: Our first chapel of the year! After students greeted those sitting around them, there were three trivia questions about what happened at TC over the summer and next students stood if a statement was true about themselves. For instance, stand if you had a dream about school this summer or stand if you served through church this summer.

Then a ball (a soft one) was thrown out among the students. Whoever caught it was asked to share about a “wow” moment of the summer. After several throws, I challenged students to look for “wow” moments, both big and small this school year. We need to turn the “wow” into worship! Finally, we looked to our theme verses of the year. In all things we need to fix our eyes on Jesus. Jesus needs to be the foundation of our lives, not our feelings. What are the theme verses? Check out the slides shown in chapel:

FIRST HS CHAPEL SLIDES

NEXT WEEK

High School Tuesday: Song & Prayer Chapel; Thursday: Teacher Summer Photos

Middle School Friday: First chapel of the year

Last Week of Chapels

HIGH SCHOOL CHAPEL

Wednesday: Annual Senior Slideshow chapel. All the seniors sat together on the stage. We watched the slideshow (thanks for making it, Jill!). The slides featured a baby picture, senior photo and plans for next year. School photos from elementary and middle school were also shown. The chapel ended with the teachers circling around the students for prayer. Mr. DeKoekkoek, Ms. McNeil and Mr. Lindloff prayed.

Thursday: Last chapel and summer challenge for the 9th-11th graders. We began with the TC auction slideshow and duet, by Anna & Maggie. Simply beautiful! Grant, Myah & Luke led us in singing Reckless Love. Mr. Wiener then gave a brief talk that included him and trees. His comments focused on growing in faith this summer.

MIDDLE SCHOOL

Friday: Anna & Maggie once again began chapel (see H.S. Thursday chapel). Then the field day captains came to the stage. In groups of eight, they came up with a short skit on great outdoor summertime activities. Finally Mr. Wiener gave the talk he did on Thursday with the H.S.

Have a blessed summer!

Small Groups, Seniors Share, Tennis Lessons

HIGH SCHOOL CHAPELS

Tuesday: Last small group chapel of the year. Students’ sharing focused on reflection of this past year and how they can apply Colossians 2:6-7 this summer (and beyond!).

Thursday: Senior Testimony chapel. Eleven seniors reflected on their high school years. They shared how God had worked in their lives and how they have grown in faith. What an encouraging time!

MIDDLE SCHOOL CHAPEL

Friday: Mr. Wiener gave “tennis lessons”. Using the game of tennis, he explained lessons on faith: what do you enjoy? what bothers you? what risks are you willing to take?

NEXT WEEK

High School Wednesday: Senior chapel slideshow; Thursday: Last chapel of the year

Middle School Friday: Last chapel of the year

Asian Heritage, Orchestra, Vandenberg Homeroom

HIGH SCHOOL CHAPEL

Tuesday: Today was our Asian heritage chapel. We began with the Lord’s Prayer, spoken in a variety of Asian languages. We then sang How Great is Our God. The song included lyrics in different languages. Then three students shared about their experience in Asian churches and how Asian culture affected their faith. We concluded by singing the Revelation Song. Revelation 7:9, “After this I looked, and there before me was a great multitude that no one could count, from every nation, tribe, people and language, standing before the throne and before the Lamb.”

Thursday: The TCHS Orchestra blessed us with their music!

MIDDLE SCHOOL

Friday: Ms. VanDenBerg’s homeroom led chapel. The theme was identity in Jesus Christ. Through Scripture, prayer, video and on stage visuals (see photos below), students reinforced the truth and beauty of being called a child of God through Jesus. Notice what happened with the fingerprinted Post-it notes in the chapel.

NEXT WEEK

High School Tuesday: Small Groups; Thursday: Senior Testimonies

Middle School Friday: Mr. Wiener

Student Sharing, Pasek, Schutte Homeroom

HIGH SCHOOL CHAPEL

Tuesday: We had a wonderful time of sharing! Previous to this chapel, each small group had submitted a photo representing how the resurrection of Jesus should make a difference in our lives. In the chapel, one person from each group shared about their photo.

Click for the slideshow: The Resurrection of Jesus

Thursday: Andy Pasek, from Elmhurst CRC, was with us. He spoke about the radical, powerful nature of God’s love. And when we receive that love, it should have a profound effect on us and how we treat others. God calls us to love others sacrificially. Even though this love takes a lot of effort and is often difficult, it is totally worth it! Jesus is working through us. At the end of chapel, Andy invited students to the stage to commit to love by writing their name on large sheets of paper. 

MIDDLE SCHOOL CHAPEL

Friday: After singing Build Your Kingdom Here and Here I am to Worship, Mr. Schutte's homeroom led chapel. Through a skit, Scripture and a short talk, this chapel reinforced the need for loving, supportive Christian community.

NEXT WEEK

High School Tuesday: Asian Heritage; Thursday: Orchestra

Middle School Friday: Ms. VanDenBerg's homeroom

Best 7th grade project art from the previous week (thanks to Ella & Melania):

Fernandes & Wilson

HIGH SCHOOL CHAPEL

Tuesday: Mr. Fernandes, 8th science teacher and high school soccer coach, was our speaker. He spoke of his recent trip to Uganda with his wife and their call to move to Uganda. After he shared about Uganda, he spoke of the lessons God impressed upon him from Uganda. Mr. Fernandes encouraged students to live with contentment by centering their lives on Jesus.

Thursday: Mr. Wilson spoke. He has recently preached in some area churches and is also Timothy’s newest employee, working in the school’s technology department. His talk focused on Colossians 2:8. He highlighted ways in which the world corrupts our thinking and how the gospel gives us true life.

The photo below was my favorite artwork of the week (by Marta!)

NEXT WEEK

High School Tuesday: Small Group sharing; Thursday: Andy Pasek

Middle School Friday: Mr. Schutte’s homeroom