FUMC Youth Ministries

First United Methodist Church of Westfield has a dynamic and active youth ministry. Junior and Senior High youth participate in a wide variety of activities that build fellowship and strengthen faith development. Youth have the opportunity to build friendships in peer-group activities, as well as to participate in church and community service programs.

Church Programs

The youth of FUMC play a vital role in the church’s life. There are a number of opportunities to participate in Sunday morning worship services.

ACOLYTES AND READERS Youth serve as readers and acolytes; carrying candles in procession, preparing the altar for worship each Sunday, leading the congregation in prayer, and reading the scriptures. They also participate in the Usher/Greeter welcoming worshippers as they arrive on Sunday morning.

YOUTH WORSHIP SERVICE Each March, the youth prepare and conduct a special worship service of their own design.

LAY SPEAKING PROGRAM As youth grow in faith, they may participate in the Lay Speaking program of the United Methodist Church. This program equips youth and adults alike to become Local and Certified Lay Speakers in the United Methodist Church.

EDUCATION AND MUSIC MINISTRY YOUTH PROGRAMS The Education Ministry offers Sunday school classes for Junior and Senior High Youth. Please see the Sunday Morning Schedule on our Worship Page for Sunday school times. Also offered are confirmation classes for ninth grade youth in which they learn about the United Methodist church and prepare for making a personal commitment to Christ. In 2004, the youth formed a Praise Band under the direction of Music Director Trent Johnson. Please see the Education and Music Ministry pages for more information on these programs.

Youth Fellowship

The Junior High and Senior High Youth Fellowships help to build a strong faith-based community for the youth at FUMC Westfield. Through a combination of Christian teaching and fun activities, the youth grow in faith and form lifelong friendships, all within a safe environment.

MEETING TIMES The Youth Fellowship usually meets on Sunday evenings. The Junior High’s meet from 5:00 to 6:30 p.m. and the Senior High’s meet from 6:00 to 7:30 p.m. During the 6:00 to 6:30 overlap period, the two groups join together for devotions.

MEETING LOCATION Both groups meet in The Loft which is on the 3^rd floor of the education building. Over the years, this space has become a sanctuary for the youth, providing games and other activities and a space they can call their own. This year the youth raised money and sought donations to install a media center in The Loft, providing them a way to watch movies, play video games, and listen to music.

EXTRAS The Youth Fellowship has many opportunities to have fun. Activities include snow football, a Superbowl party, a ski trip, paintball, the Carnival RISE fundraiser, mini-golf, the Junior/Senior Prom RISE fundraiser, and a picnic and pool party.

Click here to see the Youth Fellowship Meeting and Activities Schedule. You can also see some of our group in action by going to our Who We Are page.

Community Service

LOCAL As part of the Youth Fellowship, youth work in the community, volunteering at the Hillside Foodbank and the Fanwood Recycling Center. They also participate in the 30-Hour Famine program which raises money for World Vision and its programs around the world.

RISE Each year First United Methodist Church of Westfield sends a group of youth and adults to Steuben County, New York to engage in home repair projects for the elderly and disabled. This program is sponsored through the Chatham United Methodist Church. Teams of two adults and four to six Senior High Youth spend the week working on homes and getting to know the people of Steuben County. There are evening worship programs and other activities. FUMC Westfield has been sending teams on this mission program for the past 12 years. This year we will be going on RISE in the last week of June. Pictures of our work on this program can be seen on our Who We Are page.

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