All Saints: Youth Group

Youth Group

Our High School Youth Group meets every Sunday during the school year at 9:45 AM, and welcomes freshmen through seniors. If you are a teenager looking for a place to feel welcome, come and give it a try! If you know of any teenagers who you think might enjoy the group, we will welcome them!

We have members from many surrounding high schools.... Fremd, Palatine, Rolling Meadows, Lake Zurich, Hoffman Estates, Barrington, and even St. Viator!

The main element of the program is consistent programming on Sunday morning (9:45 AM). On most Sundays, we welcome some 25-35 sleepy and smiling faces in attendance! This is out of a total of over 55 teens that are active in the program.

Our participation rate is among the highest of all Evangelical Lutheran Church in America congregations!

All Saints High School Youth Ministry Objectives

Learn that church can be "cool" for high schoolers.
Develop consistent worship habits--for today and the rest of their lives.
Learn to use their faith as a decision-making guide.
Practice giving and volunteerism--at church and in the community.
Provide a venue (with group, or 1-on-1 with Pastors, Youth Leaders, other adults) to discuss problems.

Experienced Leadership

The group is led by Linda and Kevin Kinsella (their 22nd year as Youth Ministers), with significant help from Karen Goodlow (her 16th year as a leader/participant).

Questions? Please contact: Kevin (kk2power@comcast.net) or Linda (llkins409@comcast.net).

Or, call the church directly: (847) 991-2080.

Other components reinforcing these objectives, held on ongoing basis:

YHOP Our Youth Group is very active in supporting the Youth Hunger Opposition in Palatine (YHOP). YHOP's mission is to establish and build an ongoing, dedicated fund (YHOP Fund) to generate funding for the Palatine Township Food Pantry. To learn more, click here. To donate, click here.

The Bake Sale raises over $1,000 annually. With Thrivent Financial's matching funds, it gives the Youth Group a significant contribution to go to our homeless program, PADS (here at All Saints), with the balance to the Palatine Food Pantry.

The first Sunday of each month is "Food Sunday." Most all of the "kids" bring either a can of food or give $1. This money is also donated to the Palatine Township Food Pantry.

The Fall Overnight Retreat (usually in October) gives a chance for the 30+ in attendance to reflect, and build, upon their faith. Held at a Retreat Location ~ an hour away from Palatine, it is a wonderful opportunity to discuss problems and find solutions.

The annual Youth Service, held in February, and run by Karen Goodlow, is a huge highlight each year. With over 40 youth participating, this congregational favorite (since 1986), shows the group the value of working hard to put the pieces together.

Outside-of-church-activities complement the Sunday Morning discussion groups. This is accomplished by enlisting/involving parents and other volunteers. These range from cook-outs, picnics, lock-ins, movie nights, etc..

Every few years, the group makes the trip to the ELCA National Youth Gathering. Other youth, searching for a deeper faith experience, attend Leadership Lab, a high school leadership training event put on by the ELCA synods in Illinois at Augustana College, Rock Island.

Last updated: March 28, 2008 . Contact webmaster@allsaintspalatine.org with questions/comments.