Youth Minstries

For more information about Youth Ministries and ways you might be involved, please contact our Director of Youth Ministries, Betsy Hanzelin, at 708.798.2800, x19, or bhanzelin@fccfaithful.org.

Who we are
Youth Ministries is the Christian Education of youth from 7th - 12th grade.  We are comprised of four youth groups that meet Sunday mornings (September - May) at 10:30 a.m.  Groups are distinguished by grade levels and are lead by a team of Adult Lay Advisors and Youth Peer Staffers.  Lay Advisors & Staffers are the core of our Youth Leadership Team and they meet each Wednesday night at 7:30 p.m. for worship, fellowship and planning.  All are welcome!   

Our Mission
There is so much we want to do, teach & experience.  But in a nutshell our mission is to create a safe, inviting place for youth to explore and grow the Christian faith!   Basically it is that we are trying to grow us some passionate, energetic and awesome Christians here.  Get it?

 

7th grade is called Genesis ... like the beginning of things, first book of the Bible.  It's where the whole youth experience starts!

When & Where?
Sunday mornings, at 10:30 a.m.  We meet in the Genesis Room, which is on the first floor, next to Youth Crossings.  If you're at the back door, take a right and come on in!  Or if you go to church at 9 a.m., get a couple of cookies in Fellowship Hall after worship, and head up at 10:15 or so ... we're usually hanging out!

8th grade is called Exodus ... like the journey, the second book of the Bible.  It's us traveling together in faith!

When & Where?
Sunday mornings, at 10:30 a.m. starting September 18!  We meet in the Exodus Room, (sometimes called Room 22) which is on the second floor, at the top of the stairs ... we are near the Family Room. 

Um ... Why?
So maybe you know the Bible stories, and maybe you don't ... whatever the case, being in Junior High is awesome and challenging.  But God loves you, we love you, and we want you here on Sundays to discuss, play, laugh, challenge each other & us ... we're trying to make a place you can talk about stuff you can't talk about in other places.    You're being led by teens who have  "been there, done that" in 7th/8th grade ... they've got a few things figured out and have come back to "walk" with you through the year!  Hey, and we might even bring donuts or something.  What else do you have going on Sunday mornings?

What About the Fun Stuff?
You're not going to believe it, but we actually like to have fun at church!  Besides Sunday mornings, we have some other fun stuff we like to do:

• Pizza Parties    
• Cosmic Bowling    
• "Field" Trips    
• Scavenger Hunts    
• Midnighters    
• Outreach Projects    
• Work Weekends  

 

 

High School Fresh-people

Our Confirmation Class is just the best around!   Once you hit high school, life changes at a rapid pace ... Disciples is a way to help you "find your way" through this time.

Disciples Confirmation Class runs during the 9th grade year ... from September - May.  The class is led by three Adult Lay Advisors and a team of staffers who have been through Confirmation and are returning to walk with and guide the class.

When & Where?
Sunday mornings, at 10:30 a.m.  We meet in the Disciples Room, also called Room 23, which is on the second floor.   

Um ... Why?
Confirmation is the fullfillment of promises made by your church family at the time of your Baptism.  Your faith is an ESSENTIAL block to your life ... and Disciples helps you to make the decision to be a Christian, to walk with Chris throughout your life.

Besides the serious stuff, Disciples is just a lot of fun too!  We do retreats, our advisors are a little nutty (but still full o' faith), we get to argue, play, pray, think, grow, eat Swedish Fish at midnight, share communion, walk blindfolded ... scared yet?

Our goals are ...
We seek to build a community of young people

 ...that is solidly grounded in the Church's basic beliefs about

• who Jesus is    
• what Jesus taught    
• what Jesus did    

   

      and how those three things are related or foreshadowed in the Old Testament.

 ...that is beginning to grasp HOW who Jesus is, taught and did should affect their lives in 

• worship
• personal spiritual growth & decision making
• outreach
• church and community participation

We just want to grow us a bunch of amazing Christians!  Fired up for God, Christ, and community! 
Our Expectations for the participants and their families are outlined in our yearly Confirmation Covenant.   You can get a copy by emailing bhanzelin@fccfaithful.org

 

HIGH SCHOOL SOPHOMORES

Sophs is the group for High School Sophomores (clever name, eh?)
Most Sophs have gone through Confirmation and are looking ahead to living the rest of their life after the decision to join the church.  You've made it through the perils of Freshman year ... now you're ready for SOPHS!

When & Where?
Sunday mornings, at 10:30 a.m. starting September 17!  We meet in the Tower Room, which is on the  top floor ... highest thing in the church! 

Um ... Why?
Well, not because you're parents are making you ... but because you wanna be here!  Sophs deals with the stuff of real life ... working on yourself, your relationships, your faith and your future.  Sophs helps build you up, helps you get ready to take the next step (being a staffer) ... if nothing else, it provides three weekend retreats where you get away from your family! 

Retreats?
We go away for 3 weekend retreats during the year!  Themes vary, but they are all cool:

• Sex Retreat
• Winter Retreat ... different topics, different years
• Sprititual Gifts, Leadership & Faith Retreat

Outreach
Sophs is committed to reaching out to others ... whether in our own basement (PADS guests), at a soup kitchen in the city, or building houses ... we want to be there!  Besides serving others, you might just be helping yourself? (Plus you get lots of extra Jesus points) Hey, we all are works in progress ... why not work on yourself with a group of supportive, energetic and slightly crazy Christians!

 

COLLEGE & ALUMS

So everyone grows up and leaves us eventually ... good for you guys, sad for us!

But just because you can't roll out of bed on Sunday and be with us, doesn't mean we don't want to be a part of your life!   There are lots of ways to stay in touch ...

Narthex ... FCC publishes a monthly newsletter that we would love to mail out to you (mail at school = love!)

Visits ... We're always here, when you are home, please come by for a visit, sit in on a youth group, stop by the house.  Just remember that Sunday mornings are always a little nutty for the Old Youth Director!

Email ... College students seem to basically communicate by email.  We try to send out semi-regular alum email updates, but we always love to hear from you too!   (IMing is great too ... especially at 2 a.m.)

Website ... We are hoping this website will be a source of information, entertainment, etc. ... checking in regularly is a good way to feel connected!

Contact Info ... Please fill out your contact information by clicking here.