SPOTnews!!!

Lesson Prep

Last week we discussed how to bring calm to the hurried home. The three mandates for accomplishing this are:
1. Maintain an attitude of forgiveness
2. Live within the boundaries of God's Word
3. Maintain an eternal perspective

This Sunday's video series is a continuation of last week's presentation. We will be presented with three additional mandates. The topic of discussion will center around the theme of "When All You Wanted Is Not Enough."

Here is something to think about in preparation for class: What does it mean to have a servant attitude?

Look forward to seeing you Sunday,
Don

SPOTlunch this Sunday

If you like a good roast beef sandwich and meaty conversation, you'll want to come to this Sunday's SPOTlunch at the Lion's Choice Restaurant on South Lindbergh Blvd. That's right, it's not Mexican and it's not hamburgers, just tasty roast beef and, in the spirit of our hurried lives, it is served really fast!

We'll assemble there after second hour. If you attend class regularly, you know SPOTlunch is an event that's always worth the trip! And if you're one of our associate members or just visiting, we'd love for you to join us so we can get to know you better!

Don't miss out on the fun with a little au jus on the side.

CSM Parent Meeting

The Concord Student Ministries leadership team led a spirited meeting last Sunday.

A full summary of the meeting was sent out earlier this week to everyone on the SPOTmail list. If you missed it, the summary is available on the SPOTblog -- www.thespotsspot.blogspot.com.

Also, if you have not received your copy of the 2009-2010 CSM Guidebook, please contact Jeremy Proemsey at 314-843-3500 or via email at Jeremy@concordlife.com.

The Christmas Party SPOT

Because actors and singers in our class will be attending another of the unending rehearsals for the Concord Christmas Show, we have adjusted the start time to 5 p.m. for the Christmas SPOT Shindig at the Hurt's home on December 6.

This way we can all enjoy the get-together, together! You can dismiss any earlier reports that Kevin will be wearing bell-bottoms. But what about love beads, tie-dye fashions and psychedelic lights?

There are more details to come, so check out the SPOTfolder when it passes this week, watch your email box and start looking through your yummy appetizer recipes.

We're also looking for a good Root Beer-nog mix or a list of ingredients for a refreshing root beer punch. Please email your best ideas to thespostspot@gmx.com.

College Care Packages

We'll be baking cookies on Saturday, Nov. 21, beginning at 1 p.m. to fill the voids in the lives of many Concord college students. The SPOTchefs will be seeking to fill not only their tummies, but that empty space in their mailboxes that can only truly be filled with packages from home.

Bring your prepared dough to the church kitchen and plan on a full afternoon of baking and taste-testing as the SPOTclass again sponsors the College Care Package ministry. We're currently seeking the names of Concord's college students around the country so we can send them goodies just in time for final exams.

If you know of any students away at school, or have one or more yourself, please email their name and address information to Spotspot@gmx.com

Christmas Project

The SPOTclass is collecting items for the Missouri Baptist Children's Home in the festively decorated box in our classroom. If we fill the box, we'll find another one. A comprehensive list of the items the Children's Home is seeking is included on the new class blog. Check out www.thespotsspot.blogspot.com.

Prayer Requests

Send prayer requests anytime to spotspot@gmx.com

• Remember the Spitz family at the death of Doug's father. Visitation is at Kutis on Lemay Ferry Road on Friday until 9 p.m. with the service at 3 p.m Saturday and a dinner to follow at 4 p.m. at the church.
o If anyone from the SPOT class can either help with making food for the dinner or could possibly help serve, it would be appreciated. Please call Linda Conrad (314) 221-2036.
• Pray for ways to make the Christmas show, Imagine the Wonder, a more effective outreach tool.
o Performances Friday, December 8, 7:30 p.m.; Saturday, December 9, 2 p.m. and 7:30 p.m.; Sunday, December 10, 2 p.m. Tickets are $5 and sales this Sunday!
• Thanks for the return of our fearless copy editor!

SNACKS - SNACKS - SNACKS - SNACKS - SNACKS - SNACKS - SNACKS

• November 15 - Kevin Hurt
• November 22 - Janice Meinhardt

PRAYER REQUEST

We have a prayer request for Doug and Susan Spitz. Doug's dad (Ralph) passed away yesterday (11/11) from his battle with cancer.
Visitation will be:

Friday, 11/13 - 4:00-9:00 p.m. visitation

Saturday, 11/14 -- 3:00 p.m. memorial service

-- 4 :00 p.m. a dinner at Concord


If anyone from the SPOT class can either help with making food for the dinner or could possibly help serve, it would be appreciated. Please call Linda Conrad (314) 221-2036 if you can help in any way.

Parents Meeting Update!!!

While there were a large number of parents in attendance at the Nov. 8 quarterly CSM Parents' Meeting, we know not all SPOT parents could make it. Here's a brief summary of what was discussed and recommendations considered.



