Grace Lutheran High School Youth

 

The Grace High School Youth Group is a strong, active and growing collection of youth that brings many diverse interests, gifts and talents to the group as a whole. We look forward to our weekly gatherings, monthly events, projects, retreats, summer trips, service opportunities and fundraising activities.

See below for more information on current events.

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Current Events and Happenings

 

All are welcome to join in Grace Lutheran Church’s high school youth group gatherings and events.  We will meet weekly during the school year, and plan additional fellowship events throughout the year as well.  Please feel free to join us, we look forward to seeing you soon!

Souper Bowl of Caring— "Lord, as we enjoy the Super Bowl football game, help us to be mindful of those without even a bowl of soup to eat." Souper Bowl of Caring began with this prayer more than 20 years ago, and on February 4th& 5th, we will continue to remember and take action to share God's love with those in need. Please find members of our high school youth group carrying soup kettles before or after worship and give generously to feed the hungry. All gifts will be given to the Wednesday night PADS meals and Woodstock Food Pantry.

The Grace Trifecta – It Can Transfigure Many Lives—Start whistling "O When the Saints, O when the saints…". Yes, Transfiguration Weekend is almost here again. Write "GRACE" in big letters on February 18-19. This year for Grace, the heartbeat of America that was born in the music of New Orleans will be felt again in Woodstock and will climax as 29 of our youth and their chaperones arrive this summer in that city of great tradition. There they will gather with around 35,000 other young people at the ELCA "Citizens With The Saints" Youth Gathering to worship, fellowship and serve God's kingdom on earth.

How all this happens begins as we join together for worship at all three services to celebrate Jesus' mountaintop experience by hearing the story, sharing his meal and singing music set in the American tradition of Dixieland.

The Dixie tradition carries on as we move from spiritual fulfillment to filling our stomachs with chili of all kinds created by the chili chefs of Grace. Your taste buds will rejoice at the variety and quality of Grace's transfiguring chili offerings. Be sure to sign up in the narthex whether you want to provide a chili specialty, to bring ingredients for others to work with or side items (see list) or just to let us know you plan to be there to be a lucky recipient.
Bellies filled, you'll be ready to participate in our huge Youth Auction where service and amazing items and opportunities will go to the highest bidder. Most importantly, the proceeds you provide will make up a major portion of funds needed to send those 29 young people to this awesome Youth Gathering in the home of Dixieland. If you would like to donate an item for this year's Youth Auction, please contact Pastor Amanda.

So plan today to be on hand for your own transfiguring experience and to help enable the transfiguring of many of our youth as well as those they touch in service.

This is also the weekend when our church's opportunity to share God's grace is the greatest. The offer is unique in McHenry County. This is the kind of opportunity that makes it EASY to invite our neighbors, people we work with and those we just find God has placed on our daily path of life. Take the opportunity. Bring lots of people as participants in this Christ-filled Trifecta. Together, let's celebrate in worship, fellowship and service.

Scholarship Support for 2012 Youth Gathering…...by Pastor Amanda Bergstrom

In the coming weeks and months, you will be hearing from our 29 high school youth and
6 adult chaperones as we prepare to travel and participate in the ELCA's Youth Gathering
next July. At this time, I would like to invite you to pray for this group and consider
supporting this faith journey with the gift of a scholarship.

As you pray for this group, I invite you to pray for the group as a whole as we get to know one another and work together this year to prepare for this trip. I also invite you to pray for us as individuals, unique children of God who continue to grow in faith, discipleship, peacemaking, and justice. Here are our names, please pray for us:
Elizabeth, Mitch, Jenny, Sarah, Zach, Ben, Tyler, Andy, Erica, Becca, Cooper, Leiana, Brian, Alex, Nick, Emma, Troy, Abigail, Sarah, Amber, Dylan, Sierra, Wyatt, Becca, Andrew, Becka, Victoria, Amber, Joshua, Pastor Amanda, Jon, Cathy, Barb, Pastor Ken, Cindy, Paul, and Bill.

Also, we welcome your financial support and partnership that makes this trip possible. I have been amazed to hear of Grace's incredible support for the youth of our congregation to participate in past national youth gatherings, and so I write to you with joy to ask you to once again support these 29 young adults as they continue to grow in faith, love, and service to God and neighbor. We will have envelopes available on the youth bulletin board and in the church office if you would like to make a gift to the High School Youth Gathering Trip. Here are a few things for you to consider in giving the gift of a scholarship:

* The estimated expense per person is $1,100 and we have 36 participants.
* A 'quarter-scholarship' would be a gift of $275, a 'half-scholarship' would be a gift of $550, a 'full-scholarship' would be a gift of $1,100.
* Every gift is important and will be greatly appreciated.

Thank you for your support through prayers and scholarships!

Wednesday Evenings Youth Group
Beginning September 7, we will meet on Wednesday evenings, from 6:30-7:30 in the Youth Room on the lower level at Grace.  Join us for conversation and Bible study in the middle of the week.

Sunday Mornings Youth Group
Beginning September 18, we will gather in between service from 9:45-10:30 a.m.  Join us again for conversation and Bible study.

2012 ELCA Youth Gathering
Next summer, 36 high school youth and chaperones will travel to New Orleans, LA to participate in the youth gathering as citizens with the saints.  We welcome your prayerful & financial support of this exciting ministry, please contact Pastor Amanda if you would like to support this ministry.

Please contact Pr. Amanda Bergstrom via the church office at (815)338-0554 or