2024 Youth Ministry
Wesley Youth Ministry 2024
A Typical Sunday
Beginning in August, we combined CAF and MYF into one youth group. Regarding this transition, I feel that this combined youth group fits our youth group profile better and bridges the gap between our middle school and high school youth. I believe that our faith journeys are not linear or follow any strict guidelines. Through joining CAF and MYF, our youth can connect with and rely on one another in fellowship and spiritual growth.
Every Sunday, we begin in worship service to hear the welcome, call to worship, and opening songs. After, we meet in the MYF classroom for a lesson. We follow a lesson plan consisting of reading scripture, journaling, participating in activities and games, and answering small group discussion questions. Each month, we follow a specific theme with age-appropriate lessons that I write.
Beginning in August, we combined CAF and MYF into one youth group. Regarding this transition, I feel that this combined youth group fits our youth group profile better and bridges the gap between our middle school and high school youth. I believe that our faith journeys are not linear or follow any strict guidelines. Through joining CAF and MYF, our youth can connect with and rely on one another in fellowship and spiritual growth.
Every Sunday, we begin in worship service to hear the welcome, call to worship, and opening songs. After, we meet in the MYF classroom for a lesson. We follow a lesson plan consisting of reading scripture, journaling, participating in activities and games, and answering small group discussion questions. Each month, we follow a specific theme with age-appropriate lessons that I write.
Curriculum
January: Standing up for what we believe in
As Christians, we are called forth to serve our communities and neighbors. At Wesley, we serve the unsheltered through our neighborhood food distribution and elementary school children through the tutoring program. Social justice is more than “the view that everyone deserves equal economic, political and social rights and opportunities”. It’s about standing up for what you believe in. Another definition of social justice means “everyone's human rights are respected, protected, and promoted”. We discussed how do we know what is right, what is wrong, and who we can ask for help when we don’t know.
February: Love
Our world needs love and compassion. God calls forth the best in our self and others through universal love. We discussed how we can love and by extension, serve others in our communities.
January: Standing up for what we believe in
As Christians, we are called forth to serve our communities and neighbors. At Wesley, we serve the unsheltered through our neighborhood food distribution and elementary school children through the tutoring program. Social justice is more than “the view that everyone deserves equal economic, political and social rights and opportunities”. It’s about standing up for what you believe in. Another definition of social justice means “everyone's human rights are respected, protected, and promoted”. We discussed how do we know what is right, what is wrong, and who we can ask for help when we don’t know.
- January 7 - CAF, MYF
- January 14 - Family Service (MLK Weekend)
- January 21 - CAF, MYF
- January 28 - CAF, Prayer Buddies
February: Love
Our world needs love and compassion. God calls forth the best in our self and others through universal love. We discussed how we can love and by extension, serve others in our communities.
- February 4 - CAF, MYF
- February 9 - Valentine’s Day Party
- February 11 - Scout Sunday Family Service
- February 18 - Winter Sunday School (Joint)
- February 25 - CAF, MYF
February 9 - Youth Valentine’s Party with youth from Aldersgate UMC. We played games, made cookies, and had a great night of fellowship!
March: Lent
Lent is a season of preparation for Jesus’ resurrection on Easter Sunday. It can also be considered a preparation of our minds and hearts to follow Jesus’ teachings. Looking deeper, it’s an act of love. Jesus sacrificed his life for us – one of the highest acts of selfless love and service. We looked at this sacrifice and its relation to universal love.
Lent is a season of preparation for Jesus’ resurrection on Easter Sunday. It can also be considered a preparation of our minds and hearts to follow Jesus’ teachings. Looking deeper, it’s an act of love. Jesus sacrificed his life for us – one of the highest acts of selfless love and service. We looked at this sacrifice and its relation to universal love.
- March 10 - CAF, MYF
- March 17 - CAF, MYF, Prayer Buddies
- March 24 - CAF, MYF (Palm Sunday)
- March 31 - Easter Sunday Family Service
April: Christ-like
It’s an important cornerstone of our faith to hold compassion for others, and we spent time talking about how we can serve our communities. However, we cannot pour or give from an empty cup. We discussed how we can take care of ourselves, so we can take care of others.
It’s an important cornerstone of our faith to hold compassion for others, and we spent time talking about how we can serve our communities. However, we cannot pour or give from an empty cup. We discussed how we can take care of ourselves, so we can take care of others.