The primary topic of discussion was change to the CSM program implemented this fall.

* Jeremy/Sarah explained the new program is part of an overall strategy to provide more concrete Bible study options for students.


* The new CSM program is designed to provide options to all students at whatever their level of faith, but not to try to serve ALL students through ALL activities. They described a funnel with four levels of activities, each appealing to a narrower audience (based on spiritual maturity):
o Open and seeker-friendly events

+ Back-to-School parties

+ Retreats (Breakaway, Big Chill)

o Youth Worship

+ Wednesday nights at 6:30

o Bible study for youth

+ Sunday mornings

o Small Groups for youth seeking deeper Bible study in a relationship-building community


* The structure called for schedule adjustments and leadership changes.
o CSM leadership and older youth will lead worship for the foreseeable future.

+ Jeremy/Sarah want students focused on worship, not performance.

o Worship, not small groups, is now the focus of Wednesday night activity.

+ Small groups with universal membership became social activities, rather than relationship-building Bible studies.

While most parents endorsed and promoted the goals of the new stucture, and many said their students had benefited greatly from the changes, there are concerns:

* Many parents stated the changes were not well communicated to parents or students prior to implementation.


* New Wednesday praise band structure (CSM leadership/college students) is misunderstood.


o Jeremy/Sarah believe more mature leadership is needed.
o Some parents say their younger students feel unappreciated and rejected.





* Parents voiced concerns that the schedule changes result in several unintended consequences.
o Many small groups cannot find a suitable time to meet during the week.
o Parents with students in both Bible study hours cannot attend worship with all their children .
o Some 11th & 12th grade students in first-hour Bible study no longer attend worship services.

+ Students say they do not like the music in second service.

+ Jeremy/Sarah believe worship style should not be an issue.

o Some 6th-10th graders are coming only for second-hour Bible study and not attending worship.

+ Some parents who bring students for one hour attend second-hour worship only.

The meeting resulted in recommendations for changes to respond to some of these concerns.

* The 5:30 - 6:30 p.m. Wednesday time slot will be available for small groups wishing to meet at that time.
o No other conflicting youth activities will be scheduled during this time (after completion of the Foosball Tournament now underway).

o Jeremy/Sarah will advise small group leaders of this option.


* A new location will be sought to enable 11th & 12th grade students to meet during 10:30 Bible study hour.
o SPOT class members volunteered to move to another location during 10:30 Bible study if no other suitable rooms are available.


* Jeremy/Sarah will send out a survey soon to parents seeking input on how CSM can best serve the needs of Concord students.


* Jeremy/Sarah will develop measures to gauge the success of various aspects of the CSM program. Among them:
o Attendance at CSM activities
o Percentage of high school graduates still attending a church regularly while away at college.

Jeremy and Sarah also shared plans for mission trips and other CSM activities:

* Middle Schoolers will work in various ministries in the St. Louis inner city and sleep over at church (June).
* High School students will work with Native Americans in South Dakota (June).
* Passion 2010, a conference geared to college students in Atlanta, will be open to a limited number of 12th grade students (January).

Sunday Update!! 11/8/09

Lesson Recap

Continuing on with our video series on the Hurried Family, today we studied bringing calm to the hurried home. With this we had three mandates:

Mandate 1: Maintain an attitude of forgiveness. (Ephesians 4:32)
Mandate 2: Live within the boundaries of God's Word. (Psalm 119:1-2)
Mandate 3: Maintain an eternal perspective. (2 Corinthians 4: 16-18)

Everyone got a little something different out of today's lesson. God is really speaking to all through this series.

Shindig Correction!!!!

We have a time change on the Christmas SPOT Shindig at the Hurt's. Due to our classmates that are in choir, and the practices that are being held, the time has changed to 5PM on December the 6th at the Hurt's. This way we can all enjoy the get together. You can dismiss any earlier reports that Kevin will be wearing bell-bottoms.

SPOTlunch

SPOTlunch is next week after class. We will all be going to Lion's Choice on South Lindbergh. Hope to see you there!

Class Projects

Don't forget our current class projects:

Missouri Baptist Children's Home- The box is still in the classroom.

College Care Packages-We are actively soliciting names of out-of-town college students. We will be baking the cookies on 11/21/09, then sending them out!

As Gene mentioned in church this morning, the church (and our class) bring up a lot of projects to support this time of year. No one has to support ALL of them...just the ones that God has called you to!

Prayer Requests

-Mark Cotter's back is doing great! He's back to about 95%!
-Liz Massey had 4 impacted wisdom teeth removed on Friday. Pray for healing and relief from the pain and swelling.
-Continued prayer for the Christmas show, and for the health of those involved. Also pray for those that come and see it. Pray for open hearts to Jesus and His knocking!
-Jim Meinhardt's grandson is home. He is jaundiced, and has to receive light treatment. Pray for good health!
-Hunting season starts soon. Pray for safety for those that participate in the sport.