Red Hill Lutheran 2023-24

Deep Roots

"Therefore, as you received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk in him, rooted and built up in him and established in the faith, just as you were taught, abounding in thanksgiving." Colossians 2:6-7

The days go slow, but the years go fast. It is now already February of 2024 and while we still have a good portion of this school year to go, we have already begun planning for the upcoming 2024-25 school year and beyond. We invite families to register for the 2024-25 school year when priority registration begins on Feb. 5.

The month of February is an exciting time as we celebrate our Top School Heroes of Orange County. This year we had 5 RHLS teachers/staff selected as finalists for this prestigious honor.

Mrs. Alexis Renninger, TK Teacher, is a Top Preschool Teacher

Mrs. Keri Walden, 2nd grade teacher, is a Top Elementary Teacher

Mr. Dave Brenner, 7th/8th History, is a Top Middle School Teacher

Mrs. Veronica Chino, Paraeducator, is a Top Employee

Mrs. Lisa Tarkoff, Assistant Principal, is a Top Leader

All 5 RHLS School Heroes were selected by Parents and Parenting OC magazine and appear in the February issue of Parenting OC magazine.

The month of February begins the observance of the Lenten Season with our special All-School Ash Wednesday chapel service on Feb. 14, Valentines Day.

The very next day, our annual Grandparents-VIP Day will take place on Thursday, Feb. 15. Parents of students in Kindergarten – 5th grade are required to RSVP using the online form so we can plan accordingly.

Let’s celebrate each day as a special gift of life from God, beginning our day in prayer and ending our day in prayer to Jesus Christ who guards, guides, and directs our path for His Glory and good purposes.

Congratulations To Our Parenting OC Top Heroes:

Mrs. Alexis Renninger, TK Teacher, is a Top Preschool Teacher

Mrs. Keri Walden, 2nd grade teacher, is a Top Elementary Teacher

Mr. Dave Brenner, 7th/8th History, is a Top Middle School Teacher

Mrs. Veronica Chino, Paraeducator, is a Top Employee

Mrs. Lisa Tarkoff, Assistant Principal, is a Top Leader

Christian Character Quality: SERVANTHOOD

Bible Verse: “For the Son of Man came to seek and to save the lost."

Luke 19:10

Philanthropy: Meals on Wheels/CRU Ministry

Thank you to for your monetary donations and time volunteered to help Rise Against Hunger!

The New City Catechism is a modern-day resource aimed at helping children and adults alike learn the core doctrines of the Christian faith via 52 questions and answers.

https://www.thegospelcoalition.org/new-city-catechism/what-is-our-only-hope-in-life-and-death/?childrens_mode=true

2/1-2/2: Rise Against Hunger Meal Packing Event

2/5-16: Priority Registration for Fall 2024 Enrollment

2/9-2/11: YFM Middle School Camp

2/14: Ash Wednesday Chapel

2/15: K-5 Grandparent/VIP Day/ Preschool & Middle School Non Student Day (No Daycare)

2/16 & 2/19: No School/Campus Closed: President's Days

2/20 Open Enrollment Begins

2/21-2/23: PTF Online Auction Fundraiser

2/23: MIddle School Winter Social/End of Trimester 2

2/24: Father Daughter Dance (Preschool-8th)

2/26-2/29: Book Fair

2/26-3/1: Literacy Week

PRIORITY registration for currently enrolled Red Hill Lutheran School families to secure spaces for Fall 2024 is February 5 - February 16. If you would like registration information for a sibling, please contact Lori Browne (Lbrowne@redhillschool.org)

Registration opens to the community on February 20. Please encourage your friends to come for a school tour. There is a referral credit for current RHLS families of $400 for every new K-8 student that enrolls.

SAVE THE DATES!

PTF General meeting Friday, February 9, 8:30-9:30 am in CLC

Father/Daughter Dance February 24, 6 pm in CLC

Book Fair will be February 27-29 in CLC

Mother/Son Bowling (Grades 6-8) March 1st, 6:30 pm Irvine Lanes

Mother/Son Game Night (Preschool-5th Grade) March 2, 5 pm in CLC

February 5--ASB Leadership Field Trip to Disneyland

February 15--Grand/VIP Day

• ALL K-5 Perform
• Shooting Stars, Spirit Squad, Singspiratioon also perform
• ASB does pledges and helps "host"

February 23--Middle School Dance (see flyer below)

February 26 -- Literacy Week Pep Rally

• Spirit Squad and Concert Band Performs
• Basketball teams honored

February 26-March 1 Literacy Week (see information below)

Protect Young Eyes Resource LInks:

Protect Young Eyes

Live Talk with Chris from PYE

PYE private community "The Table"

We offer Cater Tots lunch service Monday, Wednesday and Friday, Chick Fil A on Tuesdays and Pizza Shack pizza on Thursdays. Click Image to the right to connect to our lunch options!

