Dear Middle School Parents,

The discipleship and spiritual growth of our students is central to the heart of the middle school team. We believe the MCS core value to instill a love for Jesus is our highest calling and greatest responsibility. We recognize the tenderness of this formative age and the reality that spiritual battle is waged against them every day. For these reasons, we do not take the spiritual formation of our students lightly. Rather, we prayerfully, steadfastly, and intentionally, in partnership with parents, seek to live out God's command in Proverbs 22:6, "Train a child in the way he should go..." believing that when we do "even when he is old he will not depart from it". We are joyFULL as we watch God at work in our school and in the lives of our students. And He is at work!

An exciting time in the spiritual life of the middle school is planned for next week, March 26-29. Since the founding of the middle school, we have desired to prepare students for the most meaningful truth for all believers-Jesus' resurrection. The week leading into Easter, Holy Week, is of such importance that it is set apart as Spiritual Emphasis Week (SEW) for all middle school students. Spiritual Emphasis Week is intentionally planned with the goal of allowing students to encounter Jesus in a unique way. We want to help our students link their lives with the life of Jesus and the Gospel message. Throughout the week, time will be set aside for daily chapels, response opportunities, extended time within the homeroom community, and continued instruction through Bible classes to make deep connection in applying God's word in their lives.

This year's SEW theme is HIS Kingdom Come. Throughout the week, we will intentionally focus on what it means to be His and how, because we are His, our lives should be shaped by His kingdom. The daily chapel themes will dive deeper into understanding what that means as we focus on: How the kingdom's coming changed the world, how we have been rescued by the Kingdom, what it means to be a citizen of His kingdom, the value of the kingdom and the value we have because we are a part of His kingdom, and the resurrection hope of the kingdom. For more of a preview into the week, watch this video.

Introduction to MCS Spiritual Emphasis Week 2018

We ask that you join us in praying over Spiritual Emphasis Week. Please cover the speakers, students, chapels, discussions, response times, and worship in daily prayer as we desire for God to speak and move. 

We also invite you to be a part of SEW. How can you be a part of the week? Parents are invited to attend chapel each morning. Chapel will be held in the auditorium beginning at 8:00 each day with the exception of Wednesday which will begin at 9:00. In addition, throughout the week, we invite you to discuss each day's theme and chapel at home. A simple starter question for each day is to ask your son or daughter the following question: What was today's memorial stone and what is its connection to the message of the day? We hope this will connect you to the week and facilitate meaningful conversation and prayer time between you and your child(ren) at home.

We pray, as Jesus prayed, "Our father in heaven, holy is your name. Your kingdom come, your will be done on earth (in MCS, in us, in SEW, in every day and every thing) as it is in Heaven!"

In Him,

Heather Harrison Middle School Principal