We are all about youth
St. Paul’s has traditionally had a large and varied program of youth ministries overseen by staff and volunteers. If you are willing to be part of our youth group leadership team or have specific ideas for youth engagement, email Pastor Sheridan (sallmond@stpaulsk.org) or Pastor Joey (joeyhm@stpaulsk.org).
SCROLL DOWN to find upcoming events, registration forms, and youth news!
SPY Summer Invite Series:
Faith, Friendship, and Fun
The fun events in the St. Paul's Youth Summer Invite Series are for students who are rising-6th graders through rising-12th graders - and their friends! It’s designed to be welcoming for our youth and folks who aren't necessarily connected to a church community. SPY students who bring a friend are entered to win a prize! There is zero cost for youth to participate thanks to a grant from the Baltimore-Washington Conference of the UMC.
All activities will begin at St. Paul's UMC, 10401 Armory Ave., Kensington MD 20895. Transportation will be provided as needed.
Click the button to go to our secure registration and permission form!
SUMMER SERIES Permission & REgistration
Submit the form once to be covered for all of the great activities in the Summer Invite Series!
HERSHEY PARK DAY TRIP
Registration for this trip closed as of August 3.
Trip Sunday, August 10, 8:00 AM - 8:00 PM (approx. return time)
The Hershey Park trip will be a great day of fun whether you prefer the easy pace of the classic carousel or the heart-pounding rollercoasters, or showing off your skills at arcade games. Admission to the park is covered by a grant from the Baltimore-Washington conference! Students will need to bring refillable water bottles, comfortable walking shoes, and their own money for meals and souvenirs ($50 suggestion). Please read nmore about the park's "cash-free" policy and other Hersheypark policies here: https://www.hersheypark.com/plan-your-visit/faqs
Coming Up!
August 31 - Ice Cream & Field Games
Look for more details soon! This event is tenatively scheduled for the grounds of St. Paul's UMC and is open to all youth rising-6th-through-rising-12th grade and their friends.
Full schedule of activities for 2025:
June 28 - Movie Night
July 6 - Monster Mini Golf
July 20 - Bowling at Bowlero
August 10 - Hershey Park Day Trip
August 31 - Ice Cream & Field Games
Questions? Email volunteer coordinator Rachel Stalcup directly or contact the church office at stpaulsunited@stpaulsk.org - please put “SPY Summer Series” in the subject line.
These programs are partially funded by a $2,500 micro-grant from the Baltimore-Washington Conference of the United Methodist Church, to support our youth ministry and outreach work.
Registration Forms
We are saving paper and making it easier to send in info anywhere, anytime.
Please click to button to go to our secure registration form!
SPY Meeting:
Middle School & HIgh School
Update for June 15, 2025
WE ARE NOW ON SUMMER BREAK!
Look for more info about programming for the 2025-2026 year coming soon!
St. Paul's Youth met regularly on Sunday nights during the 2024-2025 year! On most weeks, the SPY Middle School group (grades 6-8) were led by our parent volunteers in the Multi-Purpose Room and the SPY High School group (grades 9-12) were led by Pastor Sheridan in the Youth Lounge. Each night included an activity designed to help us grow in faith and time for fun, fellowship, or service - plus pizza dinner!
We continue to need adult volunteers to help lead SPY sessions during the year. If you have it on your heart to lead a few SPY meetings (curriculum and plans provided), please contact Pastor Sheridan at sallmond@stpaulsk.org.
St. Paul's Educational Award
Calling high school seniors! Applications for the Jim Smith Educational Award will be open April 21-May 12. These modest awards are your congregation saying we are proud of you, praying for you, and behind you as you move toward college, university, or other post-secondary education! Only those who apply can be considered!
St. Paul's annual Educational Award is now known as The Jim Smith Educational Award, in memory of St. Paul's late member Jim B. Smith, Jr., a beloved teacher and mentor who helped establish the award. We hope that every recipient feels the love of St. Paul's and Jim’s immense joy radiating through the Educational Awards.
If you are interested in joining the award committee, please contact Dr. Meg Baker at mbaker@stpaulsk.org or reach out to Anne Dean, Lay Leader.
Award funds are made available through our generous donors and youth programming budget. Thank you! To keep the Jim Smith Educational Award fund strong, we welcome contributions by check made out to St. Paul's UMC with "Ed Award" in the memo line, or CLICK HERE to go to our Miscellaneous contributions portal, then type "Educational Award" as the designated fund or cause.
Award amounts students receive may vary and are dependent on several factors, including available Educational Award funds and student responses to the application, which include academic and extracurricular achievement, need, and service to and engagement with the St. Paul's community.
Since 1989, over $80,000 has been distributed to over 130 college-bound students who have attended over 55 different college campuses in 18 states and the District of Columbia.
Questions about the Educational Award? Contact Dr. Meg Baker at mbaker@stpaulsk.org.
CONGRATULATIONS,
CLASS OF 2025
Congratulations to these graduating high school seniors from the St. Paul's community! We are delighted you have reached this milestone. We wish you all the best as you move boldly into the next chapter of your lives!
CLASS OF 2025
Sophia Bartley *
Connor Buss
Ella Carmen
Charlotte Markey
Matthias Meszaros
Natalie Mullens
Colin O'Neill
Anna Ruhlen
John Stephens *
Aki Takata
Charlotte Weikert *
Taylor White
* Recipients of The Jim Smith Educational Award 2025
Please note! We never intentionally leave out a member of the graduating class, but sometimes our records are incomplete. Please contact Erin Steele in the church office at stpaulsunited@stpaulsk.org if you wish to add or update a name for this list.
