Hello, First Community Youth Ministry!

This Week

• Crossroads, Sunday at 6 pm
• Heart to Heart Volunteering, Wednesday at 5 pm
• The Gathering / Midweek Missions / Youth Choir, Wednesday at 5:30

Register Now!

Youth Retreat: October 28 - 30

Ongoing Programs

• New! Bring food donations to Crossroads
• Help at Heart to Heart!
• Sunday Worship at 9, 10, and 11 am

Save the Dates!

• Akita Fun Day
• Adopt-a-Family

THIS SUNDAY

This Sunday!

Crossroads

Sundays, 6 – 7 pm

First Community North (3777 Dublin Rd.)

Last week we created a list of attributes we hope to exhibit while at Crossroads, such as kindness, acceptance, good listening, non-judgmental, living, and creativity.

This week, we'll discuss First Community's beliefs (which you can find here). Then we'll embark on a photo scavenger hunt to take pictures that represent each belief. We'll then create paper social media pages where we can "comment" and "like" each group's photos! We've done a version of this activity before at Camp Akita and it's a blast!

• Meet in the Crossroads Room. Enter through the main Sanctuary doors. Leaders will guide you to the big room with couches.

• Full-group gathering. Sarah will introduce our message on First Community's beliefs.

• Photo scavenger hunt & paper "social media." We'll split into small groups to take photos that represent each belief. Then we'll create captions for each one and "post" the paper pages!



• Come together. As always, we'll end with a short closing prayer!

Recap: Parent Info Meeting

On September 18 we gathered for a Parent Info Meeting. Did you miss it? Find all the info we shared here.

• Outline of Youth Ministry at First Community Church. An explanation of our programs, upcoming events, and staff contact info.
• Crossroads Lessons for 2022-23. See a (very tentative!) list of all lessons for this program year.
• How to talk with your child about faith. Julie Richards created a very approachable and helpful guide. This will likely become a glossy pamphlet, but for now, take advantage of this great info!

Parent action item: please register for youth ministry! Click the purple button below.

Register for Youth Ministry

Ready to participate in our programs? Please Register! Registration is free and allows us to get to know the youth in our program. It also provides us with important emergency contact info. Note: families are asked to fill out the form at the beginning of each program year, even if you have registered in years past.

Register for 2022-23:

WEDNESDAY PROGRAMS

New!

The Gathering

Wednesdays

5:30 pm at North

Wednesdays will be full of opportunities for involvement at First Community North this fall! 

Join us each Wednesday evening for the following:

5:30 pm: snacks and pizza

5:45 pm: short worship with devotion and music

6 - 7 pm: split into age group activities:

• Adults are invited to a clergy-led Bible study. The first study is Everyday Sacred, a 4-week series led by Rev. Mary Kate Buchanan on finding spirituality in the mundane.

Midweek Missions (grades 4-8)

Wednesdays, 6 - 6:30 pm

Youth in Grades 4-8 are invited to do projects that support both the church and the wider community through meaningful projects. A central focus of Midweek is on building empathy as a path to seeing the humanity of all people. Midweek Missions is led by Julie Richards.

Junior Choir (grades 4-8)

Wednesdays, 6:30 - 7 pm

After Midweek Missions, youth in grades 4-8 will rehearse as part of the Junior Choir. The rehearsals for Junior Choir focus on music reading skills as well as how to take a leadership role during worship. They will perform in worship on select Sundays.

Youth Bell Choir (grades k-12)

Bell Choir 1 (beginning ringers), 7 - 7:30 pm 

Bell Choir 2 (experienced ringers), 7:30 - 8 pm 

All youth (grades K-12) are welcome to join our Bell Choirs. Bell Choir 2 is made up of mostly middle school and high school students who have some music reading or bell playing experience. Bell Choir youth enjoy challenging repertory, lively fellowship, and leadership roles in worship and Christmas musicals.

Choir Opportunities for High School Students 

No audition is required for these musical opportunities for grades 9-12. If you are interested or would like to learn more, please contact Sally Beske or click the link below.

