Youth - Email Updates

Last Call for Fall Retreat & Other IMPORTANT Updates

Thu, 15 Oct 2026 19:19:37 GMT

Good Afternoon Parents & Teens!

We have a lot of important updates for you! Please let me know if you have any questions. Here is a synopsis of the most important notes:

Last Call for the Fall Retreat! Deposits are due NEXT Wednesday, Oct. 21
New MS Event on October 24th @ Victory Valley
Squamish on Nov. 1 (HS event) will use flags instead of tackling this year
Youth Band Starting Next Week!
We're starting a new devotional on Monday. Any teens can find details on how to join towards the end of this e-mail.

Grace and Peace,

Fuzzy

Upcoming Events

10/24: Bunk or Treat @ Victory Valley (MS Only, but families are welcome)
11/1: SQUAMISH (HS Only)
11/6 - 11/8: Fall Retreat @ Victory Valley (All Youth)
11/21: Rake, Bake & Shake (MS Only)
11/25: Turley Bowling (ALL Youth)
12/4 - 12/5: Christmas Walk-Thru
1/15 - 1/17: Winter Retreat

MS Bunk or Treat Event @ Victory Valley

Oct 24, 3pm-8pm

Free hayrides, zip line pumpkin chunkin (how amazing is that!?), hotdogs, s'mores, crafts and other activities. We will be leaving from Grace Church at 3:00 and MS teens can be driven up by youth leaders. If parents (along with their other children) would like to join us, let us know so that we can arrange to car pool! We plan to return to Grace Church at 8:00. Cost is free!

(Note that the actual event takes place from 4-7 at Victory Valley, so we are accounting for travel time which is why we are advertising 3-8 here. If hotdogs and s'mores are not a satisfactory dinner, your teen should pack food to bring.)

SQUAMISH! (HS Event)

Nov 1 @ 3pm - 5pm

HS teens do not want to miss this exciting co-ed game on November 1st from 3:00-5:00. Football, soccer and rugby collide with silliness & craziness for this unforgettable event! Come dressed in a costume (but expect it to get messy). Don't want to play? Spectate with our "rabble rousers" and easily have more fun than the players! Parents & families are more than welcome to watch the chaos.

This year we will be using flags (think flag football) instead of tackling. The game will still be physical, but safer.

When: Sunday November 1st from 3-5

Who: All students in grades 9-12 (Spectators of all ages welcome!)

Where: Indian Lane Elementary School Field (309 S Old Middletown Rd, Media, PA)

Cost: Free

Youth Worship Band

Monday & Tuesday Nights

We are restarting our youth band, in preparation for the Fall Retreat. While there will be opportunity for more teens to participate throughout the year, the next three weeks will only be for teens who will be attending the fall retreat.

Teens will either be on the "Monday Team" or the "Tuesday Team" and should be able to attend at least 2 of their team's practices to participate. I apologize for the short notice, but please make sure that you/your teen signs up below ASAP if they didn't sign up last night or if they were unsure about their availability.

If you are only available for 1 Monday practice, the Monday team will not be an option for you. If you are only available for 1 Tuesday practice, the Tuesday team will not be an option for you. If that means that you can't participate right now, don't worry, there will be more opportunities to participate later this year!

Monday Team Practices:

10/19 @ 7:00-8:00
10/26 @ 7:00-8:00
11/2 @ 7:00-8:00

Tuesday Team Practices:

10/20 @ 7:00-8:00
10/27 @ 7:00-8:00
11/3 @ 7:00-8:00

Youth Bible Class

This week will be a great week to jump in if you haven't already!

This study will be different from many discussion-based groups. While application is important, our primary focus will be on learning what the Bible actually teaches, understanding its structure, its message, exploring its context, and growing in our knowledge of God's Word. Together, we'll study Scripture carefully and build a stronger foundation for our faith.

This is not intended to be a social gathering or hangout time. Instead, it is designed for students who are serious about studying the Bible and want to go beyond the surface to gain a deeper understanding of God's truth.

Whether you're new to Bible study or have been reading Scripture for years, you'll be challenged to think, learn, and grow.

When: Sundays at 12:00 PM

Who: Students in grades 6-12

Length: 1 hour

Where: Upstairs in Room 205

Focus: Understanding the Bible and its teachings in depth

Youth Group (Grades 6-12)

Students in grades 6-8 and 9-12 meet every Wednesday night from 6:30-8:00 to build community and dive deep into God's word, growing in Christ together. Grades 6-8 in the fireplace room (room 103-104) and Grades 9-12 in room 201. Make sure that all attending have filled out THIS FORM.

