Red Hill Lutheran 2024-2025

ALL THINGS WORK TOGETHER FOR GOD'S GOOD PURPOSES

"And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose." Romans 8:28

GUILTY AS CHARGED

While on the cross, Jesus felt the indignity and disgrace of a criminal. No, He was not guilty. No, He had not committed a sin. And no, He did not deserve to be sentenced. But you and I were, we had, and we did. We are all GUILTY AS CHARGED, but though we come to the cross dressed in sin, we leave the cross dressed in “garments of salvation” (Isaiah 61:10, NIV). Indeed, we leave dressed in Christ Himself! -- Max Lucado (He Chose the Nails). “All of you who were baptized into Christ have clothed yourselves with Christ.” Galatians 3:27 (NIV).

As we journey to the foot of the cross during this Lenten season, may we be reminded of God’s amazing and unconditional love for us through the death and resurrection of His Son, our Savior, Jesus. We can look forward to celebrating on EASTER Sunday. May we be thankful and ever mindful of this, the greatest Gift of all, and be bold in our witness and proclamation of this truth with our family and friends.

Spring is a special time of the year, especially this spring in California, with our hills green and flowers coming to life all around us. Please make sure to always make special family time together with minimal to no distractions (think hiking, playing at the park, biking at the beach, etc.). Parents are their child’s first and best teachers. We at RHLS feel very special to be in partnership in the Christian Education process with you and are thankful for all your continued prayerful support of our work together as we anticipate basking in the love and joy of our Risen Savior, Jesus Christ!

Blessings,

Dr. Paul Marquardt, Principal

Christian Character Quality: WISDOM

Bible Verse: “Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable-if anything is excellant or praiseworthy-think about such things."

Philanthropy: Lutheran World Relief

Thank you to all your donations to LA Fire Relief through Lutheran World Relief. We will continue to collect for LA Fire Relief through Lutheran World Relief through the month of March. We appreciate your support!

March

3: Pep Rally

3-7: Literacy Week

5: Ash Wednesday Chapel

6: PTF Fundraiser at The Stand

10-12: PTF Online Fundraiser

10-12: 6th Grade Trip

11: 4th Grade Field Trip

13-14: Spring Break-No School (No Camp)

18: 5th Grade Field Trip

20: Spring Photos

21: Preschool Spring Sing

21: Middle School Academic & Sports Awards Ceremony

22: Parents Night Out

29-April 4: 8th Grade Washington DC Trip

We are excited to announce our new uniform vendor is ready to accept orders! Vicki Marsha Uniforms is now our new vendor for uniforms. Vicki Marsha Uniforms has a store located in Huntington Beach for instore shopping and also accepts online orders.

To place online orders: CLICK HERE or go to https://vickimarsha.com

Vicki Marsha Location: 5292 Production Dr, Huntington Beach, CA 92649, Phone: 714-895-6371

Store Hours: Tuesday-Friday 10 am - 5 pm, Saturday 10 am - 3 pm, Closed Sunday and Monday

All School PTF Meetings

May 16, 2025 at 8:15am

Literacy Week 3/3-3/7

Pep Rally 3/3 at 2 PM in CLC

Guest Author Davy Liu 3/6 in Sanctuary

Dear Parents,

The RHLS Learning Garden is a curriculum based, multi-sensory, hands-on experience designed to enrich the student's knowledge and appreciation of God's creation. Garden curriculum supports what is taught in the classroom. For example, 4th graders learn about California, so they plant a California Agriculture garden and learn by touch, sight, smell and taste. What a way to reinforce the lesson content in the garden and in their classroom!!!

There is a Fall garden and a Spring garden. Both have planting and harvest visits. You can sign up for 1 or more teachers (use the TABS at the top of the page to sign up for other grades). It is very helpful if you sign up for all 4 visits for a teacher for continuity since each visit is based on what was taught and experienced during prior visits. However, if that is not possible, please sign up for what you can as we are grateful for any time you can commit to!

We also encourage grandparents or other relatives to participate. It's a great way to have a wonderful experience with your child or grandchild (the kids are so proud when their parent, grandparent, etc. are at the visit with them!).

You will receive 1 volunteer hour for every visit you attend. Since we get so many wonderful volunteers this year, we are asking for 1 volunteer from each class to LEAD the lesson; please don't let this hinder your willingness to volunteer. "LEADING" might mean reading a book or guiding students to plant or telling them about the craft or how to observe the garden and fill out their worksheet - guided instructions are provided in advance so please do not be intimidated - this is an easy roll and allows our garden leaders the chance to help kids and answer questions on a more individual basis. Plus, the kids love to see their parents’ involvement! If you are interested, please add in the comments that you are willing to lead.

Garden Preparation/Clean Out Days are not student visit days but typically on a weekend or afterschool where we need to clean out the garden to ready it for a new season of planting or where we need to make sure the garden looks spic and span for Open House. These are great opportunities for working parents to volunteer outside of the work day and usually go pretty quickly if we have lots of help! You will receive service hours for every hour you work.

