what they really want
NOTABLE QUOTABLES “Children will not remember you for the material things you provided but for the feeling that you cherished them.”
WHAT THEY REALLY WANT As holiday ads, giftgiving guides, and kids’ Christmas
probably handily win a debate with them, thanks to
lists start appearing, it’s a good time to remember what
your years of life experience. But teenagers will notice
teenagers really want from their folks!
and appreciate when you simply try to understand them rather than educate them.
—Richard L. Evans
Time: Although teenagers tend to hibernate in their rooms—or even in plain sight, engaging only with a
To be sure, kids still want a new Xbox and the car that’s for sale down the street. But the gift of listening
twice as much time with them and half as much
screen—what they really want and need from Mom and Dad is time. Surveys show that parents and kids
money.”
spend an average of 3485 minutes together each day.
“If you want your children to turn out well, spend
—Abigail Van Buren
makes a great gift this holiday season.
That means, in the bestcase scenario, parents spend 11% of a typical day on their most important job.
“Your children can be around you all day, but if you don’t spend quality time with them and you don’t pay attention to them and talk to them and listen to them, it doesn’t matter that they’re just around you.” —Brandy Norwood
Engagement: The digital age has forced our heads down. In American homes, family dinners and conversations seem to have been replaced by reading email, checking social media, and playing digital games. Grownups model much of that cyber time in the home, yet teenagers are silently begging us to put down our phones and look them in the eyes. Understanding: The ageold generation gap between teenagers and their parents seems to widen exponentially during an election year. The key to winning teenagers’ hearts is to seek to understand them. They probably won’t have fully defined positions or defend their points well. You could
By Darren Sutton
YOUTH CULTURE
A WORD FROM THE WORD
RINGING IN THE NEW YEAR Ringing in the New Year
What one family tradition do you want us to continue? Who would you like to spend more time with this year?
Turning the page to a new year offers opportunities to
What three priorities should we set as a family for
evaluate the past and prepare for the future. As New
2017?
Year’s Eve fast approaches, consider some meaningful ways to welcome 2017 together as a family. Recount
What weekend getaway would you like us to take as a family this year?
the year with your kids, asking these questions to
Complete this sentence by adding one word: “2017 is
reminisce:
the year of ________” (hope, laughter, etc.).
What was the most memorable event we shared together this year?
Help your kids move beyond resolutions this year as
How was this year different from previous years?
you engage in great conversations and set goals
If you could change one thing about the past year,
together.
“But forget all that—it is nothing compared to what I am going to do. For I am about to do something new. See, I have already begun!” Isaiah 43:1819a, NLT
what would it be? If you could ensure that one thing about the past year never changed, what would that be? Sum up the past year with one word or simple phrase. As you toast to 2017 with milk and cookies, sparkling cider, or your favorite carbonated beverage, make some plans for the year ahead.
By Darren Sutton NEW YEAR WALL ART With a little planning and forethought, you can commemorate the past year and ring in 2017 with a special art installation. Search through your social media sites, phone, and any photo albums. Select the best commemorative pictures from 2016 and have them printed. At most pharmacy chains and bigbox stores, you can print photos directly from your phone. Create a photo collage of 2016’s highlights, weaving in the words you’ve chosen for 2017 (see the article above). This artwork will serve as a yearlong reminder of your family’s focus!
IN THEIR WORLD
STOCKING STUFFERS THAT WON'T BREAK THE BANK Check out this list of inexpensive stocking stuffers for teens (from Seventeen magazine): Coloring book from us.topshop.com, $10 Magic Wand Reusable Bubble Bar from lushusa.com, $8.95 Monogram ornaments from anthropologie.com, $8
DON'T FORGET THE POPCORN
Phone charger keychain from francescas.com,
With extra time on their hands during Christmas break, teenagers (and their families) may want to take in—or
Passengers (PG13)—Jennifer Lawrence and Chris
avoid—some of these December movie releases:
Pratt awaken early on their space flight to inhabit a
$10
new planet.
Harry Potter candy from jellybelly.com, $2.25 Emoji phone stickers, dormify.com, $5
Jackie (R)—Natalie Portman portrays Jackie O. as she considers her husband’s legacy following his 1963
Assassin’s Creed (PG13)—Based on the popular video
assassination.
game, this action flick exposes viewers to genetic memory, or the ability to experience our ancestors’
Office Christmas Party (not yet rated)—In this comedy, coworkers Kate McKinnon, Jennifer
adventures.
Aniston, and Jason Bateman try to host an epic
Sing (PG)—This animated, familyfriendly comedy
Christmas party to save their jobs.
features animals who enter a singing competition.
