– First Church Youth
All throughout the Bible, we see the story of a God who is determined to be with us, to know and to be known, and we are made for that connection with weekly routine as often as possible. At the 11:00AM service, youth often sit together in
the balcony—and some kids see it as a right of passage to join other youth when they are old enough. Youth are also invited to read scripture, run slides, serve communion, and usher.
Sunday School is an opportunity for middle and high school studentsto have small group discussions about faith and scripture, as we look at God’s story, Christian history, and United Methodist beliefs and practices from many perspectives. Our goal is to make room for youth to ask the big questions while getting to know the story of God and the person of Jesus.
Engage is our regular weekly fellowship opportunity for middle and high school students. Engage happens throughout the school year on Sunday evenings from 4:30-7:00PM. Discussions cover topics that matter to the kids or help them apply faith to life. Each week, we share a hot meal before concluding our evening with a chance to check in with each other and share the highs and lows of the previous week.
Click below for an overview of our program.
All 5th, 6th, and 7th graders are invited to Connect, a time just for tweens! Connect helps kids bridge the transition between child and youth by helping tweens connect with each other and God, all while having tons of fun. Together, we will eat dinner, play games, talk pre-teen life, and give kids and parents a Friday night break from each other! We ask participants to RSVP for Connect, though the event is free. We do appreciate donations to offset the cost of dinner.
Each year as summer comes to an end, we celebrate going back to school with one more summery adventure with a cruise of Lake Travis on a Party Barge. We jump in the lake, cook burgers and hot dogs, swim, fish, laugh, and have a ton of fun! Registration is required and participation is capped at 50 for this popular event. Families provide the transportation to and from Volente Beach and parents are invited to coordinate carpooling for max fun with minimum fuss.
Each year, we prioritize a chance for middle school and high school
students to go on retreat separately.
These weekends are phone free in order to maximize the chance for youth to get away from big
stresses and distractions, focus on God and the friendships that they are building in this faith community, and exercise a little bit of freedom—all while immersed in nature.
Retreats are also a chance to strengthen connections within the youth group as youth share thoughts about life and faith, stories (around the campfire and otherwise), laughter, adventure, and a whole lot of fun.
We partner with Be The Neighbor (BTN) for our Middle School summer service trip, equipping participating youth to live lives of love, service, and justice. Middle school trips are Sunday-Friday. Our final destination is typically within the state of Texas, though occasionally we venture further. Service-learning opportunities may be focused on issues like poverty, racism, food insecurity, climate change, or asylum seekers and include working in places like community gardens, refugee welcome centers, and elder-care facilities. Youth also hear from experts who can help them understand the deeper issues and consider their role in service, advocacy, and justice. Registration for this phone-free trip opens in the fall. Team fundraising is also required.
For more than 40 years, FUMC has been taking high school students and adults to Eastern Kentucky to make homes warmer, safer, and drier with Appalachia Service Project (ASP). Teams of 4-5 youth and 2 adults spend the week building relationships with homeowners and doing construction work to make these homes more secure. The trip is 12 days long (leaving Friday morning and returning on a Tuesday) and includes overnight stops at local churches along the way and at DeGray Lake State Park for a time of reflection and rest on the way home. This phone-free trip also requires youth to participate in several pre-trip meetings, two construction workshops, and fundraising. Team registration opens in October.
Confirmation offers young people a chance to explore faith in the United Methodist tradition, including our identity as Christians, history and heritage, practices, and beliefs. 8th graders at FUMC are invited to question, wonder, and learn together in a pressure-free environment. Young people practice sharing openly and honestly about their faith—or lack thereof. They meet and build relationships with mentors who provide accountability and guidance. At the conclusion of Confirmation classes, students have the opportunity to affirm their faith and take the vows of membership in the church. Students who cannot participate in 8th grade are invited to attend Confirmation classes in 9th or 10th grade.
Confirmation takes place weekly from October to April on a weekday evening. Participating families will have a chance to offer input about which day of the week works best. Families also take turns providing a meal and hosting the class in their homes as they are able. Occasional Sunday morning meetings offer the confirmands a chance to meet with mentors. Confirmation Sunday is celebrated on the Sunday after Easter.
If you have an 8th-10th grader who is interested in Confirmation, contact Devon Bailey, Director of Youth Ministry.