Youth Ministry

Activities for Youth Involvement

All 6th – 12th Graders are invited to participate in our Youth Sunday morning Sunday School Offerings, Our Sunday Evening Activities, and our Special Activities.

SUNDAY SCHOOL OFFERINGS

Sunday School is a gathering of all ages for a Continental Breakfast in Parish Hall (South Education Building), from 9:25 – 9:45 a.m.

Then Sunday School Classes Begin:
Fall/ Winter Schedule –
Confirmation Classes for 6th Graders and older teens who are wishing to explore Christianity, Presbyterianism, Church Membership and Faith Questions.
Mandatory Classes last from August – January with a Retreat in the Fall and Confirmation Breakfast and Ceremonies in January.
Meets in Session Room of the Sanctuary Building.

Confirmation Retreat held in November. Overnight activity at the church combining mission project and movie analysis of faith issues, meeting with confirmation partners and draft individual faith statement.

Middle School Confirmed & Senior High Class for 7th – 12th Graders is for teens who are already confirmed in their faith and church membership. These students explore faith, theology, and current issues with discussion and key leadership.
Meets in the Youth Basement, Education Building.

Winter/Spring Schedule –
Middle School Sunday School Class for 6th – 8th graders. Class will study major Bible stories, theology, and literature. Youth Basement, outer class.

Senior High Sunday School Class for 9th – 12th graders. This class is a continuation of the study in the Fall.

Summer Schedule -
Classes are combined with a focus on Current Issues Discussion. Basement

YOUTH ACTIVITIES

All 6th – 12th graders are invited to participate in our weekly Youth Activities year – round Sunday evenings. During Fall/Winter/Spring our Music Program precedes the Youth Activities time. We are an “Intentionally Inclusive Community of Believers” and always welcome new comers to our midst. Friends are always invited!

Typical Youth Sunday Afternoon / Evening
4:00 p.m. Youth Handbell Choir – Handbell Room – Sanctuary
5:15 p.m. Youth Choir, Room 223, Ed. Building
6:15 p.m. Youth Activities
Dinner, Activities which include fun, games, mission projects,
discussion, devotional, or off-site activities different Sundays.

Youth Activities includes Special Events that occur at times other than Sunday nights for youth and friends.

SPECIAL EVENTS

The Youth of St. Stephen Presbyterian have year round Special Events including these programs:

Youth Mission Trip – One week in mid-July.
Past Trips:
2006 – Raton, NM, for construction and Vacation Bible School leadership.
Hispanic and White – recipients.
2007 – Omaha, NE, for construction, VBS, and Sewing Classes
Sudanese African – recipients
2008 – Camp Ferncliff, AK, for hiking trail clearing, Homeless services in Hot Springs. Homeless and Campers – recipients.
2009 – Beach Castles, Myrtle Beach, SC, for construction and VBS
African American Community – recipients.
2010 – Camp Burnamwood, Irvine, KY, for construction and VBS in camp.
Appalachian families – recipients.
2011 – Southside Chicago, IL, for construction and VBS.
African American Community – recipients.

We earn our way to our Trips, most recently earning about $17,000, to provide transportation, food, board, and construction materials and VBS materials for our
9 day trips!

Senior High Youth Connection – One weekend in Late January at Austin College,
Sherman, Texas. 9th – 12th graders meet other Presbyterian Youth for a large conference.

Confirmation Retreat – One weekend in November for Confirmation students, teachers, church staff, and Confirmation Partners.

Lock In/Out – An overnight at the first of school or Christmas Break with built in fun.

Sneak Peek Tour of Mission Site – A Spring Break Trip for interested youth, parents and potential sponsors to go to the July site and take pictures, ask questions, seek information. Usually a 3 day trip.

Youth Sundays – Twice a year, the youth provide the leadership for the Early and Late Worship Services by being ushers, liturgists, welcome speakers, prayer givers, and in May, sermon providers. Usually November and May.

Advent Lessons and Carols & Easter Lessons and Carols – The Youth Choir helps provide readers for the lessons of these seasons for the services twice a year.

Mission Projects – the youth of St. Stephen search for local service and mission projects including :
Providing Supper for RITI (Room in the Inn) Homeless Overnight, 2 x annually
Providing Supper at Samaritan House (AIDS community), 2x annually;
Providing Crafts, games, and interaction with low-income seniors at CASA,
Catholic Charities House, 3 x annually;.
Providing help with Friends of the River (Trinity River Ecology project) Race and
Cowtown Marathon Race (Personal Health) in October and January;
Providing Christmas Presents for 3 – 5 families annually (15 – 20 individuals)
Through Presbyterian Children’s Homes and Services;
And other projects as presented to our group when needed.

Fund-Raising Events
The youth of St. Stephen earn their funds for the July Youth Mission Trip and the Christmas Gifts through leadership in Vacation Bible School & Afternoon Camp in June (extended care leadership), a Garage Sale around July 4th, and Youth Mission Trip Stock in spring/summer. These events earn us enough to get to our Mission Site.

Boy Scouts Troop 17
Sponsored by St. Stephen, this troop is affiliated with the Boy Scouts of America. It is quite an active troop and one of the largest troops in this area. Meetings are 7:30 p.m. on Tuesday in the Scout House on the southeast corner of the property.