Reflections from Our First Youth Group of Fall 2024: Rooted in Service and Fun
Written by Genevieve Brooks, Director of Youth Ministry, and Jack Garrett, High School Intern specializing in Service and Outreach
Genevieve’s Reflection:
If you were on campus the night of September 15th, you would have seen a sea of teenagers filing into the Main Hall for a buffet dinner, then, for a service project, pack over 120 bags of food for WMPC’s service partner Back Pack Buddies and over 90 youth singing and worshiping as our Youth Band led from the chancel. These teens then filed out the doors and headed to the parking lot to end the night playing, laughing, and making memories at the Water Olympics” It was one of those nights that youth group memories are made of! We are incredibly thankful for our All-Star team of adult youth advisers, high school interns, and amazing parent volunteers like Victoria Wheeler, who coordinated the service project! We pray that the students kick off the year by asking questions like, “What am I rooted in?” and “What is my faith rooted in?” And we hope they experienced the joy of serving our community and enjoying the gift that is their church family!
Jack’s Reflection:
In our first youth group returning from summer vacation, we began by focusing on making a meaningful impact through the Back Pack Buddies initiative. This process included packing food for children in our community who face food insecurity. It felt like we were contributing to the direct well-being of others, making it a rewarding experience. This small act of giving back shows our strength in numbers and how we can positively impact the community. The shared experience of service also brought us closer as a group, allowing us to bond over a common cause.
After this, we shifted gears to something more light-hearted and fun with Water Olympics where we all moved from Main Hall to the Dover Road parking lot. We organized into smaller team groups and went to different activity stations such as a HUGE water slide, water balloon toss, duck duck goose, and a dunk tank. This provided a fun place for everyone to wind down and have fun after the start of the new school year. The energy was definitely contagious! This also lets the older kids interact and form bonds with the younger middle school youth. This blend of service work and play was the perfect introduction to what youth group is all about and will be a good reminder of what’s to come for the rest of the year.
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