Garden Maintenance Days are times between planting and harvest where we just need some extra help maintaining the garden, mostly pulling weeds, ensuring garden is clean, etc. These can be done in your own time (within the week noted) and will receive 1 hour of volunteer time for each time slot.

SIGN UP HERE

Questions? Contact Lindsay Manning at asulinz@hotmail.com or 949-307-5667. Thank you for helping us! We look forward to another year of our learning garden!

Hello there!

Thank you for subscribing to our "Download" newsletter. I've received great feedback from parents about how the information we share in the Download helps them feel informed and confident. I love that. Please share it with anyone!

This is a quick "non-Download" message, and I have two things:

1. I need help in a focus group. We're exploring an idea for families and I need your input! If you want to learn more, please go here.
2. I wrote a deeply personal post about sin, social media, and The Anxious Generation. I'd love your thoughts. If you want to read it, please go here.

Note: I know not all PYE followers are Christians but I think even non-Christians might find it interesting. #delayistheway!

Parenting with you!
Chris & PYE

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!

8: Sailor Coughran-K-8 Support Staff

15: Christine Aguilar-1st Grade Teacher

17: Jon Ornelas- 7/8 STEM Teacher

Are you ready for some co-ed roller hockey? Signups are going on now.

Want to watch some basketball? Come out and cheer for our boys basketball teams.

Click icons or here to get to sign up for hockey and check the sports schedule for upcoming games:

https://www.redhillschool.org/apps/pages/index.jsp?uREC_ID=82405&type=d&pREC_ID=146532

Mar. 5 - Ash Wednesday- All school chapel/ No Preschool Chapel

Mar. 10-12 - PTF Online Auction Fundraiser

Mar. 13-14 - No School: Spring Break

Mar. 21- Preschool Spring Sing Performances

Mar. 28 - Preschool Morning Muffins

Mar. 29 - Preschool Playground Playdate

Apr. 11 - Preschool Trike-a-Thon Fundraiser

The Season of Lent

On Ash Wednesday, March 5th, 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 “springtime,” 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.

On Ash Wednesday, March 5th, you are invited to 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

Hi Red Hill Families!

On Wednesday, March 5th, we begin the season of Lent. We invite you to join us for our Ash Wednesday Services at 12:00pm or 7:00pm.

In an effort to support you and partner with you, our Youth and Family Ministry (YFM) Team has gathered intentional, age-specific resources that we pray will help you to observe, instruct and celebrate the Season of Lent at home as a family.

These resources, both physically and digitally, will be available starting Sunday, March 2nd.

Contact Beth Stoffregen if you would like a physical Lenten Resource Bag. Click here to access Lenten Resources digitally.

We are prayerfully preparing our hearts and minds for a great Lenten season as we journey with you from Ash Wednesday onward to the celebration of Jesus’ Resurrection on Easter Sunday. We invite you to share these resources with other family members and friends.

It is a privilege to partner with you in the discipleship of all our students and families!

Journeying with you this Lenten Season!

Beth Stoffregen

Director of Red Hill’s Youth and Family Ministry Team

Congratulations to the following students who received their First Holy Communion on Sunday, February 2nd:

Ava Baird

Charlotte Kottke

Teresa Carroll

Katherine Medina

Callum Drumm

Drew Obermire

Riley Fordham

Charlie Tinkess

Lucas Gaspar

Ava Tucker

Kinsley (Kiki) Hickey

Maggie Veitch

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

T.O.T.S Ministry March Teaching Series

A Teaching Series from Epiphany to Easter

T.O.T.S. Ministry is exploring stories of Jesus' life on Sunday mornings. We are following the miracles and teachings of Christ that bloomed along His path to the cross. Using the Lenten Resources provided by our Youth & Family Ministry (YFM) Team, we invite our T.O.T.S. families to join the fun at home as we decorate a blossoming Jesus Tree with ornaments showing the journey of Christ to the Tree of Life! Biblical stories this month include the following:

• March 2nd: “Jesus Heals a Blind Man”

• March 9th: “Jesus Is Tempted”

• March 16th: "Zacchaeus"

• March 23rd: “Jesus Calms the Sea”

• March 30th: “Jesus Walks on Water”

Using a combination of large group and small group conversations and activities, our K.I.D.S. Ministry Team intentionally strives to create an engaging environment where children, kindergarten through 5th grade, come to Know Jesus, Impact the world around them, become Disciples of Jesus, and Serve others - K.I.D.S.!

DiscipleU K.I.D.S.

During our DiscipleU Educational Hour, kids gather in a large group format where we focus on God’s Word as well as engage in related activities or crafts with our leaders.

DiscipleU K.I.D.S. Fellowship

During this programming time, kids have an opportunity to join us as we focus on God’s Word in large and small group formats utilizing discussions and supplemental activities. All children are brought into the sanctuary as a group during this time as well to celebrate communion with the whole church community.