Just a reminder to make sure all items coming to school are labeled with the student's name. This includes backpacks, sweatshirts, PE clothes, lunches, water bottles, ipads, apple pencils and any miscellaneous items. Thank You!

Click Image to be directed to Eagle Athletics Schedule

Click Image to be directed to Eagle Athletics Schedule

3: Berhane Elias (Support Staff)

6: Elizabeth Crow (Support Staff Supervisor)

6: Giana Hennigan (Support Staff)

9: Gabriel Gonzales (Custodian)

11: Hannah Ahmet (Preschool Teacher)

13: Sheila Dovenmuehler (4th Grade Teacher)

18: Kristin Moon (Preschool Aide)

Contact DANA (dsutherland2396@gmail.com) for more details

This month's staff wellness focused around pet therapy for good mental health. We brought in Cali, a big sheepadoodle with lots of love to share! Studies have shown that interacting with animals can help decrease your cortisol levels, which is a stress related hormone, and can even lower blood pressure as well. While spending time with animals can decrease the stress hormones it also works the other way by releasing serotonin and oxytocin which are those feel-good hormones that we all love. With those hormones being released, we are granted an instant mood boost.

Feb. 5-16 - Priority Registration for Fall 2024 Enrollment

Feb 13 - Loving Your Child Through Challenging Times Parenting Class

Feb 14 - Ash Wednesday

Feb 15 - NO SCHOOL - Preschool and Middle School Only/ K-5 Grandparents-VIP Day

Feb 16 - NO SCHOOL - Presidents Day

Feb. 19 - NO SCHOOL Presidents Day

Feb. 20 - Loving Your Child Through Challenging Times Parenting Class

Feb. 20 Open Enrollment Begins

Feb. 21-23 PTF Online Auction Fundraiser

Feb. 27 - Loving Your Child Through Challenging Times Parenting Class

The crewneck sweatshirt will be a limited time order! Keep an eye out for an email.

The Season of Lent

On Ash Wednesday, February 14th, we begin the sacred season of Lent. Ash Wednesday is a Christian holiday (holy day) observed by the Christian Church for centuries. The name, Ash Wednesday, comes from the ancient practice of placing ashes on the forehead in the shape of a cross. The ashes symbolize that we are mortal creatures, created by God and dependent upon God for our life—we are creatures and not the creator (Genesis 3.19)! Because we forget this truth, we sin. Because we sin, we separate ourselves from God. However, God sent Jesus to get us back! The ashes on our foreheads are made in the sign of the cross to remind us that Jesus loved us so much, He died for our sin and rose from the tomb on Easter, defeating death and the devil.

The word Lent comes from the Middle English word, “Lente,” meaning “spring time,” and is a forty-day period of spiritual reflection on the life of a disciple of Jesus. The forty days of Lent mirror Jesus’ forty days of fasting and prayer in the wilderness prior to the beginning of His public ministry. The Gospel of Mark describes this event in the life of Jesus:

“At that time Jesus came from Nazareth in Galilee and was baptized by John in the Jordan. 10 As Jesus was coming up out of the water, he saw heaven being torn open and the Spirit descending on him like a dove. 11 And a voice came from heaven: ‘You are my Son, whom I love; with you I am well pleased.’ 12 At once the Spirit sent him out into the desert, 13 and he was in the desert forty days, being tempted by Satan. He was with the wild animals, and angels attended him.” (Mark 1.9-13)

After Jesus’ Baptism, He is sent by the Holy Spirit into the desert where He does battle with Satan. Coming out from the wilderness, Jesus would resolutely set His face toward Jerusalem and the cross. Lent allows us time to explore and understand Jesus’ journey from the desert to the cross to Easter, absorbing its meaning and power.

In the early years of the church, the Lenten season was an intensive, forty-day period of instruction in preparation for Baptism on Easter. Consequently, Lent was (is) a time to reflect on, and prepare for, Baptism and the lifestyle of following Jesus as Lord and Savior.

As a summary description, here are some “FAQs” about Ash Wednesday and Lent:

1. What is the Lenten season, and why is it set apart?

It is a period of six weeks preceding Holy Week and Easter, and is set apart as a special season of fasting, penitence, and prayer.

