Children & Youth Ministries Weekly Update

Vacation Bible School

Monday, June 29 – Thursday, July 2

9:00am-12:00pm

REGISTRATION OPENS MAY 15!

Join us this year as we travel to Egypt and journey with Joseph. We are bringing back the much loved “Marketplace” this year and are excited to share this with a new generation of students. VBS is nothing short of a magical experience for many kids (and families!) that otherwise would not be in this space. But we need your help!

• First and foremost, we need prayer warriors! We need people to start praying now for the families, kiddos, and volunteers. There is nothing better than Jesus, and our prayer is that we would all experience that during VBS. Let us know that you are including VBS in your prayer time by clicking here.

• VBS can’t happen without hands-on volunteers. If you would like to volunteer working with kids at VBS this summer, please click here.

*All volunteers working with children under the age of 18 are required to have a background check and complete our Expectation Policy.

• We have a great group of people planning fantastic decorations, but we need (many) more hands to bring our decorations to life! You don’t need to be an artist or a super crafter to serve in this way, just a willingness to maybe get some paint on your pants. Options for this include take-home projects, work parties (some in the evening, some on Saturdays) or helping assemble and set up the Sunday before VBS. This is a low-commitment, but high impact opportunity! We tell the kids that all the decorations are a sign of love and faith, like visible prayers from people they might never meet, showing them the care and love of Jesus! If you can donate some time to this effort, please click here.

• In order to turn our church into another world we will need LOTS AND LOTS OF FABRIC. We are looking for BIG pieces of SOLID COLORED fabric. The more yards, the better. Please bring donations to the church office or leave at the Welcome Desk on Sunday mornings.

• We also need a large number of white pop-up canopies! Do you have one we can borrow for the week? Please let us know here.

Blessings as you discern how God may be calling you to serve the Kingdom through VBS this summer!

Questions? Please don’t hesitate to reach out to Tifny!

Update on Middle School Sunday School

In this season, the Youth Team has decided that having our youth in worship is an important part of the discipleship journey for the entire worshipping community. We are going to continue to invite middle school students to stay in worship and try a few different creative ways to engage youth during worship that will also help shape their understanding of being part of the congregation and active listening skills. As these ways roll out, we would love your feedback about what is working for your student and what is not. 



The first few weeks we are going to try:

• Student Section Seating: sit with Sarah and other leaders during the 10:30am service. 
• Reflection Sheets: Optional "worksheets" that engage students in sermon text and personal reflection

Please reach out to Sarah with any questions, ideas or concerns you might have. 

Middle School Reminders

Bike Hike Parent Info Meeting

Wednesday, April 15

7:30pm

Conference Room in the Main Office

Parents are encouraged to join Sarah for the last 30 minutes of youth group to hear about Bike Hike - come ready with your questions. We will still have normal Middle School Youth Group from 6:00-8:00pm. Register for Bike Hike here.

Night of Unending Games - THIS Saturday from 6pm to 10pm. Registration is required. Adult volunteers are needed as well. Register here.

Parent Meet & Greet with Sarah - THIS Friday at 6pm at Leonardo's Pizza. 

For Grove 345 parents, feel free to join me right after you drop off your kid for trampoline fun (I will be at the pizza place around 5:30pm to begin ordering). 

Announcements

Work Camp for 8th Graders - Is your child in 8th grade and looking for an opportunity to grow as a disciple and in service this summer? We are opening 5 spots on the Work Camp trip to Tennessee (July 4-10) to incoming 9th graders. Registration is due by THIS FRIDAY (4/17/26). Registration and additional information can be found here.

High School Parent Meet & Greet with Sarah - NEXT Friday, April 24 at 6:00pm, at Leonardo's Pizza. For those attending the Women’s Retreat, normally we don’t double book, but things are moving fast this Spring! More dates to connect are coming soon!

All Church Camping Adventure

August 14-16

Millersylvania State Park

Registration is now open for our all church camping weekend at Millersylvania State Park just south of Olympia. We have reserved 30 tent sites and 2 RV sites. Spend your days swimming and enjoying non-motorized boating on Deep Lake, relaxing by the water, or exploring the hiking and biking trails in the park and nearby. Other attractions in Thurston County are also close at hand. Use this time to slow down, recharge, connect with friends and family, and enjoy God’s beautiful creation. We will provide dinner meat and fixings for Friday and Saturday, and coffee in the mornings. $60 for the first adult and $10 for each additional human (no pets please). Registration is first come, first served. Once the spots are gone, they are gone. Register here.

Contemplative Yoga Classes

Tuesdays and Thursdays

The classes are led by Stephanie Bisch and there are several class and time options.

Click here for more information.

Tifny Mathena, Director of Children & Intergenerational Ministries

tifny@columbiapresbyterian.org

Sarah Tunall, Director of Youth Ministries

sarah@columbiapresbyterian.org

Anna Haagenson, Director of Grove 345 and Children's Music

anna@columbiapresbyterian.org

Viva Dennis, Administrative Associate for Children's Ministry

viva@columbiapresbyterian.org

Katie Mrochko, Administrative Associate for Youth Ministry

katie@columbiapresbyterian.org

Lindsey Wright, Childcare Coordinator

lindsey@columbiapresbyterian.org

Laura Ericcsen, Circle of Friends Preschool Director

laura@columbiapresbyterian.org

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