Youth

News From the Director of Family Ministries – June 13. 2024


Many Hands Make Light Work.

I am ever impressed by the youth of our church. Last Saturday we had a yard work day.
The kids who came worked so hard, and really were a great service to the church members who needed their help. We are cleaning up yards to help the kids suppliment their mission trip they will participate in August.

This particular group of youth loves to participate in acts of service. It is a great foundation for a life in serving Christ.

A Big shout out to Todd Corino and Mike Jensen for their service as well.

Thank you for all who are a part of acts of service.
Melissa Jensen

yard work
yard work

Director of Family Ministries – June 6, 2024

Church Family can Thrive from all different types of ministry.

Highlighted below is an excerpt from an article on how pickleball is helping churches not only give people opportunity to fellowship but how our church has connected with the community.

“Courts help neighbors feel they Belong”

“The new pickleball courts at St. Paul’s UMC in Brick provide one of many ways the church helps its community feel it “belongs,” says Tom O’Hearn, adopting GNJ’s 2024 Annual Conference theme.

“Our church now has portable pickleball courts in our fellowship hall to offer those in our surrounding community a time for fellowship and exercise,” he writes. “We have had more than 500 people come to play over the past three years. Many have joined us for worship, and a few have joined the church and our choirs.” The church also hosts in its gym basic instructional pickleball sessions for beginners for just $10. An unexpected benefit of the ministry, said O’Hearn, is the donations of pickleball players, which help the church fund much of its missions and ministries, as well as capital improvements and utility expenses.”

 

For Full Article, click on the link below

https://www.epaumc.org/news/neighbors-enter-church-pickleball-courts-with-praise/




pixkleball face



pickleball player

A Message from the Director of Family Ministries – May 23, 2024

“After this I looked, and there before me was a great multitude that no one could count, from every nation, tribe, people, and language, standing before the throne and before the Lamb. They were wearing white robes and were holding palm branches in their hands.
And they cried out in a loud voice:

‘Salvation belongs to our God,
who sits on the throne,
and to the Lamb.”
Revelation 7:9 &10

The past three days I attended a Worship Conference with some members of St. Paul’s. We learned quite a bit and got to experience all different kinds of worship during an open mic night on the last night.

We will bring many of these ideas to our Mid-week Worship Service as well as elements for our Sunday Services, if applicable.

However, two things stuck with me the most. And these I will make an effort to put into practice.

  1. We ALL have a purpose and as the body of Christ, we must support everyone’s part together to make the body whole.
  2. We need to try and be of ONE voice. To worship together no matter creed, color, or station in life, let us all be united in the sacrificial worship to our Lord Jesus Christ.

Blessings,’
Melissa Jensen

worship conference 1

(Pictured here are the happy faces of youth leaders getting candy after the conference that they don’t have to share!)

A Message from the Director of Family Ministries – May 16, 2024

Direct your children onto the right path, and when they are older, they will not leave it. Proverbs 22:6

This Past Monday we had a bitter sweet celebration as we wished our very own Bryan Koehler a fond farewell as he follows his calling.

Bryan will be pursuing his career working with youth age children and directing them in the way they should go.

Bryan started at St. Paul’s as a youth in my early years of leading youth ministry. He has grown into a very thoughtful and greatly spiritual man, and I know no matter where he goes, the lessons he learned here at St. Paul’s will go with him.

And we will treasure all of our memories with him in our hearts.

Good Luck Bryan! We wish you ALL the best!

youth 20240511 a

youth 20240511 b

News from Director of Family Ministries – February 2, 2024

“Start children off on the way they should go, and even when they are old they will not turn from it..”
~Proverbs 22:6

A MOMENT OF HUMBLE REFLECTION

Youth Group Retreat Feb 2024

Youth Group Retreat

This past weekend we went on our annual youth group retreat to Spruce Lake Retreat Center in the Poconos Mountains. First,
I thank all the adult leaders who dedicated their time to this past weekend.

One thing is for sure. We have the MOST AMAZING group of kids!

Not only did they invest their time in the lessons, worship, and getting to know other youth, but they were able to lift my spirits during a stressful at the beginning of the trip.

Getting the van stuck in the mud at 11pm was not the highlight of my trip, but as you can see in the photo below, it was a highlight of the kids.

Reenactment

Disclaimer: Photo is a creative reenactment. Kids having fun making silly photos.

They made the most of a bad situation. They put everything into perspective for me.

And most of all, they showed love and support to their leaders.
Their kindness and Christian nature warmed my heart…. I can not wait to continue to grow with these kids!

Blessings,
Melissa