Youth

Grades 6 - 12

Growing into Faith
Growing into Faith

Youth Ministry at St. Stephen, for 6th -12th graders, is a dynamic program offering multiple opportunities for youth to socialize, serve in mission together, grow in their faith, and to worship. Ministries include seasonal retreats, summer mission trips, recreation programs, youth choir and handbells, confirmation for 6th and 7th graders, and Middle School and High School groups.

Sunday Mornings

Worship
Youth are encouraged and invited to participate in worship in a variety of ways including scripture reading, ushering, serving on the technology committee, or helping with communion.

Sunday Mornings with Youth
Sunday Mornings with Youth is held in Youth Ministry Center (YMC) room 205 from 10:30-11:30am. Led by adult counselors, there is a short lesson, service projects, snacks, and games.

More Youth Programs

Youth Group (Sunday Evenings)

Youth Group meets on Sunday evenings from 4-6pm and is a gateway into our youth ministry. All youth in grades 6-12, meet together for a time of fellowship, worship, and teaching. Then we break into Small Ministry Groups (Confirmation, Middle School, and Senior High) to provide age-appropriate and engaging programming with opportunities for relational, hands-on ministry in a smaller group environment.

Confirmation

Confirmation at St. Stephen UMC is offered biennially, and is a year-long process of learning more about God and yourself as you make the personal decision to claim Jesus. Open to all ages, most classes contain 6th and 7th graders, while having individual mentors and at least 3 confirmation teachers. The year culminates with Confirmation Sunday in May as confirmands make their personal decisions public to the church family and the congregation responds with affirmation and support.

Middle School

Middle School Ministry is for 6th-8th graders. We recognize that this is a time when students are developing their own identity and are continuing to explore their own faith. We strive to offer community and affirm their personal journeys.

High School

High School Ministry is for 9th-12th graders. We know that high school is a time of great change in the life of a student as they acquire new freedoms and look towards graduation. We recognize that all students matter and have imaginable possibilities that are worthy of exploration.

Music Opportunities

Music opportunities, during the school year, include Wednesday evening choirs for youth in grades 6 through 12, including a youth choir and youth handbell choir. Learn more about our music opportunities for children, youth, and adults.

Boy Scout Troop 118

Chartered at St. Stephen in December 1968 our approach to Scouting centers around a Scout-led troop. This teaches the boys both leadership skills and the importance of working together through Scout ranks to achieve a common goal.  Our adventures include a monthly camping trip with rappelling, water trips and High Adventure trips scattered throughout the year.  Boys have the opportunity to join a weeklong Summer Camp experience to get a jump start on merit badges.  We have more than 200 Eagle Scouts from this Scouting ministry.  The Troop meets on Monday evenings throughout the year.

Safe Sanctuary

Safe Sanctuary Policy

At St. Stephen we are devoted to protecting every child. We write and implement policies designed to reduce the risk of abuse of children and youth. All adults working with children and youth are required to be educated on child abuse prevention and safety procedures. Our heart is to love and protect each child and youth who enters our Church doors.

Click here to view our Child Protection Policy.

Other Safety Measures
In our Nursery we also have implemented pagers so that families will be notified to pick up their child while they are in church and Sunday school, preventing the issue of not being able to reach someone who has their phone off for church.
All our children have information sheets on file with information such as emergency contacts and medical history in the event of an emergency.

Belonging for Every Season

Check out other programs and ministries for children and adults.