MERGE YOUTH MINISTRY
Merge means to cause to combine; to unite. Our desire as a Youth Ministry is to bring our students together with God and their friends. Our youth come from different schools and different experiences. They have different personalities, different hobbies and interests and different gifts and talents. And yet, as different as they are, the cause of Christ brings us together.
Youth ministry at ZUMC meets regularly on Sunday evenings for 7th-12th grades. The evening begins with dinner at 5:30pm followed by worship, activities, and life groups. Our night usually ends at 7:30pm.
Want to stay on top of what’s going on with Merge Youth Ministries? Click This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it to send Jon an email to receive text messages about upcoming events, how you can help, and changes in schedule. All you have to give him is your name, cell phone number, and cell phone service provider.
YOUTH CHRISTIAN EDUCATION
Starting February 5th with the time changes of worship, Christian Education for youth will take place during the second worship service (10:45am). When the new school comes in September there will be opportunities for all youth to meet for Christian Education during both services. Starting February 5th, here's where you can find those classes meeting in the church:
- 7th Grade: B101 (off the gym)
- 8th Grade (Confirmation): C109 and C11
- 9-12th Grade: B105 (off the gym)
HIGH SCHOOL BREAKFAST STUDY
High School students will meet every Tuesday morning there is a PLC day (late start morning) from 7:30-8:30am in the cafe. We will use this time to go deeper into our Merge theme. Don't worry! Even if you don't come on Sunday nights for Merge you will not feel lost-we'll get you up to speed with what we're talking about.
Bring yourself and a Bible (we'll have extras in case you don't have one or forget yours) and we'll make sure you get fed and to school on time!
Upcoming meetings: February 7 and 21, March 6 and 20, April 17, and May 15.
CONFIRMATION
Confirmation is a 30-week journey for 8th grade students. The experience will offer a wide range of opportunities from class, service projects, and field trips. Confirmation class begins in the fall, and wraps up with the opportunity to join the church in springtime.
UPCOMING EVENTS
BISHOP’S CONFIRMATION RALLY
On March 10, 2012, we’ll gather with youth from all over the state at First UMC Noblesville. We’ll leave ZUMC at 9am and return around 5pm. Throughout the day we’ll participate in worship, share communion, join in workshops about hands on mission work, high energy dance, ministry magic, life after confirmation, the history of the UMC (in a not-so-typical style), and spiritual disciplines. All confirmation youth and table parents are encouraged to attend. Cost of this event is $15.
30 HOUR FAMINE
This is your chance to join other groups of students all over the world in learning the truth about hunger, poverty, and injustice - then overcome it all with love.
Worldwide, 925 million people are hungry. Every day, as many as 11,000 children under age 5 die due to hunger-related causes. That's one kid every 8 seconds. The Famine gives your group a chance to do something about it - to rise up and serve the hungry.
Going hungry - so others don't have to
Every year, hundreds of thousands of students do the Famine. They go without food for 30 hours. They learn what it takes to overcome hunger. And they raise funds to help feed hungry children and families around they world. They refuse to be told they can't make a difference.
ZUMC youth will participate in 30 Hour Famine March 16-17. If you cannot be at Merge, contact Jon to sign up and pick up a fundraising packet. Please know that if you cannot fast from food for a particular reason we can arrange for you to abstain from something else that weekend-email, Facebook, your computer, watching TV, something that captures much of your attention.
For more information concerning 30 Hour Famine or World Vision, please check out 30hourfamine.org and worldvision.org.
SPRING BREAK MISSION TRIP
This trip is open to all individuals and families of ZUMC and their friends. April 1-7, 2012, we’ll travel by vans to Slidell where we will partner with the Epworth Project, participating in Hurricane Katrina relief work. Cost of the trip is $425.
For more information about this trip or to sign up, please contact Russ Hodgkin at 442-1406 or Jon Ellegood at 873-2623.
If you cannot participate in this trip but would like to help sponsor someone via a monetary gift, please contact either Russ or Jon.
RSVP no later than March 1, 2012.
BELIEVE CONFERENCE
On April 21-22, your confirmation youth is going to have the opportunity to experience “The 2012 Believe Word Tour.” This conference will take place on the campus of Anderson University in Anderson, IN.
Please note, this conference is a MANDATORY experience that your youth must participate in. You must RSVP no later than March 4, 2012. You are considered registered when you have turned in a permission form, medical release and your payment.
We will leave Zionsville at 3:00pm on Saturday and return on Sunday at 6:00pm. Our group will stay at the Hampton Inn in Anderson. Each room will sleep 3 youth and an adult. The hotel does offer a complementary breakfast in the morning.
The cost for this event is $75 plus money for dinner on Saturday. Because there is a cost associated with this mandatory event please talk with me if you need some assistance in helping differ the cost of this event.
If you have any questions or concerns about this event please don’t hesitate to contact me. If you, as a parent, would like to attend this event as an adult chaperone, let me know-your conference costs will be covered by the church.
To find out more information about the conference, check out their website by clicking here. You can download a medical release form by clicking here.
HIGH SCHOOL BEACH CAMP W/ STUDENT LIFE
Calling all high school youth! We’re headed to the beach and you’re invited! We’ll take off from ZUMC on July 8, 2012 and head down to Daytona Beach, FL to join thousands of other youth on the beach for a week of worship, awesome speakers, hanging out on the beach, and exploring Daytona Beach. Throughout the week we’ll here from Louie Giglio, Brett Younker and Chris Tomlin. We’ll return to Zionsville on July 14th.
Cost of this trip is $400. Your trip payment will cover the cost of the conference, housing, food while we’re in Daytona (NOT while traveling), and transportation. RSVP for this trip is March 4, 2012.
MIDDLE SCHOOL IMPACT CAMP @ CAMP ADVENTURE
All middle school youth are invited to join us July 29-Aug 3, 2012 for Impact Camp @ Camp Adventure in Pierceton, IN. This full-week classic camp experience is an action packed adventure including swimming, blobbing, paintball, and High Ropes. Even better than all that action is an amazing spiritual program including small groups, modern worship and opportunities to ask the tough questions about God.
Cost of this camp is $398 which includes your transportation, camp fees, and meals throughout the week. RSVP for this trip is March 4, 2012.
PERMISSION FORM
Need a permission form for something? Click here to download one!
