May 2025 Newsletter

Because of the nature of many of our summer events (Lake Days, Passing of the Torch, Hunt for the Blue Gnu), we provide dinner at each one / also need to work out transportation for the Blue Gnu Scavenger Hunt. So instead of emailing each week asking for you to reply to sign-up, I've tried to streamline things and put them all in this sign-up genius linked below! So if you can, take a second to look at the times / dates for each of those events and sign up your students. Also I need adult volunteers for the Hunt for the Blue Gnu so if you can be a driver for this event, you can also sign up at the link below! 

Summer Event Sign-Ups

Around this time each year I send out a survey asking about dates for the following school year retreats / major youth group events. So see the survey link below. Please note the survey is only 9 questions so it really shouldn't take you very long to complete. Now, I understand that its nearly IMPOSSIBLE to know your calendar for a year from now... but I like to do this just to gather as much information as I can so as we plan for the future, we can best accommodate our group! I value all your input so much, but please understand too I won't be able to please everyone! I will do my best to take the majority answer and apply it to the best decision for our youth group's upcoming trips / major events!

LUMC Youth 2025/2026 Retreat Survey

Our very own Hannah Vitters is hosting her 2nd annual Bike4Life on Saturday, May 3rd from 9 am to 12:30 pm in Lexington UMC's parking lot!  Bike4Life is a bike-a-thon fundraiser in honor of Jack Timmerman, Hannah's cousin,  that raises money for different organizations to help children in need. Besides biking, the event consists of fun, food, music, and an overall good time! This year, all proceeds will go to Make A Wish! To sign up to participate in the bike-a-thon, donate to the cause, or learn more about the history and mission of this event, please visit the website at the link below. 

Bike4Life - A Make-A-Wish Fundraiser

2025 Mission Trip Registration

Its time for our 2025 Mission Trip sign-ups and a lot of important information is below! We are headed to Marion NC to provide Hurricane Helene Relief.

TRIP DATES: July 20 - July 25
*We will depart on Sunday, July 20th after worship together at church.

WHO: Completed 6th grade - Completed 12th grade

DEADLINE TO SIGN UP: Tuesday, May 5

TOTAL COST: $375.00/pp.
Deposit Due by May 5: $200.00. Next payment due by: June 30: $175.00

COST OF TRIP INCLUDES:

• Most meals covered on the trip (students may be responsible for 2 to 3 meals for travel / during Free time. To be determined closer to the trip. 

• Our lodging will take place at a local church in Marion, NC. We have been asked to be flexible on this as conditions and situations are ever changing up there. Experience Mission, the organization we are working with, told me that we will have more final details regarding lodging about 2 months before our trip (so in May). But students will be expected to bring their own air mattress (Twin preferred) (We have a few that the church owns and can loan out for the week)

• All materials, meals, and supplies will be provided by Experience Mission to complete mission work at work sites.

• Participant T-Shirt

If you are an adult volunteer, you will go for free.... just the cost of your additional meals! Contact TODD if you want to go as an adult. I especially need a female chaperone. 

Additional Expenses: Meals and snacks on the road x2-3 depending (specifics closer to trip), souvenirs, etc. 

*Parents/Guardians may be asked to fill out an updated medical release form for LUMC prior to the trip!

I understand that my deposit will save a spot for my student on the mission trip. My deposit is non-refundable after May 5.

I look forward to our time together in Marion, NC. 
To learn more about Experience Mission, and to see some FAQs, click the link below. 
https://experiencemission.org/mission-trips/hurricane-helene-relief

Reduce the Cost of your Mission Trip 

I understand that spending $375 on a week is a LOT of money, especially for those of you who have multiple students. But I need you to understand a few things. First and foremost, the actual cost of the trip is $495+ a person. The organization we are working through charges $495+ a person plus you have to consider travel expenses. So we are already discounting the trip significantly from the actual cost *$120pp)

But, if you can help me out and put some skin in the game, then I'll help you out.

All students who assist with one of our fundraisers (Pancake Supper or Dinner and Dessert Auction) have the ability to earn discounts on the cost of their registration. If your student (or parent) worked a shift at the pancake supper, then you will receive a discount code to remove $20 from the first payment.

Your student can earn an additional discount code for up to $30 off the 2nd payment by helping with our Dinner and Dessert Auction on Sunday, April 27th from 5-6:30pm. They can help by selling tickets on Sunday mornings ($10 off, limited spots available), decorating on Sunday after church the day of the event ($10 off), and/or helping during the event ($20 off).” But only a total of $30 off may be earned. Sign up at the link below to volunteer for this fundraiser.
https://www.signupgenius.com/go/10C0E4DA8AE29A4FBC43-dinner#/

*The discount codes will be emailed to you in a separate email. If you do not receive the discount code, then please contact Todd individually.

Limited Scholarships

As always, we never want money to be the reason your student doesn't attend a trip. We do have a limited number of partial scholarships available to students who are in need. If your student is in need of financial assistance for this trip, please do not hesitate to reach out to Todd. We will work with you to find a payment plan that works for you, or provide assistance as needed! We don't want financial reasons to prevent anyone from experiencing this incredible trip.

Our own Emily Montgomery, graduate of the LUMC Youth Group, is on staff at Asbury Hills summer camp and they are collecting donations for Pancake Supper for Asbury Staff this summer. Watch the video to learn more and how to donate in the graphic below. Or you can also donate money to her cashapp ($emmiegm) or venmo (@Emily-Montgomery-87)

Did you know we use "Remind" to also send our messages in addition to our emails? This is the best way to get the quickest news about the LUMC Youth and stay up to date on all the latest info You can join the remind by following the instructions in the picture above or by clicking this link. Please note that starting September 9, 2024, Remind will no longer support SMS messaging and you must download the remind app! So when signing up, make sure you go ahead and download the remind app to receive all our latest updates!

Join Our Remind 

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