High School

​January 16-February 27

**Separate from Real Groups** (This is a committed time with more focus and less activity)

Meeting on Sundays, 7:00pm-8:30pm

A study on "Anxious: Fighting Anxiety with the Word of God", led by Dani Wills at the Wills home, 4307 Almond Grove Ln.

January 16-February 27

**Separate from Real Groups** (This is a committed time with more focus and less activity)

Meeting on Sundays, 7:00pm-8:30pm

A study on Craig Groeschel's "Fight: Winning the Battles that Matter Most", led by Bill Wills at the Henslee home, 10101 Keeneland Ct.

​January 9, 10:25-11:15am, HS Room

HS Ministry parents/guardians are invited to enjoy some coffee, donuts, and fellowship with each other! This will be a low-key time to hangout, catch up, and enjoy community.

​December 26, 9:00am or 10:30am Main service

No HS Sunday Service on December 26. Worship with your family and/or friends in the Main Service!

​Where: Hume Lake Christian Camps (hume.org)

When: February 11-14, 2022

Transportation: Bus

Cost: $370 for students, $100 for counselors

Hume Lake Christian Camps is requiring negative COVID-19 tests for all Hume Lake Winter Camp 2022 attendees. We sent out a mass email to HS Ministry families with details about this, but if you have questions, concerns, or need more information, please email Sarah Sibecas (sarahs@riverlakeschurch.org).

How do I register?

To reserve your spot, a $100 deposit is required (online or check/cash). Get that in by 1/10/22! Forms and other Hume registration needs will be communicated by Sarah Sibecas once a deposit is turned in. Final payments will be due by 1/25/22.

Spots and scholarships are limited! If we reach our student limit, we will start a waitlist but cannot guarantee spots opening up.

Student Online Registration Link: https://rivlksca.infellowship.com/Forms/464033

Counselor Online Registration Link: https://rivlksca.infellowship.com/Forms/464034

If you have registration questions, please feel free to email Sarah Sibecas (sarahs@riverlakeschurch.org)!

​December 19

During HS service (9:00am) in the HS Room

Breakfast, flannels, lumberjack pancakes, and Jesus! Come early, 8:40am, for pancakes.

​December 1

6:30 - 8:30pm

Community Center Auditorium

Student ministry is worshipping through song together on December 1! All JH & HS students are invited.

HS Room + at the RCC South Field (for turkey bowl)

​Dates: November 5 - 7

Cost: $20 (shirt + book included in cost)

Join us for a weekend full of serving, worshipping, and staying with friends at host homes having meaningful times of fellowship and connection!

For questions or information on how to sign up, attend the meeting on August 29 or contact Sarah Sibecas (sarahs@riverlakeschurch.org).

​October 20, 6:30pm, HS Room

All of HS Ministry is invited to listen to our RiverLakes-supported ICM missionaries, James & Mary Kamau, speak and share about where they’re from and what they do! They will also be in the Main Service on October 17.

4307 Almond Grove Ln.

September 23, November 11

6:15 - 7:15pm

Bi-monthly prayer meetings for our volunteer leadership to gather and pray over each other and HS Ministry.

​Location: Morning Star Fresh Food Ministry // 2240 S Union Ave 93307

Date & Time: Saturday, September 18. Meet up at RCC and we’ll leave together by 7:35am. We’ll be done by 10:00am.

Serving at Morning Star Fresh Food Ministry means helping pack boxes of fresh food on their monthly distribution day. They make these boxes available and affordable to families who desperately need good, quality groceries by the time the end of the month comes around. To learn more about this local, community-driven ministry, head to their website here.

​Hosted and led by Dani Wills

Sundays, September 12 - November 14, 7:00 - 9:00pm

4307 Almond Grove Ln.

Join some HS ladies in a 10-week study in the book In His Image by Jen Wilkin. Must purchase the book prior to the first meeting day.

Separate from HSM Real Groups

​Sunday, September 12

11:35am - 1:00pm

HS Room

Bill Wills will be giving a general overview of this upcoming year in HS Ministry, as well as a refresher of the mission, vision, and purpose of HS Ministry here at RCC. Lunch will be provided.

