Youth Central for March

Your Hub for All Things Youth

What’s Coming Up

► Indicates clickable link.

March 1 – LVR Registration Opens 

March 2 – LCMS Youth Gathering Participant Meeting 

March 2 – No Evening Youth Group

March 5 – Lenten Mentoring Begins

March 9 – No Sunday Evening Confirmation Class – Resumes in Fall

March 9 – High School Youth Group Lunch

March 10 – Registration Deadline for Middle School Huddle

March 16 – No Youth Group or Sunday School for Spring Break

March 19 – Confirmation Sunday Materials Due – FILL IT OUT HERE

April 3 – Early Communion Class Registration Deadline

April 4-5 – Kansas District Middle School Huddle

April 12 – Early Communion Class 

April 20 – No Youth Group or Sunday School for Easter

April 27 & May 4 – Confirmation Sundays

May 4 – LVR Online Orientation

May 11 –  High School Graduation Recognition in Worship

May 25 – No Youth Group or Sunday School for Memorial Day

June 1-6 – LVR

Lutheran Valley Retreat ►

Lenten Mentoring ►

Early Communion Class ►

Confirmation Sunday ►

Middle School Huddle ►

LCMS Youth Gathering ►

Questions?

Help Us Serve a Spring Break Lenten Meal!

Hey high school youth & parents! We need two families to help plan and serve a meal for our Spring Break Lenten Meal at Shawnee on March 12. If you’re staying in town, this is a great way to support our youth ministry families coming in for Mentoring.
Easy & Flexible Menu – We’ll plan something simple together.
Great Way to Serve – Your help makes a big difference.
Fun & Meaningful – A chance to connect and give back.

Let’s make this meal happen!

Lutheran Valley Retreat

June 1-6

Open to grades 8-12

We leave Sunday, June 1, early in the morning for a weeklong experience at Lutheran Valley Retreat in Florissant Colorado. Trinity’s group will join high school students from across the state of Kansas for this unique and faith-impacting experience. Students bond over group building challenges, Bible study, and worship. Students leave the mountains with new friends, a deeper understanding of our faith, and a challenge to live it out in daily life. 

Registration is online and opens Friday, March 1. It closes on May 1 or when the camp fills.

Cost:

It costs $675 per student to attend LVR.
At Trinity, we expect families to cover $200 of that cost – $100 due when you sign up and $100 due by May 1.*
The remaining $475 is covered by fundraising and budget. 

* You can pay it all at once at Registration.

Because of the faith value of LVR, Trinity covers the entire cost of incoming 8th graders to attend the summer before their freshman year of high school. In addition, if cost is the deciding factor of your decision to attend, please talk to Beth Stephens
and we can make arrangements. We do not want cost to be the reason a student misses out on LVR!

Registration Process:

  1. Families complete the interest form.
  2. Beth will register those indicating that they are interested and committed to go starting March 1st.
  3. Non-eighth-grade families submit the $100 deposit or pay the $200 in full.
  4. Registered families will receive a password to register online through LVR’s website after Beth registers them.
  5. Families complete LVR’s registration and submit all paperwork through the LVR website.
  6. Families submit the final payment unless they paid in full at registration by May 1.

Orientation Meeting May 4

Each parent and student must attend an orientation meeting. These meeting are important times for information sharing and preparation for the trip!

The Camp

Lutheran Valley Retreat (LVR) is 50 miles west of Colorado Springs and is surrounded by Pike National Forest. The beautiful rolling, heavily wooded 240 acres are located at an average elevation of 8600 feet in the Colorado Rockies.
While at LVR, campers will experience Bible study, relationship building, theme discussion, individual and team building elements, hiking, sightseeing, sports, worship, rappelling and climbing.
Students get to kick off the summer meeting high school students from different Lutheran Churches all across the state of Kansas.
Students are divided into villages that go through Bible studies, and leadership activities together. As a whole camp we worship together, serve the camp, and play all camp games.

Lenten Mentoring

Wednesdays, March 5 – April 9
Mentor Sign-ups Now!

