Youth & Children's Camp Forms

Hello All,
    As promised, I have scheduled a date for you to bring your forms to the church to be notarized. Dawn Lomax has graciously agreed to be here to notorize your camp documents (you should all have 2 each!) on Wednesday, June 15th @6pm in the Hut. This will also serve as the deadline for all camp forms to be turned in, so mark this date on your calendars! In case you have forgotten what is what from your camp information packets, here's what you need:

For Children- You have a yellow stapled form and a white stapled form (it's a copy of the yellow one). These forms each have a red star stamp in the upper right hand corner. These both need to be notarized and a copy of the child's health insurance card needs to be attached to each. In addition to the two forms requiring notarization, there is an "IBC Student Trip Conduct Covenant" form in your packet. This form does not need to be notarized, but it does need to be filled out and signed by both the parent(s) and the student. Please turn this form in with the other two in the light blue folder they were distributed in.

For Youth- You have an orange (ish)  form and a white form. These forms each have a red star stamp in the upper right hand corner. These both need to be notarized and a copy of the student's health insurance card needs to be attached to each. In addition to the two forms requiring notarization, there is an "IBC Student Trip Conduct Covenant" form in your packet. This form does not need to be notarized, but it does need to be filled out and signed by both the parent(s) and the student. Please turn this form in with the other two in the dark blue folder they were distributed in.

Please give me a call or an email BEFORE JUNE 15TH if you have questions regarding your camp forms. I'm super excited about the camps this summer. Please begin praying now for God to move in your student's lives before, during, and after camp, that He may be glorified through them!

Joe

June Activities Update

Hello Everyone!

     I know being out of the country so much this school year has warped my perception of time, but I just can’t believe that summer is here already. Our summer activities start almost immediately so I’ll explain some of them.

1.      Back Yard Bible Club: On June 7th, 8th, and 9th, we will be hosting back yard Bible clubs in two different locations. All BYBC's look different, so here is a snapshot of what will be happening at ours: Each location will host a two hour program which will include a craft time, snack time, some music, and a Bible story time. We will be having clubs meeting in two different locations in Hattiesburg. The morning meeting site will be at Cedric and Paula Jones' home from 9am to 11am. The evening club meeting will be from 6pm-8pm at Dot Palmer's home. To volunteer for either club meeting location, contact myself or Jackie Campbell.

2.      6^th Grade Promotion:  As many of you are aware, we have recently lost our 5^th & 6^th grade Sunday School teachers- the Lee’s. Due to their leaving, we are promoting the 6^th graders to the youth department a few weeks ahead of schedule. For Sunday School, they will be meeting with the youth at the Banana Peel, a store located in the strip mall next door to the church @9am. Wednesday evenings, they will meet with the youth @6:15 in the Hut. This change will take effect immediately. For any questions or concerns, please shoot me an email or a phone call at the office.

3.      Youth Day Camp: Our youth will be hosting a church from Texas from June 20^th-23^rd for their “youth camp.” This day camp will begin at the Hut with lunch @noon and from there, we will have different activities and projects in the city. Each day will end with a youth worship service and fellowship supper in the Hut @6:30pm. All of our youth are invited to join the other youth group for any or all of the activities for the week. For more information on participation or to volunteer for this event, please contact me.

4.      Youth/Children Camp Fundraiser: On Saturday, June 18^th, we will have a joint children/youth camp fundraiser pancake breakfast. Youth and children will be selling tickets, beginning Wednesday June 1^st, for $7. Donations will gladly be accepted the day of the event, but please obtain a ticket so we can accurately prepare. The breakfast will be held in the fellowship hall from 7am to 9am. You can either dine in or carry out. The menu will be pancakes, sausage, coffee, milk, or juice.

As always, if you have any questions or concerns, please give me a call or send me an email. I look forward to serving with you this summer!

Bro. Joe

Back Yard Bible Clubs

Hey Everyone!
     As you know, our recent fire has affected so many of the ministries at Immanuel. One of those important ministries is our annual Vacation Bible School. Since our ability to have such a large event has been hindered, we have planned an alternative this year that we are really excited about. On June 7th, 8th, and 9th, we will be hosting back yard Bible clubs in two different locations. All BYBC's look different, so here is a snapshot of what will be happening at ours: Each location will host a two hour program which will include a craft time, snack time, some music, and a Bible story time. As I mentioned earlier, we will be having clubs meeting in two different locations in Hattiesburg. The morning meeting site will be at Cedric and Paula Jones' home from 9am to 11am. The evening club meeting will be from 6pm-8pm at Dot Palmer's home. Please note that we are not asking volunteers to work both the morning and the evening locations, unless you feel led to do so. We are currently recruiting volunteers to help us staff this important children's ministry event, so if you would like to plug in, see me or Jackie Campbell or sign up on the bulletin board in the fellowship hall closest to the coke machine.  I look forward to ministering alongside you in this exciting opportunity!

Joe

Orthodox Box

For youth interested in obtaining any doctrine cards from our "Orthodox Box" study, here is a list of what you should have. Take an inventory of your box, and send me an email or message me on Facebook to let me know what you lack.
-Creation
-Atonement
-Authority
-Jesus
-God (part 1, part 1 continued, part 2, part 3, part 4
-Holy Spirit
-Salvation
-The Trinity

Birthdays

This Saturday is my birthday. I don't have any big plans. I'm not waiting anxiously for any particular presents. And no, 33 doesn't feel any different than 32-at least yet. Make no mistake however, if my incredible wife thought that I was looking forward to any such things, she would definitely make it happen.

Birthdays for myself just don't require the same pomp and circumstance that they used to. I am perfectly happy spending time with my family and perhaps grilling a nice piece of beef. The older I get, and the more involved we become with activities around us, family time and a little R & R are welcomed tranquilities.

As my day approaches, I am drawn into inexcapable reflection. A friend of mine challenged me a few years ago with something he said as his own birthday drew close. He said that "birthdays have become, in many ways, like New Year. Things from the past 12 months are replayed in my mind and I evaluate where I am in relation to where I was last year, and where I want to be next year. Since that conversation, I have approached my birthdays in similar fashion.

Looking back on last year, God has done some amazing things in not only my life, but my family's life as well. The gruelling wait associated with an adoption came to an end the day we landed at JFK with two of the most beautiful girls to ever draw breath. They became complete citizens of the United States on December 31, 2010. Our journey of waiting for God to connect us with our children was over.

Through that process, God taught me many things about myself. I am rediculously impatient. I try frequently to do things in my own strength, and then wonder what went wrong if the result isn't what I think it should be. And regardless of what we can imagine or what Hollywood can write in a script, our God can put a story together that will render you speechless. I can truly say that God has stretched and grown me in ways that I never thought possible.

This time next year, where will we be as a church? What lessons will God have taught us. What kingdom-focused ministries will we have been involved with? What will we be anticipating together as we strive to be the church God has created us to be? I hope you will join me for some reflection.

Joe

Test

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