​T.G.I.F. Nights are monthly, Friday night hangouts that will take place throughout the school year.

December 3, 6:30 - 8:00pm || Christmas Bonfire, White Elephant || The Aleman home, 3641 Piedmont Ave. Bring a white elephant gift ($5-20), a Christmas treat to share, and dress warm. Christmas ugly sweaters and swag encouraged!

​In-Home Mission Retreat (Nov.) + Mission Trip (Jun. 2022) (lunch provided)

Sunday, August 29

11:35am - 1:45pm

HS Room

Come listen and receive pertinent information about these upcoming missional opportunities in HS Ministry. Learn about the cost of both, what the signup and application processes will be like, and how parents/guardians might be involved.

Mission Trip Applications will be available early September.

Morning Star Fresh Food Ministry

5/29, 6/19 // 7:45-11:30am

Let's gather, outreach to our community, and feed families with the hope and love of Jesus who are fighting to make ends meet, struggling with hunger in the soul and body.

***Meet in the North Parking Lot in front of RCC, wear clothes to work in, bring a mask, and get ready to serve for the Lord!***

This summer, HS Ministry will hang out and have a space to worship and study God's word together on Wednesday evenings, 6:30-8:30pm in different homes for 6 weeks! The schedule with home addresses is attached at the bottom of this page.

***NO MEAL // Bring a snack to share***

***NO MEAL // Bring a snack to share***

​Student Ministry Summer Camp 2021

When? August 5-9

Where? Granite Ridge Christian Camp

How Much? $375

*Registration Closed*

Are there scholarship opportunities? YES!  Get in touch with us about scholarship aid if needed. We also have a family discount (10% off for families sending 2+ students).

Junior High Students: Contact Nate Baker or Zach Whitmore

High School Students: Contact Sarah Sibecas or Bill Wills

Got more questions? Contact Sarah Sibecas at sarahs@riverlakeschurch.org (HS) or Nate Baker at nateb@riverlakeschurch.org (JH)!

​Q&A Cafe on ZOOM - Summer 2020

Dates: 7/1, 7/15, 7/29, 8/12, 8/26

Time: 6:30-8pm

Zoom link sent out weekly via email & HS Remind. If you are not connected to either of these means of communication, email Sarah Dickinson (sarahd@riverlakeschurch.org; HS Ministry Assistant) and she will get you connected!

Join us for these Q&A Cafe sessions on Zoom this summer! Ask your questions during the session or beforehand (anonymous option) at tinyurl.com/qazoom2020. Any questions are welcome and will be answered by both Nik Crown and the entire group from a biblical perspective--it's a group discussion!

B.Y.O.M. (Bring Your Own Mug) full of something good! Lemonade, soda, a smoothie, water if that's more your speed.

​When: Evening of 4/23

Time & Location TBD We’re holding a parent meeting the evening of April 23 with light snacks/dessert for our continuing and new HS parents/guardians. We invite our soon-to-be freshman parents/guardians to join us! An Evite will be sent out in March with more details. Please RSVP by 4/17.

December 13 | 6:30 - 9:00pm

The Cozy Hangout Night we had planned for November had to be moved to December.

December 22 | 9:00am

On December 22, we are going to have a Christmas Party in the High School Room (Sunday morning)! The leadership team wants this to be an opportunity to invite friends. If you are interested in providing a breakfast food, pastries, desserts, etc., contact Nik Crown or Sarah Dickinson (contact info at the bottom of this newsletter).

December 21 | 4:00pm (arrive earlier)

Studio Movie Grill

$20 (includes ticket, drink, and meal)

We’re seeing the new Star Wars movie and you should come with us! If you sign up, we’ll be meeting in front of Studio Movie Grill at 3:00pm that day so we get there ahead of show time (4:00pm). Sign up by paying Sarah on a Sunday.

