focuslightSte-Genny's Youth Group

Who's Invited?

Anyone between 12 and 25 years of age.
We have two groups:
FOCUS for ages 12-16
and
LIGHT for ages 17-25.

What Do We Do?

Each of the groups mentioned above (FOCUS & LIGHT) participates in fun activities throughout the year. Many of these activities are joined, while others are for a specific age group. These fun activities include laser quest, bowling, pumpkin picking, sleepovers, alternative worship services, movie nights, dramatic productions, arts n’ crafts nights, painting, music nights, etc…

We support our church by aiding other groups of our church with their events: Community's Coffeehouse and various Ste-Genny's Fundraisers. We have done fundraising for outside organizations. We also organized some events for the whole congregation, like "Walking in His Footsteps", and occasionally led in Sunday worship.

We have weekly discussion groups (Sunday mornings) related to the scripture readings of the week. We lead one worship service in June, and do other in-service activities during the year for special events and/or holidays.

We have had joint activities with several other churches (from various denominations) throughout the West-Island. These activities include: an evening of improv, a survivor day challenge, a body maze, a scavenger hunt, a mystery night, bowling and so much more to come! In April 2008 we visited a Sikh temple, in March 2009 a Mosque. During summer and fall 2008 several youth spent an evening working on the Dans La Rue bus (The Van) to serve and assist youth living on the street. In October 2009 we had a very moving presentation and discussion about Invisible Children, see a special video here and the Invisible Children website here. We have started a project on this, raising funds and increasing awareness of the plight of child soldiers in Uganda. A group of youth, and several leaders, attended the Worshiplude Youth Rally in Ottawa in February 2010 and again in February 2011. See a brief video of Worshiplude 2011 here.

Everyone is welcome at our get togethers. Bring a few friends.
The possibilities are endless as we are always open to suggestions!

Rendez-vous 2011

Our youth leader, Lisa Byer-de Wever, together with five youth and young adults from Ste-Genny's, as well as quite a few young people and leaders from the greater Montreal area attended Rendez-vous 2011, held August 11-14 in Toronto. This was a life changing event for many. The theme was Go Big and Go Home. We will hear a lot more about how this impacted the participants and what plans and actions they have in response. In the meantime, there is an intial brief comment from Lisa on our blog, see here. Some highlights of Rendez-vous 2011 are also posted on our Facebook page. On September 2 Lisa posted a detailed report on RDVS 2011 on our blog, together with comments from several of the participants sharing their experiences. You see it all here.

Latest News

Our January 7, 2012 newsletter is available here.
Our latest, January 21, 2012, newsletter is available here.

Welcome

welcomeA big welcome to everyone who is new. You'll find out we are a great bunch. We have many activities planned for the coming months. If you have a talent or a story that you would like to share with our young people, please see Lisa. We welcome your ideas!!!

When and Where Do We Meet?

On Sunday mornings we have group discussions, usually about the scripture lessons of that day. We start by attending the Sunday worship service and leave at the same time that the younger kids leave for Sunday School. We also try to have a number of activities jointly with youth groups from other churches. Below is our schedule of activities.

Friends are always welcome, so don't be shy! The more the merrier!
Refreshments will be available at a low cost (proceeds go to the youth group)!

When?
What?
Where?
Fri, Feb 3 Southwest United youth spaghetti dinner fundraiser Southwest UC
Sun, Feb 5, 10:30 am Discussion. UpHigh practice. SGUC 
Fri-Sun, Feb 10 - 12 Worshiplude and The Point* (see below) SGUC 
Sun, Feb 19, 10:30 am Discussion. UpHigh practice. SGUC 
Sun, Feb 26, 10:30 am Sharing & learning about the Holocaust, youth $5, adults $8. Details to follow Montreal Holocaust Memorial Centre 
Sat, Mar 3 Joint youth activity bowling* in Verdun. Details to follow Verdun 
Sun, Mar 4, 10:30 am Discussion. UpHigh practice. SGUC 
Fri-Sun, Mar 9-11 Montreal Youth Forum* (see below) Westmount Park UC 
Sun, Mar 11 Registration deadline for Confirmation class.  
Thu, Mar 15, 4:30 pm Confirmation class starts (see schedule and registration form here) Choir room
Sun, Mar 18, 10:30 am Discussion. UpHigh practice. SGUC 
Sun, Mar 25, 10:30 am Joint Youth Group service at Southwest United (to be confirmed) Southwest UC 
Sun, May 20, 10:30 am  Conformation Service SGUC
Please submit your registration form at the beginning of the year. The form is here.
*If you are under 18, a signed permission form is required in order to participate.


