University UMC Youth Ministry offers a vibrant community where students in grades 6-12 can explore the love of God for them in Christ Jesus. We are always working to demonstrate God’s love for all youth, and so we fully affirm our LGBTQ students, and we work to provide thoughtful programming with our neurodiverse students in mind as well. University UMC is a Safe Sanctuaries Church committed to best practices to protect children, youth and vulnerable adults.
Read our Safe Sanctuaries policies here.
Fill out our Youth Ministries ONE Form here.
SUNDAY SCHOOL
Sunday mornings at 9:15 a.m. in the Youth Lounge (Room 208). Classes for parents meet in the Chapel and the Conference Room at the same time.
CONFIRMATION
Confirmation is a Christian rite of passage associated with baptism. If you were baptized as an infant, Confirmation Sunday is the day you confirm your faith as your own. If you are not yet baptized, Confirmation Sunday is a day to be baptized and confirm your faith as your own. The Confirmation program is a series of classes, retreats, and events designed to help students learn a systematic overview of the faith, practice spiritual formation, and then make an informed decision about whether to become a church member.
University UMC offers confirmation class for students in grades 8 and up, because you are entering an age where you can think more abstractly and better engage with the process of discernment (that means, learning and making up your mind for yourself). Each confirmand is paired with an adult mentor who meets with you during class, as well as occasionally outside of class, to help students process what they learn. While this is a learning experience, it is ultimately designed to help everyone feel a sense of community, belonging, and fun.
This year, we plan to hold a Fall and Spring semester of confirmation during the Sunday School hour. Email Pastor Charlie with questions or to sign up.
U-CREW: WEEKLY FELLOWSHIP
5 – 6:45 p.m. U-Crew is our weekly Sunday night youth group event! Students gather for dinner, games, worship and small groups. Parents rotate providing dinner (we always eat at 5pm).
MISSIONS & RETREATS
Spring Retreat
April 19-21, 2024
Early Bird Registration is now open for our Spring Retreat at YMCA Camp Weaver! Get a 20% discount if you register before March 19! Click here to register now.
ASP
ASP is a home repairs camp open for everyone in Middle & High School!
When are we going: July 14-20-24
Deadlines: March 5 – $175 due.
April 2 – Final payments due.
Location isn’t announced until April. If you are considering attending, but still not sure, please let Charlie know pronto! We have to start planning for transportation and work team sizes, so the more we know about who is planning to go, the better we can plan!
Registration is a two-step process:
Step One: Visit asphome.org/membersignup, and use the GROUP CODE: 15156. This will register you specifically with ASP through our church. Once there, please complete ASP’s required Volunteer Medical Form.
Step Two: Pay your deposit of $175 to University UMC through our church website at this link.. (this is non-refundable after April 2).
MUSIC
Rehearsals – Sundays, 6:45 p.m. – 7:45 p.m. after U-Crew.
Youth Choir is open to all students grades 6-12 interested in singing a variety of choral church music. Youth Choir sings in worship once a month during the school year, and is often a part of major celebrations such as the Moravian Love Feast and the Christmas Eve service. In the spring, Youth Choir prepares a major musical such as Godspell, Cotton Patch Gospel or Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat. The musical is shared with the church and on tour in June in places such as New York City, Vancouver, Scotland or Hawaii.
Director, Tim Baker.
WORSHIP
Families worship either at 9:00 a.m. or 11:00 a.m. in the sanctuary every Sunday morning. Youth participate in leading worship by singing in the choir, serving communion, reading scripture, bringing in the cross, or on some Sundays, sharing testimonies. Please contact Tim Baker about joining the youth choir. Contact Karin Foarde to be a scripture reader. Sign up at this link to bring in the cross.
VOLUNTEER
We offer ongoing opportunities for both students and adults to serve within our church community.
Contact Karin to volunteer to read scripture during the service. Contact Rebecca to volunteer to carry the cross, or Sharon to help serve communion.
Contact Pastor Charlie Baber to inquire about volunteering as a U-Crew counselor, Confirmation Mentor, or for a specific event.