2. Why is it called Lent?

Because it always comes in the spring of the year, and the old, Saxon word lent means “spring.”

3. With what remarkable event in Jesus’ life does the Lenten season correspond?

The forty days which He spent fasting in the wilderness.

4. Why is the first day of Lent called Ash Wednesday?

From the tradition and practice that prevailed in the early church of sprinkling ashes on the heads of penitents the first day of Lent, as a symbol of repentance and sorrow for sin.

5. Are there any examples of this custom mentioned in the Bible?

Yes, the example of Daniel and of David and the people of Nineveh, to which Jesus Himself refers in Matthew 11:21.

6. If Lent is only forty days, why does it begin forty-six days before Easter?

There are six Sundays in Lent, and as all Sundays are feast and celebration days in honor of the Resurrection, they are taken out. To make up for these Sundays, six days are added to the beginning of the season.

7. How should the Lenten season be observed by Christians today?

As a special season for drawing near to God by acts of penitence, charity, and spiritual devotion, and by fasting and abstinence from all things that tend to draw the heart from God.

8. Why does the church require us to observe the Lenten fast?

Because repentance and acts of devotion to God, are essential to growth in faith. And because these duties are apt to be neglected and forgotten unless some special time is set apart for their observance.

9. What objection do people sometimes raise against the observance of Lent/Lenten fasting?

They say that it is a useless and superstitious custom, and that Christ nowhere commanded his disciples to fast. Additionally, nowhere in the Bible are we directed to place ashes on our forehead and/or observe Lent.

10. How do we answer this objection?

While not a Biblically commanded observance (nor is Christmas Eve or Thanksgiving Day), the focus of this season is entirely Biblical (Repentance and discipleship). And, as mentioned above, the observance of Lent has been practiced by the church for centuries as preparation for Baptism and the celebration of Easter, as was the sprinkling of ashes as a sign of repentance, similar to the Prophet Job (Job 42:6).

Additionally, fasting was a common practice among God’s chosen people (Exodus 34:28; 2 Samuel 12:16; 1Kings 19:8; Psalm 35:13; Joel 1:14; Jonah 3:5). Jesus fasted and so did his disciples. He did not command his followers to fast; He assumed that they would and gave directions on how to fast (Mathew 6:17).

As with every season in the Church Year, Lent is an annual reminder of a daily truth: Jesus came to live the life we do not live and died the death we deserve. Because of what Jesus has accomplished for us, we are forgiven, justified, death is defeated, and an entirely new way of living is offered to us in love!

During the Lenten season (and any time!), you are invited to join us for our Sunday morning Worship Services (in person, livestreamed, and recorded) at 8:00 a.m. (Classical) or 10:15 a.m. (Contemporary). “DiscipleU” our Sunday education ministries for children and adults is at 9:15 a.m.

Beginning on Ash Wednesday, February 14th, join us for Ash Wednesday Worship, with the traditional imposition of ashes, at 12:00 noon or 7:00 p.m. in the Sanctuary.

Our hope and prayer for you during this Lenten season, is that you will deepen your relationship with Jesus and grow in faith, hope, and love! You are always welcome at Red Hill!

God’s blessings to you!

Pastor Seth

As we head into the season of Lent, we would love the opportunity to partner with your family in our effort to grow closer to Jesus. Our Youth & Family Ministry (YFM) Team is preparing Lenten Resource Bags filled with devotions and activities that we hope will bless your family. These resources, both physically and digitally, will be available starting on Ash Wednesday, February 14th. We are prayerfully preparing for a great Lenten season as we walk with you and your family onward to the celebration of Jesus’ Resurrection on Easter Sunday. We invite you to share these resources with other family members and friends.

Journeying with you into this Lenten Season!

Beth & Phil

Email our Youth and Family Ministry (YFM) Co-Directors with any questions.

Beth Stoffregen, Director of Children’s Ministry at beths@redhillchurch.org

Phil Gaylor, Director of Student Ministry at pgaylor@redhillchurch.org

Congratulations to the following students who received their First Holy Communion on Sunday, January 28th:

Kayla Bennett

Kara de Beer

Elijah Froschauer

Olivia Garcia

Fara Hartloff

Sophia Keefe

Jacob Manalac

Silas Manalac

Luca Matijevich

Marco Matijevich

Bennett Morrow

Olivia Ripley

Esther Schwendimann

We pray for God’s continued blessings on these children as they continue their journey with Jesus!

