Gloria Dei Lutheran Church | Urbandale, Iowa

Youth: Junior & Senior High Youth

Our Mission

Our youth ministry is on a mission, so we will follow the GYM (Grow, Yield, Minister) acronym:

Grow in our relationship with God and others,
Yield to Jesus as Lord and Savior and
Minister to others through outreach and service.

Grades 6-12 are encouraged to join us for events that are geared toward connecting teenagers to the love of God. On Wednesdays, join us as we praise God together through music, Confirmation and The Point. On Sunday mornings, we come together for high school small groups and Castaway. If you have any questions, please contact Tim Kightlinger at 278-5544, ext. 212.

Newsletters
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April 2013

Wells Bring Hope Project

The youth group has set an audacious goal—to raise money to build a well in Niger, Africa. Approximately $1,600 has been collected for the Wells Bring Hope Project. Our goal is to collect an additional $4,600 by the end of December. Each well we build will generate enough water for a community to have clean water for 20 years. That will change the culture of that community and impact the world.

If you’d like to partner with our youth ministry and help us build a well in Niger, Africa, please go to the youth ministry page on our Web site and click on the “Wells Bring Hope” project link. If you would like to know more about the project, click here.

To give online today for the Wells Bring Hope Project.

Upcoming Activities: Junior High (Grades 6-8)

Junior High Castaway Sundays
Sundays at 9:30 and 11 a.m.
Castaway is a high-energy, multi-sensory, active learning environment that focuses on the weekend sermon topic.

Junior High Wednesday Evenings
Wednesdays from 6:45-8 p.m.
Students in grades 6-8 meet in small groups discussing various topics that are relevant to their lives.

Junior High Café 923
Friday, April 26, 2013 from 6-9 p.m.
It’s huge! It’s fun! It’s Cafe 923! What is Cafe 923? It is a night where you can hang out, have a good time, eat, play games and bring your friends. We will meet from 6-9 p.m. in the Youth Center and Family Life Center. Everyone is welcome and please bring your unchurched friends, so we can introduce them to GYM (Gloria Dei Youth Ministry) and to our God. Cafe 923 comes from Luke 9:23. Pizza $1 per slice; soda $.50 a can.

Dinner Theatre - Noah County Fair
Rehearsal will be held on Wednesday, April 3 at 8 p.m.

Performance dates and times:
Friday, April 19 at 6:30 p.m.
Saturday, April 20 at 6:30 p.m.
Sunday, April 21 at 4 p.m.
(Doors will open 30 minutes before each performance.)

Ticket prices: Adults - $10; Under 20 and over 55 - $8.

Spring Retreat - "Me and the I AM" (Grades 8-12)
Friday, April 12 and Saturday, April 13
Join us for the Sr. High spring retreat, "Me and the I AM" - a look at our identity. The retreat will be held at Riverside Camp, Story City. There will be music, lessons, outdoor adventures, Bible studies and a lot of fun! The cost is $30. Registration and payment deadline is Wednesday, April 3.

Summer Mission Trip, June 15-22, 2013 in Racine, Wisconsin
Who can go?
All teens in grades 8-12 in the 2012-2013 school year.
What will we be doing?
We will join around 400 teens and adults from around the United States to form work groups to perform repairs/improvements on homes of the poor and elderly.
Why Should you go?
To grow in your faith, to celebrate with other Christians the love we have in Jesus, to be challenged to live for God, to learn, to have fun, to share God's love with others and to serve others.
Cost? Approximate cost $750.
A $100 non-refundable deposit is due. There are still spots available.

National LCMS Youth Gathering July 1-5, 2013 in San Antonio, TX

Meet with 30,000 other teenagers to celebrate who God is in your life and what he has done! Think Iowa District West Youth Gatherings on steroids! Participants must be 14 by the date of the gathering.
Cost: Approximate cost is $1100.

Upcoming Activities: Senior High (Grades 9-12)

Sunday mornings - Senior High Bible Study

Sundays at 9:30 a.m.
Join us Sundays 9:30 to 10:30 a.m. as we discuss the weekend sermon topic and relate it to life as a teenager.

Wednesday evenings - The Point

Wednesdays from 6:45-8 p.m.
Join us on Wednesdays from 6:45 to 8 p.m. for a multi-sensory, active learning time in the Youth Center. Each evening will consist of praise worship and large-group Bible study. Contact Tim Kightlinger.

Dinner Theatre - Noah County Fair
Rehearsal will be held on Wednesday, April 3 at 8 p.m.

Performance dates and times:
Friday, April 19 at 6:30 p.m.
Saturday, April 20 at 6:30 p.m.
Sunday, April 21 at 4 p.m.
(Doors will open 30 minutes before each performance.)

Ticket prices: Adults - $10; Under 20 and over 55 - $8.

National LCMS Youth Gathering July 1-5, 2013 in San Antonio, TX

Meet with 30,000 other teenagers to celebrate who God is in your life and what he has done! Think Iowa District West Youth Gatherings on steroids!
Participants must be 14 by the date of the gathering.
Cost: Approximate cost is $1100.

Resources for Parents

We think you will enjoy this Simply Youth Culture newsletter. Nov./Dec. 2011

Photo Gallery

Click here for the recent photos of what those youth are doing (or not doing!)

Click here for the photos from the The National Youth Gathering

Listen to TK on YouTube.