Children & Youth Ministries Weekly Update
 

Spiritual Development for our Youth

Hey parents and families, 

 

As we have started up our fall programming for Middle School and High School Youth Group we have started two new series that I am excited to share with you all our 2024 Fall YG and S.S. content series. 



Middle School


Youth Group:

Faith and Wisdom with James 


We will be working through the whole book of James together. The book of James is packed with encouragement to pursue faith righteously as well as challenging us to continue to seek wisdom throughout our lives. James asks hard questions of what faith looks like. As students navigate Middle School this is the time that faith really becomes their own and they are challenged to interact with scripture at a deeper level. James is a great book for our students to continue this personal faith journey. Though I wouldn't make the argument that any book of the Bible is necessarily “easy,” James is a book that is a tangible, short text that is usually simple enough for our students to interact with. This book encourages our students to pursue their faith with the wisdom that James offers us through this text. 

 

Our anchor verse for this series is James 3:17-18: “But the wisdom from above is first pure, then peace-loving, gentle, compliant, full of mercy and good fruits, unwavering, without pretense. And the fruit of righteousness is sown in peace by those who cultivate peace.”



Sunday School:

Jesus’ Miracles and Faith 


Our Middle Schoolers will look at the multiple miracles of Jesus during His ministry on Earth. Oftentimes the miracles seem so far from our current day and we want to take a step into the stories of Jesus and what it means to continue to have faith. Our Sunday School lessons are taught by a group of our Youth volunteers and rotate weekly. 

 

High School


Youth Group:

Justice and Jesus 


We will be looking at the topic of how Jesus is present in modern day justice. Our students are constantly inundated with the injustices of the world through media, school, friends, and personal experiences. We are all aware we cannot fully guard them from the injustice of the world, so why not talk about it together as Jesus did? The goal is that students do not shy away from the hardships of the world, but that they are able to see what is happening around them and to serve as Jesus did. I want our students to be equipped with the knowledge of how Jesus interacted and participated in reconciliation and justice in His ministry. 2 Corinthians 5:18 talks about how we are saved from death and are reconciled to Jesus Christ through His sacrifice and are called with the message of reconciliation. Biblical reconciliation is something all Christians are called to. We want students to be able to take their faith practically and to see the ways in the world that they can help. This series goes hand in hand with our Sunday School content of serving and helping others by being the hands and feet of Jesus.

 

Our anchor verse for this series is Micah 6:8 NIV “He has shown you, O mortal, what is good. And what does the Lord require of you? To act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God.”



Sunday School:

Hands and Feet of Jesus 

 

We are going to be looking at the question of what it means to be a Christian High Schooler and to be Jesus where you are. Similar to 2023 Confirmation, our High School Sunday School will be more of a “class” format with table discussions. This Sunday School class will be an extension of our Youth Group content, from learning about what it means to pursue justice to what it practically looks like in serving others. 

Middle School and High School Sunday School is right around the corner starting October 6th and will run until December 15th. 


If this is your first time attending Sunday School we meet from 9-10am in the Chapel (High School) and LL6 (Middle School). On Communion Sundays, we end Sunday School early and all go up to service to participate in the Lord’s Supper as a whole Church.


If you are interested in bringing donuts for our youth on Sunday mornings here is a sign up sheet - click here. We have a budget for reimbursement, so don't let the cost of donuts deter you from volunteering.

 

As always, if you have any questions about our 2024 content please reach out to me.

 

Lydia Fitzpatrick

Youth Director 
 

Announcements
 

NO Middle School Youth Group tonight

due to the Back to School Retreat this weekend.

 

Wednesday Night Dinners

Wednesday, 5:30PM-6:15PM in the Fellowship Hall


Dinners are: $7 adults, $5 children/youth, $20 family. Or get a season pass: $65 adults, $40 children/youth, $180 families.
 

The Tech-Wise Family Class

Wednesday, 6:00PM-7:30PM in the Fellowship Hall

 

It's not too late! Join leaders from Children and Youth Ministries on Wednesday evenings this fall, our focus is not simply managing technology, but raising kids of strength, wisdom and character, in part, by putting technology in its proper place. This class is open to anyone interested, not only those currently raising children.


Click here to register. Childcare available. Cost is $20 for "The Tech-Wise Family" book and materials. Scholarships available. 


Contact: Tifny Mathena, Children and Intergenerational Ministry Director
 
 

Upcoming

Fall Schedule


Sundays


Children's Sunday School

Grades: PreK-5

Education Wing

9:00AM & 10:30AM


Middle School

Sunday School

Begins: October 6

Grades: 6-8

Room LL6

9:00AM


High School

Sunday School

Begins: October 6

Grades: 9-12

Chapel

9:00AM


High School Youth Group

Grades: 9-12

Youth Center

6:00-8:00PM



Wednesdays


Wednesday Dinners

All Ages

Fellowship Hall

5:30-6:00PM


The Tech-Wise Family

Fellowship Hall

6:00-7:30PM


K2 Live

Grades: 3-5

Chapel

6:00-8:00PM

Register Here


Middle School Youth Group

Grades: 6-8

Drop Off: Youth Center

Pick Up: Gathering Area

6:00-8:00PM

For Your Calendar


September


9.25 - No Middle School Youth Group

9.27-30 - Middle School Back to School Retreat



October


10.6 - Middle School Sunday School and High School Sunday School (6th - 12th Grade) begins at 9:00AM

10.30 - K2 Live Harvest Party

10.30 - No Tech-Wise Family Class



November


11.3 - Consecration Sunday

11.11 - Veteran's Day

11.17 - High School "Family Dinner"

11.17 - Last Middle School and High School Sunday School of the season

11.20 - Last Tech-Wise Family Class and last Wednesday Dinner of the season

11.22 - Parent's Night Out

11.24 - Bible Sunday

11.24 - No High School Youth Group

11.27 - No Wednesday Night Programs

11.28 - Thanksgiving
 

Preschool, Children & Youth Staff

Tifny Mathena, Children and Intergenerational Ministry Director

tifny@columbiapresbyterian.org


Anna Haagenson, Director of K2 Live and Children's Music

anna@columbiapresbyterian.org


Lydia Fitzpatrick, Youth Director

lydia@columbiapresbyterian.org


Catherine Feeny, Youth Ministry Worship Leader

catherine@columbiapresbyterian.org


Viva Dennis, Children's Ministry Administrative Assistant

viva@columbiapresbyterian.org


Katie Mrochko, Youth Ministry Administrative Assistant

katie@columbiapresbyterian.org


Lindsey Wright, Childcare Coordinator

lindsey@columbiapresbyterian.org


Laura Ericcsen, Circle of Friends Preschool Director

laura@columbiapresbyterian.org

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