8:00 - 9:00 pm each Wednesday during the academic year
Bethesda provides a safe and welcoming space for our youth in grades 9 - 12 to gather weekly for FLOOD. Beginning on Wednesday, August 30, FLOOD meets every Wednesday night from 8 - 9 pm throughout the academic year. FLOOD is led by Bethesda's Associate Pastor for Youth and Family, Pastor Jonathan Dolan. A typical gathering includes a fun game or activity, reading and discussion of a Biblical passage based on a yearly theme, a general check-in of what's going on in the lives of our youth and ends with a prayer.
We meet upstairs in the conjoined rooms of 206 and 208, the dedicated Middle and High School youth rooms. However, because of games and activities we often use other spaces on church property. Room 206 has foosball, air hockey, pool, carpetball, a Nintendo Wii, a Smart TV and many board games. Arguably Pastor Jonathan's favorite responsibility in the "other duties as assigned" category is keeping a well-stocked refrigerator full of FREE pop, sports drinks, juices and water. As well as snack foods like chips, candy, cookies, granola bars, fruit snacks and a popcorn maker. Room 208 has a giant sectional couch that can seat at least 10 people comfortably, a couple of chairs, a cushioned pew, a table and chairs and a Smart TV. In other words, plenty of seating for at least 20 people.
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As a friendly reminder, next summer from July 16 - 20 is the ELCA National Youth Gathering in New Orleans! 30,000+ high schoolers and young adults with another 10,000+ volunteers and chaperones will converge in New Orleans to worship, learn, form relationships and serve our neighbors by participating in volunteer activities! With the previous gathering postponed and eventually canceled because of COVID-19, none of our current high schoolers have had an opportunity to experience it. Pastor Jonathan really hopes that you put these dates on your calendar now, so that you can experience such a wonderful, faith forming, worship and service minded event, developed specifically with high schoolers in mind! Check out this hype video that the Gathering made for our congregations.