Wednesday, December 25, January 1, January 8
NO WEDNESDAY NIGHT PROGRAM
- Off for Christmas and New Year’s
Middle School Ministry
Calendar & Events
Sunday, December 29
NO SUNDAY MORNING PROGRAM
- Off for Christmas
Wednesday, January 8
6:30 – 8:00 pm
VOLUNTEER KICK-OFF
- Valley Community Center
There is no student programming tonight. This event is only for weekly middle school volunteers. We want to meet with our volunteers and prepare them for the next season of ministry!
Wednesday, January 15
6:30 – 8:00 pm
WINTER KICKOFF: SUNGLASSES NIGHT
- Valley Community Center
- No RSVP required; just show up!
It’s time to kick off the new year with some fun! Student are encouraged, but not required, to wear sunglasses.
Wednesday, January 22
6:30 – 8:00 pm
BLACK LIGHT NIGHT
- Valley Community Center
- No RSVP required; just show up!
Students can wear white clothing because we’ll be using black lights in the gym for a variety of glow-in-the-dark activities including dodgeball, Nine Square in the Air, and Nuke Em!
Friday, January 24 – Sunday, January 26
WINTER BLAST
- Register by Sunday, January 19
- Cost: $165 by Wednesday, January 15, $185 after January 15
- Drop off at 5:00pm at Valley Church
- Pick up at 12:30 pm at Valley Church
- Bring a sack supper to eat on Friday
It’s time to get away and spend an entire weekend with other students and staff from the Valley Middle School Ministry. We will drive up to Hidden Acres and spend the weekend playing snow games, attending exciting chapels and creating fun memories.
Register for Winter Blast
Wednesday, January 29
6:30 – 8:00 pm
SWEET & SOUR NIGHT
- Valley Community Center
- No RSVP required; just show up
Students will able to try some sweet and sour candy on this night!
Wednesday, February 5
6:30 – 8:00 pm
VEGGIE TALE NIGHT
- Valley Community Center
- No RSVP required; just show up
We’re going to eat vegetables and watch some Veggie Tales!
Friday, February 7
7:00 – 9:00 pm
NIGHT TO SHINE SERVICE OPPORTUNITY
- Valley Community Center
Night To Shine is an unforgettable prom night experience for guests who have special needs or disabilities. This is a great opportunity to show God’s love through service! Middle school students will be able to be dance buddies, meaning they will fill out the dance floor and have fun with the Night To Shine guests.
Sign Up to be a Dance Buddy
Wednesday, February 12
6:30 – 8:00 pm
BALLOON NIGHT
- Valley Community Center
- No RSVP required; just show up
Balloons are fun and festive, no matter what the occasion. There will be plenty of balloons involved on this night!
Wednesday, February 19
6:30 – 8:00 pm
FITNESS NIGHT
- Valley Community Center
- No RSVP required; just show up
Wear comfortable clothing because we’re going to be active and have fun getting exercise!
Wednesday, February 26
6:30 – 8:00 pm
SHOE NIGHT
- Valley Community Center
- No RSVP required; just show up
Wear your favorite shoes! We’ll play various games involving shoes.
Saturday, March 1
7:00 – 9:00 pm
VOLUNTEER PICKLEBALL NIGHT (VOLUNTEERS ONLY)
- Valley Community Center
We want to provide a night for our middle school volunteers to connect and have fun with each other! We will provide all pickleball equipment and teach you all the rules if you’ve never played before; cost is free! Eat dinner before you come; we will provide snacks and beverages!
Wednesday, March 5
6:30 – 8:00 pm
FRUIT NIGHT
- Valley Community Center
- No RSVP required; just show up
There will be lots of different kinds of fruit for people to sample on this night!
Wednesday, March 12
6:30 – 8:00 pm
MINUTE TO WIN IT NIGHT
- Valley Community Center
- No RSVP required; just show up
We’re bringing back an old favorite. We’ll do a series of Minute To Win It games and compete as grade teams.
Wednesday, March 19
NO WEDNESDAY NIGHT PROGRAM
- Happy spring break!
Wednesday, March 26
6:30 – 8:00 pm
SUPERHERO NIGHT
- Valley Community Center
- No RSVP required; just show up
Everyone is encouraged but not required to wear a superhero shirt!
Saturday, March 29
1:00 – 4:00 pm
LOVE YOU DES MOINES FAMILY DAY
- Valley Community Center
This day will be chalk-full of family events for the whole community! Invite your friends and neighbors to a day filled of fun, free, family-friendly activities at the Valley Community Center. The purpose of the event is to help you build relationships with your neighbors and friends who don’t know Jesus. Some middle school students will also have the chance to help lead activities throughout the day! Specific details are coming soon.
Wednesday, April 2
6:30 – 8:00 pm
CAR NIGHT
- Valley Community Center
- No RSVP required; just show up
We’ll have a car show in the parking lot featuring volunteers’ cars, and students will get to vote on who gets prizes in different categories!
