The Friendship Factor
Boston Avenue Youth come from more than a dozen different middle schools. Making friends at church is key to wanting to be part of our church family and be comfortable in all settings. We strive to provide a friendly and hospitable place where lifelong friendships can be formed and kept, where a young person begins to branch out in their faith journey and make some decisions about where God is calling then to serve.
BA's Mid-High Youth Group at District Camp.
Sunday morning on the third floor offers our middle school youth option based classes. Every six to eight weeks youth enroll in a class of their choice. Some of the most popular classes have been: Cooking for Others, Reel to Real, a movie class, Quilting Service Project, Prayer Centers, Collage Class, Christian scrap booking, and Manners for a Christian Youth. United Methodist Curriculum designed with a creative flair serves as the base for our classes.
All of our offerings encourage youth to think for themselves and to learn to make good decisions about their personal life, relationships with peers and family and future plans and for spiritual growth.
July Speakers Schedule for Sunday School
Posted (7-4-07)
Beyond Sunday Morning
DTBA, Downtown Boston Avenue, is our mid-week ministry for youth. Wednesday evenings our 7th and 8th grade gather with a focus on how to live out our faith in all areas of life. Games, speakers, worship, music, food are all part of the weekly meetings.
Fellowship events are scheduled for once a month, generally on Sunday after church.
Mission Projects are worked in to Sunday morning and Wednesday evening. We always have a service project in progress. Summertime allows for more hands on projects around the city and through our Circle of Care.
Basketball is offered in the winter. We play in a league at First UMC. Christian sportsmanship is taught and lived out with leadership from our volunteers.
Small Groups meet monthly on a Sunday evening in the homes of our youth. 7th and 8th graders are divided by gender and grade for this opportunity to discuss issues pertinent to their physical, emotional, spiritual and individual needs.
Interfaith Education is emphasized at Boston Avenue. Middle school youth participate in the Tulsa Interfaith Tour in April, the Martin Luther King parade and service, and most recently experienced a Seder with leadership from Temple Israel.
Many Mid-High youth participate in the annual Martin Luther King Celebration
and parade in Tulsa.
We are all about building bridges of peace and harmony among all peoples. Understanding differences removes the walls. Sunday morning classes and Wednesday evening programs encourage and help to teach these principles.
“OPERATION UNDERSTANDING 2007”; OCCJ's 24th Annual Youth Interfaith Tour, April 15, 2007
OCCJ's 24th annual youth Interfaith Tour will again bring together middle and high school students and others to visit various houses of worship and learn about faith traditions. Contact Audra Fogle for more information.
Link to OCCJ at http://www.occjok.com/ourwork.asp if you want any more information.
BAYTroupe, Boston Avenue Youth Troupe, is the place for those that enjoy being on stage. Once a year all youth are offered an opportunity to be part of a stage performance.
Chapel Choir meets on Wednesday evening and is combined with the senior high. Our excellent Chapel Choir sings Sunday mornings at the 8:30 service. Many of our youth make this commitment to be part of worship. A summer tour is planned each year.
Volunteers lead all of our programs under the direction of Debbie Peterson, Director Mid-high Youth and Confirmation. To be part of this team, call Debbie at 699-0124.
7th-8th Grade Summer Camps & Activities
Complete OK UMC Camp Listing
Please register for camps through the church, instead of through the conference, as it will affect your cost. Boston Avenue will pay half of one of these camps for you. LIT credit can be used but must be requested and LIT form completed and returned with registration. All registrations must be fully completed and returned to Shirley Dyer in the education office in order to be enrolled in your camp selections.
Tulsa District Junior High Camp (Description)
June 11-15 — For students entering Grade 7th-8th at Camp Egan; This camp runs simultaneously with Senior High Camp but is a separate camp with its own staff and groupings. We will enjoy river hikes, swimming, singing, volleyball, small group discussions, hands-on spiritual growth, crafts, and a variety of fun activities. Awesome worship will be lead by Guy Langston and the dean is Debbie Peterson. Registration forms are downloadable and available in the education office. (Please do not register through the conference.)
