High School (9th-12th)

 FOR DATES, TIMES, and LOCATION of specific meetings/events visit Events Calendar.

 TO REGISTER ONLINE for upcoming events, retreats, or camps visit Event Registrations under Getting Involved

 High School Youth Group:

The Gathering is Riverside Church's high school youth group! Anyone in 9th-12th grade is welcome to join us as we talk about life and faith. We meet Sunday nights for fellowship or just to hang out!  From week to week the content and activities may vary so please check the calendar.  Here is a snapshot of what may be happening on a Sunday evening!  Usual time is 700-830pm.

Gathering + Starbucks.  The group will meet at someone's home for a quick message together, then we will we will finish at Cascades Starbucks at (students can be picked up there!)

Gathering +  Home Group. An evening of games, food, hanging out with friends and a discussion on life and Faith!

Events.  Local activities that do not have an overnight stay.   From Slopfest, laser tag, skiing, corn maize, game night, bowling, Chuck-e-cheese... you get the idea; events create an opportunity for students to have fun and get connected!

 Camps and Retreats.  Trips that include an overnight stay.  They could include ski trips, fall retreat, OCNJ (high school beach trip), Revolve Girls Conference. Retreats provide an environment of escape.  It is a chance to get out of the Northern Va area and all the noise and distractions and spend time getting connected to each other.  Usually through the program and speakers, students will be challenge to consider questions about life and faith.  We will spend time playing goofy games and hanging out with each other.  

 High School Small Groups:

Recharge: A bible study for High School Students who want to learn more about Faith, Life, God, and want to go a little bit deeper.  Recharge usually a larger and more open group than C-groups (below).  For instance All 9th grade girls, or All guys in high school. In mixed rechage groups Guys and girls usually meet together for study and we usually have some break out time for more discussion.  The hope is through Recharge some c-groups will form.

  C Groups: groups meet weekly to talk about life and faith, encourage and challenge. They are organized by age and gender.  Currently our high school groups are all using the same curriculum though in the past it has varied group to group.  They are walking through a series called 'LIVE' a multi-year curriculum that hopefully will be connecting with students on different levels as they move through high school.  C-groups are ALL open!  They are never a closed group, so anytime through the school year if a student is interested we are happy to connect them with a group that will work for them!

 

Leadership:  For students who are at least halfway done with sophomore year or older.  Leadership is a 6 week (1hour meeting) series on what it means to be a leader.  Students are faced with questions like, what does it mean to be a leader? How did Christ lead by service and how are we called to do the same?  What does it mean to have a positive attitude no matter what situation we are in?  How do we treat others with respect even if they are treating us poorly?   Other topics include, leading from start to finish, leading in your school, and solving problems.

Ways to impact our community:

We absolutely recognize that it is difficult to balance the demands of school, sports, friends, clubs, hobbies, a job, family and whatever else pulls on your time.  However it is also very important to be giving your time back to serve and care for others.  We are all given so many gifts from God and we are asked by Him to give back!  Please pray about how you might choose to serve others and your community.  Here are just a few, but I do hope you take the time to find something that fits you and the way God made you!  Look under GETTING INVOLVED, VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITIES to find something that is right for you!
 

      Afternoon Adventure Tuesdays:  An after school program at Sugarland Elementary School. Looking for help with tutoring in addition/subtraction and other elementary subjects.    Looking for older students and adults who are willing to come share life and have fun with elementary age kids!
      Sugarland Backpack Ministry:  Filling over 200 backpacks with food so that students and families have something to eat over the weekends!  Looking for volunteers of all ages to help sort and stuff backpacks! 
      Share Christmas:  Through the month of December we have many projects centered around sharing Christmas with our community.  We do this through a large food drive, large community events, home group worship services, and large meals together.  Looking for volunteers to help Share Christmas!