The Skylight Youth Ministry
The Youth Ministry of First Church, The Skylight, is committed to helping youth in sixth through twelfth grade experience the love of Christ and learn how to share that love with the world. Led by Youth Director Justin Cox, the Skylight provides a way for youth to develop their faith in God and build relationships with other Christian youth and adults.
Below you’ll find information about upcoming events and other important things. For more information about The Skylight, including descriptions of ongoing programs and a detailed calendar, visit About The Skylight. For information specific to parents of youth, visit our Parents Page.
Skylight News
Summer Interns
In just a few short weeks our summer interns will join the church staff to help create incredible experiences for our youth. We have two wonderful interns joining us this year! Take a minute to get to know our new summer team:
Working with Middle School is Miranda Lee.
Email: miranda@firstchurchorlando.org
Miranda Lee is thrilled that she will be an intern working with First Church’s middle schoolers this summer! The daughter of Kim and Melanie Lee and granddaughter of Katie Bush, Miranda grew up in First Church. She was active in Youth Group throughout her middle school and high school years. She participated in many mission trips as a youth and was part of the Leadership Team her junior year on on a mission to Nicaragua. Miranda also is a talented soprano who sang in the youth choir and the chancel choir, and she has offered solos during worship at First Church and in the youth choir and the chancel choir. She is a junior at Florida Southern College in Lakeland, studying studio art and English. She brings experience as a camp counselor at Warren W. Willis Methodist Youth Camp and has worked with Vacation Bible School. Miranda is fun-loving and creative and has a passion for helping others to deepen their relationship with God.
Working with High School is John Shughart.
Email: john@firstchurchorlando.org
Hi my name is John Shughart, I’m a fun-loving guy and I love trying to be able to relate to as many people as possible. I am a sophomore at Florida State University Majoring in “Figuring out life” and Minoring in “Experiences”. I have been a member at First Church since the 6th grade and I grew up having the Youth Group as my second family. I love doing mission work and I have a passion for working with Youth and hope to work as a Youth Minister after graduation. I’m so excited for this summer and I hope to impact the Church, the Youth, and the Communities we will be living and working in by showing Christ’s love for all of us.
Summer Mission Trips
Every summer we take almost the entire youth group on mission trips to various parts of the country and the world. I feel serving others is a vital part of what God calls us to do.
This year’s mission trip information is below. There are two prices listed. The first is the Early Bird price. You can sign up with a $100 deposit.
6th Grade
June 24 – 30
$315 6th Grade Team:
TEAMeffort in Jacksonville, FL
2 youth spaces left!
Every year we take our sixth grade group to TEAMeffort. They have a number of locations across the country and for the second year in a row we’re going to be in the Jacksonville area. The team will repair homes or similar style work.
7th & 8th Grade
July 14 – 22
$415 7th & 8th Grade Team:
ReCreation Experiences in Asheville, NC
3 youth spaces left!
We have been taking our 7th & 8th graders to ReCreation Experiences in Asheville, NC every-other year for the past 22 years! The team will provide home repair to people of the surrounding area as well as work with a local organization called MANNA that helps feed local residents.
High School
July 14 – 22
$415 High School Team:
Urban Promise in Camden, NJ
3 youth spaces left!
This will be our 4th time taking high schoolers to Urban Promise since 2001. Urban works to transform the city of Camden, one of the poorest in the country, by providing children with a safe, loving and educational place to be. The high school team will help Urban run summer camps throughout the city.
Mayor Buddy’s Book Club
Beginning on Wednesday, May 9th, First Church will be hosting weekly meetings for the City of Orlando’s Mayor Buddy’s Book Club. The book club is for kids in 5th through 8th grade interested in reading. For more information, or to sign up, visit the club’s website or contact Naomi Parks.
Summer Camp at Warren Willis
Every year the youth camp in Leesburg offers week-long summer camp opportunities for children and youth. This year, our church will be participating the week of July 30 – Aug 4. The camp registration process is done on an individual basis. If you would like more information about camp, or would like to sign your youth up, please visit the camp website. Know that camp registration fills up fast, so if you are interested you will need to act quickly.
When filling out the registration, you will be asked some questions to connect with our church. That information is included below:
- Church name: First United Methodist Church of Orlando
- Church district is: East Central
- GCFA # 355341
- Church contact: Holly Eby,holly@firstchurchorlando.org
- Holly’s cell phone number 407-408-3225
- Church phone number : 407-849-6080 x142
High School Prayer Form
A local church is working on creating a worship experience for their high school group and is trying to see what issues high school students around the city are struggling with and would like prayer for. They are looking for anonymous information so they know what to pray for without any way of tracking people down.
If you would like to participate, you can fill out the form below. Remember, everything you enter is anonymous and will be shared with another local church for the purpose of prayer and understanding struggles facing high school students. Participation is optional.
2011 – 2012 Youth Ministry Calendar
The calendar for the next year is now available for your downloading pleasure! The calendar includes all of the youth group topics and blasts, dates for retreats, mission trips and special events. The calendar includes all dates through next year’s All Youth Retreat in late August. Mark your calendars now. Also included is the upcoming snack supper schedule. Thank you so much for your participation.
Download the 2011 – 2012 Youth Group Calendar
Download the 2011 – 2012 Snack Supper Schedule
Contact The Skylight
For more information about our youth ministry, contact Justin Cox at 407.849.6080 × 128 or Justin@FirstChurchOrlando.org. You can also follow our Twitter feed and like us on Facebook!