The season of Lent is almost here and a very important part of Confirmation at Trinity is the one-on-one mentoring in the season of Lent. It starts on March 5 and the last session is on April 9. Students have the opportunity to select someone who is not an immediate family member over the age of 18 who also follows Jesus. Congregation members can also inform one of the pastors or Beth if they are interested in adding their name to the mentor list to be matched with a confirmand.
If you have any questions, feel free to reach out! Beth@tlcms.org.
Thank you for serving in mentoring!

Mission Campus

Middle School Room

6pm, March 5
Orientation
Ash Wednesday

 

6:45-7:45pm, March 12 – April 9

Shawnee Campus

Worship Center

6pm, March 5
Orientation
Ash Wednesday

 

6pm, March 12 – April 9

Early Communion Class

Saturday, April 12, from 9:00am-11:30am
Mission campus
For Fifth through Eighth Grade Students 
Register by Thursday, April 3.

Trinity has had an early communion practice for many years. During this class you and your youth (at least one parent must accompany your child) will have a chance to take an in-depth look at what the Sacrament of Holy Communion means and how it nourishes our faith life.
While some churches wait until a child is confirmed to begin taking communion, we believe that this great gift of our Lord’s body and blood strengthens and encourages our students’ faith lives as they are going through their intense study of the Bible and Catechism during Confirmation.
At the class, your student will not only learn what Lutherans believe about Holy Communion and how Christ comes to us in his body and blood, they will also get to taste the wine and the wafers. The class offers this learning through several different experiences – a pre-class study for parents and youth, explanations and Q & A with leaders, and hands-on, experiential learning. The pre-class study will be emailed prior to the class.
Please let us know if you will be coming to the class by Thursday, April 3, with the RSVP link below.
If you have questions please contact Rhonda Synovec, rhonda@tlcms.org, or Pastor Luke.

Confirmation Sunday

Preparing for Your Confirmation

Timeline

Sunday, February 23, 7:30pm, Shawnee Campus
Eighth Grade Family Meeting
Wednesday, March 19
Main Essay and Info Submission Due
March 26 & 30, April 2 & 6
One-on-one review meeting with Pastor Luke
April 27 and May 4, Shawnee Campus
Confirmation Sundays – arrive 30 minutes before the service

Preparation Checklist

These are the items you will need to do and prepare for confirmation day.
1. Choose the day and service time for your confirmation and sign up or let Pastor Luke know ASAP.
2. Decide how you would like your name to appear on the certificate.
3. Choose your confirmation verse. 
4. Choose the Bible translation of your confirmation verse you would like. You may prefer the wording of a specific translation. Choose the one that speaks to you. English Standard Translation (ESV) is the standard translation we are using.
5. Write and submit your confirmation essay.
6. Submit a photo of yourself for the booklet and announcements. This should either be a headshot or will be cropped to a headshot. Please wear appropriate attire in the photo.
7. Determine how many of your family and friends will be attending so that we may reserve seats for you.
8. Book a time to meet with Pastor Luke to review your essay. We’ll talk through your essay and how you feel about Confirmation. He will answer any questions you may have.
9. Please submit any corrections or edits to the essay ASAP following the one-on-one meeting.
10. Decorate your stole. Bring it with you on confirmation day.

Confirmation Day

The rite of Confirmation will take place at the 8:30 and 11am services on April 27 and May 4. You will be able to choose which service you prefer. We will confirm up to four students per service. We are asking that you choose your service as soon as possible and are passing around a signup sheet to do so. Students will sit with their families for the service. During this service each confirmand will read his or her essay (see below for details about the essay). Students will also receive a red Confirmation stole they have designed and decorated (information below). Note: We do not use Confirmation robes as one way to get away from the idea that Confirmation means “graduation” from learning about Jesus. Confirmation is only the beginning of lifelong learning and growing in faith. Appropriate attire would be a dress for the girls and a dress shirt and slacks for the boys. Sport coats and ties are optional. Please wear dress shoes if you have them. Both students and parents should arrive 30 minutes before the service. I will show everyone their seats, walk through the Rite, and give students a chance to practice their essay at the microphone.

The Essay:
What My Faith Means to Me

This is your opportunity to make a public confession of what you believe.  It is the public confession of your faith life and should be the important things you take away from your time in Confirmation class.

In your planning of this confession look back through your notes and use the Small Catechism to help you articulate what you want to say.  Also try to answer these questions:

  • Why is your faith important?
  • What do you plan to do now after confirmation class?
  • What (or who) do you believe in?
  • What have you learned in class?

