FUMC Student Ministries Program Youth Director-Tony Walker [email protected] or [email protected]

Sunday School: Sunday Mornings 9:30 –10:40 am in Cross Roads

Teachers: Tony Walker/ Jeff Bozeman/ Stephanie Igler

Sunday school is the time we all come together for morning fellowship and study the word of God. Studies may come through the Bible, a DVD series, a book, a movie or guest speakers. Studies are youth age appropriate and meant to provide information for spiritual growth and direction for one’s faith journey. Middle School and High School youth study together unless the topic is such that the youth are separated, whether by age or gender.

Cross Roads Youth Night, Sunday Evenings 5:00 – 6:30 pm in Cross Roads Cross Roads Youth Night meets each Sunday evening in Cross Roads Youth Lounge. Some activities could take place offsite depending on the activity. You will receive notification via email regarding the plan if there is to be an offsite event.

Youth Nights are designed to apply the knowledge we have learned through study and incorporate that into our daily lives. Youth nights involve fellowship activities, mission and service activities and unique worship opportunities. In other words, it’s a time to share our faith and have some fun together!

Spirit, Wednesday Evenings 6:00-7:30, Spirit Room 301, 3rd Floor Educational Building Spirit Youth Choir has become a signature ministry at First United Methodist. Youth ranging from 7th grade through 12th grade that are interested in music, voice, instrumental, drama, technical theater or sound are encouraged to participate. Even if you can’t sing a note we want you!! Spirit sings in worship during the year and present the musical “Godspell” each summer on a national/international mission tour. Spirit is much more than a youth choir! Come and see what it’s all about! This year, Spirit will once again produce a new “Spirit Renewed” as one of its group fundraisers.

Youth Council

A youth council was created to give the youth a voice in decisions that affect them. It consists of the Youth Officers and interested youth’s representing different grades. The youth make the nominations for youth council and vote on those nominations. The officers consist of: The President, the Vice President, Secretary, Parliamentarian and Grade Reps. The goal is to meet quarterly. There can be called meetings to make decisions on matters brought up during the course of the year.

Fundraisers

Fundraising is a part of youth group. For youth to attend camps, mission trips, retreats and fun trips the reality is, it cost money! As parents, youth, sponsors and director we have two choices: 1) You can pay for it out of your own pocket 2) You can earn your money through a variety of fundraisers that are offered each year.

I would like to remain consistent with fundraisers that have proven to be successful however I am VERY open to new ideas that could especially generate group funds. Below are some examples of our choices: 1. Cookie Dough Sales 2. Poinsettia sales 3. Meat sales 4. Geranium Sales 5. Rock-a-thon 6. Silent Art Auction (new this past year, big success!) 7. Spirit Renewed ( haven’t had one in a couple of years, has proven to be extremely successful ) Spirit Renewed would be a group fundraiser for Spirit, everyone involved with the Spirit ministry will be asked to participate in some capacity. The other fundraisers would be to earn funds for an individual account to use toward any youth trip, camp or retreat of choice. For these fundraisers to be a success it would be extremely helpful if parent volunteers would choose to assist with a fundraiser.

Youth Volunteers The youth program could not exist without parental support and volunteers for all aspects of the youth program. There are a variety of ways that you can support the youth program with your gifts and service. I need volunteers in all facets of youth programing:

Bring Sunday School Snacks “Step Up Step Out” Top Chef (7 opportunities) Sunday School - teach, assist or substitute Youth Night – teach, assist or substitute Mission/Service Coordinator (8 opportunities) Guys and Gals Coordinator (6 opportunities)

How can I volunteer in the Youth Department? You believe you would like to help in the youth department but don’t know how to volunteer. I have separated tasks into three different levels based on time commitment and responsibilities:

Level 1 – A small taste of youth! I can do small volunteer tasks that don’t involve a significant amount of time commitment, a Breakfast Snacks volunteer, a “Step Up Top Chef ”, volunteer to drive youth to an event or bring supplies for mission/service projects.

Level 2 – The youth haven’t scared me off yet, I’m ready to try something else!! I am willing to participate with youth in Mission/Service Projects, a youth activity for youth night, lead a Youth fundraiser, assist in Sunday school or Youth Night. This would involve more of a time commitment but only for the duration of that event, activity or program.

Level 3 – The youth love me! I feel called to play an active role in youth ministry!!! I am more than happy to teach a Sunday school lesson or series, be a guest speaker in youth, lead or coordinate a program or activity at a youth night, be a Sunday school teacher or Youth Night substitute, coordinate or organize a mission/service project, be a sponsor on a youth trip. Being a Level 3 volunteer would require more of a consistent time commitment.

