BUMC YOUTH

you are welcome here

WHO CAN BE INVOLVED?

Any sixth-grader through high school senior is welcome at events. Some are specifically for middle school or high school, but unless otherwise noted, all we welcome!

WHO CAN I CONTACT WITH QUESTIONS?

Austin Gay is the Director of Student Ministries and can answer all your questions. Email him at austin@birminghamumc.org.

WEEKLY SCHEDULE

SUNDAYS 11:15 a.m. - 12:15 p.m.

Sunday AM is a gathering point in the Student Center immediately following the corporate 10 a.m. service in the main Sanctuary building for all sixth through twelfth graders.

What to Expect

Free breakfast donated by an adult congregant.
Short group game to have a bit of fun and bond with each other.
Announcements of what is happening in the church as a whole and youth group.
Short introduction about a particular topical Bible passage that reveals its historical, cultural, and literary context to give the youth a framework of what they are reading.
At this point in the service, the youth will spend most of the morning getting into groups to work through the passage. This opportunity allows the youth to work together as they observe, reflect, and communicate how the passage can be applied in their own lives.

An easy way to support our youth program is to sign up to bring breakfast to feed them on Sunday mornings. Breakfast should be in the youth building by 11 a.m. and plan to feed about 20 teenagers.
SIGN UP TO BRING BREAKFAST ON SUNDAY MORNINGS.

The Heartbeat of Sunday AM

At BUMC we believe that the Holy Spirit can reveal truth and life through anyone regardless of age or experience. Sunday AM fosters an atmosphere that allows the youth to wrestle with relevant material through the Biblical text and ask hard questions within a supportive community led by the director of student ministries and adult volunteers. Our goal is to come together as one youth body to sit in a passage of Scripture and gain an understanding of what it means to be a follower of Christ in our day-to-day, week-to-week, and year-to-year lives.

SUNDAYS 5 -7 p.m.

Sunday PM is designed to center all youth for the beginning of each week. It consists of small, consistent groups of students and mentors who will grow and learn together throughout the year.

What to Expect

Dinner will be provided by an adult congregant.
Indoor or outdoor group game for approximately 30 minutes.
A time of worship through song followed by a short sermon by the director of student ministries.
Static small groups to dialogue through the sermon, life check-ins, and prayer for one another.
These evenings also serve to provide fun events on and off campus or host guest speakers for the youth

An easy way to support our youth group is to sign up to bring dinner on Sunday evenings. Please have it hot and ready in the Student Center by 4:55 p.m. and plan to feed about 15-20 teenagers.
SIGN UP TO BRING DINNER ON SUNDAY EVENINGS.

The Heartbeat of Sunday PM

This gathering time is designed to center all youth for the beginning of each week ahead of them. Apart from enjoying food and games, the evening will primarily focus on worship, short sermons, and small group discussions. These small groups are distinct from the Sunday AM gatherings, as they consist of the same 5-7 individuals throughout the year, fostering consistent relationships. In these small groups, participants can share their struggles, successes, and have life check-ins regularly. Our aim is to create a sense of youth families, where both youth and adult mentors support each other on a weekly basis as they navigate life together. Our heartfelt desire is to ensure that no youth goes through life feeling alone.”

SEPTEMBER

SEPTEMBER 3

NO YOUTH AM OR PM

AM or PM for Labor Day weekend.
Youth can sign up to be a part of Trinity Table. Youth 12 and over can serve with an adult. SIGN UP HERE.

SEPTEMBER 10

CONFIRMATION STARTS

Confirmation is a program for students to study and discover a knowledge of the Christian story, our core beliefs & practices, and an understanding of the United Methodist doctrine to affirm faith and ensure a strong foundation in Jesus Christ. Confirmation is open to all seventh and eighth graders and will meet weekly at 11:15 a.m. on Sundays.
REGISTER HERE

SEPTEMBER 17

YOUTH MIXER: SKY ZONE

Jump through September with your youth friends! All middle and high school students are invited to a fun outing at Sky Zone in Roswell. Drop your child off at the Student Center at 4:30 p.m. and pick up at 7:30 p.m. They will jump for 1.5 hours and eat a pizza dinner back at the Student Center. The cost is $32 which includes 1.5 jump time, socks, transportation, and dinner.
REGISTER HERE

OCTOBER

OCTOBER 22

FALL FESTIVAL

4 to 6 p.m.
The Children’s Ministry at BUMC puts on a Fall Festival for church members and our community. We love for the youth to be involved in helping with games and crafts for this event. More information to come!

OCTOBER 29

COSTUME PARTY

5 to 7 p.m.
A BUMC YOUTH tradition. Save the date and more information including prize categories to come.

NOVEMBER

NOVEMBER 3-5

IMMERSE RETREAT

Immerse 2023 is sponsored by the South Carolina Ministries with Young People (SCMYP) and held in the beautiful mountains of Asbury Hills. This retreat is open to all middle and high school youth. With the theme #Transformed, your student will grow their faith and have a lot of fun with other Methodist students.

Registration closes on October 1, so don’t delay! A $75 deposit is required to save your spot. The total cost is $275 for the weekend. Scholarships are available upon request. We are unable to refund any payments after October 1.

Please email Margaret Templeton, Discipleship Ministry Assistant, with any questions or concerns at margaret@birminghamumc.org.

REGISTER

PARENTS! WE’VE GOT A SPOT FOR YOU, TOO!

Looking for other parents who know what it’s like to raise a teenager in 2023? Each Sunday morning, as the students gather together for their own service at 11:15 a.m. in the Student Building, there is a Sunday School class specifically for parents of teens running at the same time in a classroom in the Fellowship Hall building. This is an excellent space for parents to build community with each other while fostering their own spiritual growth. If you have any questions regarding this class, please reach out to one of the parents, Chris Carrollton, who leads this group at Kenesay10@gmail.com.

CONFIRMATION SWITCHING TO SUNDAY MORNINGS

WHAT IS CONFIRMATION?

Confirmation is a program for students to study & discover a knowledge of the Christian story, our core beliefs & practices, and an understanding of the United Methodist doctrine to affirm faith and ensure a strong foundation in Jesus Christ.

WHO CAN ATTEND?

This year, confirmation is open to 7th and 8th grade students.

WHAT CAN YOU EXPECT?

See below for key dates through the confirmation program. It will kick off on September 10th at 11:15a.m. and conclude on Confirmation Sunday when the students officially join the church on Sunday, March 17, 2024.
Confirmands will attend a retreat at Camp Glisson March 1-3, 2024. Each confirmand is expected to attend. Cost for the retreat is included in registration fee listed below.
Generally the class will meet on Sunday mornings at 11:15 a.m. (except for holidays weekends and school breaks). Confirmands are allowed two absences but otherwise need to commit to being there every Sunday.
There is also a parent class that will meet weekly at 11:15 to 12:15 p.m. (the same time as youth on Sunday mornings!)

COSTS?

$300 is the cost for the year and includes the retreat. Scholarships are available if needed. Please reach out to Austin Lerner-Gay, Director of Student Ministries.

A $50 deposit is required to hold your spot and a completed registration form. The remainder of the balance is due on September 30, 2023.

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