And just like that, they changed the roadwork back to daytime hours. So this map is relevant if you're ever trying to get to the church on weekdays between 9-2. Wednesday nights should be clear now!

Daily Teen Devotionals

How to Join: You can click on this link for the YouVersion Bible App download the app and create an account if you/your teen don’t already have one. Once you do that, you can just become my friend by clicking HERE and I will ask you to join the latest plan. I made my name "Fuzzy Phillips" in the app, so it should be very easy to know if you have the correct person!

Fall Retreat (All Youth)

Nov 6-8

What will we be doing? We will have an ACTION PACKED weekend at Victory Valley Camp in Zionsville, PA. The weekend will be centered on Christ and community with times for singing, digging into God's Word, and a wide variety of activities including field games, indoor basketball, a game room and Goliath (ropes course).

Who is the speaker? This year Elizabeth Piasecki will be our Keynote speaker. Elizabeth has been part of Grace Church since birth and is now planning to go into full time overseas missions. We are excited to have her minister to our own youth one last time before heading off to wherever God leads her.

Can my teen go up late on Friday night? YES! We will do our best to make sure there is a late van for any teens who can't come up on time. Though it is best for teens to attend the entire retreat, we will make sure that they do not miss any essential information in the first session that would prevent them from following along for Saturday's sessions. (Also, note that we are not going to actually head out until 5:45, but the only way to eat dinner is to get to church before 5:30.)

How much does the FULL weekend cost? The cost of the retreat is $125 per teen and includes a t-shirt. A $50 deposit will be due on Wednesday, October 21st and the remaining $75 is due on the day of the retreat. (Register early to guarantee your preferred shirt size.) You are welcome to pay the entire amount upfront. If a scholarship would be a blessing, just ask! We don't want any teens to stay home because of funds.

Is there dinner on Friday night? YES! We are including dinner on Friday night. Just show up to the church @ 5:00 and we will eat before we leave. You must arrive by 5:30 if you want to eat dinner before we leave.

When will students return? We plan to be back by 2:30 on Sunday, November 8th.

Is your teen involved in sports, a musical, or something else that students & leaders might want to attend? Let us know and we will add that information to this section!

MS & HS Hangout Nights Tomorrow, Sunday Class & More

Fri, 25 Sep 2026 20:51:35 GMT

Good Evening Parents & Teens!

We have a lot of important updates for you! Please let me know if you have any questions.

Hang out nights continuing tomorrow night as planned (mostly).
Sunday Morning Children's Volunteer Schedule!
The Post - New Bible class for teens on Sundays after church, starting SUNDAY 9/27.
ROAD WORK will NO LONGER interfere with Wednesday night pick up.
~~Family Fun Fest & Chili Cook-Off~~ CANCELLED
Fall Retreat Registration is Live!

Grace and Peace,

Fuzzy

Upcoming Events

9/26: MS Hang Out Night @ Church (6:00-8:30)
9/26: HS Hang Out Night @ Kraemer's (6:00-9:00)
9/27: "The Post" Bible Class Starts (12:00-1:00) [All Youth]
10/3: ~~Family Fun Fest & Chili Cook-Off~~
11/1: SQUAMISH (HS Only)
11/6 - 11/8: Fall Retreat @ Victory Valley (All Youth)
11/21: Rake, Bake & Shake (MS Only)
12/4 - 12/5: Christmas Walk-Thru
1/15 - 1/17: Winter Retreat

Hangout Nights for MS & HS on September 26, REGARDLESS OF THE WEATHER!

Though we might not be able to do all that we planned to do (particularly the high school) we will continue with things as planned. It will be a great opportunity for the teens to build stronger bonds with the other students and leaders in the groups!

High School Hang Out Night @ The Kraemer’s

Who: All students in grades 9-12

When: Saturday Sept. 26th @ 6:00-9:00

Where: The Kraemer’s (726 Windsor Pl. Wallingford, PA)

Bring: A snack to share if you are able

Middle School Hangout Night @ Grace Church

Who: All students in grades 6-8

What: Games, Food, Music & Fun

When: Saturday Sept. 26th @ 6:00-8:30

Where: Grace Church (723 S. Providence Rd. Wallingford, PA)

Bring: A snack to share if you are able (main dinner food provided)

Note for parents with teens in both MS and HS: The Kraemer's are just a quick 5 minute drive down the road. It's fine if teens show up a few minutes late and the ending times are staggered to help you with pick up. I may be able to transfer some middle school students at the end of the night to the Kraemer's if that would help!

