Grades 5^th – 12^th

Typically, on Sundays during the academic year, 6:00 – 7:30 PM (Schedule date/time subject to change depending on activity/event)

Youth Group is a time to gather and connect with God, to learn and grow in one’s faith journey, hear and respond to God’s call in the community through mission, and to be active participants in the church life.  It’s also a time for old and new friends to gather for fellowship, fun, and snacks.

All youth attending any Youth Group activity must have a completed Medical and Permission Form to participate – this is updated yearly.  A paper copy of the form is located in the Circle Room or complete this online. Click here to dowload. The form will also include space for any allergies or medical conditions for the youth.  Please keep ill youth at home for the safety and health of all other youth.

I am always open to suggestions and ideas for fun activities, events, and missions that the youth wish to participate in.  I also make it my goal to attend at least one extra-curricular activity for each youth member who participates in such activities in and out of school: concerts, games, dance recitals, plays, etc.  So, please keep me informed of dates, times, and locations. 

There are some traditional events that the youth have been participating in for years; and for many of these we team-up with other youth from the Western Reserve District or East Ohio Conference of United Methodist Churches.  For instance, to name just a few…

In October the youth enjoy participating in the Lake Farm Park Halloween drive-thru as characters along the path.  November is Project Feed mission day where we work together in an assembly line preparing meal bags for families in need around the world.  December has a few traditional activities such as, Wreaths Across America, visiting a Live Nativity, Christmas party, and planning our March Youth Retreat at Camp Asbury.  Summer brings about our Mission Trip, a canoe/kayak event, Youth Annual Conference – plus we do other various mission work though out the year.  (This is not all the activities we do – trust me there are many more!)

I send emails to all youth and parents/guardians the calendar of events each month, along with updates and any changes.  I do request that each youth respond to my emails; so that I can keep track of who will and will not be at each activity.  Some activities do have a cost (example costs from 2022: March Youth Retreat can cost +/- $100 and Project Feed $10)

The Youth at PUMC enjoy doing God’s Work through mission. 

Missions close to home include cleaning, painting, and repair around our church and the parsonage (the home where our Pastor lives), with the Salvation Army School Supply Drive, we have built bunk beds for Sleep in Heavenly Peace, with the congregation we collected “Flood Buckets” and delivered them to the Mission Barn in New Castle, Pa.; and while we were at the Mission Barn delivering the Flood Buckets, we built wheelchair ramps.  Our congregation also collected supplies for “Dignity Kits” and the youth prepared each kit to be sent out. 

We have also traveled to various locations in Ohio, Tennessee, Michigan, Delaware, and Vermont for week-long mission trips.  On those trips we rehabbed homes that needed drywall repair, flooring, siding, roofs, painting inside and outside, wheelchair ramps, decks, gardening, landscaping, putting up fences, and so much more.  The wonderful thing about the week-long mission trips isn’t just to get away from home for a week, but also meeting the people and families who live in the homes and neighborhoods where we’ve done the work.  We have an opportunity to share God’s Word and Love with each of them as we make their living spaces safer and more comfortable.  I know I enjoyed working at one of the mission schools on our trip to Delaware – I got to meet some of the children who attend that school.  They each wanted us to play games with them during our breaks and thanked us for fixing their school and playground.  I have more stories about our trips, and so do each of the youth and adults who have traveled together to be God’s Hands in the lives of others.

Parking is available around Painesville Square, behind the church building, and next door behind the Lake County Administration Building.  Entrances to either parking lot is off the square and they share a driveway.  The driveway to the left is the church and to the right is the county building.  There are stairs from the county building parking lot to the church.

Handicapped parking is along the driveway side of the church; and near these spaces, you will find the glass Atrium entrance and inside the Atrium is the elevator.

Take the elevator to the 1^st floor to enter the church offices, Circle Room (fellowship), and Sanctuary.  The 2^nd floor will lead you to the balcony of the Circle Room; and where you will locate the Western Reserve District Offices and Christian Education & Youth Office.  This level also leads to the balcony of the Sanctuary and Choir Loft.  Parson’s Fellowship Hall is on the lower level – LL – for potlucks and events.

On the entry level “E” of the Atrium is our Chapel and to the left is our Education Wing.  On the main floor of the Education Wing, you will find our Adult Sunday School Classrooms, Resource Room, Choir and Bell Music Rooms, Stitchers Room, and Nursery.  Upstairs in the Education Wing are our Children’s Church/Sunday School Classrooms, Youth Room, and History Room.

Confirmation class is for those in the 6^th through 8^th grades and provides an opportunity for Confirmands (a.k.a.  students) who are ready to join the church, to explore the Christian faith: our history, our beliefs, and our theology; and grow in their faith journey with God.  It is anticipated that the Confirmands will join the church after the classes have been completed.

Information on the upcoming Confirmation Class will be announced in the Fall. The Confirmation of the Confirmands and Celebration will be held during the 10:00 AM worship service on a Sunday in April or May of the following year.

All youth attending Confirmation Class must have a completed Registration Form to participate.  A paper copy of the form is located in the Circle Room or complete this online. Click here to regsiter. The form will also include space for any allergies or medical conditions for the youth.  Please keep ill youth at home for the safety and health of all other youth.

Our goal is to maintain a safe environment for all to experience God’s abiding love and fellowship within the community of faith.  All PUMC Staff, Volunteer Teachers, and I have completed the Safe Sanctuary Training (Protection Policy of Vulnerable Persons).  PUMC is required and has completed a background check on each volunteer teacher and staff member.