PCWS Youth
You are welcome here. You are loved.

In the Presbyterian tradition, we believe in the priesthood of all believers—that means the priesthood of youth, too! Our young people are theologians. Their identities, stories, experiences, and questions teach the Church about God and about how to be God’s people in the world.

Just as we believe that the lives of our young people matter to God and the Church, we believe that God and the Church matter in the lives of our young people.

As a youth group, we aim to:

  1. Embody the spacious embrace of God by ensuring that all youth feel accepted and included in the community.
  2. Equip youth with the Biblical, theological, and ecclesial knowledge they need to embark confidently on their own faith journeys.
  3. Create opportunities for youth to see, experience, and engage in God’s restorative work on earth. We follow Jesus’s peacemaking and radically loving example as we put faith in action and participate with the Spirit in the healing and restoration of all things.
  4. Develop honest, authentic, and healthy relationships with each other and with adult leaders.
  5. Empower adults to build meaningful relationships with teenagers.
  6. Engage in the worship life of the church both as leaders and participants.

 

The Presbyterian Church of Western Springs aims to be a sanctuary for all. We are committed to the safety of our youth, volunteers, and leaders. For more information, please view our Safe Space Policy and our Email Internet and Electronic Communication and Social Media Policies.

For more information, consider joining our email list, or contact Ben Mertz at ben@presbyws.org.

Schedule yourself to be an adult volunteer or to bring a snack for our youth to enjoy through this sign-up sheet. (Must be safe space trained to volunteer as an adult leader, anyone can bring a snack though!)

- View Our Calendar

Events in the next 30 Days:

- Sign up for Monthly Updates

- Adult Volunteers

Anyone who has a desire to be an adult leader for our youth is encouraged to connect with Ben in-person or through email (ben@presbyws.org). Every Adult leader is required to become familiar with our Safe Space policy, and pass a Ministry Safe training dealing with preventing child abuse or neglect, particularly in the church environment.

If you are already Ministry Safe Trained, and would like to sign up for a volunteer slot, put your name in the dates and roles listed on our sign-up sheet.

If you would like to bring a snack for our youth to enjoy on a Regular Sunday Gathering, you can also put your name and the snack you plan to bring on our sign-up sheet.

- PCWS Golden Ticket

The PCWS Youth Golden Ticket is highly recommended for all youth programming, and required for any off-site events. “Golden Ticket” is what we call our hold harmless form, which includes sections on travel and a photo release. One parent will be required to fill out and sign this form each calendar year that their child will be participating in our programs. View and download this year’s Golden Ticket HERE.

- Our Commitment to Safety

The Presbyterian Church of Western Springs aims to be a sanctuary for all. We are committed to the safety of our youth, volunteers, and leaders. For more information, please view our Safe Space Policy and our Email Internet and Electronic Communication and Social Media Policies.

- 2023 Summer Missions Trip

We have an exciting opportunity for a 2023 Summer missions trip to Appalachia Service Project! PCWS has done Summer work trips with ASP many times in the past, and is excited to carry on this tradition of mission and service in the coming summer.

We will be registering alongside FUMC for our trip, will attend all of their trip preparation meetings (beginning in Jan), and will eventually drive down to Kentucky and work alongside the FUMC teens and adults.

  1. View or download this PDF from Hattie with all the details for our potential trip.
  2. Talk with your teens (current 8th grade-Current 12th grade) about whether they would like to attend a trip like this.
  3. Register your teen(s) using this link: https://forms.gle/P6zqRof4feV1WeaUA
  4. Pay the non-refundable $50 Deposit to PCWS by November 1.

Don’t hesitate to reach out if you have any thoughts, questions, or requests! I’m so excited for this opportunity to join with a great mission with our fantastic teens this summer.

Ben Mertz

Youth Director