Sunday, April 6
11:00 am – 12:15 pm
5th GRADE PARENT MEETING
- Location: TBD
- No RSVP required
This meeting is for parents of students who will be entering 6th grade in fall 2025. Parents will be able to meet middle school staff, connect with other parents, learn about the developmental significance of middle school, learn how students can make a smooth transition into the Middle School Ministry, and ask questions. You don’t want to miss this!
Wednesday, April 9
6:30 – 8:00 pm
SENIOR NIGHT
- Valley Community Center
- No RSVP required; just show up
You are encouraged but not required to either dress like a senior citizen or dress like your favorite high school senior. We’ll hear from some of our high school seniors and honor the seniors who are graduating this spring.
Saturday, April 12
5:00 – 9:30 pm
SLIPPER FORMAL
- Cost: $20
- RSVP by Wednesday, April 9
- Drop off and pick up at Valley Church Main Entrance
Students will dress up in formal attire. For example, guys can wear black pants, a button down shirt, and a tie. Girls can wear moderate dresses. In addition to being in formal dress, students can wear slippers on their feet! Parents are invited to a student fashion show in the Chapel from 5:00-5:30. After that students and leaders will eat dinner at the Jordan Creek Mall Food Court. Then we’ll go do a photo scavenger hunt around Des Moines while in our formal attire!
Register for Slipper Formal
Sunday, April 13
8:15, 9:30 & 11:00 Services
BAPTISM SUNDAY
Baptism is an important moment in the lives of Christ-followers! Baptism is not required for salvation but it is a significant moment in the life of a follower of Jesus! Middle Schoolers will have the chance to get baptized at any of the Sunday morning worship services. To get baptized, middle schoolers must complete the following three steps:
- Attend a 15-minute Explore Baptism Gathering. Parents are encouraged to join their student but not required. Students only need to attend one session. Explore Baptism Gatherings:
- Wednesday, February 26, 8-8:15pm at Valley Community Center
- Sunday, March 2, 10:45-11am at Valley Community Center
- Wednesday, March 5, 8-8:15pm at Valley Community Center
- Sunday, March 9, 10:45-11am at Valley Community Center
- Fill out the online baptism form. After you submit the form, someone from our team will contact you with next steps!
- Record a baptism testimony video to be played during your baptism service. A registration for a date and time coming soon.
Wednesday, April 16
6:30 – 8:00 pm
OPEN GYM & MOVIE NIGHT
- Valley Community Center
- No RSVP required; just show up
We’re going to have a laid-back night where students to can play games in gym or watch a movie in the Cafe! Students will vote on what movie we watch. And yes, we’ll serve snaaacks, too!
Sunday, April 20
NO SUNDAY MORNING PROGRAM
- Happy Easter!
Wednesday, April 23
6:30 – 8:00 pm
PET NIGHT
- Valley Community Center
- No RSVP required; just show up
Students are encouraged to bring their pets for a show-and-tell outside the Valley Community Center front entrance from about 6:30-6:50pm. Then parents can bring the pets home while we enjoy the rest of the night. No pets are allowed inside the Valley Community Center.
Wednesday, April 30
6:30 – 8:00 pm
LAST NIGHT PARTY
- Valley Community Center
- No RSVP required; just show up
All 6th-8th grade students and leaders are invited to come celebrate our final Wednesday night of ministry with a party! Stay tuned for more details.
Wednesday, May 7
6:00 pm – Dark
VOLUNTEER DINNER
- Location: Joe Budish’s house (500 Knoll Dr, Norwalk)
- Rain back up location: Valley Community Center
There is no student programming on this night. This event is only for weekly middle school volunteers and their families. We will honor and celebrate their amazing service throughout the past school year
Register for Volunteer Dinner
Wednesday, May 21
6:30 – 8:00 pm
5th GRADE HOME VISITS
During this fun event, incoming 7th and 8th grade students will greet soon-to-be 6th graders at their homes. We will greet you, get to know you a little bit, and share a gift!
Register for a 5th Grade Home VisitRegister Current 6th & 7th Graders to go on Home Visits
Friday, May 30
4:00 – 10:00 pm
8th GRADE PARTY
- Cost: $25 (Cost covers 1 meal, transportation, snacks, and swimming)
- RSVP by Sunday, May 25
- Drop off location TBD
- Pick up location TBD
It’s time for our 8th graders to have one last hurrah in the Middle School Ministry! We will swim, eat dinner, and prepare for the transition into the Valley High School Ministry (8th Grade Move-Up into High School is on Sunday, June 1). 8th graders will also have the chance to begin connecting with High School Ministry staff!
Register for 8th Grade Party
Sunday, June 1
9:30 – 10:45 am
MOVE-UP SUNDAY
- Valley Community Center Gym
- No RSVP required; just show up
The Middle School Ministry is excited to welcome our newest members! New 6th graders should come to the Valley Community Center Gym at 9:30, along with new 7th and 8th graders. We will make sure the new students receive a warm welcome!
