Miles McDonald
Director of Ministries with
Youth and their Families
(913) 345-1256, ext. 17
Upcoming
Youth Events:
April 27
6:00-8:00
Youth Group
Attend Chapel Choir Musical Followed By a Trivia Challenge
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Youth are not the future of the church they are its Present! The singer/songwriter, David Lamotte, said this of our responsibility and challenge in ministry with young people:
"We must 'empower' them to see the sacred in the profane". We have a culture that values youth in as much as they are consumers of culture. However, in this community of faith we know these young people to be culture catalysts like Timothy,
Titus, Ester, and Samuel...young people of great faith who in their availability to God changed their world. It is our goal to empower youth to connect their every day lives to the life of faith, and in doing so, we discover our authentic selves.
Through National & International Mission Trips, Habitat builds, National Youth Conferences like Massanetta Springs & Montreat,
guitar classes, bible study in Sunday School and fun times in Youth Group, presbytery retreats, canoe trips, confirmation retreats, and ski trips, we are discovering more about WHO WE ARE and at the same time building A STRONG SUPPORTIVE COMMUNITY OF FRIENDS AND FAITH!
Sunday School
Each Sunday September - May, we have classes at 9:45 on Sunday mornings.
6-7th Graders alternate each year studying the Old & New Testament
8th Graders meet in the Labyrinth room and have a more meditative, reflective discussion concurrrent with their Confirmation year.
9-12th Graders study a variety of topics pertaining to the Bible & Practically Living out their Faith.
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Youth Group: 6 - 12th Graders
Youth Group meets every Sunday from 6:00 - 8:00 p.m. Dinner is served each week for $3.
1st Sunday of the month is Fun Fellowship: broomball, laser tag, 80s Dance Night, etc, when we encourage youth to invite their friends.
2nd Sunday of the month is Outreach Opportunity: we may separate middle school & high school or be together. Find a great way to put your faith into action through service.
3rd Sunday is Popcorn Theology: We divide Middle School and Senior High to talk about how faith intersects with current issues, trends, headliners, songs, movies and so much more.
4th Sunday is Worship & Re-Creation: We have a youth or local speaker talk about living on faith, share in songs, and end with games.
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Confirmation
Confirmation is a year of spiritual reflection open to all youth 8th grade and older. Our youth are encouraged to ask questions and explore their faith so they may decide at the end of the year if they wish to become a member of the church. Youth are divided into Confirmation Groups with 4-6 other youth and 1 or 2 adult mentors. Confirmation Groups meet every other week for one hour and incorporates 16 classes, 2 alternate worship experiences, 1 retreat, 2 outreach projects, and 1 amazing worship celebration honoring them on Pentecost Sunday.
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M&M Trip
This year's M&M Trip (Mission & Music Trip) will take place from June 20-27, 2008. Our "Journey of Grace" will take us to the Des Moines and Minneapolis areas to serve a variety of needs. The trip is open to all youth who have completed 8-12th grade. In the past we have served in Roswell, NM; Memphis, TN; Atlanta, GA and New Orleans, LA to name a few. This mission experience is the capstone of each Senior High youth experience. During the work week the youth can have a variety of mission experiences. The work is deeply meaningful and creates an unequated sense of belonging and unity as a group. One of the most memorable moments in the week is Senior Vespers on our last night where graduating seniors share their winding, wonder-filled journeys of faith.
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Recycling
The first Saturday of each month the youth gather to load aluminum cans on a truck to take to a local recycle center in KC, MO. Money raised goes to mission and trips. GCPC also recycles newspaper.
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Souper Bowl of Caring
Cans & funds are raised each year in conjunction with the Super Bowl to give to Harvesters of Kansas City. The youth take the food & donations to Harvesters after worship and help sort in their warehouse.
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Interfaith Hospitality Network
Four weeks in the year, Grace Covenant hosts families who are homeless in Johnson County through IHN. These families stay in our youth rooms. Youth can easily help by setting up the rooms for families before they arrive (Sundays at noon) and by returning the rooms to their youth capacity after the hosting (Sundays at 7:30am). Talk with Diane Schmit or Mary Pat to help out next time we host.
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International Mission Trip
Each year the church participates in an international mission trip over spring break. Youth in 11th and 12th grade are invited to participate with adults in this inspiring and laborious week.
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Whether in the pews, leading prayer, reading scripture, or playing an instrument, youth are encouraged to participate in worship.
Youth Sunday 2008
Youth Sunday is on April 20th this year! The youth lead worship for all three services. Seniors give sermons while all the youth put together a truly original service filled with a variety of music, drama, art and creativity. This is a great service to invite friends with families!
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Pentecost Sunday 2008
Pentecost Sunday 2008 is May 11th! Pentecost Sunday, when the church celebrates the gift of God's Spirit & youth who have participated in the year long Confirmation course and who wish to join the church are recognized for their achievement and become members of the church. You have never experienced a worship service like this before where the congegation showers the new youth members of the church with Hershey Kisses!
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Sending Sunday
During communion on the first Sunday of August, those members of the church who will be away for the year, usually because of college or various grad schools, are invited to the front to receive a special message and blessing from the pastors.
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Ski Trip
Ski Trip to Winter Park, CO. Each year over Marin Luther King Jr weekend we offer a fun ski trip for youth and their friends in grades 6-12 and adult sponsors.
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Confirmation Retreat
Generally held in March at Heartland Camp, this weekend retreat is a requirement for Confirmation and a very fun experience.
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Massanetta Middle School Conference
The Massanetta Middle School Conference is held at Massanetta Camp & Conference Center outside of Hendersonville, VA. The event is open to all rising 7-9th grade youth. Registration available in the spring. For more information look up the conference at www.massanettasprings.org.
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M&M Trip
Every summer, youth and adults travel to a destination that needs our help. The youth choir and handbell ringers perform concerts while we travel and everyone chips in to make a difference in our area. For the last two years we have worked in the New Orleans area and this year our "Journey of Grace" will take us to Des Moines and Minneapolis.
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Canoe Trip
Every summer, rising 9th graders - graduating seniors spend a weekend camping, building fires, swapping stories, and of course...CANOEING! Friends are always welcome.
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We encourage youth to be partners in ministry. Here are a few of the ways our youth are leaders.
Elders
Up to two youth are able to serve for a year on Session, the governing body of the local church. Session meets monthly and youth also serve on one or two other committee teams. Elders have a voice in the church's vision, direction, and policy and are elected by the members of the church.
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Serving on Teams
Youth may also serve on one of the many teams we have such as worship, outreach, youth and welcoming. The way many youth become members of a team is by expressing interest to the moderator of the team or the youth director.
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Comfirmation Mentors
Once in a while we have a Senior High youth who is interested in serving as a small group mentor for other youth who are going through confirmation. Youth Mentors co-serve with adult mentors for nine months in what is a truly rewarding process.
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Presbytery Youth Council
During the summer, applications are open for youth to participate on the Presbytery Youth Council as representatives from their church. The council meets quarterly and plans for presbytery events.
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Parents and other adult members in the congregation
Are involved in youth ministry in many meaningful ways: Ski Trip Coordinators, Mission Trip Coordinators, Mission Trip Sponsors, Canoe Trip Coordinator, Youth Team Members, Sunday School Teachers, Youth Group Advisors, Confirmation Mentors, Musical Accompanists, Hosts for a Youth Event, Food Buyers for Retreats, bring Snacks for Youth Group...and in many ways give time, support, enthusiasm, and committment! Many Parents sign up for these events at our Fall Parent Meeting or by contacting the Youth Director.
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