Welcome

Hi there! So you want to know more about the Core Youth Group at Laingsburg United

Methodist Church? You’ve come to the right place.


Who: Anyone in 6 th – 12 th grade

When: First and third Sundays of the month from 5-7 p.m. (with some additional days

for cool stuff now and then); Dinner included

Where: Laingsburg United Methodist Church, unless otherwise noted


Core is fun. Core is accepting. Core will feed your mind, soul, heart and belly (yes, we

eat a lot). Core is cool (or “slay,” if you’re keeping up with the lingo of our youth these

days). Check us out. You are welcome here.


Anyone can join our crazy, imperfect, curious crew, regardless of whether you attend

LUMC or any church. We believe that God loves us just the way we are, and there’s

nothing we can do about it! Core is about our journey to build faith in God.


On that journey, we learn, laugh, eat, play games, do service projects that help others in

our community and around the world, go on wild retreats and explore what it means to

be a Christian. We talk about scripture and how to interpret it, in understandable terms

and from perspectives that fit the things youth deal with when they’re navigating the pre-

teen and teen years.


Don’t know if you’re a Christian? Or if you want to be? That’s ok. You’re not alone.

We’re all figuring it out. In the Core Youth Group, youth are supported and appreciated

for who they are; just as the Big Guy made ‘em. This is a SAFE SPACE where feelings,

words and beliefs are respected as part of that journey mentioned before. You know, the

one about building faith in God and learning what He’s all about.


Core Youth Group Coordinator: Carrie Rathbun Hawks

Send a message through our contact page


Activities from the 2024-25 year (ask us about this year’s calendar):

      Biweekly gatherings (dinner, games, devotionals)

      Service projects

  • Midwest Mission Rice Meal Kit assembly (Nov. 9)
  • Santa’s North Pole Workshop
  • UMCOR hygiene kit assembly
  • Laingsburg Community Schools Giving Tree shopping trip

      Pajama movie night

      Summer party at Lake Victoria

      Bonfire

      Spring lock-in

      Annual Camp Barakel Winter Retreat (tent. Jan. 17-19)

      Christmas Progressive Dinner & White Elephant Bingo

      Semi-annual birthday parties

      Core-led Sunday worship service

      Special game nights open to community youth

      Mystery road trip

For Parents

The CORE is open to every student in grades 6–12, whether or not your family attends Laingsburg UMC. Gatherings usually include dinner, so let the coordinator know about any food allergies. All adults who work with our youth are screened and trained under our Safe Sanctuary protection policy.

To ask about the current schedule or upcoming trips, send a message through our contact page and it will be passed along to the youth coordinator. For ideas on nurturing faith at home, read How Parents Can Support a Teenager's Faith Journey.

Donations to the Youth Group

Donations to The CORE are greatly appreciated and help with meals, service projects and retreats. Gifts can be made by cash or check (payable to "LUMC – Core") at the church, or online through our giving page.