Youth Helping others
We believe students can make a positive impact on the physical, mental, emotional and spiritual health of our community!Serving one another gives us opportunities to express ourselves and build our leadership skills. We offer a number of opportunities to serve within our church community: reading scripture in worship, serving communion, representing youth interests on Leadership Council and other church committees and hosting the J.O.Y. Luncheon annually.
2023 Service Trips
High School Summer Service Trip: Washington DC
Trip Leader: Daniel Reaume
This year we will be partnering with the Edlavitch Jewish Community Center in D.C. for a week of service projects paired with opportunities to learn about various social justice projects across the city. Learn more and register here.
Middle School Summer Service Trip: Zeba (L’anse) MI (upper peninsula)
Trip Leader: Wendy Everett
For 24 years, our youth have led a four-day Vacation Bible School at the Zeba United Methodist Church’s outdoor chapel for the children of the community. Youth contribute by planning and leading the daily lessons with singing, drama, crafts, and games. Learn more and register here.
In the Community
Chelsea Retirement Center
For the past several years, we have led the Sunday afternoon worship service and then held a reception for residents and friends of this United Methodist Retirement Community, which is about 30 minutes from Ann Arbor.
CROP Hunger Walk
Youth participate in the annual CROP Hunger walk to to raise funds to end hunger and poverty in the U.S. and around the world.
Cass Community Social Services
On past trips to Cass, we have prepared meals, sorted food items in the pantry, cleaned the kitchen, made mudmats out of recycled tires, sorted paper for shredding/recycling, and worked out on exercise equipment that provided electricity to the Cass Green Building.
In the World
Active youth are eligible to apply for summer trips. Our 7th & 8th graders traditionally lead a one-week Vacation Bible school in L’anse in Michigan’s upper peninsula in cooperation with the Zeba and L’anse United Methodist Churches. 9th through 12th graders experience a trip to different destinations each summer, such as Appalachia, North Dakota, and Guatemala.
How is on a service trip different than going to church, VBS, youth group, etc.? Living together in a faith community, like the one formed during a service trip, allows walls to quickly come down and participants to consider their faith as an every-moment-of-life foundation rather than a compartmentalized dynamic that works itself into life.
Scholarships: Lack of funds is not a reason for non-participation! We have funds available to provide financial assistance and all requests are confidential. Contact Wendy Everett if you would like to request a scholarship.