WINTER CAMP 2020: Welcome to the Fam

Date: January 17-20, 2020

Location: Thousand Pines Christian Camp

If you've registered for camp, final payments and Participation Forms (2019-20) are due 1/5/20.

After you register with us, complete the CampDoc Release Forms for Thousand Pines here no later than 1/3/20.

If you have any questions about camp, registration, deadlines, or financial assistance, contact Sarah Dickinson or Denise Aleman!

Sarah Dickinson (HS Ministry): sarahd@riverlakeschurch.org

Denise Aleman (JH Ministry): denisea@riverlakeschurch.org

​Fall Olympics

Where? RCC Campus (meeting first in HS Room, or Rm. 213 upstairs in the Education Building)

When? 11/2, 4-7pm

Who? Any and all JH + HS students that want to come!

Food? YES

Fall Olympics is happening! We’ll be playing laser tag, kajabe can can, lawn games, ultimate frisbee, and more. This is a great event to invite friends to and is come one, come all! No sign-up required. If you've been coming to RiverLakes awhile or are brand new, this will be a great time of hanging out and having fun!

Wednesdays @ 6:30 - 8:30pm

June 19, 26, July 3, 10, 24, 31

Different homes every week!

WEEKLY SCHEDULE

Summer, Swim, & Study is starting up soon! Join us at different homes on Wednesday evenings throughout the summer for some swimming, dinner, and study of God’s Word. Sign up for the HS Remind to get the address sent to you each week (text @829chd to 81010). [Note: There will be no SSS on 7/17]

​Wednesday, June 12 | 6:30 - 8:30pm

RiverLakes Church (HS Roomm & South Field)

Come out for Tie-Dye Wars to kick off the summer with us! Wear a white or light-colored t-shirt you don’t mind getting dyed and bring a friend or two! [Note: The “dye” is water with food coloring in it]

​Friday, June 7 | 6:30 - 9:00pm | 9805 Copa Cabana Ct.

If you are an incoming freshman, we would like for you to join us for some dinner, swimming, and hanging out! Parents, we would love for you to be there as well. There will be some time for everyone to hang out, as well as time for the freshmen to get to know current HS Student Leaders and for Nik to talk to parents. RSVP by 5/30 to Sarah at sarahd@riverlakeschurch.org for food estimations.

​Sunday, May 19 | 6:00 - 9:00pm | $5.00

Don’t miss this opportunity to have a night of fellowship, reflection, and looking toward the future with fellow 2019 graduates! There’s going to be a nice dinner at a wonderful host home, and so much prayer and encouragement for those of you graduating this year. Sign-ups begin April 28 and close May 12.

​Dates: January 18-21, 2019

Location: Thousand Pines (our camp will be independent from their camp program)

Cost: $350 ($75 deposit to secure spot)

​HS: Education Bldg, Rm. 213 @ 9:00am // JH: CC, Rm. 122 @ 9:00am

Graduating classes are moving on up! Incoming 7^th grade students and incoming freshmen students will be joining JH ministry & HS ministry (respectively) for the first time!

​KEY SCRIPTURE: 1 Corinthians 8:6     

WHEN: July 22 - 27     

WHERE: Sierra Pines Youth Camp, Bass Lake

COST: $275 through 6/30, $300 after 6/30     

DEPOSIT: Paperwork + $75 deposit to secure a spot!

REGISTER ONLINE

WHAT: HS Summer Camp 2018 is headed up to a site near Bass Lake for a week! Games, free time activities on-site & at the lake, a snack shop, and more are all things we’ll be enjoying during the week. Most importantly, we’ll be getting deep into God’s Word, examining the emotions of Jesus and how he is not only wholly God, but also wholly man—He is the perfect human at that. He is the prototype of God’s intended design for humanity! So pick up a packet on a Sunday morning, download it off of the RCC website, or register online (link can be found on the website or FB) to join us for an awesome week!

DEADLINES: 

• June 30: Last day to register under $275
• July 8: Last day to register under $300
• July 12: All monies due

​WHEN: 8/1, 6:30 - 8:30pm

WHERE: 10206 Dorsey Ct, 93312

WHAT: Dinner, swimming, and a worship night to end the summer!