Rogue One: A Star Wars Story (not yet rated)—This
Why Him? (not yet rated)—Bryan Cranston cringes as
scifi thriller follows a side story from the original saga, with rogue members of the resistance trying to
his daughter brings home a lessthandesirable boyfriend (James Franco) for the holidays.
steal Death Star plans. Fences (not yet rated)—Denzel Washington and Viola The Space Between Us (PG13)—Gary Oldman headlines this scifi adventure that’s being called an
Davis star in this drama about a oncepromising baseball player who now works as a garbage collector.
interplanetary Romeo and Juliet, spanning the distance between Mars and Earth.
Hidden Figures (PG)—This is the true story of three
Collateral Beauty (PG13)—A distraught man (Will
AfricanAmerican women who were the brilliant minds behind John Glenn’s launch into outer space. Stars
Smith) encounters Love, Time, and Death personified. The starstudded cast also includes Helen Mirren, Edward Norton, and Kiera Knightley.
DECEMBER 2016
include Taraji P. Henson, Octavia Spencer, Janelle Monáe, and Kevin Costner.
DECEMBER 2016 Sunday
Monday
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Merry Christmas, Parents! Look for opportunities to bring Jesus into your conversations—as you pass by During the holiday season, “busy” becomes as common as tinsel, trees, and clever
mangers on neighbors’ lawns, as your church offers special events, and as stories
Christmas letters. So take a moment now to schedule some downtime with your
about kindness and goodwill appear on the evening news.
family. The truth is, if you don’t schedule it, someone else will. With shopping, holiday parties and entertainment, family visits, and deadlines, before you know it
Remember, during the holidays and always, your student ministry team is praying
Christmas break will be over and you’ll be back to the normal routine.
for you!
Plan to attend a Christmas Eve service together. Drive around and look at light
Merry Christmas!
displays. Schedule a Christmasmovie marathon. Intersperse holiday “mustdo’s” (such as undecorating the house or returning gifts) with some family “getto’s” (such as stopping at Starbucks or spending that gift card.) Amid all that Christmas offers, remember that the greatest gift is Jesus. These clichés really are true: Jesus is the reason for the season, and wise people really do still seek him.
WHAT THEY REALLY WANT As holiday ads, giftgiving guides, and kids’ Christmas
probably handily win a debate with them, thanks to
lists start appearing, it’s a good time to remember what
your years of life experience. But teenagers will notice
teenagers really want from their folks!
and appreciate when you simply try to understand them rather than educate them.
—Richard L. Evans
Time: Although teenagers tend to hibernate in their rooms—or even in plain sight, engaging only with a
To be sure, kids still want a new Xbox and the car that’s for sale down the street. But the gift of listening
twice as much time with them and half as much
screen—what they really want and need from Mom and Dad is time. Surveys show that parents and kids
money.”
spend an average of 3485 minutes together each day.
“If you want your children to turn out well, spend
—Abigail Van Buren
makes a great gift this holiday season.
That means, in the bestcase scenario, parents spend 11% of a typical day on their most important job.
“Your children can be around you all day, but if you don’t spend quality time with them and you don’t pay attention to them and talk to them and listen to them, it doesn’t matter that they’re just around you.” —Brandy Norwood
Engagement: The digital age has forced our heads down. In American homes, family dinners and conversations seem to have been replaced by reading email, checking social media, and playing digital games. Grownups model much of that cyber time in the home, yet teenagers are silently begging us to put down our phones and look them in the eyes. Understanding: The ageold generation gap between teenagers and their parents seems to widen exponentially during an election year. The key to winning teenagers’ hearts is to seek to understand them. They probably won’t have fully defined positions or defend their points well. You could
By Darren Sutton
YOUTH CULTURE
A WORD FROM THE WORD
RINGING IN THE NEW YEAR Ringing in the New Year
What one family tradition do you want us to continue? Who would you like to spend more time with this year?
Turning the page to a new year offers opportunities to
What three priorities should we set as a family for
evaluate the past and prepare for the future. As New
2017?
Year’s Eve fast approaches, consider some meaningful ways to welcome 2017 together as a family. Recount
What weekend getaway would you like us to take as a family this year?
the year with your kids, asking these questions to
Complete this sentence by adding one word: “2017 is
reminisce:
the year of ________” (hope, laughter, etc.).
What was the most memorable event we shared together this year?
Help your kids move beyond resolutions this year as
How was this year different from previous years?
you engage in great conversations and set goals
If you could change one thing about the past year,
together.
