H.S.Youth Group

From July 22-27, 2009, the combined High School Youth Group of Nativity (Wonder Lake), Redeemer (Woodstock), and St. John's (Hebron) Lutheran churches attended the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America's Youth Gathering "Jesus, Justice, Jazz" in New Orleans, Louisiana this summer. Over 40,000 youth and adults gathered for a week of service, learning, and fun. The group's assigned service project was reading to early elementary students at the McDonogh School in Greta, Louisiana. Pictured, from left in the first picture are Amanda Rieke, David Zoellick, Alyson Palos, Julie Bryan, Amanda Appner, Pastor Tom Rogers, Alyssa Phillips, Mathew Podgorski, Norman Dechant, and Jamielynn Wedoff.

The picture on the right is a picture of the kids at the Super Dome in New Orleans. It's where they met with the other 40,000+ Lutherans who were there. Pictured, from the left top, are Mathew Podgorski, Alyssa Phillips, Julie Bryan, Amanda Appner, David Zoellick, Norman Dechant, Amanda Rieke, and Alyson Palos.

In May 2009, the Youth Group went down to Lutheran Outdoor Ministry Center in Oregon, IL., to do a low ropes course. the kids had to cooperate with each other to get through the different challenges. They did a great job of communicating and relying on each other, and they had a lot of fun!

On April 4-5, 2009, the High School Youth Group had a prayer lock-in at Nativity. They explored different ways of praying the entire night, including singing, having communion, silence, playing, decorating bags for the food pantry, looking at the stars, the labrynth, and generally having a great time! Thank you to all who helped put it together, and especially those who stayed all night!

Caption for the last picture in this group. "The combined High School Youth Group of Nativity Lutheran (Wonder Lake), Redeemer Lutheran (Woodstock), and St. John's (Hebron) recently held a prayer lock-in. One of the ways they prayed was to decorate reusable grocery bags for the Wonder Lake Neighbors Food Pantry. Pictured are Nora VanderPal, Alyssa Phillips, Whitney Steinbraker, Troy Behrens, Sam Wajda, and Alyson Palos."

The combined High School Youth Group from Redeemer Lutheran, Woodstock, and St. John’s Lutheran, Hebron, recently took part in the Big Brother Big Sister Bowl-A-Thon. All together, the Youth Group raised over $1,000.00 for the organization, and they had a great time! Pictured are (front row from left, first picture) Rachel Appner, Grace Rogers, Pastor Sarah Wilson, Amanda Appner, Sophie Rogers, Dana Appner, and (back row from left) Tyler Henken, Nathaniel Rogers, Jean Hutchison, Julie Bryan, Nora VanderPal, Jake VanderPal, and Jared Hilton. Thanks for taking the picture, Pastor Tom Rogers!

Recently the combined Youth Group from Redeemer Lutheran in Woodstock and St. John’s Lutheran in Hebron took a train ride into Chicago where they toured the Fourth Presbyterian Church.

On October 13, 2007, the St. John/Redeemer Youth Group was led by Jamie Lynn in several exercises on trust. First they had to lead each other around the church while blindfolded. Then they did a series of trust falls, starting with a short distance and ending with a fall backwards from off a ladder. Everyone was very brave, and best of all, no one got hurt! After that we looked up stories in the Bible of people who trusted in God to take care of them. We all agreed that Noah, Moses, and Mary had an extraordinary amount of trust in God.

Jami Lynn led the Youth Group through another trust and communications exercise on February 10, 2008. It was boys verses the girls as they balanced a ball on a washer and walked through an obstacle course. They learned about the importance of talking things out and trusting each other to do what we're supposed to be doing. Thanks, Jami Lynn, for the fun time!

St. John's & Redeemer's Youth Groups teamed up for a fun paint-balling trip in June 2007!

These pictures are from the October 8, 2006 meeting when we had a bonfire & played outdoor games.

Adopt-A-Highway a Success!

Thank you to the 15 people who came out on October 21, 2006 to clean up our assigned section of route 47, just South of Hebron. We cleaned about 2.4 miles, filling over 30 bags. Thanks to the High School Youth Group, members of the Gates family and Cassie Enders.

St. John's Lutheran Church, Hebron, recently cleaned up the section of Route 47 south of town for which they are responsible. The church has been participating in Illinois' "Adopt-A-Highway" program for over a year now. This time the Youth Group did the cleanup, collecting more than 20 bags of trash. Pictured below are Julie Bryan, Amanda, Dana, and Rachel Appner, Jean Gates, Matt Appner, and Jean Bryan.

St. John's High School Youth Group

Adopt-A-Highway a Success!

2006 Christmas Party