Gloria Dei Lutheran Church | Urbandale, Iowa

Youth: Junior & Senior High Youth

Our Mission

Our youth ministry is on a mission, so we will follow the GYM (Grow, Yield, Minister) acronym:

Grow in our relationship with God and others,
Yield to Jesus as Lord and Savior and
Minister to others through outreach and service.

Grades 6-12 are encouraged to join us for events that are geared toward connecting teenagers to the love of God. On Wednesdays, join us as we praise God together through music, Confirmation and The Point. On Sunday mornings, we come together for high school small groups and Castaway. If you have any questions, please contact Tim Kightlinger at 278-5544, ext. 212.

Newsletters
Get all the monthly activities in one click:

February 2012

Parents: We need Ministry Partners! Ministry Partners Opportunities

Upcoming Activities: Junior High (Grades 6-8)

Junior High Castaway Sundays
Sundays from 9-10 a.m. and 10:30-11:30 a.m.
Castaway is a high-energy, multi-sensory, active learning environment that focuses on the weekend sermon topic. Join us for discussion on "Life of Jesus: Son of God."

Junior High Wednesday Evenings
Wednesdays, from 6-7:15 p.m.
Students in grades 6-8 meet in small groups discussing various topics that are relevant to their lives.

Life hurts...God heals (Grief Support)
Youth Ministry is offering a six-week grief support session starting Sunday, Feb. 12 from 6-8 p.m. If you or someone you know would like to talk or to take the session, e-mail Tim Kightlinger.

30-Hour Famine
The 30 Hour Famine is scheduled for June 8-9, 2012.
Together we can save lives.

Confirmation Retreat
February 24-25
Join us as we learn about the 10 Commandments and how they apply to life. More information can be found on the bulletin board.

Junior High Café 923
Friday, Feb. 17, 2012 from 6-9 p.m.
It’s huge! It’s fun! It’s Cafe 923! What is Cafe 923? It is a night where you can hang out, have a good time, eat, play games and bring your friends. We will meet from 6-9 p.m. in the Youth Center and Family Life Center. Everyone is welcome and please bring your unchurched friends, so we can introduce them to GYM (Gloria Dei Youth Ministry) and to our God. Cafe 923 comes from Luke 9:23. Pizza $1 per slice; soda $.50 a can.

Dinner theater rehearsals
Dinner theater rehearsals are scheduled for Sundays from noon to 2 p.m. Open to all 6-12 graders and adults. We are looking for actors, directors, set designers, etc. Contact Tim Kightlinger. Performance dates are April 13, 14 and 15.

2012 Mission Trip (Grades 8-12)
June 23-30, Port Jervis, New York
Wednesday, Jan. 4 from 6-7 p.m. in the Youth Center. This is an informal meeting for both parents and youth to attend.
We will join about 400 teens and adults from around the United States to form work groups to perform repairs/improvements on homes of the poor and elderly. A few spots still remain; a $50 deposit is required to hold your spot.

Upcoming Activities: Senior High (Grades 9-12)

Sunday mornings - Senior High Bible Study
Sundays from 9-10 a.m.
Join us Sundays from 9-10 a.m. as we discuss the weekend sermon topic and relate it to life as a teenager. Join us for discussion on "Life of Jesus: Son of God."

Wednesday evenings - The Point
Wednesdays from 6-7:15 p.m.
Join us on Wednesdays from 6-7:15 p.m. for a multi-sensory, active learning time in the Youth Center. Each evening will consist of praise worship and large-group Bible study.
Join us in February as we discuss the theme "Relate." This theme will focus on how to relate to the opposite sex according to the Bible.

30-Hour Famine
The 30 Hour Famine is scheduled for June 8-9, 2012.
Together we can save lives.

Revolve Tour (Girls in 8-12)
April 21, 2012, Omaha, Neb.
Girls in grades 8-12 are invited to join an exciting, fun, girls only celebration! Join a thousand other girls from around the area and celebrate the gifts God has given you. Cost is $60. More information can be found on the bulletin board.

2012 Mission Trip (Grades 8-12)
June 23-30, Port Jervis, New York
Wednesday, Jan. 4 from 6-7 p.m. in the Youth Center. This is an informal meeting for both parents and youth to attend.
We will join about 400 teens and adults from around the United States to form work groups to perform repairs/improvements on homes of the poor and elderly. Cost is approximately $750-$800. A few spots still remain; a $50 deposit is required to hold your spot.

Resources for Parents

We think you will enjoy this Simply Youth Culture newsletter. Nov./Dec. 2011

Photo Gallery

Click here for the recent photos of what those youth are doing (or not doing!)

Click here for the photos from the The National Youth Gathering

Listen to TK on YouTube.

Online Tuition Payment Options Now Available

In a response to inquiries about paying online, Gloria Dei now has the capabilities of using a secure online payment process for online giving donations, missions, building fees; and fees associated with our preschool, Kindermusik, summer camps, dance classes, and other seasonal events. In addition, confirmation, youth gatherings, and mission trips fees can now be paid online by using debit cards, Visa, Mastercard, Discover, American Express and online pay-by-check.

The process is easy and secure.
All you need to do is to Click here to access the online giving or online payment options. This takes you to Vanco’s secure Web site, the same provider of our Simply Giving electronic funds transfer program.

Registration and Online Payment Options
Please note: Our online payments and online registrations will need to be filled out separately. For example, if you plan to attend a summer camp, then you will need to register online and then proceed to the online payment Web site.

For more specific questions, please contact Shari Smith at 278-5544, ext. 202.