LYF Update September 2025
Click here for calendar, registration, and bible reading plan links.
August Recap
It’s Fall ya’ll! The weather is getting cooler, football is back, and LYF is getting back into our school year rhythms. August is always a bit of a transition month, where we do a brief series on our mission statement while working to prepare for the rest of the Fall semester. In August we learned about opening our hearts, minds, and hands to the work of Jesus. Specifically we talked about how the work of Jesus is to build God’s Kingdom “on earth as it is in heaven” and what it looks like to see God’s Kingdom come in our lives through transformed hearts, renewed minds, and equipped hands. We also had our guy/girl retreats, which were both a ton of fun, and a great opportunity to unwind and connect. Also the first person to text Trey their favorite Starbucks drink may have a little surprise coming soon.
During this Fall semester we’re going to be focusing on the theme “truth”. What is true and what is not true? Why is truth so important? Where can I find out what is true? How do I tell the difference between truth and lies? We’ll teach on this theme on Wednesday nights in a way that we hope will deeply resonate with students (hearts), dive deeper/ask questions on Sunday mornings(minds), and discuss the practical application of these teachings on Sunday nights (hands).
Weekly Gatherings
Wednesday Nights: Hearts. Bring your own dinner at 6. Youth group from 6:45-8:00. We introduce the passage/theme for the week in a way that we hope resonates with students’ hearts. These times are for “normal” Wednesdays that are not 4 for 30’s or Roots. Dinner will be provided on 4 for 30 Wednesdays. Dinner is also served at Roots, but requires registering and paying.
Sunday Mornings: Minds. Bible class from 9:30-10:15. We dive deeper into the week’s passage/theme by asking questions of the text.
Sunday Nights: Hands. Jesus Practice Teams. Dates Below! We work towards application of the week’s passage/theme by discussing how the text calls us to live differently, we pray for each other, and we hold each other accountable.
Other things to Know!
LYF Logo Design Contest: We’re having a contest to redesign LYF’s logo! Designs should be submitted by September 16, and will be revealed Wednesday 9/17. We’ll have a vote, and the winner will be on t-shirts, stickers, merch, etc...Designs should take inspiration from Laurel and LYF’s mission statements. Laurel’s mission statement is “Opening hearts, minds, and hands to the work of Jesus.” LYF’s mission statement (flowing out of the phrase “Kingdom work”) is “To see God’s Kingdom come in the lives of our students, families, and their communities.”
Fall Theme: Truth - During this Fall semester we’re going to be focusing on the theme “truth”. What is true and what is not true? Why is truth so important? Where can I find out what is true? How do I tell the difference between truth and lies? Be sure to follow along with our bible reading plan!
September Dates
9/7: Jesus Practice Teams - 5:30-8:00 at the White’s! This will be the same Jesus Practice we know and love but with a much stronger focus placed on small group time together. In the past small group discussion has been a 20-25 minute tag on to the end of Jesus Practice events. This semester we’re hoping to allow at least an hour of small group time for students and leaders to pray for, encourage, and challenge one another to live out the text for the week.
9/14: Jesus Practice Teams - 5:30-8:00. Host TBD. Explanation above!
9/17: 4 for 30 -A monthly Wednesday LYF event where we meet from 6-8. We have 30 minutes to eat, 30 minutes to serve, 30 minutes to connect with each other, and 30 minutes to connect with God.
9/19: Late Night LYF - A monthly late-night hang out time on Friday nights. These will be roughly from 10:00pm-1:00am and largely unstructured. The idea is that high school students can have a safe and fun place to bring their friends on Friday nights after their school football games. Middle school students are certainly welcome to join as well!
9/21: Leader Night - 4:30-7:30 at Laurel. A monthly gathering of both student and adult leaders in LYF to share a meal, pray together, worship together, and work on improving LYF together.
9/24: Roots - A monthly Wednesday night gathering for the whole church to share a meal, worship, and conversation together. LYF won’t meet on Roots Wednesdays as LYF students and families are encouraged to fully engage with Roots.
9/28: Jesus Practice Teams - 5:30-8:00. Host TBD. Explanation Above
Save the Dates Below!
11/21-23: Fall Retreat
2/13-15: Winterfest
5/22-25: Camp LYF
6/6-12: Camp Barnabas Mission Trip