Our youth ministry is multi-dimensional, supporting youth, 6th–12th grade from both the Buffalo Grove and Deerfield campuses, as they grow in mind, body, and spirit. We are committed to being inclusive and welcoming all youth. Our program provides a variety of ways for youth to stay connected so that they can grow in their love for God, live their faith in service, and build sacred community with other youth and adults.
All events, activities, and information shared is for youth at both campuses as well as the community! All are welcome!
All events, activities, and information shared is for youth at both campuses as well as the community! All are welcome!
Jump to the section you would like to learn more about by selecting one of the following buttons.
Sunday School for Students Grades 6-12
Details about Youth Sunday School at Buffalo Grove:
- Meets from 9:00-10:00 am every Sunday
- During this time, we will study Scripture, activate learning with hands on tasks, and discuss faith in our daily lives
- The first Sunday of every month, youth will help lead the service and participate in Communion with the rest of the church
Buffalo Grove Campus
- April 12: Lenten Series, continued: The Gospel of John, Not Going Back
- April 19: Focus coming soon
- April 26: Service Sunday (Food Pantry, PADS, breakfast)
- May 3: Music Sunday: Special service, no Youth Sunday School
- May 10: Mental Health Awareness
- May 17: Confirmation Sunday: Special service, no Youth Sunday School
- May 24: Service Sunday (Food Pantry, PADS, breakfast)
- May 31: Mental Health Awareness service project
- June 7: Youth in Worship: Helping to lead
- June 14: Graduation Sunday
- June 21: Focus coming soon
- June 28: No Sunday School, Youth Mission Trip Blessing at Deerfield
Deerfield Campus
While there is no official Youth Sunday School at the Deerfield campus, you are encouraged to connect with Rev. Clayton to find out ways to get involved during the 10:00 am service (A/V, reading, greeting, serving, and more).
Upcoming Events
SNL Family Potluck
Sunday, April 19
5:00-6:30pm
Join us at the Buffalo Grove campus for our last Sunday Night Live (SNL) of this school year! It's a special one because all 2nd-12th graders and their families are invited to bring a side or dessert (no nuts) to our potluck event and Moving Up Ceremony where we will recognize a wonderful school year and all who are entering or leaving our SNL groups!
No sign-ups necessary--bring whatever you would like to share and come join us for this beautiful night of reflections and celebrations!
5:00-6:30pm
Join us at the Buffalo Grove campus for our last Sunday Night Live (SNL) of this school year! It's a special one because all 2nd-12th graders and their families are invited to bring a side or dessert (no nuts) to our potluck event and Moving Up Ceremony where we will recognize a wonderful school year and all who are entering or leaving our SNL groups!
No sign-ups necessary--bring whatever you would like to share and come join us for this beautiful night of reflections and celebrations!
Sunday Night Live (SNL) Youth Group
Who Comes to SNL
- Kingswood Children and Youth from both campuses
- Third Grade God Squad (3rd graders)
- Club 45 (4th and 5th graders)
- Youth Group (6th through 12th graders)
- Friends are ALWAYS welcome! ALL are welcome!
What to Expect @ Each SNL
- Drop-off & Pick-up: You can drop off and pick up your middle/high schooler at the front doors of the Buffalo Grove campus—you do not need to come into the building unless you have a younger child in grades 3-5 who will need to be dropped off/picked up in person.
- Dinner (5:00–5:40pm): Everyone gathers in the Activity Center for food, games, and time to connect. If the menu isn’t a favorite, students are welcome to bring their own meal. We will all work together to clean up the space once dinner is over.
- Worship (5:40–6:00pm): We’ll move into the Sanctuary for a short interactive lesson and worship time.
- Fun & Fellowship (6:00–6:45pm): Youth split off for their own games and activities.
- Small Group Reflections (6:45–7:00pm): Small groups will close out the night with guided reflection and conversation along with enjoying some dessert.