Wilderness Camp (Description)
June 14-20 — For students entering Grade 7th-8th at Canyon Camp; Wilderness Camp is a unique seven day, six night adventure to create a Christian community while living in the out-of-doors. Campers come from all over Oklahoma. It’s OK to come to this camp by yourself. It is a challenging adventure to develop personal skills, specifically how to listen to others, how to express your own needs and ideas, the need to care for the group, and the struggle to make group decisions. Each group of eight to ten youth and two adult campers will plan their own meals, hikes and activities in the colorful, historic Wilderness Canyons. There are no classrooms, but youth will teach themselves many things, among them, how to build a campfire and cook out-of-doors. Sign up before May 16, 2007.
7th – 12th Youth Force 2007 (Description)
June 24-29 — For youth 7th-Graduated Seniors at Oklahoma City (housing at Oklahoma City University); Whether it’s giving a home a new coat of paint, fixing a leaky faucet, or sharing the love of Jesus with elderly and disadvantaged families in our state, youth and adults will be united in mission this summer at Youth Force. An active, hands-on experience, Youth Force is Oklahoma’s premier mission event for teens. Registration fee includes all meals, lodging for Sunday evening through Friday morning, project supplies and expenses, recreation, worship, training materials and a Youth Force t-shirt. Registrations are processed in a first come, first served basis and spots will fill quickly.
J.E.M. Camp (Description)
June 25-29 — For students entering Grades 6, 7 and 8 at Canyon Camp; THEME: The Journey J.E.M. (Junior High Effectiveness Ministry) Camp uses the model of teaching leadership skills to United Methodist youth through active participation. Small groups will participate in the low ropes course at Canyon and a variety of leadership skill workshops are a part of this camp. J.E.M. Camp offers training to Junior Highs in leadership and is designed specifically with the Junior High youth in mind. It is the goal of this camp to develop leadership skills at the Junior High level that can be used immediately, and naturally progress to the training provided by CYME for Sr. High youth. J.E.M. has many unique events, including a spectacular banquet. We will discover our leadership skills through group dynamics, low rope elements, individual reflection and small group process. Participants at J.E.M., must be recommended or invited by their youth minister, and their senior pastor. A signature is required from both of these persons on the registration form before a camper will be allowed at camp.
SPLAT! Youth 2007 (Description and Releases)
July 11-15 — For students entering Grades 7th-12th in Greensboro, NC; THEME: SPLAT! Seek, Pray, Learn, Act, and Teach. United Methodists Youth and Youth Workers from across the globe will travel to Greensboro, NC to form a spiritual community unlike anything you’ve experienced before. Each day there will be a total of 50 Splatshops providing youth and adults alike a chance to experience God in a whole new way. Our Group will be traveling with other youth from across the Oklahoma Conference by chartered bus.
St. Yootz Day (Description and Release)
August 18 — For students entering Grades 7th-12th at Fontier City in Edmond; St. Yootz Day is a Conference Council on Youth Ministry annual fund raising event at Frontier City for Youth Service Fund (YSF). Youth from all over the state are invited to bring their friends and families for a fun day at the amusement park while donating to a worthwhile cause. The Youth Service Fund is the United Methodist mission fund supported by youth. Youth raise the money and choose the projects-youth ministries around the world. YSF provides a way for youth to be in real ministry with each other-and to develop plans of committed giving that have far reaching, adult-sized impact. Of the money raised 70% is distributed by annual conference youth and 30% by national Youth Ministry Organization youth. Here’s your opportunity to participate in this great ministry and have fun too!
L.I.T.
Leadership is taught and encouraged for our mid-high youth. In 7th grade youth can enter our Leaders in Training program. Working in the nursery, helping with VBS, Night Owl Camp, Respite, Advent Worship, Easter Egg Hunt for children are some of the options. Specific projects as directed by Debbie are also part of the LIT program. When qualified to be part of this Leadership Team, credit is given for each hour of service that can then be used towards any church activity.
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