St. Mark's Lutheran Church Youth and Family Ministry
Welcome back to a new year at St. Mark's! It was great seeing some of you at the Ministry Fair. We hope to see many of you this Sunday as we kick off Fall programming.
Email Youth Director Alice Real at youth@stmarks-elca.org with questions or to be added to the mailing list.
* * * In order to participate in activities, all youth/parents must register to provide up-to-date information for youth leaders,
as well as complete the 2025-2026 medical release/consent form. English or Spanish * * *
This Week at St. Mark's:
Sunday, November 8, 2025
Confirmation: Grades 7 and 8
Teachers: Peggy Harris and Peter Weekly
Sundays, 11:00 am-12:00 pm, Room 217
This Week: Exploring Article One
High School: Grades 9-12
Adult Leaders: Alice Real and Jim Kyger
Sundays, 11:00 am-12:00 pm, Room 215 Youth Room
High School will explore the Bible this year, from Genesis through Acts and the birth of the church, seeking examples of God's love and call in the scriptures and in our daily lives.
This Week: God Chooses David- How does God see beyond the exterior to what is inside of our hearts?
Last Sunday—Burke/Fairfax Crop Hunger Walk
Thanks to all who participated in and donated to the St. Mark's team! We achieved our goal of $1000! Youth worked on signs during Sunday School last week.
Photos below from recent Youth Group projects …
Calendar at-a-glance …
November:
1/21-23 Synod Middle School/High School Retreat, Skycroft Retreat Center, Middletown MD
December:
12/21 Christmas Pageant Dress Rehearsal (11:00 AM-12:PM)
12/24 Christmas Eve Bilingual Family Service and Christmas Pageant, 5:00 PM
February:
2/15 Shrove Sunday Pancake Brunch Youth Fundraiser (11:00 AM-12:00 PM)
Full youth ministry calendar
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For more information, contact Alice Real, Director of Youth and Family Ministries, at youth@stmarks-elca.org.
See you Sunday!
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See photos of our 2018-2020 gatherings and 2021 Youth Sunday below:
St. Mark’s Mission Trip to Red Bird Work Camp
July 2024
In July 2024, St. Mark’s sent a team to participate in Red Bird Mission Work Camp. Jim Kyger, Harriet Latta, Maureen Murphy, Alice Real, and Mary Crumrine (Alice’s sister) spent July 21 through July 26 in Beverly, Kentucky, working on home improvement projects in the surrounding community. Guided by Red Bird Crew Leaders, Brett and Kevin, they repaired and replaced a bedroom floor and water heater in an elderly couple's trailer home, and they mudded drywall and installed underpinning around an addition to the couple’s nephew's home across the street. The addition will be a new bedroom for several of the nephew's children.
Watch worship on St. Mark's Youtube channel!
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Youth Group Parent Handbook
Parents! Click HERE to download and view your Youth Group 2021-2022 Information Meeting Handout.
Youth Ministry Calendar 2025-2026
Looking Ahead
Save the date for these upcoming events. More details to come! A full youth ministry calendar is attached. Additional activities will be planned based on youth input.
8:00 PM Friday, November 21 through 12:00 PM Sunday, November 23
Middle/High School Youth Retreat, Skycroft Conference Center, Middletown, Maryland
Sometimes we feel like we're wandering in the wilderness without answers or direction. But our faith stories remind us that even as we wander, God keeps calling to us- to remind us we are loved, to point our way ahead and to remind us that we don't walk this journey alone. Come, listen with us for God's calling!
This event is sponsored by the Youth and Family Ministry of the Delaware-Maryland and Metro DC Synods. Youth in grades 6-12 will gather for a weekend of music, games, small group faith discussions, service projects and worship with youth from across our 2 Lutheran synods.
We will plan to travel as a group that Friday afternoon and return Sunday afternoon. St. Mark's will pay for the registration of any youth who would like to participate! Sign up here by November 2nd
Event Website Retreat Schedule
Christmas Eve Bilingual Family Service and Pageant- December 24, 5:00pm
Youth are invited to participate in the Christmas Eve Family Service, this year at 5:00 PM on December 24. There are openings for prelude and other special music, as well as acolytes, worship assistants, and readers. We will also participate with the Children's Ministry on the annual Christmas Pageant, to be presented during the service. Rehearsals will be held during the Sunday School hour, as well as a dress rehearsal on Sunday, 12/21 from 11:00 AM to 12:00 PM. Stay tuned for more information!
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In order to participate in activities, all youth/parents must register to provide up-to-date information for youth leaders, as well as complete the 2025-2026 medical release/consent form. English Spanish
Full youth ministry calendar
* * * * * * *
For more information, contact Alice Real, Director of Youth and Family Ministries, at youth@stmarks-elca.org.
The St. Marks Youth had a great time raking leaves at church member homes on a recent November Sunday afternoon!