New Youth Bible Class

Are you interested in going deeper in your understanding of the Bible? Starting September 27th, we will be offering a new 1 hour Sunday Bible Study that meets every week at 12:00 noon.

Whether you're new to Bible study or have been reading Scripture for years, you'll be challenged to think, learn, and grow.

When: Sundays at 12:00 PM (starting Sept. 27th)

Length: 1 hour

Where: Upstairs in Room 205

Focus: Understanding the Bible and its teachings in depth

If you're ready to dig deeper into Scripture, we'd love to have you join us!

What to do instead?

We are sad to announce that we are cancelling the Family Fun Festival , which has been one of our favorite events in the past. Quite a few factors impacted this decision, the greatest being our need for an additional 30-40 volunteers to help ensure a safe and enjoyable experience for the community. We thought we gave ourselves enough time to pivot from the original International Festival plans, but, in hindsight, that wasn't the right call.

The good news (aside from the fact that Jesus is alive and reconciling all things to Himself, praise the Lord!) is that most of the elements from the festival can still be experienced in some way during the month of October. Here is some alternate programming you can look forward to :

Were you or your kids looking forward to the activities like the bounce house? We are excited to "plus up" our centennial celebration on Sunday, October 18thwith more activities for kids and the whole family to enjoy. Some of those festival favorites will be set up for everyone to experience after the church service.
Bummed that you can't show off your chili recipe? We'd love to have you make chili for our Centennial on Sunday, October 18th. We think your homemade chili would help make the perfect autumn meal for our 100th celebration. Maybe we can even still let people vote for their favorite chili and make it a true cook-off... More details and sign-ups to follow.
Still wanting to attend a community event on October 3rd? CADES (a non-profit in Swarthmore that provides services and education for people with special needs) is hosting a community day for their 75th anniversary. The event takes place from 3:00-6:00, full of fun activities like a petting zoo, and is followed by a movie night. Though it is free to attend, they would like everyone to sign up beforehand and ask for a $10 donation in order to enjoy the food. (If it would be a blessing to your family, reach out to Fuzzy and we will happily cover the cost of your food ticket!) Get the flyer HERE or find more info HERE.
Disappointed that Grace Church is missing an opportunity to be a more present blessing to the community? Talk to Pastor Aaron about the unique opportunity we have each year to make an impact in our neighborhood on Halloween. We can now invest more funds into that evening which has historically garnered more foot traffic from neighbors than events like the Fun Fest. We were also planning to do a special event for our NA friends and their families who use the church on Friday nights, and will now have more resources to put towards that.
Oh, and we highly recommend heading out to Victory Valley Camp on October 24th from 4:00-7:00 for their free "Bunk or Treat" family event. They'll have free hayrides, zip line pumpkin chunkin (how amazing is that!?), s'mores, crafts and other activities. It's about an hour away, but they make the trip worth it! Plus, it's a great opportunity for your family to check out this incredible camp that our BFC denomination has the great privilege of owning. Get the flyer HERE.

We hope that you would prayerfully consider what God might have you do in place of the time you may have planned to dedicate to the fun fest, be it attending a different community event, serving in a different capacity, or simply taking that time to stop and rest (yes, obediently slowing down and resting is glorifying to God too!)

Youth Group (Grades 6-12)

Road Work Moved to Daytime Hours

And just like that, they changed the roadwork back to daytime hours. So this map is relevant if you're ever trying to get to the church on weekdays between 9-2. Wednesday nights should be clear now!

Fall Retreat (All Youth)

Nov 6-8

Daily Teen Devotionals

Is your teen involved in sports, a musical, or something else that students & leaders might want to attend? Let us know and we will add that information to this section!

Brand New Class, Roadwork, Retreat Registration & More

Tue, 15 Sep 2026 21:23:48 GMT

Good Afternoon Parents & Teens!

We are excited to finally kick off the fall with our programs and events. Here are the important details and announcements you'll find in this e-mail:

Youth Group & Faith Explorers begin tomorrow night (9/16)!
ROAD WORK may interfere with Wednesday night pick up.
The Post - New Bible class for teens on Sundays after church, starting 9/27.
Family Fun Fest & Chili Cook-Off (unfortunately replacing the International Festival, but sure to be a great time for your family and neighbors!)
Fall Retreat Registration is Live!

