THEPARENTLINK

ODD For God

October 2016 FOR PARENTS OF FPC TEENS DearParents:Can youbelieve it’sOctober already? It seems like thedays are flyingby!As yourO4G Leadership Team,we are so blessed toworkwith your children on aweeklybasisandseetheloveandpassiontheyhaveintheirheartsforJesus!I’msuperexcited that thismonthourSundayGatheringclassesarediving into thebooksofRuthandJob.Indoingso,theyaregoingtoanswersomereallyimportantquestions:WhytrustGod?(Ruth1:1-18),HowdoesGodprotectme?(Ruth2:1-21),WillGodreallyprovidewhatIneed?(Ruth4:1-15),WhyMe?(Job1:1-2:10),andIsitokaytodoubt?(Job23:1-17).Ourteachersarelookingforwardtoengagingstudentsinconversationabouttheseissuesthateveryonewrestleswithfromtimetotime.Ifyourstudent is inhighschoolandschedulesallow,wewould lovetohavethemjoin us on Sunday nights forGrowGroups. They are a greatway for students tobuildcommunitywithoneanotherwhileseeingtherelevanceoftheScriptures fortheirlivestoday.Guys’groupmeetsintheStudentCenter,andgirls’groupmeetsatCherylIreland’shouse.I hope you’ve been receiving our weekly e-mail newsletter with up-to-the-minuteinfoandWednesdaynightdiscussionstartersforyourfamily.Ifnot,pleasesendmeane-mailsowecanaddyoutoourlist. Youandyourfamilyarecontinuallyinourprayers!LoveinChrist,Tommy-Lee

WHAT? O4G is for all students

in 6th-12th grade.

WHEN & WHERE? Sundays at 9:30am &

Wednesdays 6:30-8pm + Special events and retreats,

FPC Student Center

Stay up to date with all the latest student happenings!

Share your email address with tommylee@fpcdouglasville.org

And be sure to pick up a “Students” brochure in the Narthex or Youth Center.

O4GYouth

O4GYouth

O4GFPCDouglasville

4 Steps To Help A Stressed Teenager by Kara Powell October Happenings Know a stressed teenager? Me too. Lots of them. Evidence is mounting that this generation of young people experiences more stress than any previous generation. Not only that, but teenage stress is starting to reach adult levels. According to a recent survey of 1000 young people ages 13-17 conducted by the American Psychological Association, more than 27% report feeling “extreme stress” in the last year, a number that exceeds adults’ self-reported stress levels. Here’s a more nuanced look at the stress young people report: • Unsurprising to anyone who’s spent time

with a teenager recently, the effort required to manage time and balance activities is a "somewhat" or "very significant" stressor to 59% of the young people surveyed.

• Stress is affecting young people physically. Over 32% of respondents say they experience headaches because of stress.

• Unfortunately, only about 37% of the teenagers surveyed exercise or walk to manage stress. More common are less healty

healthy activities, such as playing video games (46%) and spending time online (43%).

What can you do to help a stressed teenager? Beware of what your own stress is communicating. Whether you are a leader or a parent (or both), kids pick up on our stress, and it can increase their own.

Ask them how they are feeling about their schedule and pace. This is a question I regularly ask my 13 year-old son to understand the demands on his time and focus, and navigate potential overloads.

If you’re a parent, talk with your family about specific ways your home can be less stressful. Maybe it means getting more prepared for school the night before, or putting on mellow music right before dinner or bedtime, or creating a weekly schedule that’s in your kitchen so everyone knows what each day holds.

Help them say “no.” Kids are even worse at saying “no” than adults because they don’t want to miss out. Help them say “no” to activities and invitations that are good but not great.

2nd - Sunday Gathering, 9:30am - Middle School Bowling @ Thunderzone, 1-3pm - HS Grow Groups, 6pm 5th - Midweek Gathering, 6:30pm 9th - Sunday Gathering, 9:30am 12th - Midweek Gathering, 6:30pm 16th - Sunday Gathering, 9:30am - HS Grow Groups, 6pm 17th - Confirmands Meet With Session, 6:45pm 19th - Midweek Gathering, 6:30pm 21st - HS Mystery Outing, 6pm 23rd - Sunday Gathering, 9:30am - Grow Groups, 6pm 26th - Harvest Festival 30th - Sunday Gathering, 9:30am - Grow Groups, 6pm

Needtransportationfromchurch?Meetupafterserviceat12:30pmsharpandwe’llgiveyoualift!

Needtochill?

JoinMichaelatFPC’sOutdoorWorshipSpaceTuesdaysthisfall!

Meetatthechurchat6pmandembarkonanoutingtowhoknowswhere?

AWordFromTheWordAndyouweredeadinthetrespassesandsinsinwhich youoncewalked, following the courseofthisworld, following theprinceof thepoweroftheair,thespiritthatisnowatworkinthesonsofdisobedience—amongwhomwealloncelivedin the passions of our flesh, carrying out thedesires of the body and themind, andwere bynature children of wrath, like the rest ofmankind.ButGod,being rich inmercy,becauseof the great love with which he loved us, evenwhenweweredead inour trespasses,madeusalive together with Christ—by grace you havebeen saved—and raised us up with him andseated us with him in the heavenly places inChristJesus,sothatinthecomingageshemightshow the immeasurable riches of his grace inkindness towardus inChrist Jesus. Forbygraceyou have been saved through faith. And this isnot your own doing; it is the gift of God, not aresult of works, so that no onemay boast. Forwearehisworkmanship, created inChrist Jesusfor good works, which God preparedbeforehand,thatweshouldwalkinthem.

Ephesians2:1-10(ESV)

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