Youth Ministry

Any and all youth in Middle (6th-8th Grade) and High School (9th-12th Grade) are welcome to come and check out Northminster Student Ministries. Sunday School is on Sundays at 9:45am, where we dig into the Bible to learn more about how God’s Word relates to our lives. 
 
Sunday evenings is Youth Group, a fun time of games, bible study and fellowship.  Join us at 6:30pm, and we’ll wrap up by 7:45.  We look forward to seeing you there!
 
Scroll down for our current series, youth ministry news and announcements and why we do what we do.

Current Series

Before I Go – When Jesus Invites Us to do The Impossible

If you knew your time on Earth was coming to an end, what would you want to say to the people in your life before you go? For Jesus, the days leading up to His death were filled with meaningful conversations with the people around Him. In this series, as we look at some of His last words, we’ll discover what Jesus really wanted His followers—both then and now—to know.

March 19: Remembering reminds us of what Jesus has done, is doing, and will continue to do.
March 26: Unity begins with You.
April 2: Consistently be real with God about how you feel.
April 9: No Youth Group (Easter)
April 16: No Youth Group (Spring Break)
April 23: Because of Jesus, we can be close to God.
April 30: God’s grace is unfairly good.
 
Join us @ Youth Group, Sundays, 6:30 PM.

Youth Ministry News & Announcements

What Is Sunday Night Live?

For the past several years, we have had a strong and healthy youth ministry (grades 6th-12th) meeting on Sunday nights.  But we got to thinking: Why should the teenagers be the only ones to have all the fun?! On Sunday nights we are looking to provide opportunities for everyone in the church to learn more about who Jesus is, grow as disciples of Jesus Christ, and build strong, healthy relationships with each other.  Sunday Night Live provides age- and developmentally-appropriate programming, games and lessons to meet Christians of all ages wherever they may be in their walk with Jesus Christ.
 

Who is Sunday Night Live for?

Sunday Night Live is for anyone who wants to learn more about who Jesus Christ is and the life He offers each of us, and those who want to grow deeper in their relationship with Christ.  Right now, we are offering two programs at Sunday Night Live.  As more people plug in and express interest, we will expand the opportunities accordingly.  If you’re looking for a Sunday Night Live program, but don’t fit in the groups we’re already offering, just ask!
 
F.A.S.T (Fourth, Fifth And Sixth, Seventh Together)
Our late elementary & early middle school group is called FAST and is for all students in 4th through 7th grades.
 
Youth Group 
The late middle school and high school group is called Youth Group (because we’re just creative like that) and is for all students in 8th through 12th grades.
 

When is Sunday Night Live?

Sunday Night Live is (somewhat obviously) every Sunday night, from 6:30-7:45pm.  We will take some Sundays off for holidays and special events.
 

What Happens at Sunday Night Live?

Over the course of the evening, we’ll play games, study the Bible, build relationships with each other, and share the good news of the Gospel of Jesus Christ.  
 

Not Just Sunday Nights, Though

While our “program time” will be on Sunday evenings, we believe that we grow as followers of Christ throughout the week.  A couple of  key components of Sunday Night Live are devotionals for the students to use throughout the week, and emails for parents to help them connect with and grow alongside their students.  We firmly believe that no one has more impact on the life of a student than his or her parents, and we want to come alongside parents as they grow with their children in their relationship with Jesus Christ!
 
Weekly Student Devotionals
Weekly student devotionals can be found by downloading the YouVersion Bible app (it’s free!) from your phone’s App Store.
 
Parent Cue Emails
Parent Cue emails are sent out at the beginning of each series.  Simply let us know you’d like to receive these emails, and we’ll be sure to add you to the list!
 
If you can’t tell, we’re really excited about Sunday Night Live.  Whether you are a regular worshipper at Northminster or not, you and your student are welcome to join us.  If you have questions that we didn’t answer above, be sure to let us know!

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Sunday Night Live Kicks Off September 19!

SUNDAY NIGHT LIVE is finally here!

For All Students in 4th-12th Grades

Mark your calendars and plan to join us on Sunday, September 19 at 6:30pm for the kickoff of Sunday Night Live! This is a brand new opportunity to teach our children and youth about the fulness of life offered by Jesus Christ and how to live as disciples of Christ. With age-appropriate and focused lessons and games, we’re really excited to see how Sunday Night Live encourages our children and youth in their walk with the Lord and their families as well. Want to know more? Plan to join us September 19!

