Under the leadership provided by our Youth Ministry Council and Associate Pastor, Scott Benner, Zion has active youth groups for both junior high and senior high age youth. In addition to Bible study nights, youth have the opportunity to participate in a variety of recreational activities and mission projects. For more information about Zion’s youth programs and activities, please call Pastor Scott Benner.

Junior High Fellowship

Students in grades 6, 7, and 8 are encouraged to participate in a variety of activities throughout the year. Our ministry to our junior high students is focused on giving them the spiritual guidance and support they need during these difficult years. The Junior High will meet the 1st and 3rd Tuesdays of the month from 7:00 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. for Bible Study and fellowship in the Youth Department. They will be studying Group Publishing’s book, The 13 Most Important Bible Lessons for Teenagers. These studies focus on the basics of Christianity and will help students gain a better understanding of God and His love.

Senior High Fellowship

Students in grades 9 through 12 you are welcome to visit our times of fellowship and Bible study on Tuesday evening from 7-9 p.m. This is an excellent time for receiving spiritual development, while building relationships with fellow students. We work on developing these relationships through Bible study and fellowship activities. Our times of study focus on many different areas and are delivered in several different medians. Over the past several years we have worked through several different contemporary books, as well as doing Bible studies through Romans and Revelation. This time of fellowship offers a wonderful network of support for our senior high students, and will challenge them in their spiritual walk. We will also have some special guest and go on some trips to destinations unknown.

Schedules

SENIOR High Activities 2009-2010

September 11-13 Annual YPU Shore Trip Senior High students will pack thier bags for a weekend retreat in Sea Isle City, NJ. Gary Mc Michael will join us for the weekend where he will challenge us spiritually and relationally. This is the first activity the incoming greshman will participate in as Senior High students!

September 15 Care and Share Service Senior High Students will go to the Care and Share in Souderton to sort and proce clothing. This activity will replace our regular Tuesday evening fellowship time. Try to arrive at 6:45 pm. and plan on being done at 8:30 pm.

September 22 Tim Milner at Youth Group. Tim is a very gifted musician, who had been on staff at Calvary Church at Souderton. Tim will lead us in some singing, but then will spend some time sharing his story of how he got into playing music and where God has been leading him in recent months.

September 23 See you at the Pole. This is an annual event, where students gather at their schools' flagpoles to pray for their schools, teachers, students, and administration.

October 3 Canoeing in the New Jersey Pine Barrens. This will be a day trip to New Jersey. We will need to leave bright and early and we will plan on returning home late in the afternoon or early evening. We need to have students sign-up early, so we can get our time scheduled.

October 10 Zion Fall Festival and Open House. Students will be asked to participate in this event. This is an outreach to the community and a chance to share the facility withthose who can and join us for the day. Students should plan on helping in a variety of capacities. Students will also be asked to update bulletin boards for this event.

October 20 Material Resource Center Senior High students will go to the Material Resource Center in Harleysville to pack school kits. This will replace wour regular meeting night, please be here around 6:45pm.

November 4 Parent's Event Area Mennonite youth pastors have again combined their resources to bring in a guest speaker. Last year we had Walt Mueller (focused on youth culture) and randy Floyd (focused on internet safety). this year we are excited to have Duffy Robbin's from Eastern University.

November 14 Keystone Opportunity Center - Sleep Out for Homeless This event is going to be held at Zion Mennonite Church. Although we are hosting this event, this is an event sponsored by Keystone Opportunity Center and so many others will be joining us.

November 20- 22 YPU Leadership Retreat. This is an annual retreat held at Spruce Lake for those students that serve in leadership roles in their youth programs. It is also a very valuable retreat for those adults who serve on the Youth Ministry Team and Sunday school teachers.

December 4 Night at Arnold's Family Fun Center Students will enjoy a night go-carting and playing games. The cost will be about $30.00 per person. We will meet at church and drive together to Arnold's

January 1 Lock-in The senior High will enjoy an evening of fun and fellowship before heading back to school. We will plan on playing some Wii games along with flashlight tag or sardines. Who knows - maybe we could even do some sick-n-twisted games!

