Youth News: January 2025
This Months’ Confirmation Classes:
January 12 @ St Luke, Gilbertsville
January 26 @ St James, Pottstown
Last Chance: Winter Youth Retreat!
I have a few students signed up for this retreat. Please let me know if anyone else is interested in attending. This is a single overnight stay in cabins, similar to our Bear Creek retreat. It starts at 5PM Friday and ends at 4PM Saturday. I am happy to coordinate carpooling! For students grades 6-12; friends welcome!
Save the Date: Jan 20, 2025
Martin Luther King, Jr. Day of Service
At church, on Monday, January 20th, from 10 am to noon we will be serving the community in several ways. We will be making and packing bag lunches for God’s Kitchen, consisting of peanut butter and jelly sandwiches and fruit. We will be decorating “faith stones” to give out with the lunches. We will also color Valentine greetings to send to a local senior living facility. Everyone who attends will help to create a mural in the Fellowship Hall for our congregation to enjoy! The event will begin with a story about Martin Luther King Jr. and a Bible verse that reminds us of the importance of serving others. Donations of peanut butter, jelly, and bread are greatly appreciated. Contact Bobbie Hoffman.
Registration is Open for Box City 2025
Join us for our 15th annual Box City event - raising awareness and educating youth on the challenges of homelessness and food insecurity. This is also a fundraising event for Pottstown Beacon of Hope. Available for all students grades 6-12 and their friends. This is a great leadership building event for Senior High Students. If you are in grades 10-12 and would like to participate in a guiding role, please contact Janet Hilsmier. Scan the St James QR below to sign up or click this link — this is an internal form which Janet will use to register the entire group.
Box City originated at St James in 2009 after youth who attended the National Youth Gathering were inspired to bring back what they learned to our area. Hundreds of young people have experienced Box City and we hope to continue this event for years to come. This year the event will be hosted at New Hanover Lutheran.
Parents: We will need extra adult support for this event. See the main site for volunteer opportunities and sign up to help! bit.ly/boxcity25
Youth Nights 2025
Our next Youth Night will be held on January 19. We’re going rock wall climbing at PRG in Oaks!
Save the date for Winter Jam ‘25!
We’re looking to assemble a group to attend this annual Christian music concert held at the Santander Arena at 7PM March 6, 2025 - youth and adults welcome! Contact Janet Hilsmier if you’re interested!
Tuscarora Lutheran Youth Retreat 2025
Tuscarora Lutheran Retreat has been hosted by leaders from many of our SEPA-area congregations for over 40 years. Formerly called “Harvey Cedars”, Tuscarora is a 2-day weekend retreat complete with praise, small groups, worship and fun. For students grades 6-12 and friends are welcome! Tuscarora has a long-standing tradition of honoring graduating seniors during the event.
Scholarships are available, please reach out to Janet Hilsmier for more information. Janet Hilsmier will make a group reservation. Please contact Janet if your youth are interested in attending. Payments can be made online through our giving app. Select “Mission Trip Payments” and Memo: “Tuscarora25”. Or checks can be handed in to Janet H., made payable to St James Lutheran Church, Memo: Tuscarora25.
2025 Activities
Youth Nights will be held on the 3rd Sunday of each month January, February, March, May.
Vacation Bible School - July 7-10
Youth/Young Adult/Adult Mission Trip - July 13-19 (tentative). Possible locations: a Lutheran Christian Camp in NC affected by recent hurricanes or an ASP trip in the Appalachia region (again affected by hurricanes).