What to Bring to Each SNL
- $3 for dinner (scholarships are always available if needed)—an envelope will be in the Activity Center for cash donations, or you can donate online at our Kingswood Give site and note that it is for SNL.
- Gym shoes – we’ll be moving around, so comfortable shoes make it easier to join in.
- An open spirit and an open mind– SNL nights are always more fun when you’re willing to try new things and jump in without worrying about embarrassment. Participation makes the night that much more rewarding!
2025-2026 SNL Dates
April 19 -- Move Up Celebration and Family Potluck
Up Next: Reflections and New Beginnings
When: Sunday, April 19 from 5:00-6:30pm
Theme Verse: Isaiah 43:19
Dinner: Sandwich bar with potluck sides and desserts
Activity: Moving up celebration
When: Sunday, April 19 from 5:00-6:30pm
Theme Verse: Isaiah 43:19
Dinner: Sandwich bar with potluck sides and desserts
Activity: Moving up celebration
Upcoming Service Opportunities
Please reach out to Kate if you need service hours or have suggestions for service projects!
Earth Day Clean-Up
on Dundee Road
Wednesday, April 22
Any time between 5:00-7:00 pm
Join us this Earth Day, Wednesday, April 22, from 5–7pm, to help clean up Dundee Road between Arlington Heights Road and Buffalo Grove Road. This event is sponsored by Youth Ministry and the Diversity and Social Justice “Caring for God’s Creation” Team, and vests, gloves, and bags will be provided.
Come for as long as you’re able and invite friends, family, and neighbors to join us as we care for our community and creation together.
Any time between 5:00-7:00 pm
Join us this Earth Day, Wednesday, April 22, from 5–7pm, to help clean up Dundee Road between Arlington Heights Road and Buffalo Grove Road. This event is sponsored by Youth Ministry and the Diversity and Social Justice “Caring for God’s Creation” Team, and vests, gloves, and bags will be provided.
Come for as long as you’re able and invite friends, family, and neighbors to join us as we care for our community and creation together.
Volunteer at Vacation Bible School
VACATION BIBLE SCHOOL 2026 is coming soon!
Join us at our Buffalo Grove campus
Sunday, June 14 - Wednesday, June 17,
5pm-7:30pm each evening...dinner included!
CAMPERS--3 year-old potty trained kiddos - rising 6th graders
VOLUNTEERS--rising 7th graders - adult
Registration is open and you can check out all the details on our VBS page!
Join us at our Buffalo Grove campus
Sunday, June 14 - Wednesday, June 17,
5pm-7:30pm each evening...dinner included!
CAMPERS--3 year-old potty trained kiddos - rising 6th graders
VOLUNTEERS--rising 7th graders - adult
Registration is open and you can check out all the details on our VBS page!
Youth Mission Trips
Summer 2026 - Youth Mission Trip
July 12-18, 2026
Altoona, PA with TEAMeffort
All youth — from incoming 6th graders to recently graduated 12th graders and their friends— are invited to join us for an unforgettable week of service! We’ll be staying in Penn State campus housing and partner with established local ministries on meaningful construction projects.
The registration deadline has passed. Please email Kate Lapetino if you would like more information.
Altoona, PA with TEAMeffort
All youth — from incoming 6th graders to recently graduated 12th graders and their friends— are invited to join us for an unforgettable week of service! We’ll be staying in Penn State campus housing and partner with established local ministries on meaningful construction projects.
The registration deadline has passed. Please email Kate Lapetino if you would like more information.
2023
Detroit, MI with CASS
2024
Kentucky with ASP
2025
Milwaukee, WI with YouthWorks
How can you support our trip?
Pray for the volunteers
Pray for the staff
Pray for the recipients of the trip
Donate to help support the trip financially
Pray for the volunteers
Pray for the staff
Pray for the recipients of the trip
Donate to help support the trip financially
Ongoing Service Opportunities
PADS
Kingswood welcomes guests every Tuesday night from October through April. Youth under the age of 18 can support this important ministry every Tuesday from 6:15-8:30 pm or Wednesday from 7:00-8:00 am. Youth may not interact with the guests, but can help in many ways during set up! Volunteers ages 18 or older can work any time throughout the night!
