UNION CREEK YOUTH
We believe that a child's early experiences with the Church have a lasting impact on faith, so we offer several groups and activities where youth at Union Creek can fall in love with God, his Word, and his people.
From toddlers to teens, Union Creek offers meaningful ways for kids to grow in faith, build lasting friendships, and feel truly at home in worship and service.
EXPERIENCING THE GOSPEL WHILE HAVING A WHOLE LOT OF FUN.
upcoming youth activities
ELCA Good Gifts Fish Farm
Give your neighbor a fish, and they’ll eat for a day. Give your neighbors a community fish farm, and they’ll eat for a lifetime. A fish farm begins with a pond, training and a few fast-growing fish.
Sunday, April 26
APRIL Noisy Offering
Join us for our biggest youth event of the year!
Snowball Mountain Challenge VBS, based on Philippians 4:13, "I can do all things through Him who strengthens me."
Get ready for an ice-cold summer adventure, packed with cool winter activities. Ollie, the Arctic Seal, an enthusiastic blogger with an online following, and the Activities Director explore the Challenge Companion (the Bible) every day to learn how God helps Bible heroes - and people today - face challenges.
Through stories from the Old and New Testaments, Challengers (your child) will learn that with the strength God provides through Jesus, they can do more than they ever dreamed they could do. With this understanding, your child will be invited to share the good news of Jesus and share the love and strength God offers with everyone, everywhere, every day!
August 2-6, 2026
Vacation bible school
Union Creek Lutheran Church received the Holy Cow Award during the 2025 SD Synod Assembly!
The Holy Cow award, given by the SD Synod of the ELCA, recognizes congregations
for their contributions to ELCA World Hunger and other synod mission priorities.
The Holy Cow is awarded to churches that demonstrate
outstanding giving, and is designed to be achieved by
churches of all sizes. The award is based on a formula that
includes a church's overall giving to ELCA World Hunger,
it's per-member giving to ELCA World Hunger, and its
mission support directly to the synod. The South Dakota
Synod selects 2 churches each year, one for the overall
gift and one for the per-member giving.
holy cow!
Confirmation is a two-year journey typically beginning in 7th grade. Through weekly classes, discussions, outings, and service, students explore the core beliefs of the Lutheran faith and what it means to make that faith their own. At the end of the program, students affirm their faith and become full members of the Church.
Wednesdays
September - May
Starting in 7th Grade
Confirmation
Our Youth Group meets regularly for service projects, outings, and plenty of fun. Whether we’re bowling, volunteering, or sharing a meal together, these gatherings give teens a space to grow in faith and friendship in a way that feels relevant to their lives and supportive.
Various Activities
Year-Round
Preschool - 8th grade
Youth Group
Each Sunday, after the service, kids are invited to learn about God’s love through age-appropriate Bible stories, crafts, music, and activities.
Sundays at 10:15am
September - May
For Ages 3-15
sunday school
youth ministries
ELCA Good Gifts
church on the Street
Heifer International
Lutherans Outdoors
A-W After-Prom Breakfast
Alcester Backpack Program
Safe Place Women's Shelter
Akron & Alcester Anonymous Utilities
Akron Care Center Activity Fund
Funds raised by Union Creek Youth support a wide range of community needs and global mission work.
Here are some of the organizations and projects we supported in 2024.
MISSIONS SUPPORTED
From preparing care packages for Church on the Street to buying Angel Tree Christmas gifts, our youth are active in serving our community.
Community Service
Youth participate in worship through acolyte duties, reading, the annual Christmas Pageant, bell choir, backpack blessings, children's sermons and more.
Worship Activities
Youth prepare and serve Advent and Lent suppers, Easter breakfast, Seder supper, Farmer's Market supper, and host our Annual Tea Party as additional fundraisers.
Feeding our Community
Youth raise money year-round to support activities and mission work. Some of our fundraisers include the SOUPer Bowl of Caring, meat stick sales, T-shirt sales, cookie walk, and noisy offering.
Fundraisers
An annual trip to the historic Nora Store for an old-fashioned Christmas sing-along that brings together music, community, and holiday cheer.
Nora Store Sing Along
Bowling nights, apple orchard trips, swimming, corn maze, Halloween party, campouts, and more. Our youth get lots of opportunities to have fun and fellowship together.
Fellowship Activities
We kick off the Sunday School year with music, games, snacks, and energy, welcoming kids and families into another season of growing in faith.
Sunday School Rally
Every three years, our teens attend this powerful ELCA event, where thousands of Lutheran youth come together to worship, learn, and grow in faith.
National Youth Gathering
At Union Creek, our young people don’t just learn about faith, they live it. Youth are involved in church life through worship participation, service projects, and supporting missions.
Here are some of the annual events our youth group participates in and hosts.
YOUTH GROUP ACTIVITIES
VBS is one of the highlights of our summer! Kids enjoy a week of music, games, snacks, crafts, and faith-based adventures, all centered around a biblical theme. It’s a joy-filled way for children to learn Scripture and experience the love of Jesus in action. At the end of the week the kids showcase what they learned through a program for friends and family.
Vacation Bible School
Every summer Union Creek sponsors attendees at regional summer Bible camps, where kids and teens deepen their spiritual lives, build friendships, and enjoy outdoor activities together.
Most of our campers go to one of the Lutherans Outdoors Camps.
Summer bible camps
Camps & Activities
You don’t have to be a member of Union Creek for your kids to participate in youth activities, everyone is welcome! Whether they want to join us for Sunday School, come to VBS, or gather with us for youth group events, we’d love to have them. At Union Creek, kids are known, valued, and encouraged to grow in faith together.