It’s hard to believe the school year has begun and we’re gearing up for Fall Kick Off! We know that in the beginning of the school year there are lots of things to attend and prepare for as parents, so we wanted to share a quick recap of Youth Parent Meeting in case you missed it or just need a refresher on the information we shared! Without further ado, here are the highlights:
Who are we & what are we all about?
We’re here to love our students and walk alongside them to help shape their faith lives! This is the time in the lives of young people when they are most likely to make a decision about how connected they want to be to the church for the rest of their lives. Our goal is to meet them exactly where they are so that they can grow and transform through a deep sense of community and belonging.
Everything we do is built on being a community where we have a shared understanding that each one of us is created and shaped in the image of God and has inherent value and worth, regardless of our backgrounds. We spend time laughing, sharing meals, worshipping, crying, and experiencing God’s love. This is a community that sees you, knows you, and embraces you exactly as you are, no matter what.
Healthy Plate Discipleship
During programming we use our church’s model of Healthy Plate Discipleship to structure the different things we do. This is based off John Wesley’s Means of Grace broken down into 6 different categories:
Worship, Learning, Serving, Giving, Praying, and Playing
The basic idea is that Christian life is about more than just Sunday morning worship or Bible Study – it’s about a whole life transformed by Christ.
School Year Theme: “It’s So Good to be Home”
We know that there has been a lot of change and transition over the summer, so we wanted our school year theme to remind us that this place, our youth group, and the Justin building are an anchor to keep us together. This place really is like a home away from home for so many, so we’re going to spend the year helping each other feel at home here. Our building is turning 70 this year, and throughout its entire lifespan, it has been a place of community and comfort, no matter who walked through the doors.
Sunday School
Sunday mornings will continue to follow our current Sunday School model: First Sundays will be Worship Sundays in the big room in the Justin Building, and each Sunday after that will be a breakout Sunday for discussion and learning. Students are invited to participate in leading our Worship Sundays through reading scripture, doing the call to worship, playing in the band, and more! If your student has questions about this, reach out to Rebekah.
The Refuge
On Sunday evenings from 5:30-7:30, we have The Refuge! Each week looks a little bit different, but each time we gather, we offer up opportunities for our students to grow authentic relationships, process things happening in their everyday lives and have a weekly opportunity to disconnect and recharge. The Refuge includes service nights, worship nights, Open Justin, parties and large events, and more!
Student Extracurriculars
Part of being God’s beloved community together means showing up for what matters to each other! Please send us your student’s extracurricular schedules so we can show up for them. At least one Youth Staff member will try to be at any and everything we get invited to, as long as we’re given advanced notice. You can email your schedules, send them via Instagram DM, or text them to us! We can’t wait to watch your students do what matters most to them!
Youth Group Trips
If you want specific information about what each trip entails, reach out to Claire! For now, here are dates:
Middle School Retreat (grades 7-8): 9/27 from 10-5 at Lyle Lodge
High School Retreat (grades 9-12): 11/8-11/9 at Lyle Lodge
Revolution Weekend (grades 7-12): 1/23-1/25
Cornerstone Youth Choir Tour (grades 6-12): 6/4-6/9
High School Mission Trip (grades 9-12): 6/14-6/20
Camp Barnabas (grades 8-12): 7/11-7/17
Middle School Mission Blitz (grades 6-7): 7/31-8/2
Special Note about Camp Barnabas
If your student is interested in attending Camp Barnabas, we have implemented an attendance requirement for all students who wish to attend Camp Barnabas. Camp Barnabas is a challenging yet rewarding opportunity for students, and it’s important for students and staff to have a good foundational relationship going into the week at camp. We are requiring students to be at church for 8 Sundays in the fall, and 8 Sundays in the spring, either at Sunday School or Refuge. If there are extenuating circumstances that would prevent your student from meeting those requirements, you can reach out to Claire to have a further conversation.
Communication
Are you wanting to get in touch with someone on the Youth Staff? You can do so via email (which can be found on the FUMCFW staff page), or by calling our office!
We keep in touch in several different ways:
- Facebook and Instagram (@fumcfwyouth)
- Through our Weekly & Monthly Emails
- Email reminders for big events that your students are registered for
If you need to be added to our email list, reach out to Mirta!
Partnering with Students’ Families
There are 2 main ways we want to partner with you and your families:
1) We want Youth Ministries at FUMC to be a priority for your students. The things we’re doing matter, and our programming is made better by your students!
2) We want (and admittedly need) volunteers! That looks like: bringing donuts to Sunday School or dinner to The Refuge; leading a Sunday School class (with curriculum we provide!); volunteering on one of our trips as a chaperone and leader; and more!
If you have any questions about what it means to partner with us, please contact Kylie.
We know that’s quite a bit of information, so if you have questions or need any clarification, please reach out! We’d love to chat about the life of Youth Ministry at First Fort Worth!
