Children & Youth Ministries/Youth Ministry

Youth Ministry

Be sure to check out The Bethel Youth Web Site.

Current Events for Jr High and Sr High Youth

Confirmation Sunday Gatherings
Sundays until May 12
This event is from 9:30 AM to 10:45 AM at Classroom 10
Contact Robyn Winegardner and Susan Leavitt

"Can I Get a Witness?" will be the thread throughout our look into the Old Testament this year in our Confirmation studies rotation. On the 2nd Sunday of each month, we will have a mini-Retreat with Worship attendance, time with Pastor Ben and lunch on site. mini-Retreat dates will be 9/10/03, 10/8, 11/12, 12/10, 1/14/04, 2/11, 3/10 and 4/14. Confirmation Family lunches will be 10/8/23 (Oktoberfest feast) 2/11/24 (Plenty of Pasta) and 4/14/24 (Mexican Fiesta). NO CLASS GATHERING on 11/26/23, 12/24/23, 12/31/23, 3/31/24.

Sr High Sunday School
Sundays until October 19 2025
This event is from 9:50 AM to 10:40 AM at Youth Room
Contact Tom Hoegel

We meet every Sunday in the youth room to study and share. Rachel Sudarsanam is our lead :-)

Sr High Fellowship
Wednesdays until October 29 2025
This event is from 6:30 PM to 8:00 PM at Youth Room
Contact Tom Hoegel

We meet almost every Wednesday evening to head out for dinner and then back to Bethel for a discussion. Check the youth website at blcyouth.com for weekly details. Rachel Sudarsanam is our lead :-)

Affirmation of Baptism, (Confirmation), Sunday
Sunday, May 19
This event is from 10:45 AM to 12:00 PM at Front Lawn
Contact Susan Leavitt and Robyn Winegardner

Our 8th grade Confirmands will Affirm the promises their parents made at their Baptism ... to continue to seek, to learn, to serve and to love God as they walk through life and their faith journey ... during our Contemporary Worship Service.

Rock 'n Water Youth Summer Camp
Sunday, June 16
This event is from 3:00 PM to 11:59 PM at Rock 'n Water Camp in Coloma, CA
Contact Robyn Winegardner

This is our annual Adventure camp from June 16-20 at Rock 'n Water on the American River. The best counselors, great food, canyoneering, white water rafting and kayaking with 6th graders through High Schoolers. Friends welcome. Adult chaperones welcome.

Rock 'n Water Youth Summer Camp
Daily from June 17 until June 19
This event is from 12:00 AM to 11:59 PM at Rock 'n Water Camp in Coloma, CA
Contact Robyn Winegardner

Rock 'n Water Youth Summer Camp
Thursday, June 20
This event is from 12:00 AM to 9:00 PM at Rock 'n Water Camp in Coloma, CA
Contact Robyn Winegardner

Youth Ministry Programs

Youth Director: Tom Hoegel
Youth Ministry Lead: Marianne Nadell
Youth Ministry Lead: Mark Evashenk

6^th–8^th Grade Confirmation
Contact Robyn Winegardner, Susan Leavitt

Through fellowship, service, reading, discussion, humor, and of course, food, we share with our 6^th, 7^th and 8^th graders the basic teachings of the Lutheran Church, Bible history, worship experience, prayer, ethics, service, and the hope, joy and love we have been promised through Jesus. All of this leads an 8^th grade student to have an opportunity to affirm their faith during Bethel’s worship service on Pentecost Sunday. We meet Sunday mornings from September to May, 9:45am to 10:45am and on the 1^st Sunday of the month we meet from 8:30am to 1pm.

Common Ground

Common Ground
Contact Tom Hoegel, Katlynn Hoegel

Common Ground is a dynamic Sr. High music and drama traveling ministry at Bethel that has been going strong for close to 30 years. It involves about 35 high school students meeting once a week from February to June, and then we take a 10-day tour of the western United States (by bus) presenting a Christ-centered message of hope through original dramas, cutting-edge music, a breathtaking youth band, bold sharing of personal experiences, and infectious joy. This is also a great opportunity for adults who are interested in being youth sponsors.

Senior High Ministry
Contact Tom Hoegel

Nearly every Wednesday night during the school year, the high school youth meet up for a mixture of topical discussion, fellowship, food, and fun. Each week is something new. Sign up on the The Bethel Youth Web Site

to get weekly notices about upcoming events.

Youth Mission to Mexico

Youth Mission to Mexico
Contact Tom Hoegel

Each spring break, a group of youth travel to Tijuana, Mexico to join forces with Esperanza International

, or "Hope", an organization that works to build houses, schools and centers for the local community. We work side by side with low-income families and the Esperanza staff—mixing concrete, pouring tiles and beams, digging trenches, and a host of other challenging work. In the process, families learn the building process, which helps make their community more self-sufficient, and Bethel volunteers practice their Spanish, and touch the lives of our neighbors south of the border. These three days of work, laughter, growth and fun lead to changed lives on both sides of the border.