Youth Group Weekly on Sundays from 5:30-7pm. September 14, 2025 through May 2026. It’s a safe space to be your perfectly imperfect self! Brecksville UMC’s Youth Ministry is the place for friendship, faith and fun for students in grades six through twelve.
Faith, food and fun is on the agenda.
Each week we’ll do our check-in with each other while noshing on pizza. Then we’ll have a conversation about one person who worked for more love, kindness, and justice in the world using the book “Holy Troublemakers & Unconventional Saints” and do an activity or game.
As we navigate a new normal without our beloved youth director, we are trying something new in this season. Dawn Carter, youth group parent and professional educator, has put together a wonderful “curriculum” with ideas for each week of youth group through the new year. It’s a sort of “choose-your-own adventure” resource to empower volunteers to lead each week.
Parents, you are encouraged to sign up to serve as leaders on specific dates, knowing that Jamie Schwendeman, Kim Petro, and Pastor Heidi will be around to lend support to you and make sure the kids know they’re loved!
Friends are always welcome! We meet on the front lawn or in the Youth Room.
Here’s our current schedule – subject to change!
September 14 – Mary Oliver (Shannon Kantorowski leads.)
September 21 – Danilo Cortez, Walk in My Shoes or Photo Scavenger Hunt (Jamie Schwendeman & Kim Petro lead.)
September 28 – Home Gathering w/ youth & parents
October 5 – Ani Zonneveld, tie-dye shirts
October 12 – Thich Nhat Hanh, Labyrinth or desktop Zen gardens
October 19 – Florence Nightingale, (temporary) tattoos expression of faith
October 26 – (5-7pm) Pumpkin Patch & watch “Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown”
November 2 – Brian McLaren, Intergenerational Youth Group, sharing stories
November 9 – Mr. Rogers, appreciation, thanksgiving, being a good neighbor (World Kindness/Cardigan Day is 11/13)
November 16 – Project Feed
November 23 – Rachel Held Evans, A place at the table/Friendsgiving
November 30 – No Youth Group– Brecksville Holiday parade & square lighting
December 7 – Danya Ruttenberg, light/create luminaries for Christmas or play glow games
December 14 – Youth Christmas Party
December 22– January 2 – winter break
January 4 – No Youth Group?
January 11 – St. Francis, giving to others or pets