​WHEN: 6/13, 6/20, 6/27, 7/11 6:30-8:30pm 

WHAT: Dinner, swimming, and Bible study on Wednesday nights throughout the summer! Different locations every week. CLICK HERE for weekly schedule.

​WHEN: 6/6, 6:30 - 8:30pm

WHERE: RiverLakes (HS Room)

WHAT: Pizza, Tie-Dye Wars! To honor our incoming freshmen class, everyone is invited to Dye Wars! It’ll take place at RiverLakes. Make sure you wear a white/light colored t-shirt, and clothes that you don’t mind being stained. Bring a towel as well!

​Wednesday, May 1

6:30pm | High School Room

On the last night of this school year’s D-Groups, we’ll be having a worship night in the HS Room. If you were a part of HS D-Groups this year, we’d love to see you there as we close out the year!

​The seniors will be graduating from the High School Ministry, so we are going to make sure that we send them off right! Come and support them as they take a step into the next phase of life!

​We are going to take the day and get away from everything and just spend sometime in God’s creation. While we hike we will have devotions and worship songs.  Make sure to pack a lunch and bring water, good shoes, and a hat!

​February 16 - 19, 2018

Hume Lake Christian Camp

Cost: $375 ($50 nonrefundable deposit due upon registration)

CLICK HERE TO REGISTER

MAKE A PAYMENT

THEME:

ETERNAL LIFE NOW

We want you to know the hope that Christ gives us for eternal life and the way that hope impacts our purpose and meaning as we richly experience it in the here and now. 

1 Peter 1

​This November we are taking a day to RETREAT! We will be heading to Cayucos Beach to unplug from the business of everyday life and spend the day getting spiritually refreshed! Spots for the Retreat are limited, so have your student sign up quickly! Feel free to email carissas@riverlakeschurch.org for any questions or concerns!

WHEN: November 18, 2017 from 6am-8pm

WHAT: A spiritual refreshment retreat focused on spending time alone getting into God’s Word, digging into devotions, worshipping our Savior, and praying together as a body of believers!

SIGN UP DETAILS:  $5 to sign up! Signed Participation Forms will be required from each student before departure! Only 40 spots are available! (Participation Forms are available in the HS room and the link is also attached to this email for at-home-printing convenience)

FOOD DETAILS: Lunch will be provided! Bring some extra money for dinner at In-N-Out Burger on the way home!

TRANSPORTATION: Drivers are NEEDED! If you have any interest in participating in our Retreat, or just spending the day in Cayucos…Please contact carissas@riverlakeschurch.org

​​​Saturday, October 21

Time: 6:00 - 9:00pm

Cost: FREE

Join us for an epic night of Zombie Tag! Get ready for missions, screaming, running, and awesome prizes! Bring a disposable white t-shirt and a flashlight.

​Our next Third Friday event has been decided...and it's going to be on a Saturday! We're going to be meeting up at the church at 9:30am on Saturday, April 22 and then driving out to Windwolves for a day of hiking, hanging out, and spending time in the word!

Make sure you bring your hiking shoes, a water bottle, and a sack lunch!

We're looking for adult drivers to help get our students there! If you're 21 or older we would love to recruit you! Please comment or email Steph at stephaniew@riverlakeschurch.org to let us know if you can drive!

February 17 - 20, 2017

Hume Lake Christian Camp

Cost: $340 ($50 nonrefundable deposit due upon registration)

MAKE A PAYMENT

In a couple sentences in Mark 12:29-30, Jesus took the entirety of the 613 Levitical laws and beautifully pared them down to these two: Love God and Love Others. That is the great commandment… plain and simple. In a world of increasing doubt and indecisiveness, what would it look like if we loved God with ALL of our hearts, souls, minds and strength? What if we loved our neighbors as much as we love ourselves? In the second half of verse 31 Jesus says “There is no other commandment greater than these” and from that sentence comes our theme title: “That’s it!” It’s as if Jesus was saying to the Scribe who approached him “focus on these, that’s it!” Our desire this winter is to learn how to love God and love others with ALL that we are… That’s it!