January 12 Soups On! We will be making soup that will be served at the Table of Plenty on Martin Luther King, Jr. Day. We will have a shortened time of Bible study so that we will have plenty of time for preparing the soup.

January 19 Table of Plenty This is Martin Luther King Jr. day and a holiday from school, so plan on being at the Table of Plenty to serve soup. Students should arrive no later than 10:30 am to help set up tables, chairs, and place settings. This has been an annual event that has truly been a blessing to all those that have attended.

February 19-21 Winter Retreat at the Loft. Hey gang, last year we had a great year at our new retreat location. We enjoyed snowball fights, football, sledding, singing, and polish ping-pong. This year will be more of the same, as we will have Nate Stucky as our weekend speaker. Information Flyer

March 7 Annual YPU Volleyball Tournament. Maybe this will be Zion's year to be volleyball champions or maybe NOT! Either way, I am sure we will all have fun playing volleyball and visiting with friends from other Mennonite congregations. Information Flyer

March 21 Youth Sunday - Zion's youth will put together a service. This is our day to serve and lead the congregation in worship. Students will serve as ushers, greeters, and worship leaders. If you have aspirations of being a preacher, this is the Sunday to test the waters.

April 18 Amazing RaceThis is one of the most popular Zion events of the year. Students and a couple of older adults from Zion will see who has the brains and brawn to complete the tasks given and get to the finish line first. This is one activity you won't want to miss!

May 1 Couch Derby. This is another student favorite - Students develop a wheeled couch that hold several team members that are pushed by other students. They navigate a course and their couch design is judged for the decoration connected to the designated theme. Franconia is the host of this year's Couch Derby. Raindate will be May 16th.

Summer Missions Trips ~ Pastor Scott is still looking into summer mission programs. Some options include Mennonite Disaster Service, Agros Trip to Guatemala or possibly another short-term missions event.

The Senior High will continue to meet every Tuesday night from 7:00 pm to 8:30 pm for bible study and fellowship. Over the summer months, we will also add a few service trips to our calendar as well.

Although this is a pretty good list of activities, it is by no means the final version. You can plan on having several unscheduled activities throughout the year. Scott will try to keep you informed of any changes or updates to this schedule by sending out individual flyers for activities.

Junior High Activities 2009-2010

October 10 Zion Fall Festival and Open House. Students will be asked to participate in this event. This is an outreach to the community and a chance to share the facility with those who can and join us for the day. Students should plan on helping in a variety of capacities.

October 15 Ted & Company Theater Works. Enjoy an evening of great original music and comedy sketches. The show will be held at CD and it starts at 7:30 pm. The cost for this event is $5.00. Scott has 10 tickets to this event.

October 30 Barn Party at the Hoover's - the Junior High youth will be going to Lori Groff's parents for a barn party. Details for this event will be given in a flyer closer to the date of the event, but please plan to dress warm, while still being ready for fun and games!

November 4 Parent's Event- Area Mennonite youth pators have again combinged their resources to bring in a guest speaker. Last year we had Walt Mueller (focused on youth culture) and Randy Floyd (focused on internet safety). This year we are excited to have Duffy's Robbins from Eastern University.

November 8 Disc Golf at Morwood Park Students will pack thier lunches and bring them to the Branchcreek park off of Camp Road in Morwood. Scott will provide the discs. This is a GUYS ONLY event.

November 8 Color Be Mine The junior highs GIRLS will be meeting at church at 1 pm and then will head down to Montgomeryville to paint a piece of pottery (good chance to do something for Christmas). There is a $9.00 sitting fee. which includes the materials (paint, glaze, firing) plus the cost of the pottery piece (which ranges from $10 - $50). Plan on pick up at 5 pm at church.

December 11 Christmas Dinner and Party - The Junior High youth will traveling to Martin Weins' home for their Christmas party. Students will share a meal together, make a special tripto Zern's and come back and exchange gifts (students will need to bring $5 with them). After the gift exchange we will enjoy Christmas treats!