Gratitude Generation
Housed in our Deerfield site campus at 815 Rosemary Terrace in Deerfield, IL, they do a tremendous amount of compassionate work in our community, for others, and teaches the next generation of children and families how to serve. We've been thrilled to partner with them at events we've held, and we support their mission to support neighbors in need while building a new generation of service-minded leaders. Check out the many opportunities they have for kids and teens.
Pop Tab Collection
Join Kilmer School in District 21 and the Village of Wheeling to help families of children receiving treatment/services within the Lurie Children's Hospital. We are collecting all types of tabs in Sunday School to support the Ronald McDonald House Charities!
One of our Youth Sunday School leaders, Dr. Rebecca Reynolds has a wonderful charity called Reynolds' Provisions. See how you can support this great organization that is doing good works to help fill individualized needs of educational programs for communities around the world.
Please reach out to Kate if you are in need of service hours, have a heart to serve others, or have ideas of other service-focused projects we can participate in!
Get Involved
Confirmation
Congratulations to the 2025 Confirmation Class!
We celebrated two baptisms and five confirmands on May 18, 2025! God is so good!
Confirmation 2026 will be May 17, 2026 and is for students 8th grade or above.
Contact Kate Lapetino for more information.
We celebrated two baptisms and five confirmands on May 18, 2025! God is so good!
Confirmation 2026 will be May 17, 2026 and is for students 8th grade or above.
Contact Kate Lapetino for more information.
Youth Praise Band
Youth Praise Band is for ANY and ALL performers from 5th-12th grade! No matter your instrument of choice or your experience level, we have a place for you here!
Questions, one-on-one voice, guitar, or other lessons: Contact Felicia Patton, Director of Music Ministries
One-on-one piano lessons: Contact our Organist, Dr. Michael Fritsch
Check out the calendar of tentative practice and performance dates!
Questions, one-on-one voice, guitar, or other lessons: Contact Felicia Patton, Director of Music Ministries
One-on-one piano lessons: Contact our Organist, Dr. Michael Fritsch
Check out the calendar of tentative practice and performance dates!
Get Connected
KUMCYM Insta
Check out all of our updates and events on our Kingswood Youth Instagram page!
Connect with our Kingswood youth and share with your friends!
@kumcym
Connect with our Kingswood youth and share with your friends!
@kumcym
KUMCYM TikTok
Check out all of our updates and events on our Kingswood Youth TikTok page!
Connect with our Kingswood youth and share with your friends!
@kumcym
Connect with our Kingswood youth and share with your friends!
@kumcym
Apps, Devos, & Podcasts
Looking for a way to stay connected? Download one of these recommended apps or daily devotionals!
YouVersion Bible App
Big Life Devotional
Daily Bible Inspirations
Sunday Sermon: Kingswood Podcast
YouVersion Bible App
Big Life Devotional
Daily Bible Inspirations
Sunday Sermon: Kingswood Podcast
Mental Health is More than a Month!
More than ever, mental health is so important in ALL of our lives. We face each day with more input and information than ever before and it can feel overwhelming without even realizing that it's overwhelming. You don't really know any other way, so this constant bombardment of distractions and information is "normal". We must all find time to take a break, unplug, and seek peace.
Prayer and time with God can be a HUGE gift to our mental health, but it doesn't stop there. God is an amazing provider and gives us many supports and resources to better our mental health. Check out the following resources for information, support, and ways to get involved.
Prayer and time with God can be a HUGE gift to our mental health, but it doesn't stop there. God is an amazing provider and gives us many supports and resources to better our mental health. Check out the following resources for information, support, and ways to get involved.
Looking for some parent
tips, tricks, and resources?
Check out our Parents page!
Ready to share your time volunteering or check your current volunteer schedule?
Check out our Volunteer page!
