Youth Activities

The youth group includes all our teens from 7th through 12th grade, and we meet Sunday evenings from 6:00 to 8:00 PM for dinner and fellowship. About once a month, we go on a field trip (Adventure Landing for miniature golf, Whirly Ball, bowling, drive-in movie, etc.). The rest of the time, we are hosting game nights (we've played our versions of Survivor and the Olympics, plus Extreme Church Golf, photo scavenger hunts, Mexican Train tournaments, etc.). Some evenings, the youth put together an informal worship service and small group time. Throughout the year, we also have lock-ins, a Super Bowl Party, a summer swim party to bring up the incoming 7th graders, and a White Elephant Christmas party.

We have a wonderful group of young people and are always delighted to welcome new friends. Our youth sponsors are Tracy Hoover, Jessica Karlinski, Chris Frank, and Meghan Miller; we could not ask for a more energetic, creative, and loving bunch of adult leaders. Claire Bush is the staff resource for youth ministries and would be happy to answer any questions you have about our program. We are committed to seeing young people grow in faith and as disciples of Jesus Christ; one of the primary ways we seek to do that is through building strong relationships in an environment that is safe, nurturing, and joyful.

The youth meet for Sunday school at 9:45 AM and follow a curriculum called linC, which connects Bible study with concrete issues youth face today.

Other yearly events:

• Senior High Youth Connection (SHYC)

  In January, we always send a high school group to Austin College in Sherman, TX for a weekend of fun and faith formation with about 700 other teens from Grace Presbytery. It's one of the year's highlights and a great chance to connect with the larger church denomination (PCUSA).

• Talent Show

  In the spring, we organize a youth-led talent show as a mission-trip fundraiser.

• Mission Trip

  Each summer, we participate in a work trip. We have gone to Juarez, Mexico several times; in 2009 we headed to east Texas with an organization called YouthWorks and will probably continue to use them in the future. The trip brings our group into fellowship with other church youth groups from around the country. We spend the days painting houses and doing minor repair work, leading Vacation Bible School, organizing a children's summer day camp, helping sort and distribute furniture and other goods for people in need. The youth and sponsors prepare all the meals, and, in the evenings, we have worship and fellowship time.

• Retreat

  Once every year, we take the youth to a church family's beautiful ranch in east Texas for a weekend of relaxing, sitting around the campfire, hiking, and all that good stuff.

• Summer Amusement Park Visit

  Each summer, we trade off trips to either Six Flags or a water park.