- April 7 - CAF, MYF (Compassion Sunday)
- April 14 - CAF, MYF
- April 20 - Youth Bowling Night
- April 21 - Nikkei Matsuri
- April 28 - CAF, MYF
April 20 - Youth Bowling Night with youth from Aldersgate UMC, Buena Vista UMC, and Los Altos UMC. We went to Fourth St Bowl and had dinner at Wesley UMC. We closed out the night by walking to Fosters Freeze for dessert!
April 21 - Nikkei Matsuri. Youth helped at the Nikkei Dogs booth by taking orders and making Nikkei dogs!
May: As we wrapped up our year together, we want to look forward. We are constantly growing and adapting. We are setting goals and have dreams of what we want to achieve. However, we may hit an obstacle or have a difficult test coming up. It can be easy to get discouraged. We discussed how to stay grounded and make goals that are realistic and achievable for us.
- May 5 - CAF, MYF
- May 12 - CAF, MYF
- May 17 - Youth Game Night
- May 19 - CAF, MYF
- May 19 - Youth Bake Sale Fundraiser
- May 26 - Memorial Day Weekend Family Service
- May 31 - SF Giants Game
May 19 - Youth Bake Sale Fundraiser. Youth families prepared a variety of baked goods to fundraise for transportation and scholarships to NJAUMC summer camps.
June - July:
After Graduation Sunday, we met once a month for Summer Sunday School with God’s Garden and MYF for a variety of activities.
This summer, I attended both of the NJAUMC summer camps. I was one of the Junior High Camp directors and an Asian Camp adult staff. For Junior High Camp, we had 12 campers, 4 counselors, and 2 adult staff representing Wesley. For Asian Camp, we had 12 campers, 2 counselors, and 1 adult staff representing Wesley.
After Graduation Sunday, we met once a month for Summer Sunday School with God’s Garden and MYF for a variety of activities.
This summer, I attended both of the NJAUMC summer camps. I was one of the Junior High Camp directors and an Asian Camp adult staff. For Junior High Camp, we had 12 campers, 4 counselors, and 2 adult staff representing Wesley. For Asian Camp, we had 12 campers, 2 counselors, and 1 adult staff representing Wesley.
- June 2 - Graduation Sunday Service
- June 9 - Summer Sunday School
- June 23-28 - NJAUMC Junior High Camp (off-site, Camp Lodestar)
- July 7 - Summer Sunday School
- July 14-19 - NJAUMC Asian Camp (off-site, Camp Gilmore)
- July 27 - NJAUMC Asian Camp 50th Anniversary Worship Night
- July 28 - Summer Sunday School
June 2 - Graduation Sunday Service
July 28 - Summer Sunday School. We had a combined youth group with youth from Buena Vista UMC, Centenary UMC, and Faith UMC. College youth also participated.
August: Foundations
As we wrap up our summers and begin a new year of school, we come back together for youth group. This is a year of transition as we are combining both CAF and MYF. We are coming from different places, both physically, emotionally, and spiritually. Youth group is a place for us to develop our faith together and learn what it means to be a Christian. In July, we talked about what it means to have a strong foundation on which we build our faith. We want to make sure we have high-quality materials, a good foundation, and a supportive community who will help us build our faith up.
As we wrap up our summers and begin a new year of school, we come back together for youth group. This is a year of transition as we are combining both CAF and MYF. We are coming from different places, both physically, emotionally, and spiritually. Youth group is a place for us to develop our faith together and learn what it means to be a Christian. In July, we talked about what it means to have a strong foundation on which we build our faith. We want to make sure we have high-quality materials, a good foundation, and a supportive community who will help us build our faith up.
- August 4 - Summer Camps Reflection Service
- August 16 - Youth Movie Night
- August 18 - Rally Sunday
- August 25 – CAF/MYF
August 4 - Summer Camps Reflection Service
August 18 - Rally Sunday class photo.
September: Slowing Down
Today’s youth are busier than any other generation before them. Gone are the days of leisurely summer afternoons and playing in the yard until the streetlights come on. In the hustle and bustle of their overscheduled lives, students need to learn to slow down. It is important for not only their physical and mental health, but also their spiritual health.
