Youth Activities

The Bartlett United Methodist Youth are an active group of young people who enjoy life and are willing to share their lives with others. The following activities are a part of the history of our group and will probably be a part of our future as well.

SENIOR BANQUET - This is an evening set aside to honor all our graduating seniors. The graduating seniors and their families enjoy a lovely meal, have fun reminiscing, taking a few glimpses of their younger days and getting some encouraging words for their future.

BIBLE STUDY - Meeting every Wednesday night following the Church-wide dinners, our Bible Study group gets together to look at the scripture and discuss what it means to us. This is an informal meeting that can be really fun as well as an opportunity to learn a little more about God's word and our role in God's world. This study is for 7^th through 12^th grade yoots!

LIVE NATIVITY SCENE - A tradition at Bartlett that has been brought back by our youth department! The Live Nativity scene is a really exciting way the youth can spread a wonderful message to the community of Bartlett. The nativity costumes have been made anew and so has the tradition. You can come and dress up as a king, shepherd, Mary, Joseph or even an ANGEL in this wonderful spectacle the week before Christmas and a super addition to our church's Candlelight Service. This year was especially exciting with a new manger our A.S.P. volunteers made and also having a new sanctuary to put it in front of! We have a tradition of having our nativity on Christmas day too - on the actual day of His birth!

WET n' WORD - It's our summer Bible Study - meeting each Wednesday evening during the summer months to DIVE in Deep into the Scripture then DIVE into the DEEP end! It's a great and refreshing way to learn about our Christian faith!

BREAKFAST CLUB - Ever want to get up at the crack of dawn just to come and eat a delicious breakfast with your Youth Director? Well, as crazy as it may seem - IT'S GREAT! It's a super way to start off to make it a bit more interesting! A "Tasty" Devotion is given and then you are driven by your Youth Director to school! You should try it - it's quite a FUN time!!!

SUMMER CHOIR TOUR - The last past years have given us the awesome "Wild West Tour" and our internationally famous "O Canada Tour!", our 1992 Florida Tour, our "Infamous" 1994 Colorado Tour, the 1995 Chattanooga Choo Choo trip and of course our world renowned, 1996 "Meet the Knight Clan" Southeastern tour! 1997 found us in Eureka Springs AR and we topped them all in 1998 when we visited Mickey Mouse once again in Florida! We went to Minnesota and we blew the roof off of a "ENFUEGO" (hot!) Texas! Each year finds us somewhere new and exciting -MOST EXCELLENT

DINNER CLUB - We try to eat together at least once a month for dutch treat dining at different restaurants. We enjoy the fellowship and the break to be waited on. It’s always a fun time. Check the youth calendar link and find out where we are meeting this month! All youth are invited to Dinner Club.

ANNUAL PICTURE NIGHT - Each fall after promotion of our new 7th and 9th graders, the youth department has their annual pictures taken. The "BIG PICTURE" is taken to remember you by always and your individual picture is taken so we can remember your name and of course, chuckle as you "mature". It's a Great night of piggin' out, signing up for youth programs, goofin with friends, and showing off your PEARLY WHITES! And you never know when Fabio, Dolly, Michael W. George Foreman, Amy Grant, Batman and event Elvis might show up! The big picture on the front of our website is from that!

MADRIGAL DINNER - The Youth Choir are seated in the Kings court for a Medieval Holiday Celebration complete with costumes, knights, kings and queens, peasants and even a roast pig! (Yes! It’s REAL!) This event has become a church and community MUST SEE event! Check out the link!

HOLY WEEK BREAKFASTS - Each year, the Youth Department holds Holy Week Breakfasts during the week prior to Easter Sunday. This is a time to gather before your regular school day to take time for fellowship and to learn from each other and our special guest speakers. We have special music and agapes for each day of the week - it’s delicious too! What an exciting week to follow together Christ’s incredible and humbled journey to the Cross.

CRAFT FAIR - March and November of each year finds us participating in our number one money-making project for the entire youth department. Our semi-annual craft fairs earn us that extra money to help with the costs of our youth trips, choir tours, A.S.P., and the youth department in general. Lane O’Daniel is the director and is awesome! Each youth works hours at the fairs so that it runs smoothly and have earned a place on the bus wherever the youth may go! It is a VITAL part of our Youth Ministry fundraising!

EASTER SUNRISE SERVICE - Each year, the youth Bible study sponsors our Easter Sunrise Service at 6:30 a.m.! Yow! On Easter morn, rain nor snow, sleet or hail will keep us from this celebration service! Youth lead the worship and music with a special message from a special guest speaker selected by the youth! The Crossroads Youth Choir and Joyful Noise and the Youth Bells perform and it is absolutely awesome - an incredible celebration for the risen Christ.

FOOT SOLDIERS - An exciting group of youth disciples whose desire is to be the hands and feet of Christ. It is an open group that meets the first Wednesday of each month and discusses and selects ideas for mission for that month! We are involved in the Ronald McDonald House, Ave Maria Nursing Home, walks for special causes, U.M. Neighborhood Centers, and much, much, more. This group was initially spearheaded by Marilyn Muklevicz who was a true disciple and taught by hew example how to walk the talk of Jesus Christ! We are now rockin’ with Sally/Sarah Murdock -who is getting us involved with all kinds of incredible mission opportunities... what a hoot we are having being disciples!

SOUPER BOWL BLITZ - A tradition started many years ago. Youth collect a dollar on Super Bowl Sunday to go towards "food" oriented service projects carried out by the Footsoldiers such as the United Methodist Center’s Food Pantry and also our New Hope Christian Church Tuesday meals!

SUPER BOWL PARTY - Come chill out on Super Bowl Sunday to watch the big game on the Big screen with friends! Lots to eat...lots of fellowship!

30 HOUR FAMINE - For the past 3 years our youth have been involved with a nation-wide famine hosted through World Vision. It is an incredible 30 hours of no food and GREAT FELLOWSHIP! It is 30 hours of awareness of God’s children less fortunate than ourselves. Check out the link for this years event!!!!

COFFEEHOUSE – Each year our auditioned group "Joyful Noise" performs a Christmas Coffeehouse and a Spring one too! This year it will be "BROADWAY". They will perform a special show from each of these events just for the youth at UMYF. It’s always FANTASTIC!!!!

U.M.Y.F. - This is it! The Bartlett United Methodist Youth Fellowship - that wonderful, fantastic group of youth that meets every Sunday evening at the Bartlett United Methodist Church Life Enrichment Center. We are one of the most exciting youth groups in the entire Mid-South. We meet each week at 5:00, have Snack Supper at 5:15 ($1.00 at the time of this publication) served by the best cooks in town, and have our programs starting between 6:00 and 6:15. This is where the action is and where you find out about all the events! We will be looking for you and remember -you can always BRING A FRIEND!

________________________ You can fill in this blank. It is your ideas that take us to these exotic places and let us do those fun and wild things. Bring your ideas to UMYF and take part in our activities. Also, we love it when you bring your friends too - in fact, we get all "giddy" when you do!