Volunteers that regularly assist with youth will be required to have a background check on file in the church office.

Parents and Youth, It should be our mission as a church family to encourage the youth of our church to get plugged into ministry for Christ. There are a variety of opportunities for youth at First United Methodist for faith development and spiritual growth. Let us all work together and help each other grow in faith in our relationship with God and with each other!! Blessings, Tony Walker

2013/ 2014 Youth Opportunities: Dates to Remember The following are dates and times for scheduled youth activities and events at the time of the parent meeting on August 25, 2013 at 9:30 in the Cross Roads Youth Lounge. Dates, times and events may be modified or cancelled during the course of the year depending on a variety of factors such as weather or unforeseen conflicts. Some dates on the calendar may be tentative or TBA (too be announced). It is my goal to stick as closely to this calendar as possible. You will be notified of any changes should they occur. At some activities or events, volunteer parental assistance would be appreciated or required.

September September 1: Labor Day Sunday (No Sunday School) September 4: Spirit begins 6:00-7:00 3rd floor Spirit Room Any youth interested in music or singing come join Spirit for a fun night of music, fellowship and devotion!! September 8: Welcome the Newbie’s and New Friends! September 8: Cross Roads Youth Night Kick Off Party: The Bozeman’s lake house at Lake Nasworthy September 15: New SS Series Begins: Amazing Grace with Francis Chan September 15: Mission/Service - Disaster Relief September 22: “Step Up, Step Out” Youth Worship & Meal September 29: Guys and Gals

October October 6: Fun Night October 13: Crop Walk - TBA October 19: Helping Hands Service Project - TBA October 20: “Step Up, Step Out” Youth Worship & Meal October 27: Guys and Gals October 31: Trunk or Treat

November November 3: Fun Night – The Great Pumpkin Smash - TBA November 10: Mission/Service - Operation Christmas Child November 17: Youth Worship Service in 11th Hour or Sanctuary November 17: No Youth Night November 24: Guys and Gals November 27: No Spirit Rehearsal

December December 1: New Series Begins: Youth Advent Study December 1: Thanksgiving Weekend (No Youth Night) December 2: Women’s Advent by Candlelight (Girls) December 8: Mission/Service December 8: Confirmation Study Begins for Confirmation Class

December 15: “Step Up, Step Out” Worship/ Youth Christmas Party & Meal December 22: No Youth Night December 25: No Spirit Rehearsal December 29: No Sunday School or Youth Night

January January 1: No Spirit Rehearsal January 5: Epiphany Sunday Celebration January 5 End of Winter Break (No Youth Night) January 12: New Series Begins January 12: Mission/Service January 19: “Step Up, Step Out” Youth Worship & Meal January 26: Guys and Gals Jan/ Feb: Conference Mid-Winter Retreats – TBA

February February 2: Fun Night February 9: Mission/Service February 16: “Step Up, Step Out” Youth Worship & Meal February 23: Guys and Gals

March March 2: Fun Night March 5: Youth Ash Wednesday Service March 9: Spring Break Sunday (No Sunday School or Youth Night) March 12: No Spirit Rehearsal March 16: New Series Begins March 16: Spring Break (No Youth Night) March 23: “Step Up, Step Out” Youth Worship & Meal March 30: Guys and Gals

April April 6: Fun Night April 13: Confirmation Class Confirmed April 13: Mission Service April 20: Easter Sunday (No Sunday School or Youth Night) April 27-May 2/4: Spirit Renewed

May May 18: May 18: Senior Recognition Sunday (Junior /parents responsible for decorations/ breakfast) May 18 “Step Up, Step Out” Senior Worship Service & Meal

June June 15- 22/25: Spirit/Youth Trip (No Sunday School, June 15 or 22) June 29: Summer Sunday Series June/July Costa Rica Mission Trip - TBA June/Aug Chrysalis July July 13-19: McAllen Mission Trip – Led by Amy and Jeremy Harrison (An excellent mission trip for families as well as youth of all ages) July/Aug. Sunday Funday’s by the Pool - TBA

Potential Youth events:

Boys Retreat Girls Retreat Revolve Tour (girls only) Conference Quest Camp - summer

BECAUSE OF GOD I AM:

FOUND. INSPIRED. STRONGER.

SAVED. FORGIVEN. OPTIMISTIC.

HOPEFUL. BLESSED. LOVED!