Youth Ministry

Thank you to those youth who participated/supported the effort in serving dinner to families in need at Grace United Community Services, and much thanks to Thrivent Financial for their support in the funding the purchase of the food. Thank you to Annette and Janice Kramer for purchasing and preparation of the food so that our youth is able to do this event. Thank you to those youth who helped at the MLM “Food Give Away” October 11.

The Junior and Senior students and leaders went to Eureka Springs, AR on September 20 and 21 to see the Passion Play and attend church at the Thorncrown Chapel (pictured behind group).

The Heart of Worship
A Sunday morning discussion series for High School Students
9:45 a.m., Summit Youth Room, East and West Campuses
Every week, we attend church so that we can worship God and become closer to Him. In this class we’ll explore a number of questions that are critical to our faith and to the life of our church. What is worship all about? Why is it important for us to worship God? Why do we follow a pattern every week? In what ways can we worship God? What is the proper attitude toward God as we offer ourselves? How does our worship
in the sanctuary relate to our lives and bodies as spiritual acts of worship (Romans 12:1)? By the end of this course, we will gain a deeper understanding of the relationship between worship, spiritual growth, and the way we live our lives.

Truth or Dare – Straight Out of Scripture
Sunday morning Bible Class for grades 6-8
9:45 a.m., Jr. High Room, West Campus
This class grabs students’ attention to prepare them for the future by revealing the truth at the core of Jesus’ teaching. It challenges students to accept the “dare from Jesus” and put it into practice in practical ways.

Faith Weaver
Sunday morning Bible Class for grades 6-8
9:45 a.m., Jr. High Room, East Campus
This class mixes fun with a bold discussion of big issues that challenge teenagers. They will delve into scripture to find real answers to real problems.

From June 1-7, 20 young people, representing Trinity Youth, traveled to LVR. LVR is a camp located in a remote area of Pike National Forest. High school students spent the week with 120 teens from area Lutheran churches in Bible study, worship, service, and prayer. Many kids claim to really enjoy the deep conversations, strong relationships, and acceptance they feel from their peers there. They also spend a lot of time having fun with options to play games, take night hikes, climb Cedar Mountain, rappel, rock climb, ride zip lines, and so much more!

Our Trinity kids enjoyed the 2008 Mystery Trip to Concordia University in Seward, Nebraska, and the zoo in Lincoln, May 3 & 4. Thanks to everyone who worked so hard to make the trip happen.

Pictured above are all the youth and adults who attended the Wichita Quake the weekend of Feb 1—3.

From January 11-13, the Trinity High School Youth Group went on a retreat at the Heartland Presbyterian Center in Parkville. This year’s theme was “Can Your Faith Survive?” and focused on Christian Apologetics and seeking answers to tough questions. At this retreat, we learned about the history of Christian symbols, examined the fundamentals of the Christian faith in the Apostles Creed, and then began to critically examine our own faith and some of the biggest challenges to the faith from atheists and agnostics. We discussed the kinds of faith issues teenagers face as they move away from their parents and go to college, and how to maintain faith during these tough transitions. By studying the history of the early Christian movement, by contextualizing scripture, and by relying on each other for support, we explored answers to some very difficult questions. We also worshipped and sang, prayed, laughed, cried, played indoor and outdoor games, and danced. And then there was that huge pillow fight… A fun and enlightening time was had by all!

Trinity Youth would like to thank the congregation for their support during our youth worship services! To follow up with an issue we discussed during those services, the youth need your help in order to continue in their mission: maturing in faith, developing character, learning how to be servant leaders, and engaging others in knowing Christ. Furthermore, we cannot succeed in our mission of attracting families without providing a solid youth program. It is absolutely crucial to outreach. Many have asked, “How can I help?” The following is a list and brief description of our needs:

FUNDRAISERS
The youth need money to attend international mission trips, district and national gatherings, retreats, leadership training opportunities, etc. These events are educational, social and servant activities that positively transform our youth. We need people to come up with money making ideas that involve the youth and to help organize and administer the programs so that they can actively raise the funds to attend these events.

