Meeting #1: Focus-Setting for the Semester

Our first meeting began with singing, as always.  Since we had several new girls, we decided to start out with some common songs that most would probably know: Be Thou My Vision, Amazing Grace, and In Christ Alone.  The singing sounded wonderful--I think this is the loudest our group has been yet!  The girls who know how to read the alto/tenor lines really help it sound amazing.

After singing, Jael prayed to "officially" start the meeting, and then we spent about 30-45 minutes doing icebreakers, connecting names with faces, and getting to know each other a bit.  Next was the lesson, which was meant to give some background on Bright Lights, on some specific protocol for our group, and to talk about our goals for this semester. The lesson notes handout is copied below (with blanks filled in).

Overview of Bright Lights

BRIGHT is an acronym for:

Being

Radiant

In

Godliness,

Holiness, and

Testimony

Overall mission:

         ·         To encourage girls to be strong for the Lord in their youth.

Goals:

1.      Encourage girls to pursue God

2.      Provide positive peer influence

3.      Provide accountability  

Scripture verse “theme” is 1 Timothy 4:12, which says,

Don’t let anyone look down on you because you are young, but set an example for the believers in speech, in life, in love, in faith, and in purity.  

Bright Lights Mascoutah Protocol

1.      During the lesson, please raise your hand before talking.

2.      Be respectful, but not overly so! 

3.      Feel free to disagree with us.

   a.      Compare what we say with Scripture.

   b.      If you challenge something we say, be sure it’s done in humility and with a teachable heart.

4.      Make it your goal to learn!

Bright Lights Mascoutah Goals for Fall 2015

     1.     Focus.

a.      Be completely fixed on Jesus (Hebrews 12:1-3).

b.      Don’t be distracted by the things of the world.

c.       Be in tune with God’s will by prioritizing time with Him through prayer and Bible study.

     2.    Others-Focus.

a.      Look for ways to serve.

b.      Philippians 2:4: Look not only to your own interests, but also to the interests of others.

c.       Be willing to go out of your way to minister to those around you.

Personal reflection: What does this mean for you?

How is God calling you to go out of your way to serve?

     3.     Sober-Mindedness.

a.      Be serious about the things of God.

b.      Be willing to think deeply about Spiritual matters. (Philippians 2:12)

     4.     Humility.

a.      Humility does not mean exaggerating failure. 

b.      Humility does not mean you can’t be happy about success.

c.       Where is your heart?

Personal reflection: What does this mean for you?

Where is your heart—are you seeking God’s glory or your own?

d.      “More of You; less of me.”

     5.     See Jesus.

a.      Philippians 3:7-8: that I may know him and the power of his resurrection...

b.      Ginosko

After the lesson, each girl spent some time in quiet prayer time to set individual goals for the year. (For those who missed the meeting but plan to come to Bright Lights the rest of the semester, we encourage you to do the same: take 15 minutes or so to ask the Lord where He is leading you this semester and what His purposes are for you in Bright Lights. We'll email out the worksheet to those of you who have signed up but couldn't make the first meeting.)

We then spent a little while enjoying snacks and fellowship, then closed out the meeting with singing. Our songs were Mind of Christ, Take My Life and Let It Be, Satisfied, and Come Away from Rush and Hurry (click on a song title to view lyrics).

Jael and I will be praying for each one of you these next two weeks, and we look forward to seeing you all again on Tuesday, September 15th.

Also, please remember to memorize Matthew 20:25-28 before next meeting!

Blessings!

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.  :-)