Youth Ministries Update

From Kristin Flippen, Assistant Youth Director

April 3 Meeting Summary

Thank you to everyone who was able to attend the Sunday, April 3rd meeting regarding our ministry to children and youth here at Grace. We appreciated all your comments, questions, and offers to help in this vital part of our body. We look forward to seeing all that God will do as we plan and grow together.

Spring Semester Programs

As we move into the spring semester, we will continue with several of our regular programs. These include:

  • Sunday Evening DSF @ 6:30 
  • Sunday School @ 10
  • Sippin' Sodas and Such - Wednesdays @ 3:30 

Interim Ministry Teams

Over the next few weeks, we hope to create two Interim Ministry Teams- one for children, and another for youth. These teams will meet together and coordinate our summer programs as well as look ahead to where we would like to be in the fall. 

We are excited about the possibilities for guiding and developing these vital ministries during this transition. Continue to pray for God's guidance, both for us and for the leadership of the church as we move forward.

April 3 Meeting

For the last twelve years Tony and Nancy Nix have faithfully loved and served our young people and their families. With Tony stepping down as Associate Pastor come many questions about how our youth ministry will be maintained and even advanced during this interim period.  Paul and I have met several times during the last three weeks to discuss how to proceed through this semester. Now we believe that we can answer questions about what the ministry will look like until June and are ready to begin thinking about and planning for summer and fall.

To do that most effectively, on Sunday, April 3 at 4:00 p.m. at the church, Paul Carter and I would like to meet with parents and anyone else interested in the youth ministry here at Grace . We want to answer questions, get feedback, and plan together how to move forward. We hope that by sharing the agenda beforehand, it will make the most of every moment.

FINISHING THE SEMESTER

These are the current activities that we are able to continue through the semester. We are glad to get your questions and feedback on any of these plans.

Sunday

  • Sunday School: high schoolers will be team taught by Greg Gearheart and Kristin Flippen
  • DSF/Youth Group: middle and high school will be combined and team taught by David and Kristin Flippen. We will meet from 6:30-8:00pm. There will be no DSF on the following Sundays- March 27, April 3, April 24, and May 8. Many families have contributed snacks for DSF, and a schedule is in place for the rest of the semester.

Wednesday

  • Sippin': 3:30-5:00pm at the YMCA for high schoolers. Pick-up at the high school will still be available.

PREPARING FOR THE APRIL 3 MEETING AND NEXT STEPS OF MINISTRY

We wanted to ask all of you who intend to come to this meeting to also prayerfully consider the following questions before our time together. Some of them relate to programs we have been investing in for several years, while others are focused on the current situation before us and where God might want us to develop further.



Current Programs

What have you enjoyed? Where do you see missed opportunities? Which summer events have been most meaningful for you and your family? for the community? In what ways could we work together to make these summer events possible?



Sunday School
Children's Church
Youth Group (DSF)
Grands Strands, Sippin'
Backyard Bible Club/VBS
Racing Thru Rockbridge
Teacher Training
YXL, Modgnik (camping opportunities for MS and HS)
Date Night

Communication & Leadership

Calendar, newsletter, E-Mail, Facebook, website, announcements in bulletin, verbal announcements, bulletin board....do any of these work more effectively than another? Which one(s) do not work at all?

Should leadership teams be developed for children? for youth? for Sunday School?

I want to thank you again for your support and patience as we move through this transition together. It continues to be a tremendous blessing and privilege to serve the family of Grace Presbyterian. I look forward to seeing many of you on Sunday, April at 4:00 p.m. at the church, but please do not hesitate to contact Paul (gracepca@rockbridge.net; 540-463-2374) or me (kristinflippen@gmail.com, 540-460-1206) if you have any questions or concerns before then. 

Blessings, as always,

Kristin Flippen