The Youth Group at Saint John's Church are 7th to 12th graders who meet regularly on Sunday nights from 5:30 - 7:30 PM (September-June). We are an active group focusing on service projects and fun recreational activities.
One example of our service to others is the Camp Joy trip. This is a week-long work camp at which youth from our area lend a helping hand by repairing houses for the needy (see below for more information). There is also a relationship between our parish and a Native American Reservation in South Dakota called Rosebud. This connection also results in work trips from time to time.
Some of our annual recreational activities are a beach trip in September and a ski trip in January. Other fun excursions include horseback riding, white water rafting, hiking, and trips to amusement parks.
This Youth Group is very open to new members and will welcome all new youth. Join us most Sunday nights (watch the bulletin) for pizza and fellowship in the youth room downstairs!
Please contact Jeff Bradley, Director of Youth Ministry, for more information.
J.Jeff.Bradley AT gmail DOT com
CAMP JOY stands for Christian Appalachian Mission Project Joining Other Youth. Camp Joy is based out of Hancock United Methodist Church in West Virginia and supported by local churches. Youth from churches in Maryland, Virginia, Pennsylvania and West Virginia gather for two weeks each summer to repair the homes of those who are elderly, poor, or otherwise unable to do the repairs themselves.
St. John's Youth Group raises funds for this project in a variety of ways: Bake Sales (first Sunday of each month), car washes, coffee houses, the St. Patrick's Day Dinner, and private donations.
Even though it is a week spent at hard labor and in the most rudimentary of accommodations, St. John's Youth Group continues to volunteer a week of their time to go to Camp Joy. This project is so important to them that several "alumni" of the Youth Group take a week off from work to go to Camp Joy. Camp Joy touches both the youth and the recipients in the most meaningful ways.