• Youth Bell Choirs - see above.
• Cambridge Choir at South - sing during 10 am worship services under the leadership of Amy Blosser.
• Chancel Choir at North - sing during 11 am worship services under the leadership of Andy Blosser.
• Common Grace Band - sing and play instruments during the 9 am worship services under the leadership of Janelle Rogers.
• Assisting Mrs. Beske on Wednesday evenings - help mentor younger singers.

Every Wednesday!

Youth Volunteering at Heart to Heart

Wednesdays, 5 - 6:30 pm

South (1320 Cambridge Blvd.)

Join us each Wednesday to help prepare grocery bags for the clients at Heart to Heart Food Pantry! Our weekly mission begins on Wednesday, September 21.

Who can get involved? Anyone in grades 6-12 is welcome to serve with us! Middle school parents: we strongly encourage you to attend with your child the first time they volunteer at Heart to Heart. Once they get to know the tasks, they're welcome to come on their own!

Required: Minor Waiver. All participants under 18 must bring a waiver the first time you volunteer. Click here to find the Minor Waiver.

Required: Sign-Up. Spots are limited for each Wednesday evening and signing up is required. Click below to sign up! Note: if you are signing up yourself and your child, be sure to occupy two volunteer spots.

Wednesdays don't work? Sign up for a different Heart to Heart shift! High schoolers are welcome without a parent, but middle schoolers must be accompanied by an adult for regular Heart to Heart shifts. Find out more and sign up on Heart to Heart's website.

YOUTH RETREAT

Registration Open!

Youth Fall Retreat

October 28 - 30

Camp Akita

Register now for the Youth Retreat! Get ready for a super fun, Halloween-themed weekend at Camp Akita!

Activities at the Youth Retreat

• Full-group games, such as capture the flag and scavenger hunts.
• Small-group activities divided by age for community-building.
• Guided free time: youth can choose activities such as hiking and/or crafting led by staff and Crossroads Leaders.
• Morning devotions and opportunities for reflection.
• Friendship and fun!

Who Can Attend?

Youth in grades 6-12 are invited! Friends are welcome, even if they have not attended Crossroads or other FC youth programs. Just be sure they register; feel free to forward this email!

Timing & Transportation

• Friday, October 28
• Check in at First Community North at 6 pm, then load the buses to Camp Akita.
• Sunday, October 30
• Akita Fun Day is on Sunday, October 30: a free family event with pumpkin carving, hiking, climbing the tower, and more. If your family is attending Akita Fun Day, you can stay at Camp Akita with the staff and volunteers. Once they arrive, you'll meet up with your family, enjoy Akita Fun Day (1 - 4 pm), then ride home as a family.
• If your family is NOT attending Akita Fun Day, you'll head back to Columbus on the bus, arriving back at First Community North around 12 pm.

Fees & Scholarships

The Youth Retreat is $100 per participant. Full and partial scholarships are available!  

Living at Camp Akita

Youth Retreat participants will live in the Camp Akita Lodge, which has heat and air conditioning and bathrooms with hot showers. All meals are provided. On the registration form, you'll find we ask about medications and allergies so we can serve all participants safely. The retreat is led by Sarah and Jimmy (Youth Ministry/Camp Akita Directors), as well as volunteer Crossroads Leaders.

Click below to register! Have questions? Reply to this email! We can't wait to experience the Youth Retreat with you!

The deadline for registration is Monday, October 17!

ONGOING PROGRAMS

New this year!

Bring Food Donations to Crossroads

Every Sunday

Let's be a force for good! We invite you to bring donations for our Heart to Heart food pantry to Crossroads on Sundays. Youth staff will deliver donations to Heart to Heart on Wednesdays when we volunteer (want to join us? Sign up below!). This is completely optional, but those who donate might receive a special surprise!

Heart to Heart needs...

• Peanut Butter and Jelly
• Spaghetti noodles and sauce
• Pancake mix and syrup
• Cereal and shelf-stable milk
• Canned Vegetables (not beans)
• Canned Hearty Soups
• Baby Wipes and Diapers (esp. size 5-7)
• Toiletries (toothpaste, soap, lotion, etc.)

In order to be the best help for our food pantry, please only donate items on this list!