UpHigh-poster

Up High is where our youth have an opportunity to share their creativity.

Comments and More Details on Upcoming Activities

SGYouth in Service

Special Notes

Helping Others

One way, an easy way that doesn't cost you anything, to help many others is to click on the buttons below:

Free Rice

the hunger sitethe breast cancer sitethe animal rescue sitethe autism site
the chilc health sitethe literacy sitethe rainforest site

Whom Do You Contact?

If you are interested in either participating or helping to organize activities, or want to find out more please contact Lisa, Tsifoina or Joel by email, or speak to any of them after the Sunday service.

Lisa Byer-de Wever
Youth Group Coordinator
Joel & Tsifoina (on leave until May 2012)
Youth Group Leaders
email: sgyouth@stegennys.org

Youth and Kids Resources and Links

Bible Crossword Puzzles
Children's Ministry
Youth and Young Adults Ministry (YAYA)
YAYA Blog   YAYA Virtual Desk
The Point - YAYA Ottawa - Worshiplude 2012

Way to Live - Christian practices for teens
Movie Ministry
United Church of Canada YouTube site

Online Bible        Biblica.com
Easy English Bible
Our Daily Journey
Upper Room: Children, Youth, Young Adults, ...
Daily Devotional: Upper Room   Our Daily Bread
Sacred Space Daily Prayer Online
Weekly Reflections
Seasons of the Spirit: Sunday School curriculum
Whole People of God: Sunday School curriculum
Sunday School Network . com
Concordia Christian Fellowship
McGill Christian Fellowship
Dawson Christian Fellowship
Concordia Multifaith Chaplaincy
McGill Chaplaincy
Canadian Campus Ministries


Canadian Girls in Training 
United Church Camping
Girl Guides of Canada - Quebec

Scouts Canada - Quebec
YouthWorks Canada

Montreal Youth Unlimited
Student Christian Movement of Canada
Canada World Youth
WebSight: Connecting Youth for Global Justice

Kairos Canada
The Go Project

Future Quest
Green Church Program
Hymns, Gospel Songs, Spirituals
The Cyber Hymnal
Hymns @ Snowcrest
Hymn Site      ehymnal
Jesus Midi Christian Music
Rose's Music Pages
Idealist.org: organizations started by kids
Do Something: youth take action to change the world
Inspiring Kids to Help Kids
Making Change: tips from an underage overachiever

Ryan's Well Foundation
Ladybug Foundationnew
Canadian Coalition for the Rights of Children
Youth in Motion
: Opportunities for Canadian
Youth
with Top 20 Under 20
Let's Help Kids!

Difference Makers International
Kids Can Make A Difference
Free the Children
Unicef Convention on the Rights of the Child
Unicef Global Movement for Children
Voices of Youth
Invisible Children
World Vision Canada: Youth Action Zone

i-to-i: Volunteering abroad
TED.com: Riveting talks by remarkable people: The danger of a single story.
Bullies2Buddies.com: what to do in case of bullying; information for students, teachers, parents, principals and counselors
West Island Palliative Care Residence Bereavement Support Services for Adults, Children and Teens, includes an interactive website Teens Helping Teens Through Grief...
Above the Influence: information & help for dealing with the pressures around you; also has fun stuff, play games, download free stuff, great ideas for discussions
TechAddiction.ca: videogame, computers & internet addiction treatment
SafeTeens.com: internet safety for teens Text.Ed.ca: safe text messaging
Chabad Lifeline: making a difference in the lives of those affected by addiction
KidsHealth: doctor-approved health information for parents, kids and teens
Kids Help: get counselling (by phone or online), express yourself, get informed
West Island Community Resource Center, serving primarily the West Island of Montreal
Cybertip!ca: protect children from online sexual exploitation. Stop it! Report it!
deal.org: Be informed. Get involved. Leave your mark.
kidpower.org: offers self protection and confidence-building workshops for children, teens and young adults
Kids in the Know: interactive safety education program for increasing personal safety of children and reducing their risk of sexual exploitation
Workplace Health and Safety for Young Workers: Canadian site, Quebec site
Youth Canada: information about programs and services available for youth at the community level and beyond
Our Missing Children: a Government of Canada site
National Child Exploitation Coordination Centre
The Missing Children's Network: Canada    US
Code Amber News Service:   Canada    US

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