Sign up today! Registration deadline is January 29.

​It’s official…our former 6th graders are now JH students and 8th graders are now High School students! On Sunday, June 5 make sure that all the students make their way to their new ministry rooms! JH meets downstairs in the Community Center, room 122 and HS meets upstairs in the Ed Building. Both ministries CANNOT WAIT to welcome all of the new students!

​Summer is FINALLY here and we want to come together and celebrate as a RL//HS family! Come help welcome the new freshmen and revel in the fact that school’s out for summer with DYE WARS!!! Wear a white shirt (ladies please wear a 1 piece bathing suit underneath) and shorts you don’t mind getting ruined…because it’s going to get messy!

​Summer is FINALLY here and we want to come together and celebrate as a RL//HS family! Come help welcome the new freshmen and revel in the fact that school’s out for summer with DYE WARS!!! Wear a white shirt (ladies please wear a 1 piece bathing suit underneath) and shorts you don’t mind getting ruined…because it’s going to get messy!

​Discipleship Groups may be on break for the summer but that doesn’t mean that we aren’t going to get together! Every Wednesday of Summer (except for 7/20 because we’ll all be at summer camp) we’ll be meeting up at the homes of some of our awesome and generous volunteers and parents for swimming and hangout time, dinner and Bible study. Bring a bathing suit (ladies one piece or two piece with a dark t-shirt please) and a towel and come swim and study with us!

Dates/Locations

​Wednesday, May 4

Time: 6:30 - 8:30pm

Discipleship Groups are kicking the bucket (for summer anyways) and we want to celebrate! Come to the church for food, fun and friends and a look back at all that God did through D-Groups this past year!

​​Third Fridays are a great time to get to know fellow HS students and leaders and just have FUN! This time we're having a Backyard BBQ Bash! Cost is $5.00 if you want to eat.

​Third Fridays are a great time to get to know fellow HS students and leaders and just have FUN! This time we're competing in a Lip Sync Battle! Sign up ahead of time if you want to compete. More details to come.

​Third Friday

February 19

Time: 6:30 - 10:00pm // Location: HS Room

Third Fridays will be taking a break in December BUT will be back in action starting in January. These events are planned at the beginning of each month so make sure you’re checking in to see what fun themes and activities we come up with! These events range from the wild and crazy Zombie Tag event to the super chill and laid back bonfire and board games night. Come on out, bring a friend and get to know other students and leaders.

Time: 9:00 - 10:30am // Location: HS Room

There’s nothing quite like going to Grandma and Grandpa’s house for Christmas…the freshly baked cookies, classic Christmas music and more joy and cheer than you know what to do with. This year 

RL//HS is channeling our grandparents’ Christmas Spirit by celebrating senior citizen style! Come to church dressed like a Christmas loving senior citizen! We’ll have snacks, games and a costume contest! The most convincing and spirited will win a prize!​

September 18

October 16

November 20

Time: 6:30 - 10:00pm // Location: HS Room

We want to hang out with you! Starting this fall, every third Friday of the month we will have a…Third Friday event! These events will range from the outrageous and crazy (like Zombie Tag) to super low key (like board games and bonfires). Themes and details for each event will be announced monthly BUT you know that EVERY third Friday there will be something going on. Third Fridays will start at 6:30pm and go until 10:00pm BUT feel free to show up anytime in between! ​

​Friday, August 14 // 6:30 - 9:00pm // 16347 Salmon Bay Ct., 93314

Summer, you were sweet but it’s time to say goodbye. Let’s end summer with a bang! We’re going to be hanging out, and getting our last “kicks” in before school starts! Come out and get crazy! 

