Youth Ministry

God our Father, you see your children growing up in an unsteady and confusing world: Show them that your ways give more life than the ways of the world, and that following you is better than chasing after selfish goals. Help them to take failure, not as a measure of their worth, but as a chance for a new start. Give them strength to hold their faith in you, and to keep alive their joy in your creation; through Jesus Christ our Lord.

Book of Common Prayer, p. 829. For Young People

Welcome from Our Youth Minister!

...It's wonderful to be young! Enjoy every minute of it! Do all you want, take in everything, but realize that must account for everything you do. (Ecclesiastes 11:9 TLB)

Thank you for your interest in the youth program of St. John's. My name is Sheila Foster and I serve as the youth minister for students in sixth through twelfth grade. We have many opportunities for young people to get involved in our church community. We have a Senior High and Junior High youth group, a Confirmation program, and are involved in various service projects. If you have questions about any youth event or program, please feel free to contract me at the church office, 651-429-5351 or through email at . I would be happy to answer questions about our educational, service and social activities.

Spiritual

We strive to meet the spiritual needs of all youth involved in our programs, from cradle Episcopalians to those visiting with a friend. Faith is sustained through community. Our community is committed to growing in faith together through classes, mentoring programs, discussions, activities and prayer. We remain connected to faith building opportunities within the greater church community through our involvement in programs like Teens Encounter Christ (TEC) retreat weekends, Episcopal Youth Music Camp, and Diocesan Youth Events (DYE). Our youth minister, Sheila, has specific information about these programs, all of which help young people to connect to others in God's name.

Social

There are many opportunities throughout the year to join in on offered social events and activities. These events are advertised in The Voice, a monthly parish mailing. Our mailings provide the dates and details for all of our planned social activities including lock-ins, concerts, movie nights, and other events. Reminders are periodically sent out via email. If you would like to be added to church mailing list or would like to receive youth related emails, please talk to Sheila. The current events are listed on the youth sign up board in the parish hall. Please add your name to any event and grab a permission slip for any youth event you would like to attend.

Service

Our youth program stresses involvement in programs and projects that teach compassion, integrity, and sacrifice. We have found that our youth know the importance of service and are not afraid to roll up their sleeves and get to work. Our youth groups have served meals to the homeless, completed successful mission trips, and collected needed items for children living with HIV/AIDS. We invite you to join our youth as we serve others in God's name. You may find that youth are excellent teachers in what it means to be a follower of Jesus.

Youth Programs and Schedules

Youth Education Program (YEP), Junior High (6th – 8th grade) and Senior High (9th – 12th grade):

Junior High youth meet Sunday Mornings following the 9am service in the St. Angelico room. The youth along with their leader will be using a lectionary based curriculum. Senior High youth meet Sunday Mornings following the 9am service in the St. Bernard room. The youth along with their leaders will be focusing on a variety of our subjects that define our Episcopal Identity and our Christian Faith (Sept. and Oct. Prayer Book, Liturgy, Worship, Church Seasons), (Nov. Sacraments), (Dec. Our Gifts and Enrichment Project presentations) (Jan. Anglican Identity, Church History and Gov’t), (Feb. Scripture, Old and New), (March - Prayer), (April – Creeds), and (May - the Mission of the Church).

Sundays, 10 to 11 am: Christian Education Hour

Celebrating Our Faith Through The Arts (COFTA), a worship arts and drama program (for children / youth 4th – 12th Grade):

COFTA is a program designed to engage young people in the worship arts. COFTA will include preparation of drama for worship, skits, art, and music that will be used through out the year in various venues.

Wednesdays, 6 pm to 7:30 pm

Confirmation (Year 1, grade 9 and older)

Youth will make a commitment to a year long process of attending the Sunday Morning Sr. YEP and engaging in an interest project once a month. Those in confirmation will also be required to attend the Maundy Thursday Overnight. They are also encouraged to attend TEC and participate on the summer youth mission trip

Confirmation (Year 2, grade 10 and older)

Youth who have completed the 1st year confirmation will be partnered with a mentor from the St. John’s congregation. The youth and mentor will meet monthly to share their faith journey and share in questions and wonderings with the aid of a Journal/I Will with God’s Help. Those in confirmation will also be required to attend the Maundy Thursday Overnight. They are also encouraged to attend TEC and participate on the summer youth mission trip. At the end of the 2 year process the youth have the opportunity to decide if they are ready to be confirmed.

Other St. Johns Web Pages to Check Out

Images from Youth Mission Trip July 6-10, 2009

Chicago Mission Trip Icon
Chicago Mission Trip, June 22 to 29, 2008

EYMC Blog Icon
Episcopal Youth Music Camp, August 10-16, 2008

New York Mission Trip Icon
New York City Mission Trip, July 24 to 30, 2006

Downloads

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