in this issue...

Link_arrow_icon SpringHill News

Link_arrow_icon Christmas Giving

Link_arrow_icon On Our Radar

Link_arrow_icon Ways to Give Thanks

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presidentltr

Praying for our kids . . . for many, this topic feels like Parenting 101; but who doesn’t need a reminder of the basics once in a while? I believe our first responsibility as parents is to pray for our kids. If you’re like me, you may feel you don’t always pray enough or always pray for specific things. Here are a few suggestions that we give to our summer staff as we help them pray for their campers and help ensure that the SpringHill Experience is “God Immersed.”

Read entire letter from Michael Perry

Discuss the letter on Michael Perry's blog

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newsletters for kids

Did you know that SpringHill has three different newsletters for students? Is your child receiving one? If not, subscribe to one today!

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family matters

In an age when no one seems to have enough of what they want, how do we teach our kids what it means to be truly thankful? Check out these practical and insightful articles and help nurture a spirit of gratitude in your family.

Giving Thanks: 13 Creative Ways to Encourage Gratefulness This Thanksgiving

Thanksgiving Ideas: 10 Creative Ways to Give Thanks on Thanksgiving Day

How can I help my children focus on God this Thanksgiving?

Counting Your Blessings Thanksgiving Survey

Do you have a family-building resource you'd like to share. Please email us!

on our radar

mikeschair Otherside from Mike’s Chair
With a refreshing, melodic sound and a Christ-focused message for a hungry world, indie rock band Mike's Chair drew all ages to the stage at this year’s SpringHill Music Festival. The band, comprised of five friends who met in the same dorm as college freshmen, has been making a name for itself across the country, touring and selling thousands of their EP without the aid of a record label. The energy and growing popularity of this band will be a hit with your kids; their interesting sound and unapologetic lyrics will make it easy for you to listen as well. We think it’s a band everyone can agree on! To learn more about Mike's Chair, visit the band's website.

christmas book Christ in Christmas: A Family Advent Celebration by Dr. James Dobson, Charles Swindoll, James Montgomery Boice and R.C. Sproul
Even though there's a lot to do at Christmas, families still need some quiet time together! Here is a simple yet profound devotional that will walk your family through Advent, Sunday by Sunday. Devotions, hymns, questions to ponder, and things to make (such as an Advent wreath) will help build family traditions and help you truly celebrate Jesus' coming. Focus your family on the true meaning of Christmas even in the midst of the hustle and bustle of the season. Click here to learn more about the book.

what can we give?

82_Green_SH_icon It's mid-November and your kids are probably already working up their Christmas lists. Since stores have decorated and started playing holiday music even before Thanksgiving has come and gone, it's no wonder our kids have started thinking about the gifts they might get. When our culture focuses on selfishness, how can we help focus our families on giving and gratitude? In this issue of The Source we share practical and creative ways to do this. You'll also find reviews, SpringHill news and a thoughtful letter on prayer from SpringHill's president. Give us a look!

what's happening at springhill michigan

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If your child is in 4th, 5th or 6th grade, be sure to tell your child's Sunday school teacher or youth leader about the SpringHill Juniors Retreat November 30-December 2. Get all the details online!

This is a chameleon generation, which is why the Middle School and High School Winter Retreats are designed to help students identify who they really are and know why God loves them so much! Tell your child’s youth group leader about the SpringHill Winter Retreats in January, February and March 2008. Live music from well-known bands, powerful words from hard-hitting speakers and the usual parade of extreme SpringHill activities make these weekends an absolutely incredible way to launch the new year!

It's time to start thinking about summer! Registration for g2g Summer 2008 opens January 14 at 6 p.m. for returning campers and January 21 at 6 p.m. for anyone who wants to give their child a thrilling, life-changing SpringHill experience. Mark your calendars. This is going to be a summer your kids will always remember!

SpringHill moms this is for you! Has your child had an incredible SpringHill experience? Would you like to share SpringHill with your child's friends and their families? Join our M@SH (Mom's at SpringHill) team and get all the help you need to spread the word about SpringHill, pray for our ministry and be a vital support to the mission of SpringHill by helping more kids experience Jesus! Visit the M@SH website to learn more.

freely give as you have received

This Christmas, how can we keep the focus on giving rather than receiving? In the Springhill student enewsletters, we shared how God wants us to pass on the gifts that we have been given, both material things and our non-material blessings. This Christmas can be a great time to focus your family on opportunities to give. Here are some practical ideas to get you thinking:

· Operation Christmas Child — Kids can give to less-fortunate children around the world by packing an ordinary shoe box with small items like toys, school supplies, hats, sunglasses and wrapped hard candies. Samaritan's Purse delivers the gift boxes to children in countries such as Bosnia, Rwanda and Romania. Check the Samaritan’s Purse website for a drop off location near your home or for instructions on where and how to send the box(es). Deadline is November 25.

· Surprise Advent Boxes — Have each of your children pack small boxes with goodies such as wrapped candies, Kleenex packages, pencils, a Christmas card, handmade pictures and a Scripture verse. Then have children wrap or decorate their boxes and deliver them to a local nursing home or to shut-ins who are members of your church.

· New Baby Stockings — Buy some inexpensive stockings from a craft store. Organize a group of families to come together to decorate the stockings and fill them with pre-purchased baby items such as soap, socks, diaper cream and teething rings. Deliver all of the filled stockings to a crisis pregnancy center. 

· Anonymous Gift — Collect wicker baskets from thrift stores or garage sales. After decorating them with colorful tissue paper, add homemade Christmas cookies and attach a tag that says, "Jesus loves you." Allow your child to drop a basket on your neighbor's doorstep, ring the doorbell and run. The suspense of not "getting caught" fuels this activity while practicing the principle of giving in secret.

· Christmas Prayers — At dinner each evening in December, chose a Christmas card you have received, read it as a family and pray for the ones who sent it.

· My Gift to Jesus — After teaching about God's gifts to us, talk about how we can give gifts to Jesus. Then have children think of something they promise to do that Jesus would really like. Have kids write gift cards that say something like, "Lord Jesus, this Christmas my gift to you is (promise). Love, (child's name)." Each child can put his or her card in a small box, wrap it and label it, "To Jesus. From (child's name)," and put it under the tree. On Christmas Day, each child can open his or her gift to Jesus.