Youth Group

The Youth Group at Zion Lutheran Church provides our 7th through 12th graders an opportunity to make friendships, participate in service activities and have fun in a caring, Christian atmosphere. All are welcome and encouraged to attend our monthly meetings and any or all of our activities.

Youth Group members serve the community in many ways. Our Souper Bowl of Caring event, held on the Sunday of the NFL Super Bowl, collects canned soups and donates all the items Utica-area organizations. The Youth Group annually participates in the Central Crossroads Conference Volleyball Marathon, which raises money for various Upstate New York charities and keeps everyone up all night! This is a fun event held each year in March and is a large fundraiser for the charities involved.

Youth Group members have assisted in Zion's Canstruction event in past years. Canstruction in an international organization where the sculptures created are made from canned food or other food items. The youth and adults participating have helped build an Erie Canal boat, a Saturn V rocket and a version of Utica's own Stanley theater. All the food items used in these events have been donated to local organizations to help feed the hungry.

The Youth Group has helped our community with park cleaning as part of Zion's "God's Work Our Hands" day and is currently involved in our outreach effort at the Johnson Park Center. We look forward to finding new ways to serve our community and our world.

The members of Youth Group continue to volunteer to serve Zion's many ministries throughout the year. Greeting members and visitors, assisting in worship, helping clean our church home, sharing the Good News via storytelling, using their musical talents to enhance and lead our worship services and assisting with Children's Ministry are just a few of the ways the Youth Group members share their gifts.

The Youth Group doesn't just stay in the local area. We have traveled to the ELCA Youth Gatherings held in major U.S. Cities. Past gatherings have been held in New Orleans, St. Louis, Atlanta, San Antonio and Detroit and the 2018 Gathering will be in Houston. It has given us the opportunity to join thousands of Lutheran youth and adults to worship, serve, pray and play. 

Come join us! All are welcome!