Important Update

Heart to Heart

Supply chain issues have deeply affected Heart to Heart; we are not receiving as much from Mid-Ohio Food Bank and clients are receiving less food as a result. Additionally, volunteers have dropped since school has started.

Please consider donating food or volunteering. This is a great mission for families of all shapes and sizes; there are volunteer slots nearly every day of the week. Find out more here:

More at First Community

Worship

Join us in worship each Sunday. Note our updated schedule of services:

• 9 am at North (Grace Hall): Contemporary Service with the Common Grace band. 
• 10 am at South (Sanctuary): Traditional Service
• 11 am at North (Sanctuary): Traditional Service

If you want to see me, catch up, or introduce yourself, I'll be at the 9 am and 11 am services every Sunday!

Events

Find out what's going on in the life of our church:

• This week's Wednesday newsletter: Stay Connected, 9/28/22
• This month's newsletter: September firstnews

SAVE THE DATES

Halloween Hullabaloo

Sunday, October 23

12 - 2 pm at North (parking lot)

Children, youth, and families are invited to join us for Halloween fun in the First Community North parking lot! Wear a costume and join us for food, games, and activities for all ages.

Akita Fall Fun Day

Sunday, October 30

Camp Akita

Spend the afternoon hiking, doing crafts, drinking hot cider, and enjoying the fall colors at Camp Akita! Those who attend the Youth Retreat (see above) can stay after to meet up with their families at the Akita Fall Fun Day.

Adopt-a-Family

Sunday, December 11

5 – 7 pm

In place of Crossroads on December 11, we will purchase and wrap Christmas gifts for families in need. Please note the extended time.

I look forward to getting to know our amazing group of youth (and their families) better and better as time goes on. Please let me know if you have any questions in the meantime by replying to this email. I'd love to chat with you!

In faith,

Sarah

Rev. Sarah C. Kientz

Minister to Youth and Camp Akita

First Community | Where Everyone Is Accepted

3777 Dublin Rd, Columbus, Ohio 43221

she/her 

skientz@fcchurch.com | sarah@campakita.org

FCchurch.com | CampAkita.org

About the Youth Ministry Staff

Rev. Sarah Kientz, Minister to Youth & Camp Akita, was involved in First Community's youth programs as a high schooler and began working full-time on the Youth Ministry staff in 2009. She ran First Community's Youth Ministry for seven years before attending seminary at Vanderbilt Divinity School. She returned to First Community in 2019 and is honored to lead the Youth Ministry team again!

Jimmy Long, Youth Ministry Coordinator, has been involved at First Community since before he can remember. He worked at Camp Akita during college, then moved to California. Jimmy came back to "temporarily" help out at camp in 2018 and never left! Jimmy joined the Youth Ministry team in 2019 and looks forward to another year of fun in the youth programs.

Please reach out if you’d like to schedule a lunch or coffee date (either in-person or virtual). We can’t wait to get to know you better—or for the first time!

Important Resources

Need some extra support? Use these resources or reply to this email. I can provide conversation and referrals.

Suicide Lifeline. In immediate danger? Call 911. The National Suicide Prevention Lifeline has a new number: call 988. It provides free and confidential support for you or your loved ones. Learn more about local suicide prevention resources through Nationwide Children's Suicide Prevention.

Mental Health Crises. The Franklin County Youth Psychiatric Crisis Line provides 24/7 services for non-life-threatening crises. Ages 17 and under: (614) 722-1800; 18 and older: (614) 276-CARE (2273). Learn more about local mental health resources through Nationwide Children's Crisis Services.

Domestic Violence & Teen Dating Abuse. In immediate danger? Call 911. For domestic violence resources, visit thehotline.org. Young people who have concerns about their relationships can text 22522 or visit loveisrespect.org.

LGBTQ+ Support. The Trevor Project provides affirming resources for LGBTQ+ youth and families. Text START to 678-678. In crisis, feeling suicidal, or need a judgement-free space to talk? Call the TrevorLifeline at 1-866-488-7386.

Sexual Health Resources. Nationwide Children's Hospital provides a program called AwkTalk, free videos that help parents discuss sexual health, puberty, and healthy relationships. Each video is less than 10 minutes, provides medically accurate information, and can be viewed at any time.