Learn to Be an Acolyte
Calling all youth in grades 6-12! We are planning
to grow a team of youth to serve as acolytes and/or crucifers for the 10:30 AM
worship services. A training session will be scheduled within the next several
weeks. Of course, youth are also encouraged to participate in worship as ushers
or lay readers as well. Please contact Dr. Meg Baker at mbaker@stpaulsk.org or
301-933-7933 ext. 104 if you are interested in learning more!
Past Events:
IGNITE Youth COnference
March 7-9, 2025
Ocean City, MD
Registration Deadline: February 21 by 3:00 PM
The IGNITE youth conference is a special experience put together by the Baltimore-Washington & PeninsulaDelaware Conferences of the UMC. Like ROCK a generation before, the BWC conceives IGNITE as a high-impact, life-changing weekend for youth in grades 6-12. It features high-energy worship experiences with powerful worship bands and relevant, engaging messages from nationally and locally known speakers.
Interactive and inspiring exhibits and activities led by dynamic professionals help participating youth build a diverse community both within and outside of each church’s group. Bishop LaTrelle Miller Easterling will be on hand, including a special Q&A with the Bishop. Retreat & Camping Ministries will be active in the Game Zone to lead crowd-favorite games from kickball to Giant Jenga, from ultimate frisbee to cornhole.
The theme “& Go” is imspired by Matthew 28:19-20: “Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit and teaching them to obey everything that I have commanded you. And remember, I am with you always, to the end of the age.”
Around 2,000 young people from across the region will attend - including several St. Paul’s Youth! We have secured a block of rooms in Ocean City, allowing our SPYs to stay close to the action at the Convention Center and also have a space to retreat and rest.
To learn more, visit the IGNITE website at https://igniteforyouth.com/ or contact SPY volunteer Megan Montgomery!
Confirmation Class
Each year, youth in Grade 7 and Grade 8 (or above) who have not been confirmed are invited to join Confirmation Class.
We will offer the next Confirmation class during the 2025-2026 school year. The information below may help you to envision what Confirmation entails.
If you have questions, please contact Pastor Sheridan (sallmond@stpaulsk.org) or Pastor Joey (joeyhm@stpaulsk.org)!
OVERVIEW
Confirmation is a serious commitment requiring regular class attendance, study, service, and participation in certain worship services. Classes introduce important concepts about our faith, church history, and our membership vows, and build connections across generations within our faith community.
JOINING THE CHURCH
Participants who complete confirmation classes and choose to become full church members will be received into membership during the 10:30 AM worship service on Pentecost Sunday, or another Sunday.
MEETING SCHEDULE
The exact series of dates and courses can vary year to year. Confirmation class at St. Paul's has historically started in January.
SIGNING UP
The online signup form will be available when it's time to create the class roster. In the meantime, you can contact one of the pastors to express an interest in joining! Find our staff contact info at the Meet the Staff page.
Youth Ministry
Community Zoom Meeting
A community conversation to discuss the vision for our Youth Ministry was held on July 25, 2023 at 7:00 PM via Zoom. Parents, youth, children, and potential volunteers were all encouraged to share their thoughts and perspectives. You can click the button to open and read Pastor Pat's summary of the meeting.
This YouTube video from the Lewis Center for Church Leadership at Wesley Seminary is still available to stoke the fires of your imagination:
If you have questions, suggestions, or wish to be involved, please contact Pastor Sheridan (sallmond@stpaulsk.org) or Pastor Joey (joeyhm@stpaulsk.org)
SPY News
Updates and news-to-know can be found right here.
Emails Coming Your WAy!
Our volunteer leaders have set up an email group to share SPY news and information quickly among SPY families. If you aren't getting these messages and would like to, email Rachel Stalcup directly or contact the church office (stpaulsunited@stpaulsk.org) to ask for her personal contact information.
Campership Financial Aid
Did you know...
We do a lot of great things here at St. Paul's Youth, and many are free or fairly inexpensive. However, we do have some events and trips that can cost quite a bit.
We never want a youth to be left out because of money. St. Paul's has a scholarship/campership fund available to help individuals and families cover part or all of the costs associated with youth fellowship, retreat, camp, or service activities.
These events we attend can be life changing experiences and we don't want anyone to miss out! Don't let an activity's price tag hold you back. Contact one of the pastors to discuss scholarship/campership financial aid needs confidentially, one-on-one. Reach Pastor Sheridan at sallmond@stpaulsk.org or Pastor Joey at joeyhm@stpaulsk.org.
Youth CHoir update
Youth singers are invited to check out the Sanctuary Choir this year! The Sanctuary Choir rehearses on Sunday mornings and sings each week for the 10:30 worship service. For questions or more information, visit our website or email Tom Pedersen, Director of Music, at tpedersen@stpaulsk.org.
you've got mail
When our youth volunteer leaders have news to share, we put it into the pages of the church's monthly newsletter: The Epistle from St. Paul's. If you would like to be added to the Epistle mailing list, you can email Erin Steele in the church office at stpaulsunited@stpaulsk.org and a copy will magically show up in your real snail-mail mailbox about once a month.
We'll also be revising and updating this website regularly so it's up to date with info and links.