January 8-10Winter Retreat At Spruce LakeThis will be an outreach event, so start thinking about what friends you might want to ask to the retreat. We will need to sign-up for this event several weeks ahead of time. Plan on bringing warm clothes and fun-loving attitude. Look for flyers in your mailbox for more details late this fall. the speaker for this event is....

Febraury 7 Super Bowl Party. We will be gathering for this first half and the halftime presentation. We will plan on dinner, snacks, and other treats throughout the evening. IF you aren't into football, please plan on attending anyway ~ you can still enjoy an evening of fellowship and food.

Febraury 13 " Best Friend's Tea Party" The GIRLS should plan on inviting a friend or two for this fun filled event. We will have tea sandwiches, scones, desserts, and more. We will gather at Zion at 12 pm and students can be picked up at 2:30 pm.

Febraury 28 Bowling at Earl Bowl The GUYS will meet after Sunday School and go bowling a couple a games. Each students should bring $15.00. Scott will provide lunch.

March 13 Junior High Lock-in at Christopher Dock - they don't get any bigger or better than this one! Last year there were more than 300 junior high youth gathered in the Longacre Center at CD. Activities include basketball, soccer, group games, movies, karaoke - all topped off with a special speaker and a concert. If there is one activity that you don't want to miss, it is definitely this one! there are also some sick and twisted games that you won't want to miss!
Lockin Flyer
Medical Release Form
Mama Project Flyer

March 21 YOUTH SUNDAY. Zion's youth will put together a service. This is our day to serve and lead the congregation in worship. Students will serve as ushers, greeters, and worship leaders.

March 27Cooking 101 The junior high GIRLS will get together to learn how to bake or cook something new. Details of this event will be sent our closer to the date.

No Date Set MCC Meat Canner- Junior High students will leave school early to help pack, label and box meat for the Mennonite Central Committee. Scott will send out forms asking permission from the schools to allow students to leave at 2 pm. Parents should plan on picking up students at 5:30 pm from the Christopher Dock High School. School Letter

April 9 Friday Night Out! Students will get together for a nice dinner our and then spend some time playing games and watching a movie. As the date of this event gets closer look for flyers with greater details about what will be happening.

April 24 Goin' Fishin' Ya'll The junior high GUYS will be going fishing. This will be an early rise event ~ sorry mom's and dad's, but we want to be on teh water by 6 am. Students will gather at Zion with fishing gear in hand (if you don't have any ~ no problem). We will drive up tothe lade and enjoy some fishing and boating.

May 23 Mini-golf and Go- carting Students will get together for some go-carting and mini-golf in MOntgomeryville. This activity might be combined with another youth group from the area.

June 6 Sailing and Picnic at Lake Nockamixon. This will be a fun afternoon on the lake and sitting and enjoying a picnic lunch. Students will meet at church and drive to the lake together. Please plan on wearing clothing that you don't mind getting wet.

June 17-20 Iron Pigs Game. The junior high will travel to Lehigh to see the Iron Pigs play at a New Coca-Cola Park. We will enjoy some good food and fun! A date will be decided as we near the end of the school year.

July 14 Dutch Springs Water Park and Adventure Park - the junior high will be traveling together to bethlehem for a day wet and wild fun! We will plan to meet at Zion in the early morning hours (8 am to be exact). Please plan on bringing $15.00 to cover your cost and any spending money you think you'll need for snacks and lunch. There are sig- up sheets in both youth rooms.

Meetings will be held over the summer on the 3rd Tuesdays of the month for July and August from 7:00 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. for Bible Study and fellowship in the Youth Department. These studies focus on prayer styles and how to make prayer a bigger part of your life.

Although this is a pretty good list of activities, it is by no means the final version. You can plan on having several unscheduled activities throughout the year, plus girls and guys group meetings. Scott will try to keep you informed of any changes or updates to this schedule by sending out individual flyers for activities.