Spring 2016

The schedule for spring 2016 is now posted!  Please go to the "Lesson Topics for Spring 2016" tab or click HERE: http://godspurified.blogspot.com/p/lesson-topics-for-fall-2015.html 

As you can see from the plan, we're going way more in-depth this semester and tackling some tough topics.  We will try to keep everything understandable for the younger girls, but when we asked for topic recommendations at the end of the fall semester, the girls fired back such great, challenging topics that we were way too excited to say no!  Five of the eight topics were specifically requested by the girls. 

We are SO blessed by our group of young ladies who are eager to think critically and learn to digest solid food, rather than being content with milk (1 Corinthians 3:2).  Thus, tougher topics this semester! 

Parents: If you are uncomfortable with a topic, please feel free to contact us and discuss your concerns.  We would be happy to share lesson plans with you in advance and let you review everything we'll be presenting.  If you decide to keep your daughter home for that meeting, we'll understand.  We would also love to hear any wisdom/advice that you have to offer on any given topic! 

Contact Sylvia: 708-310-6234 (text or call) or jsphillips(dot)stl(at)gmail(dot)com
Contact Jael: 618-314-2321 (text or call) or estherjaelelizabeth(at)yahoo(dot)com 
Contact both: brightlightsmascoutah(at)gmail(dot)com 

Bright Lights-His Lighthouse Christmas Party

Annual Bright Lights/His Lighthouse
Christmas Party

Who: Bright Lights and His Lighthouse members and their families.

When: 5:30-8:30 p.m. Tuesday, December 8^th

Where: Zion Lutheran Church, 101 S. Railway St. in Mascoutah (one block north of our usual meeting place) in the gym.

What: Carol singing, potluck dinner, Bible lesson, fun and fellowship

Please bring: Your Bible, 2 dishes (or 1 dish and 1 dessert) for the potluck, and your family.

Schedule:

5:30 - Arrive at Zion

5:45 - Caroling at local nursing homes/assisted living

6:30 - Potluck dinner  

7:00 - Scripture lesson by Mr. Josh Peterson

7:15 - Games and fellowship

8:30 - Cleanup at 8:30

We hope to see you there! 

Bright Lights fall 2015 schedule

Bright Lights starts next Tuesday!  Like last semester, we will meet from 6:30 to 8:30 every other Tuesday.

We will have a slightly different meeting format from last semester, and we plan to post lesson notes here after each meeting. Below is a current list of topics, which, of course, is subject to change (you know us).

Sept 1 -- First meeting and focus-setting for the semester (lesson by Sylvia)
Sept 15 -- Topic: Waiting on God (Jael)
Sept 29 -- Topic: Grace (both Jael and Sylvia)
Oct 13 -- Identity and Personality (Sylvia)
Oct 27 -- Dealing with Non-Females (Jael)
Nov 10 -- Time Value and Investment (Sylvia)
Nov 24 -- Security in Christ (Jael)
Dec 8 -- joint party with His Lighthouse

If you would like to join or have questions, please feel free to contact us at brightlightsmascoutah@gmail.com.

Meeting Schedule for 2015 Spring

Hey all!  Our meeting schedule in 2015 is stated below.

First meeting of the spring was January 20, with meetings being every other Tuesday from 6:30 to 8:30.  Next meeting is February 3.  We will end in May for the semester.

Blessings to you all!

BRIGHT LIGHTS IN 2014-2015

Hey girls!  It's that time of year again, when Bright Lights is getting ready to start!  This year, we're starting on August 26, and we'll run until December 16, to start up again some time after the new year.  We're not charging anything this year, so come as you are, bring friends, and get read to have another year of Bible study, learning, and fun.  :-)  We're going to go through Proverbs 31:10-31 and talk about some of the different character qualities found in the "woman of virtue."  We may even be having some "guest" speakers... 

But anyway, come one out and join the group!  Every other Tuesday evening from 6:30-8:30 starting August 26, at 302 S. Railway in Macoutah IL! 

As always, please keep the group and its leaders in your prayers.  We honestly don't want to spout human wisdom.  We long for this group to be a place where young ladies can come and get to know their Savior and King, and we want to help guide them along ways that will enhance their radiance as they continue to become BRIGHT Lights in this dark world.  Jesus is the only one Who can do anything, and we want only to be empty vessels through which His glory and wisdom can flow though.  So PLEASE pray for us as we lead, and the girls as they learn.

ONLY through Jesus,

Jael and Sylvia

More information about the Purity Day!

After some more planning, I'm beginning to pull together some information about the Purity Day I'm planning.  Here's the information as of today.  :-)

When: Tuesday, July 15, from 9:30 AM to 6:00 PM

Where: Olive Branch Lutheran Church fellowship hall (11235 State Route 177 Okawville IL 62271)

What: A Purity Day with two meals and lots of fun, learning, and fellowship

Who: Moms and daughters (12 or older is suggested)

Reading Requirements: BEFORE YOU MEET PRINCE CHARMING 

Optional but highly recommended readings : THE LOST ART OF TRUE BEAUTY

Cost: $10/person for lunch and supper and building rental and random supplies

A synopsis: 

My idea is to have a day where girls and their moms come together to learn more about purity of all types.  I'm praying that this day of teaching and fellowship will serve to create in each girl a longing for the purity found only in Jesus by introducing them to the pure and the noble so that they can ignore all the  sludge that the world will be throwing at them in the upcoming years.  

