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:
- Have fun
- Be valued
- Explore the Christian faith
- Experience family
- Act through hands on compassion
- Keep growing
- 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.
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
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
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.
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.