**Note: Feeling left out? Wish there was a Sunday Night Live opportunity for your younger children or perhaps for adults? Talk to Sharon Bryant, chair of CE, or David Garrison. While we’re starting out focused on 4th-12th grades, we’d love to expand beyond that. All you have to do is let us know you’re interested!


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Youth Ministry April 2021 Update

With the latest guidance from the CDC and VDH, guidance that says social distancing for schools is now down to 3ft, the increase in vaccinations, and indoor groups expanded to 50, we have decided to no longer continue the Zoom youth group meetings. We hope all students will join us in person.
 
Note: There will be No Youth Group on Easter Sunday, April 4 or the following Sunday, April 11, for Spring Break.

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Weekly Youth Group Meetings Resume September 27, 2020!

Youth Group met for the first time in 6 months last night – it was so good seeing all of the students after so long, although we missed those who weren’t able to attend.
 
We are planning to resume in two weeks on Sunday, September 27. We’ll meet at Northminster at the usual time, 6:00-7:15pm. We’ll do our best to practice appropriate distancing and mask-wearing, and try to keep either outside or to the largest rooms available.
 
We are also looking at having separate High School and Middle School groups, either for part of the time or all of it. We have quite an age spread now, 6th grade is our youngest, all the way up to 11th grade, and we think we have enough participants to warrant two groups.
 
BUT! If we’re going to do that, we need help. Right now, it’s just me and Karey, and if we’re going to have two separate groups, we need at least two others to help out. If you are interested, or know someone who might be, please let me know.
 
You can learn more about our youth ministry and what we’ll be talking about by clicking here.
 
We look forward to seeing everyone in two weeks!
Rev. David Garrison

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NEPC’s Response to COVID-19

March 18, 2020

Dear Friends,

We are in unprecedented times, being forced into new patterns of being that feel unnatural and strange, but are ever so necessary in order to “flatten the curve” and slow the spread of this pandemic.  The rhythm and flow of our “normal” lives has been completely disrupted, and we’re just beginning to experience what this is going to be like.  It’s hard, it’s scary, and it’s frightening. What are we to do? Well, there are a few answers to that, which I’d like to share with you today.

What am I to do?

Be wise and prudent, but not fearful.  We can take the novel coronavirus seriously and apply appropriate social distancing and good hygiene without falling into fear.  I encourage you to follow the guidelines issued by the CDC and the federal and state governments.  Wash your hands often, don’t touch your face, stay 6’ away from others, and avoid large group gatherings.  But even with those efforts you might contract the virus.  Whether you do or not, you are always in Jesus’ hands.  He is present with us in our isolation, our quarantines and even more in our illnesses.  He is already and will continue to watch over each one of us.  We need not fear for our present or future, because Jesus is already there.

What is our church to do?

Both Scripture (Romans 13:1) and our confession (Westminster 23.4) command us to submit to civil authorities, and while (at the time of the writing of this letter) no law has been issued barring us from gathering for worship, we do believe that it is our civic responsibility to comply, as best as possible, with their recommendations to slow the spread of this virus.  To that end, we have cancelled all ministries and missions outside of worship.  This includes Sunday school, Bible studies, women’s circles, and youth group.  We are also moving the focus of our worship service to online streaming.  As long as you have an internet-connected device (cell phone, TV, computer, iPad, etc), you can join us for worship.  Simply go to www.facebook.com/npcmh at 11am on Sunday morning, and you’ll see the livestream there (you do not need a Facebook account to see the service).  We will publish the bulletin online so you can follow along.  We’ll send more information about how this works on different devices in a few days.  In addition, the Sanctuary will still be open if you would like to be present with us, but we encourage folks to sit 6’ apart.  But let me re-emphasize: If you are in the higher-risk categories for COVID-19, please do not put yourself at risk by going out.  Also, if you have been reading for B90, by all means keep it up!  While our discussion groups won’t be meeting, we’ll email you online videos and tools.

The Work of the Church goes on

In the midst of this, we are still hard at work serving you and our community. Our programs might be temporarily cancelled, but the work of the church is more than a program or ministry.  Please continue giving.  Our community needs the light of the Gospel of Jesus Christ now more than ever.  Send your tithes and offerings in weekly.  If you find yourself quarantined and unable to go to the store or need help, please let us know.  Look for ways to to love your neighbor, old or young.  Invite a neighbor to join your family for worship in your living room (but practice appropriate social distancing).  Call one another and check in to see how folks are doing.  And when you hear of a need or concern, please let us know.  In the midst of this terrible situation, we have an opportunity to be the hands and feet of Jesus for each other and our neighbors in ways we’d never dreamed.

