Youth Group
United Methodist Youth Fellowship (UMYF) is where it all begins for our Youth disciples as they gather each week to have a ton of fun, learn about God and the importance of Christian community. Each meeting begins with a check-in and a biblically-based lesson and ends with a game or fun activity. Every week is unique and designed with a purpose by our Youth Director, Madison Wentworth. Students from nearly every surrounding Middle School and High School are regular attendees and you are welcome, too!
Meets Sunday Night 6:00 pm Middle School Aged (6-8th Grade), 7:00 pm Meal (Middle School and Senior High Together), and 7:30 pm Senior High (9-12th Grade).
Serve. Eat. Play
During the summer months and occasionally throughout the school year our students participate in purposefully designed activities that center around service projects. The name of the event speaks for itself, the students begin the day in service (past project locations include: Houston Food Bank, HAAM, Step Healthy Day, Arbor Terrace Retirement Community), then share a meal together and usually end with some time in fellowship doing something recreational like mini-golf or attending an improv comedy show.
Confirmation
United Methodists use the term "confirmation" to mark the first time a baptized Christian publicly "confirms" their intention to live the vows of the baptismal and membership covenant and so becomes a professing member of the local congregation and The United Methodist Church. At Lakeside we typically suggest that confirmation occurs when a student is in Middle School. Currently, at Lakeside we host a series of classes, service projects, and fellowship opportunities on alternating years. Upon completion of this term, the students are then confirmed (and sometimes baptized, if this hasn't occurred for them yet) as professing members of Lakeside UMC. Our next confirmation class will be held during the 2020-21 school year.
Big House
Each summer students who have completed 6-8th grade attend a 3-night retreat that focuses on mission work. Typical locations for this trip are within the surrounding cities of Houston (i.e., Baytown or Livingston). Students stay at a UM church locally and provide two days of work for that community. Projects include yard work, painting, and minor construction. Each workday is followed up with evening activities like swimming, bowling or large group games and nightly worship.
Breakthru
This annual weekend retreat takes place each spring at Camp Pineywoods in Groveton, TX. Lakeside joins several other Methodist youth groups for a weekend of fellowship and worship. The campground is equipped with all kinds of recreational opportunities like a pool, gaga ball pit, and basketball courts. Students will also attend two workshops of their choice that center around modern Christian living.
Beach Retreat
This annual weekend retreat occurs at the end of each summer before the new school year begins. It is a time for bonding and relationship building within our youth group and has served to cement strong friendships among the students that attend Lakeside. We schedule many fun activities like visiting the Pleasure Pier and playing mini-golf. We also serve each year at an urban farm called Seeding Galveston and attend Sunday morning worship at Galveston Central UMC.
UMARMY
The United M.ethodist Action Reach-Out Mission by Youth (U.M. ARMY) is a week-long mission trip that occurs each summer for students who have completed 9-12th grade. Typical locations for this trip are across the eastern portion of Texas (i.e., Athens, Madisonville, West Columbia). Students stay at a UM church locally and provide five days of work for that community. Projects include building porches, steps, and wheelchair ramps. Each workday is followed up with evening activities like swimming, bowling or large group games, and nightly worship.