All children, Kindergarten through 5th Grade, are invited to join us as for either programming format or both, regardless of church affiliation.

For more ministry information, contact Itzel Mancilla, Children’s Ministry Coordinator, at imancilla@redhillchurch.org or Beth Stoffregen, Director of Youth and Family Ministry, at beths@redhillchurch.org.

K.I.D.S. MINISTRY’S MARCH TEACHING SERIES – “BIG PICTURE”

A Teaching Series from the Gospels on Jesus’ Teachings

Every great movie tells a great story. When we see stories played out on the big screen, we can learn a little more about ourselves and the world around us. Jesus knew how powerful stories could be, and he made them a big part of how he taught his followers. In this teaching series, kids will hear some of the parables Jesus shared that can help them see the big picture of a life spent following God.

• March 2nd: “Parable of the Sower” (Matthew 13:1-23)

• March 9th: “Parable of the Talents” (Matthew 25:14-29)

• March 16th: “Parable of the Good Samaritan" (Luke 10:25-37)

• March 23rd: “Parable of the Barren Fig” (Luke 13:6-9)

• March 30th: “Parable of the Prodigal Son” (Luke 15:11-32)

VBS 2025

Click here to register!

Note: No daycare is available.

However, RHL School Summer Camp has full day hours 7:30am - 5:30pm

Click here for more RHL School Summer Camp information.

Please Note: (One) Child Registration is free if parent serves all five days of VBS.

Contact Beth Stoffregen before registering or for more information.

Join us as we take kids on the ultimate Alaskan adventure where the northern lights shine over majestic mountains, racing rivers, and sparkling glaciers. As we trek the tundra, we will discover how easy it is to lose sight of what’s true in our wild world today. Looking to Jesus during this fun-filled week, we will see that Jesus is a faithful friend we can always trust. Jesus is our True North! Activities will include wild Bible adventures, glacier games, cool crafts in our Imagination Station, tundra treats, worship and time with our friends.

Middle School Ministry meets on Wednesday nights from 6:00pm-8:00pm inside Peter’s Parish. All middle school students are welcome to join us for food, fun, fellowship, and a great time diving into God’s Word.

For March, our calendar is as follows:

• March 5th – Middle School Ministry (Cereal Night) from 6:00pm to 8:00pm

• March 12th – No Middle School Ministry

• March 19th – Middle School Ministry from 6:00pm to 8:00pm

• March 26th – Middle School Ministry from 6:00pm to 8:00pm

If you have any questions or need more information, please feel free to contact Student Ministry Coordinator, Tim Rivera, at trivera@redhillchurch.org.

Student Ministry March Teaching Series: The Making Of

A series on Spiritual Formation

Good movies capture our imaginations and transport us to other worlds. As we watch our favorite movies with popcorn in hand, we may not realize all of the work, edits, and rewrites that went into making the cinematic masterpiece. The same is true of our faith, too. We might expect our relationship with God to look like a finished product, but really, our faith and relationship with God are still in the making.

In this 4-week series from the Gospels and Epistles, we'll explore what can happen when we invest in spiritual formation. We'll see how spending time with God can make us more like Jesus and how, when we face temptation, we can ask God for help. We'll also discover how with God, difficult moments can help our character grow and how we grow when we make things right with God.

If you have any questions or if you need more information, please feel free to contact Student Ministry Coordinator, Tim Rivera, at trivera@redhillchurch.org.

JUMP: YFM MIDDLE SCHOOL SUMMER OVERNIGHT CAMP 2025

Middle School Summer Overnight Camp is the ultimate place for your incoming 6th, 7th, and 8th grade student! During this 5-day camp, we'll explore how we are invited to trust God as we JUMP into our faith. This camp is an incredible opportunity for students to connect with their peers, build meaningful friendships, and most importantly, an opportunity for them to challenge themselves to grow deeper in their faith, through the teaching of God's Word, worship, and so much more!

This summer, Red Hill Lutheran Church & School is heading to a beautiful, private, gated 5-acre estate in Palm Desert! Our group will have exclusive access to two pools, a large pond with an outdoor pavilion, a regulation-size tennis court that converts into multiple pickleball courts, plus cabanas and fire pits for evening gatherings. Inside, students can enjoy a pool table, board games, and plenty of space to relax and bond. Whether they're soaking up the sun, playing sports, swimming, or unwinding with friends, this retreat offers the perfect balance of fun and intentionality for all to create lasting memories with their friends and JUMP deeper into their faith!

Registration for camp opens in early March, and spots are limited! If you have any questions or need further information, please feel free to contact the Student Ministry Coordinator, Tim Rivera, at trivera@redhillchurch.org.

Please click the link below to see the pictures of our special grandparents and VIPs. Thank you for your continued support of your family and our school!

https://www.redhillchurch.photos/RHL-School/2025-Year/2025-02-13-Grandparents-Day

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