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Lend a Helping Hand
In the last issue of The Hopper, we
asked whether you have ever served God by serving others and
more than 90% of you said YES! God is so pleased when we show
his love by helping others. Whether you're raking an elderly
neighbor's leaves or working at a food pantry with your youth
group or running an errand for your mom, serving is the way
you put aside what you want to do in order to lend a helping
hand to someone else. In this issue of The Hopper
we'll look at some more ways to serve and learn more
about why and how God wants us to do it. You'll also find
another cool stunt to try (and the answer to last month's
challenge!) and other fun stuff. So, keep
reading!
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What's
Happening at SpringHill Michigan
3rd, 4th, 5th and 6th graders - tell your church
youth leader about SpringHill's Fall Retreats! At SpringHill
Michigan we'll be meeting at the Hill for two Juniors
retreats: November 17-19 and December
1-3. Shout it out with KC & the Gloworms, go crazy with
out-of-this-world activities, and get lots of time to grow
with God and as a group. It'll be your group's greatest event
of the year and your best chance to get back to SpringHill
before
2007!
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Help Out with Everything You've
Got
Serve wholeheartedly, as if you were
serving the Lord, not people. -Ephesians 6:7
When your mom asks
you to set the table, do you sigh or complain or say, "Why do
I have to do it?" When a classmate is having trouble finding a
book or a pencil, do you pretend you don't notice and look
away? Often we try to get out of helping others, especially
when we'd have to sacrifice something fun that we could be
doing instead or when we're worried about looking weird or
different.
But God doesn't just
want us to serve others, he asks us to do it! And he doesn't
just say "serve," he says do it with your whole heart. And he
doesn't just say "do it for others," he says "do it for me."
Remember who you're serving the next time you're asked to help
or the next time you see someone who could use your help. And
give your time and service in a happy, energetic way. You'll
be serving God and showing God's love to others.
Share some
questions and answers with your parents: What's your
motivation for helping out at home? What does God want your
attitude to be? What are some ways that you can serve others?
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SpringHill
Counselors Talk to The Hopper
Copper
Country counselor Megan Taylor spent her first summer at
SpringHill this summer and had an awesome time! An elementary
education major in her sophomore year at Taylor University in
Indiana, Megan talks to The Hopper about how she
serves God and why she does it.
The Hopper: What are some tangible ways
you serve God?
Megan: I believe that our
whole life is an act of service. Some specific ways I serve
are volunteering with teaching soccer to special needs kids
and tutoring inner city students. In fact, I loved tutoring so
much that it led to my major.
The Hopper:
Did you learn anything about service while you were at
SpringHill?
Megan: Humility. When you
serve you're not doing anything for yourself. It's all for
God. At camp, my total focus was on the campers and giving
them the best week of their lives.
The Hopper:
How does serving God and serving others impact your
own life?
Megan: If I don't serve God and
others there's no purpose to my life. Plus, serving others is
one of the best ways that we can show Christ's love to others.
The Hopper: What advice do you have for a
camper who wants to serve?
Megan: Always
be looking to serve others because God calls us to do that. If
someone at school drops his books, help him pick them up.
Stick up for someone who is being picked on. Or if your mom is
making dinner at home, ask what you can do. No act of service
is too small.
Hey, Storybrook campers! Counselor Dan Buckley, a junior
studying marketing at Michigan State, talked to The
Hopper, too. Here's what he said about why he serves.
The Hopper: What are some tangible ways
you serve God?
Dan: In high school I
played guitar in the worship band at church.
The
Hopper: Did you learn anything about service while
you were at SpringHill?
Dan: I learned a
lot about being selfless. Sometimes I got tired and wanted to
sit back and rest, but I was there to help kids have fun and
that was more important than my own comfort.
The
Hopper: How does serving God and serving others
impact your own life?
Dan: Putting aside
my own needs allowed me to have one of the best summers of my
life. I got to help campers experience Jesus and have fun.
What could be better than that?
The
Hopper: What advice do you have for a camper who
wants to serve?
Dan: Put other people's
needs before your own. Whether it's a family member or a
classmate, helping someone out is a good way to show God's
love.
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SpringHill
Stunts
Last month, we gave you a tricky
rope-tying stunt to try. Did you figure it out? If not, are
you ready for the solution? Watch
the video now to see how it's done! (Or, if you missed the
email last month, click
here to see the challenge.)
Now for a new stunt! We call
this one The Inchworm. Here's what you
do:
1. Find a partner and sit
facing each other with your knees bent and your feet flat on
the floor.
2. Grab your partner's arms and slide your
feet under your partner so he or she is sitting on your feet.
Have your partner do the same thing.
3. Lift your body
up and back, taking your partner's feet with you. As you sit
back down, have your partner lift up and forward so
together you start moving in one direction.
With good teamwork and
coordination, you and your partner should be able to move like
an inchworm across the floor. Once you've practiced a little,
find some friends and have a
race!
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Thanksgiving Jokes
1. What's the key to a great
Thanksgiving dinner?
2. How did the Mayflower show that it
liked America?
3. Which side of the turkey has the most
feathers?
4. What kind of music did the Pilgrims listen
to?
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I Wish God
Would Tell Me
Dear
Gracie,
I know God says that we
should love our enemies, but there is a boy in my class who is
mean and doesn't like me. How can I possibly love
him?
From Not Feeling Loving
Dear Not Feeling Loving,
Loving someone who doesn't like
you or isn't friendly to you can be really difficult. Jesus
showed us how this was possible when he didn't say one unkind
word against the people who hurt and killed him. In fact,
Jesus even asked God to forgive these people and he gave his
very life for them - that's how much he loved them! Although
it can be hard to change our "feelings," we can choose our
actions. The best way to love this mean boy is to choose to be
kind to him even when you don't feel like it. Don't speak
badly about him or be mean in return. Instead, smile, say kind
things and, if possible, find a way to serve him. You'll be
showing him God's love and you may be surprised by his
response!
Love, Gracie
p.s. If someone's meanness turns to
bullying, please tell someone.
Is there something you wish God would tell
you? Ask Gracie.
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What You
Said
40% of you
say that you tell others about Jesus all the time;
30% of you say that you would tell people,
but you don't know what to say.
80% say that
sometimes it's difficult to talk about
your faith.
Do you feel like having Jesus in your life
is an awesome thing? 100% say yes!
More than 90%
of you have served either with your
youth group, your family, a volunteer organization or by
yourself.
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Joke Answers
1. The
TurKEY
2. It hugged the shore.
3. The outside
4.
Plymouth Rock | |
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