About the reading material: 

BEFORE YOU MEET PRINCE CHARMING will be the main textbook, so please bring it along.  Additional depth of concept and application will be drawn from THE LOST ART OF TRUE BEAUTY.  Although I strongly urge everyone to read BEFORE YOU MEET PRINCE CHARMING, THE LOST ART OF TRUE BEAUTY is slightly more mature and parts should be read with caution with younger girls.  

My contact information is

Jael Trinklein

Home: six one eight, two four three, five four nine eight

Email: estherjaelelizabeth(at)yahoo(dot)com

Deadline for registration is July 10, but I'd love it if you'd RSVP a lot sooner than that.  :-)

Bright Lights is starting up again!

Wow, this summer flew by!  Bright Lights will resume meetings on Tuesday, August 27th at 6:30 p.m.  We'll be doing things a little differently this year... below is an email explaining our vision for the next year. 

Dear Bright Light parents,

This email will be rather long, but we'd like to share our vision for the group this year.
After talking about praying over what to do for Bright Lights this year, we have decided to do something a little different. Last year, each of our lessons centered around a particular topic: Standing Strong for The Lord in Your Youth, Joy, etc. However, as we were thinking about it, we weren't really teaching the girls how to study the Word for themselves, and we want to do that. We'd rather the girls get to know Jesus than listen to lessons about how to be like Jesus. Like Romans 13 says: "The commandment, 'Do not commit adultery,' 'Do not murder,' 'Do not steal,' 'Do not covet,' and whatever other commandment there may be, are summed up in this one rule: 'Love your neighbor as yourself.' Love does not harm to its neighbor. Therefore love is the fulfillment of the law." (Romans 13:9-10) We want the girls to love Jesus more than anything. "The attributes, 'Joy,' 'Patience,' 'Obedience to parents,' 'Sibling relationships,' and all the others are summed up in this one person, 'Jesus.' Jesus is perfectly holy. Therefore Jesus is everything good." If the girls know Jesus, everything else will flow from that.

Therefore, our goals this year are as follows:
1) We want to teach the girls how to get to know Jesus
2) We want to teach the girls how to STUDY the Bible
3) We want to teach the value of singing as a form of praise and worship
4) We want to teach the battle tactic of intercessory prayer
(Obviously, we can't make anyone love Jesus, but we want to produce an atmosphere conducive to growing in the love of Jesus.)

Our lesson plan this year will be slightly different than that of last year. Instead of having one of us stand up and talk to the girls, we will be doing Bible studies, where we will lead a discussion, encouraging the girls to discover Biblical truths for themselves. We'll spend our time reading and studying the Bible, singing, praying (out loud and privately), and memorizing.
Furthermore, something we really want to encourage in Bright Lights this year is an appreciation of quality worship music. We will be focusing on both contemporary and traditional hymns and worship songs, evaluating each song for musical quality and profound lyrics.

We're asking that each girl bring a notebook or paper, pens and pencils, and her Bible. We will provide a BL notebook to every girl who hasn't participated in BL before.
During the time in between lessons, we would like each girl to read the passage for next lesson, and write down any thoughts or questions about it. We will also expect them to memorize Bible verses, and do any other homework we assign. Parental guidance will be most valuable, since we desire to come alongside you and help encourage your daughters toward godliness.
Each "lesson," we will provide concordances, Bible Dictionaries, Bible maps, and additional background research to aid in the Scripture study, as well as snacks.

Right now, the books that we are planning on looking at are Hebrews, 1 John, Ruth, Esther, and James. We may or may not get to all of them, but we are hoping to cover as much territory as possible. You parents (especially the moms, but dads too) are more than welcome to sit in on our discussion and contribute. That way, you can further help your daughter study the scriptures at home.

To help us in facilitate the group, we would like the know the following about your daughter(s):
1) Name
2) Age
3) Allergies
4) May we post her picture on our Bright Lights blog
5) Reading level
6) Birthday
7) Contact information (phone and email)

The group will be meeting every other Tuesday starting August 27 from 6:30 to 8:30. We'll break for the year on December 3 (we may have a combined Christmas party with His Lighthouse on December 17) , and resume January 14. We are asking a $15 fee to cover snacks, Bright Light notebooks, and whatever other materials we may need.

We know that we're doing something rather different from most Bright Light groups. Therefore, if what we are offering this year isn't what you would like for your daughter this year, there are several other Bright Light groups in the area, led by wonderful Christian girls. Their contact information is attached.