February DiscipleU Classes

Nursery Ministry in Classroom 11

“God Made the World”

Preschool Ministry in Classroom 12

“WOW!” A Teaching Series for Preschoolers on Jesus’ Miracles

K.I.D.S. Ministry (Kindergarten-5th Grade) in the K.I.D.S. Zone

“WOW!” A Teaching Series for Elementary age children on Jesus’ Miracles

Student Ministry (Middle School & High School) in Peter’s Parish

“All About Jesus” Who is He? and Why does He matter?

Adult Class with Pastor Seth in the Christian Life Center (CLC)

“Bystander: John and the Rabbi From Nazareth” (A Study in the Gospel of John)

Adult Class with Jason and Mindy Harney in the Christian Life Center (CLC)

“Defending Your Faith”

Our Nursery Ministry provides a welcoming, nurturing atmosphere for the nursery age children of our members and visitors, six weeks old through three years of age, not potty trained. We strive to honor the Lord and support parents in the care and spiritual education of their children, in a loving, safe manner. Nursery care is available during both Sunday morning worship services and during our DiscipleU Educational Hour in Classroom 11 and upon request for mid-week Bible studies, adult classes and events.

Our Nursery Ministry Team engages children with exciting Bible stories and encourages them to be active participants in a variety of age appropriate activities designed to teach them the tremendous truths about God and His love for them. For the safety of all children, all of our team members are background checked and fingerprinted as well as CPR and First Aid certified.

For more ministry information, contact Director of Children’s Ministry, Beth Stoffregen, via email at beths@redhillchurch.org.

We offer a loving Preschool Ministry program on Sunday mornings during our DiscipleU Educational Hour, 9:00am-10:15am, in Classroom 12, for children three years of age and potty trained through five years of age, not enrolled in Kindergarten . Using an engaging and inspiring environment and striving to lay a foundation of faith that will last a lifetime, preschool children will consistently hear three basic truths: God made them; God loves them; and Jesus wants to be their friend forever.

For more ministry information, contact Director of Children’s Ministry, Beth Stoffregen, via email at beths@redhillchurch.org.

Preschool and K.I.D.S. Ministry February Teaching Series – “WOW!”

A 4-Week Series from the Gospels on Jesus’ Miracles

Our February Teaching Series, “WOW!” begins Sunday, February 4th. Whether it’s a rocket car powered by soda and mints or a tornado in a water bottle, there’s so much in our world that can fill us with awe. The world of STEM is full of things that look like little miracles, but they’re nothing compared to the miracles God can perform. In this four-week teaching series, we will be taking a look at some of the miracles that Jesus performed during His ministry. Through stories showing the power of Jesus, they’ll no doubt say, “WOW!” Jesus has the power to heal, to calm our fears, to provide, and to save. We look forward to all of the kids joining us next month during our Sunday morning DiscpleU Educational Hour, 9:15am-10:00am. (Check-In Begins at 9:00am)

Middle School Student Ministry

Middle School Ministry meets Wednesday nights, 6:00pm-7:30pm in Peter’s Parish. Join us for fun, games, dinner, and then spend time with us in God’s Word. Contact Student Ministry Director Phil Gaylor at pgaylor@redhillchurch.org with any questions.

For a lot of us, music is a central part of our lives. In the car, at school, or even just walking through a store, music plays in the background. Music can be more than fun and entertainment for us, though. While the best rhythms and beats can make us want to dance or help us focus to handle our work, they also help us understand how we can develop healthy habits for our spiritual lives. With the right habits, we can set ourselves up to grow closer to God than we could ever imagine. In this four-week series, we'll take some time to explore how we can build rhythms that help us connect with God in new ways. We'll discover how to build a strong rhythm that can sustain us through whatever life brings our way. We'll look at how to create rhythms that help us spend time with God, use our gifts, share our stories, and spend time with others.

DiscipleU – Sunday Morning Student Ministry

All middle school and high school students are invited to join us Sunday Mornings for our DiscipleU Educational Hour, 9:15am-10:00am, in Peter’s Parish. We will spend time in community and God’s Word, discover our individual gifts and talents, and share our stories. Our study is “All about Jesus”: Who is He? and Why does He matter? This study gives students an opportunity to take an in-depth look at the life of Jesus. We will discover who He is, what He did during his earthly ministry, unpack the truths He taught, and explore how they can share the message of Jesus.

Email: rhlsoffice@redhillschool.org
Website: www.redhillschool.org
Location: 13200 Red Hill Avenue, Tustin, CA, USA
Phone: 714-544-3132