Grace and Peace,

Fuzzy

Upcoming Events

9/16: First night of Youth Group & Faith Explorers (Grades K-12)
9/26: MS Hang Out Night @ Church (6:00-8:30)
9/26: HS Bonfire & Glow Night @ Kraemer's (6:00-9:00)
9/27: "The Post" Bible Class Starts (12:00-1:00) [All Youth]
10/3: ~~International Festival~~ Family Fun Fest & Chili Cook-Off
11/1: SQUAMISH (HS Only)
11/6 - 11/8: Fall Retreat @ Victory Valley (All Youth)
11/21: Rake, Bake & Shake (MS Only)
12/4 - 12/5: Christmas Walk-Thru
1/15 - 1/17: Winter Retreat

Serve Monthly in The 2026-2027 School Year

Students in grades 6-12 are encouraged to serve in Children's Ministry on Sunday mornings. There is an option to serve once a month or only on 5th Sundays (which take place 3 times over the school year). Teens generally assist the teacher, play with kids, help with crafts, etc. However, they are welcome to inquire about helping teach the lesson. Just ask!

Classes to Serve in:

Nursery from 9:50-11:25
2s&3s Class from 9:50-11:25
Pre-K/Kindergarten Class during the sermon and closing song

Sign Up for The 26/27 School Year HERE

Youth Group (Grades 6-12)

Starting Sep 16

EVENING ROAD WORK WARNING!

We just learned that there will now be roadwork starting at 7pm each weeknight. This means that drop off should still be simple, but pick-up may be more challenging on Wednesday nights. As of now, the roadwork is happening between Strath Haven High School and Springhaven Club.

If travelling from the Brookhaven/Garden City area, travel through the back neighborhood and use the back entrance to the church.
If travelling from Media, you will want to either use Brookhaven Rd to enter through the back neighborhood, or use 320 to Providence Rd. When turning onto Providence Rd from 320, the right turning lane may be completely blocked, however, the center lanes are open so you are still able to make a sharp right turn.
If travelling from Chester/Bullens Ln, you should not have any issues arriving at church. When you turn left onto Providence Rd (off of Providence Ave/320) the center lanes should be clear and notify that St. John's is still accessible, which means that we are accessible from that direction as well!

New Youth Bible Class

Are you interested in going deeper in your understanding of the Bible? Starting September 27th, we will be offering a new 1 hour Sunday Bible Study that meets every week at 12:00 noon.

Whether you're new to Bible study or have been reading Scripture for years, you'll be challenged to think, learn, and grow.

When: Sundays at 12:00 PM (starting Sept. 27th)

Length: 1 hour

Where: Upstairs in Room 205

Focus: Understanding the Bible and its teachings in depth

If you're ready to dig deeper into Scripture, we'd love to have you join us!

Family Fun Fest & Chili Cook-Off

Oct 3 @ 1:00-4:00

Join us for this completely FREE event to help bring the community together and create lasting memories. Sample homemade chili, listen to live music, snack on fun fair foods and let your kids play all day! Yes, absolutely everything we offer has already been paid for and is completely free for you to enjoy.

Sign up to help out with the event and/or to compete in our Chili Cook-Off HERE. (All contestants can get reimbursed for the cost of their chili.)

Activities Include: Obstacle Course, Laser Tag, Bounce House, Dunk Tank, Train Rides, Speed Pitch Booth, Carnival Games, Crafts & MORE!

View Event

Hangout Nights for MS & HS on September 26

HIGH SCHOOL Bonfire & Glow Night @ The Kraemer’s

Who: All students in grades 9-12

When: Saturday Sept. 26th @ 6:00-9:00

Where: The Kraemer’s (726 Windsor Pl. Wallingford, PA)

Bring: A snack to share if you are able

Middle School Hangout Night @ Grace Church

Who: All students in grades 6-8

What: Games, Food, Music & Fun

When: Saturday Sept. 20th @ 6:00-8:30

Where: Grace Church (723 S. Providence Rd. Wallingford, PA)

Bring: A snack to share if you are able (main dinner food provided)

Fall Retreat (All Youth)

Nov 6-8

Daily Teen Devotionals

Is your teen involved in sports, a musical, or something else that students & leaders might want to attend? Let us know and we will add that information to this section!

Grace Youth - Parent Meeting Recap & New Events

Thu, 27 Aug 2026 16:02:39 GMT

Good Afternoon Parents & Teens!

I don't normally send out this many e-mails, but wanted to make sure that every parent who wasn't able to attend one of the info meetings gets all of that important information. You will find that video below. You will also find a few new events to add to your calendar!

Remember, sign-ups are live for any teens that want to help in children's ministry on Sunday mornings this school year! There are also needs for the final Sundays of summer. Details/sign ups below!

I will be away for the next two weeks on vacation, but I plan to do some work on Saturday of Memorial Day Weekend. I'll do my best to answer e-mails then.