(Curriculum from Youth to Ministry.)
September 8 - Back to School BBQ at Bramhall Park. God’s Garden, CAF, and MYF families enjoyed the nice day!
Today’s youth are busier than any other generation before them. Gone are the days of leisurely summer afternoons and playing in the yard until the streetlights come on. In the hustle and bustle of their overscheduled lives, students need to learn to slow down. It is important for not only their physical and mental health, but also their spiritual health.
(Curriculum from Youth to Ministry.)
- September 1 - Family Service (All Church Camp Weekend)
- September 8 - CAF/MYF
- September 8 - Back to School BBQ @ Bramhall Park
- September 15 - CAF/MYF
- September 22 - CAF/MYF
- September 29 - CAF/MYF, Prayer Buddies
September 8 - Back to School BBQ at Bramhall Park. God’s Garden, CAF, and MYF families enjoyed the nice day!
Upcoming Curriculum and Events
October: Faith over fear
October 6 - CAF/MYF
October 13 - CAF/MYF
October 20 - CAF/MYF
October 26 - Youth Halloween party
October 27 - CAF/MYF
November: Overflowing in gratitude
November 3 - CAF/MYF
November 10 - CAF/MYF
November 17 - Thanksgiving Family Service
November 22 - Youth Game Night
November 24 - CAF/MYF
December: Strength in numbers (community)
December 1 - CAF/MYF
December 7 (Saturday) - Hanging of the Greens
December 8 - CAF/MYF
December 15 - CAF/MYF
December 21 - Youth Worship Night
December 22 - CAF/MYF
December 28 - Camp Mochi
December 29 - New Year's Eve Family Service
Roster
There were 15 CAF youth on the 2023-2024 roster. Attendance for the 2023-2024 school year ranged from 4-5 CAF youth. There were 12 MYF youth on the 2023-2024 roster. Attendance for the 2023-2024 school year ranged from 4-5 MYF youth.
After updating registration for the 2024-2025 school year, there are 13 CAF youth, 16 MYF youth, and 4 adults (including youth advisors). Attendance has ranged from 5-10 youth and 2-4 adults. We have 2 youth advisors on the CAF and MYF team, and we look forward to a great year of youth ministry.
With every year that I serve Wesley’s youth, there are not enough words to express my gratitude to the Wesley community for entrusting me with the spiritual growth of the youth. I find that for as much time as I spend teaching or planning lessons, I invest that same time in fellowship and connections with our youth. Our youth are the future leaders of our communities, and I hope to challenge our youth to grow in their faith, leadership abilities, and identities.
Submitted by Lauren Takaichi
October: Faith over fear
October 6 - CAF/MYF
October 13 - CAF/MYF
October 20 - CAF/MYF
October 26 - Youth Halloween party
October 27 - CAF/MYF
November: Overflowing in gratitude
November 3 - CAF/MYF
November 10 - CAF/MYF
November 17 - Thanksgiving Family Service
November 22 - Youth Game Night
November 24 - CAF/MYF
December: Strength in numbers (community)
December 1 - CAF/MYF
December 7 (Saturday) - Hanging of the Greens
December 8 - CAF/MYF
December 15 - CAF/MYF
December 21 - Youth Worship Night
December 22 - CAF/MYF
December 28 - Camp Mochi
December 29 - New Year's Eve Family Service
Roster
There were 15 CAF youth on the 2023-2024 roster. Attendance for the 2023-2024 school year ranged from 4-5 CAF youth. There were 12 MYF youth on the 2023-2024 roster. Attendance for the 2023-2024 school year ranged from 4-5 MYF youth.
After updating registration for the 2024-2025 school year, there are 13 CAF youth, 16 MYF youth, and 4 adults (including youth advisors). Attendance has ranged from 5-10 youth and 2-4 adults. We have 2 youth advisors on the CAF and MYF team, and we look forward to a great year of youth ministry.
With every year that I serve Wesley’s youth, there are not enough words to express my gratitude to the Wesley community for entrusting me with the spiritual growth of the youth. I find that for as much time as I spend teaching or planning lessons, I invest that same time in fellowship and connections with our youth. Our youth are the future leaders of our communities, and I hope to challenge our youth to grow in their faith, leadership abilities, and identities.
Submitted by Lauren Takaichi
Posted in Charge Conference 2024