Eight teens signed up for stations such as bean bag toss, face tattoos, and spin art painting. A sea-side snack including fish crackers, gummy fish and worms was provided. The children enjoyed the activities and the assistance and attention given by the teens.
In December we ran a big campaign announcing the creation of a special club called 'Club-52'. We told people they could join this club by making a second-mile offering pledge of $1 a week for the entire year of 2007 (52 weeks = $52, hence the name). We set a goal of 100 members, for a total pledge of $5,200.
Tuesdays at the parsonage [right next to the church] high schoolers and some middle schoolers get together in the Garage to play music. We bring amps and turn them all the way to 11! We'll play some praise and worship music, some original stuff that the youth have written, and even write some songs together.
Twice a month I take the church vans to local middle schools and pick up any and all youth from our church's program, and their friends! We head to the downtown shopping district and then each time the group has a challenge question to figure out.
Challenges have included: Get the names of all the coffee shop managers in the downtown area, or find the most expensive and the cheapest thing you can buy downtown, etc.
The idea for the Carmitzveh came to me as I visited a young girl's Batmitzveh (Barmitzveh is for boys), the Jewish coming of age ceremony when a young girl is welcomed into the synagogue adult community. As I was enjoying the ceremony, I realized there was nothing from the time of confirmation (around age 12) until wedding or death, that calls on the body of the church to ask commitment from a young member.
Joe & Marcia Reinert - Snoqualmie UM Church, Snoqualmie, WA
SNOQUALMIE UNITED METHODIST YOUTH COVENANT
2004 - 2005
(This Covenant was created by the Youth)
In signing this covenant, I agree to live by the following guidelines during all SUMY meetings and events in order to fulfill the purpose and vision of our Youth Ministry:
Volunteer Recognition Dinner: Yearly we have a semi-formal dinner for everyone who has volunteered (adults) in the last year with the youth in some way, whether it be UMY, Sunday School, Confirmation, trips. The youth cook the dinner, seat everyone by a seating chart, and afterward we have a program. The youth give gift certificates to those who contribute on a weekly basis, give them medals or trophies (made or from the dollar store), and each person has a story told about them.
Image Theme: Our theme this year is "Our Image is Everything" and for one UMY meeting we provided each youth with a cheap, disposable camera. They were to take at least 5 pictures of images in their lives that described them, with at least one being of way they saw themselves with God. The youth put the 5 pictures on poster board and shared at the following meeting with other youth. Another UMY each youth counselor brought in a song that spoke to them about what their image should or should not be and shared with the youth group.
