Youth Ministry
We were tired after a week in the Valley doing home repair and community service and sunburned from a day at the beach celebrating all that God had done that week…but we had Whataburger and each other and we were happy and so full.
The best way to stay up to date on youth happenings is to subscribe to our weekly email newsletter, The Rundown, where we detail all of our upcoming events for the week and beyond. (Also, Registration is LIVE for MidWinter 2026 Jan. 9th – 11th at T-Bar-M Camps in New Braunfels! Scroll down to learn more.)
Weekly Bible Studies and After School Program
Weekly Bible Study
Most Mondays during the school year (unless otherwise specified), youth from Northwest Hills UMC gather at Epoch, Far West, (3900 Far W Blvd, Austin, TX 78731), from 5-6pm to kick it and read from the good book. After finishing Ephesians in early October, our youth are going to spend a couple of weeks bouncing around the Bible to explore scriptures related to nature.
Sunday School
This week in Sunday School (10/12): King Nebuchadnezzar Touches Grass
As we continue our read-through of the first 6 chapters of Daniel, we arrive at Chapter 4, in which King Nebuchadnezzar has a spooky dream that Daniel must interpret for him.
Gather in the Youth Center at 10am.
Wednesday After School Program
Every Wednesday, we’re opening up our Youth Center from 3:50 – 5:30pm to give youth a place to hang out, do homework, play games, and build community.
If you’re interested in volunteering at the After School Program, click here to contact Tyler Steele.
Sunday Nights and Other Activities
Spooky Bible Stories
This Sunday, October 12th, gather at 5PM in the Youth Center to help put up some fun Halloween decorations, eat cookies, and read some of our favorite spooky Bible stories. What? You didn’t know the Bible could be spooky? MIGHT WE INTRODUCE YOU TO THE WITCH OF ENDOR??? Yeah — there’s a witch in the Bible. We’ll read a couple of stories, share what stood out to us, and rank their overall spookiness.
Sewing Night
On Sunday, October 26th, youth (grades 6-12) are invited to gather in the Youth Center to learn how to sew from one of the leaders of our Pillow Case Ministry and parent of two former Northwest Hills UMC Youth, Kim Hoffman!
Whether you’re an experienced seamster or a complete rookie, you can come help sew pillowcases for patients at Dell Children’s Hospital.
Fall Festival
Saddle up, ‘cause this year’s Fall Festival, a long-loved Northwest Hills UMC tradition, will be ridin’ into town on Sunday, October 19th from 11am–1pm!
We’ll have one worship service at 10am on Sunday, October 19th before the Fall Festival.
MidWinter Retreat 2026
This year’s MidWinter Retreat is set to be our biggest one yet as we welcome churches from all across the newly formed North District of the Rio Texas Conference to gather for a weekend of rest, worship, and fun! This year, we’re returning to T-Bar-M Camp in New Braunfels, (home of the 2023 and 2024 MidWinter Retreats), which has some pretty sweet amenities for all to enjoy. Longtime friend of Northwest Hills UMC youth and former Northwest Hills UMC Office Manager, Rev. Anna Shipley, will also be returning as one of our worship leaders this year (which totally rules).
MidWinter is a great opportunity to unplug and unwind in the middle of the school year — it’s like if summer camp was one weekend in January. It’s going to be both sick and dope or whatever it is that the young people say these days (6, 7?)
Scholarships are available. Reach out to Tyler at tsteele@nwhillsumc.org to request more info.
Sunday, March 23rd, 2025 – A DAY OF DOMINATION
After a Sunday of PURE DOMINATION, our youth are the REIGNING CHAMPIONS of the Greater Austin Area United Methodist Youth Annual Scavenger Hunt!
Tasked with completing a myriad of absolutely insane, and dare I say, at times, unhinged, challenges around the Domain and documenting them via photo and video, our youth stepped up to the plate and knocked the ball out of the flipping park!
We got makeovers for the Lord, we got our ears pierced for the Lord, some of us even begged for sushi from strangers for the Lord but no amount of public shame can tarnish the fact that WE ARE CHAMPIONS!!!
Congrats to Northwest Hills UMC Youth on being quantifiably THE BEST! Check out a few more pictures from this year’s Scavenger Hunt below.