TEACHING
The youth need Sunday School and Confirmation teachers and small group leaders for junior high and high school classes. We need small group leaders for confirmation now. We will need teachers for Sunday School and Confirmation for the summer of 2008 and the 2008-2009 school year.

SOCIAL EVENTS
We need people to plan and execute social events: hosting a Captive Free concert at Trinity, setting up gigs for Youth Band, taking them to movies, sporting events, miniature golf, video arcades, pool parties, lock-ins, etc. Volunteer to help Trinity Youth!

MENTORING
Students need adult relationships, role models, life guides. We have a youth-led program and our high school kids need to develop their skills to promote their mission in the congregation and the community. Do you have skills in art? Public relations and advertising? Accounting and financial management? International travel? Sound recording and engineering? Music? Drama? Organizing and leading people? We would like to pair adults with youth so that you can share your interests and knowledge with a young person. Confirmation kids also need mentors during Lent 2008 on Wednesday nights.

THE FRESHMAN TRANSITION TEAM
Between sixth and eighth grade, kids go through confirmation on Wednesday nights. However, many do not make the transition to the high school youth group. We may be missing key opportunities to integrate these youth and their parents into our congregation. We need people to be part of a Freshman Transition Team: a group of people who would construct strategies and activities to recruit and retain the families of kids who are about to be confirmed at the end of their eighth grade year.

FIFTH QUARTER
Fifth Quarter is Trinity’s Youth Night for middle school students, held once a month after Mill Valley football games, 9:30-11:00 PM. Students gather to play games, dance, watch movies and have fun. We need volunteers to chaperone, organize, or take part in these activities.

THE SUMMIT
The Summit is Trinity’s Weekly Youth Night for high school students, held every Sunday at Trinity East from 6:30-8:30 PM. It involves a short, informal worship and social activities planned by the youth. The Summit will also begin to present a dance night once a month on a Friday night at Trinity West after Mill Valley football games, 9:30-11:30 PM, on nights when Fifth Quarter is not going on. We need volunteers to chaperone, organize, or take part in these activities.

THE WINTER RETREAT
The high school students take part in retreats to receive intensive Christian education and to build strong bonds with other kids in their youth group. We need people to help organize and chaperone the high school winter retreat, to be held sometime between January and March 2008. Let us know if you are interested in organizing or taking part in future retreats as well.

THE INTERNATIONAL MISSION TRIP
We would like to offer the opportunity for students and others in the congregation to go to a foreign country to serve others. The opportunity to see how people in other countries live and to witness the faith of those who are less privileged than we are is a truly transformative experience. We need people to come along, to offer their servant hearts, and to help with aspects of organization.

A MYSTERY TRIP
The high school students would like to take a weekend trip somewhere… anywhere. It could be anything: Eureka Springs, Branson, someplace in
Western Kansas or Oklahoma, canoeing down the Niangua, a camping trip somewhere…what do you think is exciting? What would you like to share with the youth? We need chaperones and organizers.

DISTRICT YOUTH GATHERING
The high school attends a District Youth Gathering in Wichita, every year over the weekend before Thanksgiving. We need chaperones and organizers.

SERVANT EVENTS
It is important for youth to engage in local service projects to share their gifts with the community. We need chaperones, organizers, volunteers, and people with good ideas. We currently serve food for the poor at Solomon’s Porch, but other opportunities exist and some matching funds are available through Thrivent Financial For Lutherans. Do you have ideas? Share them!

PROMOTION AND OUTREACH
We need people to help make our mission known in the community. How can we publicize our efforts? Use the youth’s activities to advance the church’s mission? To bring more youth and families into our church? If you have skills in this area, we could use your help! We would love to see everyone in this congregation playing an active role in the development of our youth!

If you are interested in volunteering in any of these areas, please email Mark Harvey, or call him at 913.390.9498.