Youth Ministry – Plymouth Church

Plymouth’s youth ministry is a safe, nurturing Christian community where youth can learn and grow in faith, fellowship and service.

Plymouth Youth offers students in grades 7 through 12 a host of ways to find a place to belong at Plymouth:

COMMUNICATION

Want to find out what’s happening for Plymouth Youth? Check out the Contact and Sunday’s Current Happenings. Also, make sure and check out the Plymouth Facebook page.

Click here if you would like to view the current Youth Ministries Handbook in its entirety.

CONFIRMATION

Confirmation is the time that seventh and eighth graders wrestle with what it means to be a Christian, what it means to be a member of Plymouth, what it means to discover and use their own gifts and talents, what it means to serve others. To learn more, click Confirmation program.

FELLOWSHIP: WEDNESDAY NIGHT DINNERS

All 9 – 12 grade youth are invited to the Youth Room on Wednesday nights from 6 -7 p.m. for food, fun, and fellowship. Dinners are provided and supervised by parents. Schedule is posted on the Youth Room door.

FUNDRAISING

Plymouth Youth fundraising means more than raising funds. It’s a way to have a lot of fun. Our fundraisers are Leaf Rake, Pizza Sales, and Garage Sale. For more details, click on youth handbook.

MISSION TRIPS

Our youth take at least one mission trip every summer, when high school students leave Des Moines and grow in faith by working with and for other people. Sometimes our trip is within the United States, such as our mission trips to Pine Ridge Indian Reservation and New York City. Sometimes we venture outside our own country, such as trips to Nuevo Laredo and Reynosa, Mexico. For more information, click on youth handbook.

MUSIC

Red robes in 9 a.m. Sunday worship make Matins Choir the most visible opportunity for youth involvement. Soul Singers is the choir for middle-school students. But it doesn’t end there. High school students also play instruments in Sunday morning worship and add to the Saturday night worship band.

ROOM OF YOUR OWN

The Youth Room, located on the third floor (west side of the building), is a place for our youth grades 9-12 to congregate for:

Fellowship: A great space for sharing, talking, laughing, and reflecting.
Games/Entertainment: Recreational activities, such as pool and fooseball are available, as is music and videos.
Meetings: Perfect for church youth gatherings, Matins Leadership Team meetings, or small get-togethers.
Scheduled Service Project: An ideal site for graduate care package note writing, Project Memories and Christmas Eve luminary assembly.
Meals: Come join youth on Wednesday evening at 6 p.m. for dinner. Parents donate their time, cooking and serving Plymouth Youth. Also, light breakfast foods are available on Sunday mornings prior to the 9 a.m. service.
Quiet Sanctuary: Keep it a secret, but this is a great place for privacy. Don’t tell anyone, but youth have actually been sighted doing their homework here.

SERVICE PROJECTS

Plymouth youth have many opportunities to become involved in service to others. Annual service projects include our car wash, care packages for first-year college students, and Reggie’s Sleepout. Youth are also invited to participate in church-wide service opportunities. Read about other service opportunities in the youth handbook.

SKI TRIPS

The ski trip (offered on rotating years) is an opportunity for fun and fellowship for all youth grades 7-12, their friends, and their families. We leave early in the morning and travel by chartered bus to Afton Alps, Minnesota where we enjoy a full day of skiing or snowboarding. We return to Plymouth late that same night. This trip is a great chance for middle school youth to “try out” a youth activity. Estimated cost — $80-100, depending on age and rental needs.

UCC ACTIVITIES

Youth always are welcome and encouraged to attend activities of our denomination, the United Church of Christ. This includes the Iowa Conference spring and fall retreats, as well as the Regional Youth Event and the National Youth Event.

VARIETY SHOW

Calling all singers, instrumentalists, actors, poets, performers…What’s your talent? All youth grades 9-12 are invited to be a part of this Plymouth tradition led by the Matins ensemble.

YOUTH EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE

Youth and adults work together to plan and implement a range of programs for high school students at Plymouth. It requires dedication, leadership and vision. It can be a lot of work, but it is always a lot of fun. See the youth handbook for a list of the current Youth Executive Committee members.

Marie Green Scholarship

The Marie Green Award is given each year to two outstanding high school seniors who have been actively involved in the life of Plymouth Church. As both participants and leaders, they have learned from their experiences and have also given back to Plymouth through their involvement. Marie Green grants are intended for use in buying books, art materials, musical instruments, or other special equipment. Two scholarships are awarded in the amount of $750.00 each. Click here to download a fillable-form PDF of the current application.