Requirements:

  • You must make mention of Jesus.
  • The essay should be at least 3-4 paragraphs in length. It can certainly be longer.
  • The rough draft is due March 19. Once submitted I will review it and return it with notes, comments, and critiques.
  • This essay will not be graded, but you should put forth your best effort. Remember that you will be up in front of the congregation, family, and friends reading this. You will want it to be well thought out and well written.

The essays will be compiled into a booklet and distributed to the congregation and to you as a keepsake.

Middle School Huddle

A Kansas District LCMS Event

Leave 4pm, April 4, from the Shawnee Campus

Return 4pm, April 5, to the Shawnee Campus

Students need to fill out the medical form with the link above.

 

Packing List

Bedding: 

  • Sleeping bag or blanket/sheet 
  • Pillow 

Clothing: 

  • Comfortable clothes for the day 
  • Warm layers (if the weather is cool) 
  • Pajamas 
  • Extra socks & underwear 
  • Comfortable shoes (for walking or activities) 
  • Rain jacket or poncho (in case of rain) 
  • Clothes should not have any inappropriate references. They should fit well and make sense for running around at a camp in early April. 

Toiletries: 

  • Toothbrush & toothpaste 
  • Hairbrush/comb 
  • Shampoo & conditioner 
  • Soap or body wash 
  • Deodorant 

Personal Items: 

  • Water bottle 
  • Flashlight (separate from phone) 
  • Small backpack or bag for carrying items during the day 
  • Snacks 
  • Bible 

Other: 

  • Any medication (with instructions) 
  • A positive attitude and readiness for fun! 

April 4-5, 2025
Rock Springs 4-H Ranch
Junction City, KS

Join us for the 2025 Middle School Huddle (MSH) taking place April 4-5 at Rock Springs 4-H Ranch, located south of Junction City (1168 K157, Junction City, KS 66441). This gathering will encourage middle school students from the Kansas District in their faith by fostering community and spiritual growth as we study God’s Word.
The theme for this year’s Middle School Huddle is “The Armor of God,” based on Ephesians 6:10-18. Together, we will explore how to stand strong in faith, equipped with the spiritual armor that God provides. We will dive into how each piece of the armor – from the belt of truth to the sword of the Spirit – prepares us to face life’s challenges with courage and conviction.
The keynote speaker this year will be Rev. Quentin Nuttmann, senior pastor of Our Redeemer Lutheran Church in Hutchinson. He will guide us in understanding what it is to put on the armor of God. The approximate cost of the Middle School Huddle is $90.
The Middle School Huddle is a Kansas District youth event that happens annually during the month of April. It is specifically designed for youth who are currently in grades 5-8 and aims to foster faith in Jesus Christ through time of worship, learning, and fellowship with one another. This event takes place at a retreat center, where kids gather over the course of Friday evening and into Saturday afternoon for spiritual growth.
The event is organized by a dedicated team of youth leaders who develop a theme centered around God’s Word that addresses God’s answer to a specific life issue that the youth are currently struggling with. The spiritual goals of the Middle School Huddle are to promote discipleship, practical faith application, and community fellowship as they gather together as one within the body of Christ.

LCMS Youth Gathering

July 19-23, 2025 - New Orleans, LA

Participant Meeting

5pm, March 2
Shawnee Campus

Let’s get together to do some prep work for attending the LCMS Youth Gathering. We will:
  • Write thank-you notes to people who have donated to the Shareholder Fundraiser
  • Enjoy dinner together
  • Plan some more details for the trip
Held every 3 years since 1980, the LCMS Youth Gathering provides thousands of youth and adults the opportunity to come together as a community of God’s people to be encouraged in their walk with Jesus Christ and learn about the Christian faith and their Lutheran identity.
The Gathering is more than the five days of the event. The preparation process for the Gathering brings together young people and supportive adults to encourage each other in their baptismal identity. The Gathering provides young people a vision for the vastness of Christ’s Church and equips them for vocational service as they continue their walk with Jesus.
This event is organized by LCMS Youth Ministry in Saint Louis, MO. For additional ways to connect to LCMS Youth Ministry, please visit www.lcms.org/youth. Bring a parent with you and learn more about our upcoming trip this summer.