“But forget all that—it is nothing compared to what I am going to do. For I am about to do something new. See, I have already begun!” Isaiah 43:1819a, NLT
what would it be? If you could ensure that one thing about the past year never changed, what would that be? Sum up the past year with one word or simple phrase. As you toast to 2017 with milk and cookies, sparkling cider, or your favorite carbonated beverage, make some plans for the year ahead.
By Darren Sutton NEW YEAR WALL ART With a little planning and forethought, you can commemorate the past year and ring in 2017 with a special art installation. Search through your social media sites, phone, and any photo albums. Select the best commemorative pictures from 2016 and have them printed. At most pharmacy chains and bigbox stores, you can print photos directly from your phone. Create a photo collage of 2016’s highlights, weaving in the words you’ve chosen for 2017 (see the article above). This artwork will serve as a yearlong reminder of your family’s focus!
IN THEIR WORLD
STOCKING STUFFERS THAT WON'T BREAK THE BANK Check out this list of inexpensive stocking stuffers for teens (from Seventeen magazine): Coloring book from us.topshop.com, $10 Magic Wand Reusable Bubble Bar from lushusa.com, $8.95 Monogram ornaments from anthropologie.com, $8
DON'T FORGET THE POPCORN
Phone charger keychain from francescas.com,
With extra time on their hands during Christmas break, teenagers (and their families) may want to take in—or
Passengers (PG13)—Jennifer Lawrence and Chris
avoid—some of these December movie releases:
Pratt awaken early on their space flight to inhabit a
$10
new planet.
Harry Potter candy from jellybelly.com, $2.25 Emoji phone stickers, dormify.com, $5
Jackie (R)—Natalie Portman portrays Jackie O. as she considers her husband’s legacy following his 1963
Assassin’s Creed (PG13)—Based on the popular video
assassination.
game, this action flick exposes viewers to genetic memory, or the ability to experience our ancestors’
Office Christmas Party (not yet rated)—In this comedy, coworkers Kate McKinnon, Jennifer
adventures.
Aniston, and Jason Bateman try to host an epic
Sing (PG)—This animated, familyfriendly comedy
Christmas party to save their jobs.
features animals who enter a singing competition.
Rogue One: A Star Wars Story (not yet rated)—This
Why Him? (not yet rated)—Bryan Cranston cringes as
scifi thriller follows a side story from the original saga, with rogue members of the resistance trying to
his daughter brings home a lessthandesirable boyfriend (James Franco) for the holidays.
steal Death Star plans. Fences (not yet rated)—Denzel Washington and Viola The Space Between Us (PG13)—Gary Oldman headlines this scifi adventure that’s being called an
Davis star in this drama about a oncepromising baseball player who now works as a garbage collector.
interplanetary Romeo and Juliet, spanning the distance between Mars and Earth.
Hidden Figures (PG)—This is the true story of three
Collateral Beauty (PG13)—A distraught man (Will
AfricanAmerican women who were the brilliant minds behind John Glenn’s launch into outer space. Stars
Smith) encounters Love, Time, and Death personified. The starstudded cast also includes Helen Mirren, Edward Norton, and Kiera Knightley.
DECEMBER 2016
include Taraji P. Henson, Octavia Spencer, Janelle Monáe, and Kevin Costner.
DECEMBER 2016 Sunday
Monday
Tuesday
Wednesday
Thursday
Friday
Saturday
27
28
29
30
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
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18
19
20
21
22
23
24
25
26
27
28
29
30
31
1
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4
5
6
7
Merry Christmas, Parents! Look for opportunities to bring Jesus into your conversations—as you pass by During the holiday season, “busy” becomes as common as tinsel, trees, and clever
mangers on neighbors’ lawns, as your church offers special events, and as stories
Christmas letters. So take a moment now to schedule some downtime with your
about kindness and goodwill appear on the evening news.
family. The truth is, if you don’t schedule it, someone else will. With shopping, holiday parties and entertainment, family visits, and deadlines, before you know it
Remember, during the holidays and always, your student ministry team is praying
Christmas break will be over and you’ll be back to the normal routine.
for you!
Plan to attend a Christmas Eve service together. Drive around and look at light
Merry Christmas!
displays. Schedule a Christmasmovie marathon. Intersperse holiday “mustdo’s” (such as undecorating the house or returning gifts) with some family “getto’s” (such as stopping at Starbucks or spending that gift card.) Amid all that Christmas offers, remember that the greatest gift is Jesus. These clichés really are true: Jesus is the reason for the season, and wise people really do still seek him.