​Every Wednesday June 10 - August 5 (except July 8 & 22)

6:00 - 9:00pm

We’ll be swimming, relaxing, playing games, and having Bible study! It’s going to be a great time! (Ladies: modest one-piece please)

Locations:

8/5: 836 Nord Ave 93314

​​Wednesday, June 3 // 6:30 - 8:30pm // RCC HS Room

FRESHMEN! We want to welcome you into the HS room by having a DYE WAR!!!!  Meet us in the HS room and wear a white t-shirt and a bathing suit (ladies please wear a one piece suit under your t-shirt) and get ready for battle! It’ll be just you, your fellow incoming freshmen and the HS leaders. 

We will have some dance instructors teaching some fun organized dances as well as some crazy free dance time to Disney songs! Not into dancing? That's okay! There will be plenty else to do besides dance. Semi formal attire recommended.​

Saturday, June 27 Time TBA Location: 15800 Strebor Drive

May 8, 2015 6:30 - 10:00pm in the high school room​

​Come shop and help us raise funds for our Nicaragua Mission Trip!

Saturday, May 2 @ 6:00am - Noon

12038 Rosedale Highway (Corner of Rosedale and Old Farm Rd.)

​Friday, November 14 & Saturday, November 15

Grab your tool belts and hammers as a team from RCC pre-builds homes to take to Mexico on their upcoming mission trip.  It’s awesome to see the body of Christ at work in our community and those around the world!

​​Saturday, November 1

Time: 7:00 - 10:00pm

Cost: FREE

Join us for an epic night of Zombie Tag! Get ready for missions, screaming, running, and awesome prizes! Bring a disposable white t-shirt and a flashlight.

​Sunday, October 19

Teams arrive @ 3:30pm

Competition starts @ 4:00pm

Rally to follow @ 7:30pm

Teams from RiverLakes and other churches throughout Bakersfield will battle it out in a fierce night of Broom Hockey in pursuit of the Baker Cup! A youth rally will follow with an awesome message from Rich Baker. Sign up your team in the HS Room.

Broom Hockey Location: Bakersfield Ice Sports Center (1325 Q Street)

Rally Location: First Presbyterian Church 

(1705 17th St.)

​​Saturday, December 14

10:00am - 12:00pm

Join us as we venture outside of RiverLakes Church to serve our community with Jesus Shack Street Teams by visiting impoverished neighborhoods to deliver food and the love of Jesus to those less fortunate than ourselves.

​Pull on your ugly sweaters and join us for a Sunday morning Christmas Party! Food, games and prizes galore, so make sure you bring yourself and maybe a friend or two more!

​Join us for an epic night of Zombie Tag! Get ready for missions, screaming, running, and awesome prizes! Bring a disposable white t-shirt and a flashlight.

Teams from RiverLakes and other churches throughout Bakersfield will battle it out in a fierce night of Broom Hockey in pursuit of the Baker Cup! A youth rally will follow with a message from Rich Baker. Sign up your team in the HS Room.

Teams arrive at 3:30pm

Competition starts at 4:00pm

Rally to follow at 7:30pm.

Broom Hockey Location: Bakersfield Ice Sports Center (1325 Q Street)

Rally Location: First Presbyterian Church (1705 17th St.)

Wednesdays at 6:00 - 9:00pm

Every Wednesday night throughout the summer, we will be gathering together for an evening of swimming, food, games, and bible study.  This time of fellowship will be for students and H.S. leaders, allowing students to get to know one another, create friendships, and grow spiritually.

Weekly Locations:

June 12: 15800 Strebor Dr, 93314

June 19: 2100 Classen St, 93312

June 26: 9900 Front Porch Ct, 93312

July 3: 10115 Salerosa Ct, 93312

July 10: 8831 Oak Hills Ave, 93312

July 17:9805 Coba Cabana Ct, 93312

July 24: 6123 Potenza Ln, 93308

July 31: 517 Jerlee St, 93314

August 7: 8908 Hickory Hills, 93312

August 3  - 7 | Quaker Meadeow Christian Camp

This will be an exciting time of having an escape into learning more about “Everyday Life” following Jesus and what it means to follow Him. JH and HS will be going together ensuring a fun, respectful, safe, summer blast of worship together.