Grace and Peace,

Fuzzy

Upcoming Events

8/23: Parent & Teen Meeting
9/16: First night of Youth Group & Faith Explorers (Grades K-12)
NEW 9/26: MS Hang Out Night @ Church (6:00-8:30)
NEW 9/26: HS Bonfire & Glow Night @ Kraemer's (6:00-9:00)
10/3: International Festival
11/1: SQUAMISH (HS Only)
11/6 - 11/8: Fall Retreat @ Victory Valley
11/21: Rake, Bake & Shake (MS Only)
12/4 - 12/5: Christmas Walk-Thru
1/15 - 1/17: Winter Retreat

Children & Youth Info Meeting Recap

If you missed the meeting, you will find all of that info in the video below. There are time stamps so that you can easily go to the sections that apply to you! Here are the questions answered in the video:

How do I find out what's happening in Children & Youth Ministry?
What if your age groups don't work for my child?
A PERMISSION FORM IS NEEDED to attend on Wednesday Nights?
What is changing about the format for teens at youth group?
Are the teens going on retreats this year?
What is the 9 Month Mission Trip for teens?

Summer Help Needed NOW - Labor Day

If your teen would like to volunteer (or if you would like to volunteer as an adult and have current child clearances on file with us) you can sign up HERE. Make sure to click on “Save & Continue” after you finish selecting the Sundays you would like to serve.

Serve Monthly in The 2026-2027 School Year

Classes to Serve in:

Nursery from 9:50-11:25
2s&3s Class from 9:50-11:25
Pre-K/Kindergarten Class during the sermon and closing song

Sign Up for The 26/27 School Year HERE

9 Month Mission Trip

Find out more in the Parent/Teen Info video above or at the first night of youth group, September 16th!

Youth Group (Grades 6-12)

Starting Sep 16

Hangout Nights for MS & HS on September 26

HIGH SCHOOL Bonfire & Glow Night @ The Kraemer’s

Who: All students in grades 9-12

When: Saturday Sept. 26th @ 6:00-9:00

Where: The Kraemer’s (726 Windsor Pl. Wallingford, PA)

Bring: A snack to share if you are able

Middle School Hangout Night @ Grace Church

Who: All students in grades 6-8

What: Games, Food, Music & Fun

When: Saturday Sept. 20th @ 6:00-8:30

Where: Grace Church (723 S. Providence Rd. Wallingford, PA)

Bring: A snack to share if you are able (main dinner food provided)

Daily Teen Devotionals

Is your teen involved in sports, a musical, or something else that students & leaders might want to attend? Let us know and we will add that information to this section!

Grace Youth - New & Improved E-mail!

Thu, 20 Aug 2026 16:14:57 GMT

Welcome to the NEW (and hopefully improved) Grace Youth E-mail!

These e-mails are specifically designed to keep every parent of students in grades 6-12 (or the teen themself) informed on what's happening in youth ministry at Grace Church. The content here is often different than what you'll find in the church wide E-News and these updates get sent out less frequently (1-2 times a month).

If you do not want to receive these e-mails, simply reply to this e-mail and let me know. DO NOT UNSUBSCRIBE unless you do not want to receive any e-mails from Grace Church in the future.

Great news! You'll be able to access these e-mails directly from our new website and the app this fall. Gone are the days of panicking as you frantically search through old e-mails wondering if you missed a registration deadline. The website will automatically update with every new e-mail that is sent!

Also, note that sign-ups are live for any teens that want to help in children's ministry on Sunday mornings this school year! There are also needs for the final 3 Sundays of summer. Details/sign ups below!

Upcoming Events

8/23: Parent & Teen Meeting
9/16: First night of Youth Group & Faith Explorers (Grades K-12)
10/3: International Festival
11/6 - 11/8: Fall Retreat @ Victory Valley
1/15 - 1/17: Winter Retreat

Children & Youth Info Meeting

Aug 23 after Sunday Service in Room 204

All parents of children in grades K-12 & all teens will meet upstairs in room 204 for a brief meeting about the upcoming school year. The meeting will have the same content as what was shared on 8/16, so no need to attend twice.

Summer Help Needed NOW - Labor Day

Serve Monthly in The 2026-2027 School Year

Classes to Serve in:

Nursery from 9:50-11:25
2s&3s Class from 9:50-11:25
Pre-K/Kindergarten Class during the sermon and closing song

Sign Up for The 26/27 School Year HERE

9 Month Mission Trip

Find out more at the parent/teen meeting this Sunday!

Youth Group (Grades 6-12)

Starting Sep 16

Daily Teen Devotionals

Is your teen involved in sports, a musical, or something else that students & leaders might want to attend? Let us know and we will add that information to this section!