Youth Group

About Our Youth Group

Our Youth Group welcomes all youth from 6th to 12th grade, regardless of their beliefs. We provide a space where everyone can feel included and valued.

Here’s what you can expect:

Learning: Discover who God is and who we are through engaging Bible lessons.
Community: Build meaningful friendships and connect with others in a supportive environment.
Fun: Enjoy a variety of games, activities, and trips.
Growth: Get closer to God and grow in your faith journey.
Safety: We prioritize creating a safe and welcoming space for all participants.

Join us for a time of learning, fun, and community!

Junior High Youth Group

Our Junior High Youth Group is specially designed for students in 6th-8th grade. We meet every other Friday from 7:00-9:30pm for a fun and engaging time together.

Each Friday night includes:

Games: Exciting and interactive activities
Snack Time: A chance to relax and enjoy some treats
Bible Lesson: An inspiring and relevant message
Small Group Time: Opportunities for discussion and connection

To keep parents informed, we've set up a page on the “Band” app. This is where you can find our schedule and details about various events planned throughout the year.

Our goal is for every student to discover who God is and understand His love for them in a safe and nurturing environment. We aim to help them grow in their relationship with God and build lifelong friendships. Our group includes students from multiple school districts, providing a chance to meet new friends from different schools in the area.

What to expect on a typical Friday:

7:00pm - 8:00pm Opening Game: We kick off the evening with a variety of fun group games, both indoors and outdoors. Remember to bring your sneakers!

8:00pm - 8:30pm Snack and Discussion Time: Enjoy snacks while engaging in thought-provoking discussions in pairs. This is a great opportunity to get to know each other better.

8:30pm - 9:00pm Lesson and Small Groups: Our leaders present lessons on diverse theological and biblical topics, highlighting their relevance to our lives today. After the lesson, we break into small groups for deeper discussion.

9:00pm - 9:30pm Closing Game: We end the evening with a final game, wrapping up promptly at 9:30pm.

Events

Every fall, our Youth Group sells 1,400 pumpkins to raise funds. The Patch is open daily for 6-7 weeks, providing a great opportunity for youth to work together and engage with the community. Proceeds help reduce the cost of trips and activities throughout the year.

Twice a year, we have a church lock-in where youth spend Friday night playing games, having snacks, and participating in a Bible lesson, followed by breakfast together on Saturday morning.

In December, we join other churches in the tri-state area for a Christmas Banquet. Youth from New York, New Jersey, Connecticut, and Pennsylvania gather for games, food, worship, and a speaker. It's a highlight of the year for making new friends and reconnecting with old ones.

Held during Martin Luther King Day weekend at Tuscarora Inn and Conference Center in Mt. Bethel, PA, this event brings together youth from CT, NY, NJ, and PA for fellowship. Activities include dodgeball, volleyball, crafts, worship, and lessons. We depart Friday evening and return Sunday afternoon.

In May, our church in Briarcliff hosts a rally for tri-state youth groups. The day features games, crafts, worship, a lesson, dinner, and a 6K walk fundraiser for World Vision to build wells in countries lacking clean water.

Senior High Youth Group

Our Senior Youth Group provides a safe, welcoming environment for teens in grades 9-12 to gather every Saturday evening from 7:00-10:00pm. We encourage teens to grow in their relationship with the Lord, deepen their understanding of the Bible, and learn how it applies to their lives. Teens are also encouraged to support and pray for one another both on Saturday evenings and throughout the week.

Youth Group is a time of fun and fellowship as we play games, share life experiences, and build lasting friendships. We meet at the church each Saturday from 7:00-10:00pm. For off-site activities, we still meet at the church and return there afterward. To keep everyone informed, we use the “Band” app to communicate with teens and parents.

Throughout the year, we participate in several special activities and events designed to foster community and spiritual growth.

What to expect on a typical Saturday:

7:00pm - 8:00pm Opening Game: We kick off the evening with a variety of fun group games, both indoors and outdoors. Remember to bring your sneakers!

8:00pm - 8:30pm Snack and Discussion Time: Enjoy snacks while engaging in thought-provoking discussions in pairs. This is a great opportunity to get to know each other better.

8:30pm - 9:15pm Lesson and Small Groups: Our leaders present lessons on diverse theological and biblical topics, highlighting their relevance to our lives today. After the lesson, we break into small groups for deeper discussion.

9:15pm - 10:00pm Closing Game: We end the evening with a final game, wrapping up promptly at 10:00pm.

Events

Starting mid-September, we receive two shipments of pumpkins to sell to the community until Halloween. The Patch is open daily for 6-7 weeks. This fundraiser helps lower the cost of youth group activities and fosters connections between teens and adults.

Held on the first Saturday in December at various (LB) churches, this event brings together youth from Connecticut, New York, New Jersey, and Pennsylvania for games, food, worship, and a speaker. It's a great time to renew and make new friendships.

Taking place over Presidents' Day weekend at Tuscarora Inn in Mt. Bethel, PA, this event includes sports competitions, crafts, karaoke, games, and worship. Youth from RI, CT, NY, NJ, PA, OH, and FL attend, offering a chance to form new friendships.

Teens experience a small part of what many children face daily by going without food for 30 hours. They also raise money for World Vision to combat world hunger.

Usually in April, we travel to Lancaster County for a weekend trip. We watch a Bible story musical at Sight & Sound on Friday and spend Saturday at Hershey Park. Sunday includes fun activities and a smorgasbord lunch before heading home.

Held the Saturday after Mother's Day at Briarcliff, this rally brings LB churches from NJ, CT, and PA together for games, activities, food, worship, and a speaker. It's a great time to renew friendships made at Winter Weekend.