The Church has faced pandemics like this time and again throughout history.  While we don’t know how long this will last, we know that it too shall pass and look forward to the time when we can worship and be together in person.  Until then, be wise and prudent.  Practice good hygiene, appropriate social distancing, and the guidance of our governing authorities.  Help where you are able.  And above and beyond all else, pray.  For we are all in God’s hands, and we should earnestly pray for his mercy to bring an end to this pestilence both here and abroad.

Yours in Christ,

Rev. David Garrison


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NEPC Student Ministries News & Info – August 2019

Things for the youth ministry at Northminster slowed down over the summer, but we’re cranking things back up as we get ready for the fall!

Welcome Rising 6th Graders!

We’re excited to have you join us!  You are welcome to join us for Sunday school on Sunday mornings any time!  John Lange and Sharon Bryant are our teachers, and they’d love to see you at 9:45 on Sundays.

Upcoming Events:

Wednesday, August 7, ~6:30 @ Venue Cinemas — We’ll meet at Venue Cinemas around 6:30 to catch a fun summer movie!  Which one?  No idea – the schedule isn’t out yet.  We’ll email once it is with specifics.  Interested?  Be sure to let Pastor Dave know! 

Sunday, August 18, 5:30-7:30 — It’s time to bid adieu to summer.  Join us at the Garrisons for a fun-filled game night, dinner included.  This will be a great way to de-stress after the first few days of school and as you prepare for your first full week.  This is also a particularly good event for folks who haven’t been to youth group before to come and meet the other students and get a sense for what we’re all about!

Sunday, September 8, 6:00-7:15pm — We officially kick off our fall semester and weekly youth group meetings on the 8th.  We’ll start the fall with a series called, “Rescued from an Ordinary Life.”
 
Keep up to date on all the Student Ministries doings by clicking here!

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About the Youth Ministry

We are committed to building relationships with students and sharing our lives and Christ with them.  We are focused on proclaiming the full Gospel of Jesus Christ, equipping parents as the primary ministers to their children, and building relationships between all generations in the church.
 
Here’s what each part of our purpose statement means:
 

To EXPOSE youth and their families to the joy of a relationship with Christ.

Jesus said that he came to give us life, and to give it to the full (John 10:10), and in Matthew 28:19-20, he gave us the great commission to “go and make disciples of all nations.”  So one of my youth ministry goals is to present the good news of the gospel, the joy that comes from knowing Christ, to youth and their families who have never heard it before, that they may know the abundant life that God intends for them.  We seek to accomplish this goal through two avenues: 1) Special events and occasional youth group meetings geared toward presenting the gospel, and 2) programs intended specifically for parents.
 

To CONNECT them with other believers.

Without a doubt, it is hard to survive in this world, especially if you’re trying to do it alone.  Christ never calls us to follow him alone, He encourages us to connect with another believer to provide accountability, support and friendship.  One of our goals is to connect youth to the extended church family, other believers their own age, and an adult mentor.
 

To EQUIP them to grow in their faith.

None of us will love God perfectly in a day, or a year, or even a lifetime.  It’s a process that we grow in through consistent fellowship with other Christians, study of God’s Word, prayer, challenge, etc.  Through our youth group programs, Sunday Schools, small group Bible studies, and one-on-one discipleship, it is my prayer that the youth will grow in their commitment to and knowledge of God.
 

To PROVIDE them with opportunities to serve others in Christ’s name.

I think it was St. Francis of Assisi who once said, “Share the gospel, and when necessary, use words.”  This has almost become cliché, but there is a powerful truth there.  We proclaim the gospel as much through our actions as we do through our words.  I want to help kids discover their gifts and talents and help them to use those gifts and talents in the world to bring God glory.  This is done by giving the youth leadership responsibility of their own, taking them on mission trips to help them discover their gifts and to what career God might be calling them. Through monthly service projects, through summer mission trips, the youth here have the opportunity to proclaim God’s love to the world.
 

In order to GLORIFY God in their lives.

This is simply a reminder of why we are in youth ministry in the first place, and what we are about in life!  Ephesians 3:20-21 has become my youth ministry theme verse.  “Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine (VISION!), according to his power that is at work within US (POWER!), to him be the glory in the church in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, forever and ever, Amen. (PURPOSE!)”