In Jesus,
Jael and Sylvia

Bright Lights summer conferences

From the Tomorrow's Forefathers staff: 


We are excited to announce that Bright Lights Conferences have been scheduled for the summer! Taught by Sarah Mally and the Bright Lights staff, these conferences are designed to encourage young ladies to be strong for the Lord in their youth and shine radiantly as bright lights for Him!

Strong in the Lord Conference 

Age: 8-14

Topics:

• How to be Strong for the Lord in Your Youth

• Making Brothers and Sisters Best Friends

• How to Turn Your Heart to Your Parents

• How to Be a Bright Light in the World

• Keeping Yourself Pure from Polluting Influences

• Seeking the Lord with All of Your Heart

• Developing a Disciplined Walk with God

Includes insightful testimonies by godly young ladies, humorous skits, a chalk talk, harp music, singing, small group times with sharing and interaction, hands-on activities, and practical teaching that will challenge and prepare young ladies to remain strong for the Lord through their teen years.

Parents are encouraged to attend the conference in order to hear what their daughters are learning and reinforce it at home. While the girls are meeting in small groups, sessions will be offered for fathers and mothers. Sessions will cover topics such as the importance of protecting your children, how fathers can set a godly pace for their family, how to win the hearts of your daughters, and building strong mother/daughter relationships.

Schedule: Tuesday evening from 6:00 - 9:00 PM; Wednesday from 9:00 AM - 6:00 PM

Locations & Dates:

Rogers, Arkansas June 25-26

Dallas, Texas July 9-10

Columbus, Ohio August 9-10

Detroit, Michigan August 15-16

St. Cloud, Minnesota October 8-9

Cost: Regular Registration $15 per girl / $10 per parent

Late Registration (after June 11^th) $18 per girl / $12 per parent

To Register:

To register online, click here.

Visit the Bright Lights Website to learn more about the conferences.

For questions, feel free to e-mail the Bright Lights staff at conference@brightlightsministry.com  

Radiant Purity Conference

Age: 12-22+

Topics:

• Waiting for God’s Very Best

• Giving Your Heart to Your Parents

• Avoiding the Dangers of the World’s Thinking

• How to Delight in Jesus, Our Heavenly Prince

• Using Your Years of Singleness for God

• What the Lord Says About Modesty

• How to Guard Your Heart When You Have a Crush

• Living for God’s Purposes

• Being Wise in Internet Usage

A young lady who is pure shines with a radiant brightness in this world of darkness. How can a young lady stay physically and emotionally pure as she waits for God’s best in marriage? How can parents protect and guide? Creatively presented through stories and testimonies, practical instruction, skits, and real-life examples, this conference gives Biblical answers to everyday questions and deep life struggles. The material is discreet and appropriate for twelve year olds, yet relevant to all ages. Includes testimonies from young ladies who serve as Bright Lights staff, chalk drawings, and harp music.

Click here to see a 2 minute video clip of Sarah Mally teaching at a Radiant Purity Conference in 2009.                                                                                 

Fathers & Mothers are encouraged to attend. Parents' sessions will include: Every Mother's Example, 40 Ways to Protect the Hearts of Your Daughters, and Talking to Young Men who Express Interest in Your Daughters.

Schedule: Friday evening from 6:00 - 9:00 PM; Saturday from 9:00 AM - 6:00 PM

Locations & Dates

Rogers, Arkansas June 28-29

Houston, Texas July 5-6

Dallas, Texas July 12-13

Columbus, Ohio August 12-13

Detroit, Michigan August 19-20

St. Cloud, Minnesota October 8-9

Cost: Regular Registration $15 per girl / $10 per parent

Late Registration (after June 11^th) $18 per girl / $12 per parent

To Register:

To register online, click here.

Visit the Bright Lights Website to learn more about the conferences.

For questions, feel free to e-mail the Bright Lights staff at conference@brightlightsministry.com  

Caroling Party Reminder

Tomorrow evening, we meet at 5:00 pm at 10 West George St, two doors west of our usual meeting place to go caroling. Bring a large dish to share for the potluck afterward and come prepared to sing, have fun, and fellowship!

Hope to see you there!

Meeting info: 9-18-12

Tuesday, September 18 from 6:30-8:00 p.m.

302 S. Railway St. Mascoutah, IL

Bring: a Bible (your choice of translation) and a tea cup to contribute to the BRIGHT Lights tea cup collection. ;-) If you can't bring one this meeting, that is okay, but do be on the lookout for one that you could bring.


Note: His Lighthouse, the boys' equivalent of Bright Lights, will be starting up this week at the same time. They will meet at 10 W. George St, Mascoutah- one block west of Bright Lights. For more info on either His Lighthouse or Mascoutah Bright Lights, call 618-566-7375.

(Overview of 1st Bright Lights meeting to be posted soon!)

Information For First Meeting

Time: 6:30-8:00

Date: Tuesday, September 4 

Place: 302 S. Railway St, Mascoutah 

Bring: A Bible (your choice of translation) 

Contact: 618-566-7375