Thank you, everyone, who made our Gary Youth Mini Golf Mayhem and Silent Auction a success! 



Gary Youth

You have heard it said, “youth are the future.” At Gary Church in Wheaton, Illinois, we say, “youth are the now!" We believe our youth are called and empowered by God to make a difference in the world. We strive to support our youth, so that they are free to become disciples who share the love of Christ with their neighbors. 

At Gary Youth, you will:

  1. Have fun
  2. Be valued
  3. Explore the Christian faith
  4. Experience family
  5. Act through hands on compassion
  6. Keep growing
  7. Reach out

Weekly Night Gathering (during the school year)   We play fun games, learn, have small group and pray together. Each month, we follow a connected theme. More details can be found in our church newsletter, emails, Facebook or Instagram.

Middle School:  Wednesday nights, 7–8:30 p.m.
High School:  Sunday nights, 7–8:30 p.m.


Gary Youth Middle School Calendar


Gary Youth High School Calendar


Register for Level Up! BLAST Camp
Monday, June 19–Thursday, June 22, 9 a.m.–noon, Gary Church
Students entering grades 5-8 will journey through the world of video games and learn to "level up" in their life with Jesus. Sign up to volunteer and register your student(s) here.

 

Oh! The Places You’ll Go!

On Sunday, June 11, we will celebrate our high school graduates as they embark on the next season of their life. We will pray for our graduates as they receive an afghan made by our Gary Church knitters and the book, Oh! The Places You’ll Go! containing encouraging messages written by the entire church. Come to the Commons in May and write to our 2023 graduates.


High School Parents Listening Session

Parents are vital to our ministry at Gary Youth! Parents of high school youth are invited for a listening session, Wednesday, June 7, 7–8 p.m. What can we do to best serve your high schooler and your family? How can we do better in our ministry? Come and let us know.


Gary Youth Summer Launch Party

Let the summer fun begin! On, Friday, June 9, 6–7:30 p.m., Gary Youth (incoming 6th graders to graduating seniors) and their families are invited to celebrate the start of Gary Youth Summer with pizza, drinks, snacks and dessert. We will get to know each other and talk about the next Gary Youth program year! RSVP by June 7 here.


Bible Black Belt with a Twist of Lemon

This summer, middle school youth are invited to the following Wednesdays, 7–8:30 p.m., as we play games, brush up on our Bible skills, and learn to make different kinds of fresh lemonade! We will memorize the books of the Bible, go through the Ten Commandments, study the Beatitudes, and artistically storyboard Jesus’ parables! Register here.

Wednesday, June 14

Wednesday, June 28

Wednesday, July 19

Wednesday, Aug. 2

 

Summer Nights with the Bible

High School Youth are invited the following Sundays, 6:30–8:30 p.m., for dinner, a walk and discussion. Our discussions will revolve around the Bible: “What is the Bible?”, “How does the Bible matter to us today?”, “Is the Bible true or science true?”, and “How do United Methodists read the Bible?” We will meet at Door 5 and walk over to our dinner location in downtown Wheaton. Register here.

Sunday, June 11

Sunday, July 16

Sunday, July 23

Sunday, July 30


Summer Mission: High School

We have reformatted our summer mission trip with BridgeBuilders so that more youth can participate! Pick the one that best works for you:

Option 1: Monday, July 10- Tuesday, July 11

Option 2: Wednesday, July 26- Thursday, July 27

Option 3: Both option 1 and option 2

We will be learning from the people of Woodlawn in Chicago about their beautiful neighborhood and the challenges of segregation. Click here for more information and to sign up to be a part of this learning experience!


 

Gary Youth Summer events


Art Institute of Chicago and Chinatown Visit
Saturday, June 24, 8:54 a.m.–6:31 p.m. (Times are specific to Metra schedule)

High school youth will visit the Kwame Brathwaite art exhibit and take the water taxi to the Chinatown for lunch. Cost will be $31. Please bring an additional $25 for lunch and dessert. Meet at the Wheaton Metra station before departure time. Register here.

 

Bristol Renaissance Faire

Saturday, July 15, 10 a.m.–4 p.m., $40

Have you ever wished you could live in a fantasy world of fairies, knights and castles? Then the Bristol Renaissance Faire is the place for you! All Gary Youth (Middle School and High School) are invited to eat turkey legs, pickle on a stick, watch knights joust, and acrobats perform. Register here.


Gary Golf Outing for Gary Youth
Sunday, Aug. 6, first tee time at 1 p.m., Klein Creek Golf Course
The 26th annual Gary Golf Outing to support Gary Youth ministries will be a four-person scramble format. All skill levels are encouraged to participate. Sign up for your foursome or to let us know you will need to be paired with other golfers. The cost is $125 (adults), $90 (youth) which includes 18 holes of golf with a cart and a meal and refreshments after play. You may also sponsor a hole for $125.





Each year, parents and guardians are required to complete a form for their child/ren to participate in Gary Kids and Gary Youth activities. This includes Sunday School, mid-week gathering, and other events. This year's form is valid from September 1, 2022 through August 31, 2023. Please click here to register your youth. 


Let Us Know

We want to celebrate your gifts! If you have a concert, game, exhibit, ceremony, party, etc. you would like to tell us about, fill out a form here. We will do our best to attend to cheer you on!

Find us on Social Media


Facebook Square   Instagram Square