Youth Group @SSPC

Our youth group meets every Sunday at 5:30 p.m. to carry out important and fulfilling mission work in our community. We fellowship together with mission projects, visit other churches and denominations to understand the world. We lead worship on Youth Sundays and volunteer as Acolytes during Sunday worship. Most importantly, we build each other up by celebrating our similarities and differences.

Youth Sunday School and Confirmation are ongoing through the school year. Please contact the Director of Christian Education about the opportunity to join us in any of these activities.

Contact Beth Fultz for more information: Beth.Fultz@StStephenPresbyterian.com

YOUTH CLASSES & PROGRAMS

SUNDAY MORNINGS

Child care is offered every Sunday morning 9:25 am to noon during the Sunday School hour and 11:00 am worship. Our dedicated nursery workers, Ms. Beatriz, Ms. Maria and Ms. Maria (yes, we have two) have years of experience with the children of St. Stephen. They welcome children 5 years and younger to the Pre-K Room (#136) or Nursery Room (#117).

CHILDREN'S SUNDAY SCHOOL | 10 - 10:45 a.m.

Pre-K – Kindergarten Sunday School Class meets in the Godly Play Room every Sunday from 10 – 10:45 a.m. They have a Whirl Bible Story, crafts or activity and then play time. A group of four rotate teaching. Our nursery workers are near by in the next room, in case you child is more comfortable in that room.

Elementary Sunday School Class meets in the crafts room upstairs in the Education Building. These children will use the Whirl Bible to study Moses or the birth of Jesus or the miracles of Jesus Ministry. They will also have specific activities and learning opportunities added in. This class is open 10 a.m. every Sunday and is taught by a group of four who love teaching in rotation. For 1st – 5th graders. It’s a favorite location for learning.

YOUTH SUNDAY SCHOOL | 9:45 - 10:30 a.m.

Youth Sunday School Class is located in the Disciples Den Classroom with a comfy sofa and chairs. This discussion class uses Presbyterian Church USA youth curriculum to discuss topics as Faith, Forgiveness, Peace, Hope, and other Spiritual Disciplines hoping that a Bible Story and discussion will trigger actions of forgiveness, peacemaking, and sharing hope among those less fortunate. A group of four, who love teens, teach in rotation for our 6th – 12th grades. When there are a small group of youth interested in a Confirmation Class, we will offer the 9-month study during Sunday School on becoming a member of the church.

SUNDAY EVENINGS

Sixth through 12th graders gather on Sunday evenings from 5:00 to 7:00 p.m. during the school year and 5:00 to 8:00 p.m. during summer for field trips and special activities.

These include mission projects, such as helping with Samaritan House, Methodist Justice Ministry, Halloween Boxes and Valentine Boxes to our Collegians and Military Personnel, Presbyterian Children’s Homes and Services Christmas gifts, and assisting with Trunk or Treat, Christmas on the Hill, and especially Vacation Bible School in the Summer.

But that’s not all! We have fun, go out to eat, have discussions, cook together, share Thanksgiving meals, and much, much more. The youth have a focus on Learning About Other Cultures in Visiting Churches and Other Religious Institutions. We want to know more without judgement on other ways of worship. This sparks great conversations and understanding in the world.

Our Summer Focus is primarily putting on a fabulous Vacation Bible School in June and going somewhere within the USA for a Week-Long Mission Trip in July. You don’t want to miss out on those opportunities to grow and care and share with other children in Fort Worth, and other children and churches in the United States.
For More information on these programs, please contact Beth Fultz, Director of Christian Education at beth.fultz@ststephenpresyberian.com

MISSION TRIP

Our youth mission trip has been an anchor in our program for 17 years. Our youth group throw darts into a USA map and pick the locations to seek out work each January. Typically, the youth offer construction projects along with Vacation Bible School around the USA.

Our most recent trip was to Sioux Falls, South Dakota, in July 2022, to The Little Stone Church, an historic church that in early 1900’s offered worship to Teddy Roosevelt. This church is small and asked that we provide a Vacation Bible School and fix an 80’ fence with their southern neighbor, rebuild a ramp around the church that was in back shape, and help create new parking space. Mostly Nepalese children attended the VBS to The Little Stone Church’s amazement as they were hoping to reach out to their neighborhood and bring in new families. The result was that both churches worked in synchronization to bring this about. What an explosion of talents was used to the Glory of God!

Some of our past mission trips are listed here: assisting Methodist Justice Ministry locally in 2020 – 2021 to build playground equipment for abused children. Journeyed to Glenwood Springs, Colorado, for a 5 church VBS and several cool construction projects in 2019. Augusta, Georgia, at Belle Terrace Presbyterian Church, was the site of our largest VBS that we’ve had on a Mission Trip 2018. Over 80 kids attended and it was supervised heavily by the adults in their church, their youth and our youth! What a trip along with construction projects at the church. Great trip!

Other sites included: St. Paul, Minnesota in 2017; Western South Dakota at Pioneer Camp and Whitewood Presbyterian Church in 2016; then Kayenta, Arizona, along with Oljeto, UT, on the Navajo Reservation in 2015; Olathe and Kansas City, 2014; Mountains of Colorado 2013; Florida Panhandle 2012; Chicago’s Southside 2011; Kentucky’s Appalachian countryside 2010; South Carolina’s beaches 2009; Arkansas’ Mountains in 2008; Nebraska in 2007; and New Mexico in 2006. Our memories are full, but we hope to keep re-filling them with new experiences.