Building Relationships, Building Faith

Your preteens and teens are invited to participate in our many opportunities to learn and grow as disciples of Christ. Beyond Sunday morning classes, the youth ministry also includes many youth group activities and events, with special opportunities for friendship and learning through retreats, outings, missions and participation in conferences.

CHURCH SCHOOL
The curriculum this year is the same for both age groups, but classes meet separately. 

Middle School Class (grades 6 – 8)
Fall 2008 classes focus in an age appropriate way on character studies of 12 Old Testament figures, including Abraham, Jacob, Joseph, Moses, Joshua, Caleb, Rahab, Ruth, David, Esther, Job, Daniel and Jonah.  Bible readings, games, small group discussions, film clips, role plays, melodramas and dramatic sketches reveal surprisingly modern emotions, decisions, and dilemmas in the lives of these ancient individuals. Together, youth make connections between these characters of the Bible and the feelings, problems, choices, and challenges young people face today.

High School Class (grades 9 – 12)
Fall 2008 classes focus in an age appropriate way on character studies of 12 Old Testament figures, including Abraham, Jacob, Joseph, Moses, Joshua, Caleb, Rahab, Ruth, David, Esther, Job, Daniel and Jonah.  Bible readings, games, small group discussions, film clips, role plays, melodramas and dramatic sketches reveal surprisingly modern emotions, decisions, and dilemmas in the lives of these ancient individuals. Together, youth make connections between these characters of the Bible and the feelings, problems, choices, and challenges young people face today.

Confirmation
Confirmation is a process that helps our youth grow in their understanding of God, the church and their faith. The minister of youth and young adults teaches the Confirmation class for eighth graders or youth who are 14 years or older, including any unconfirmed youth who may have joined the church after ninth grade. This special class begins in the fall and ends with the Rite of Confirmation on Pentecost Sunday (in May). Each confirmand is assigned a mentor for the year to work with them on special projects as part of the class.

• Create an atmosphere of trust
• Help each youth develop a sense of belonging
• Involve each other in decision making, as appropriate
• Show kindness and encouragement to peers and expect it in return
• Set clear expectations and goals for the groups
• Develop a feeling of cooperation rather than competition

Both groups are expected to honor the ground rules, which will be posted in a prominent place and reviewed periodically:

• Attentive listening – paying close attention to one another’s words and feelings; one person speaks at a time; giving another caring, respect and consideration.
• No put downs/Give appreciations – avoid negative remarks, name-calling, hurtful gestures and behaviors. Instead treat each other with kindness and state specific appreciation for their unique qualities, value and contribution to others and to the group.
• Right to pass – each youth can choose when, and to what extent, they will participate. This builds safety within the group process.
• No Names/No Gossip – honoring the group’s sharing; solving problems without using names of individual(s).

The Youth Groups also participate in fund raising activities, which are used to supplement the Youth Budget.

All youth and their parents are encouraged to take an active role in youth group activities.

Mission Project
Each summer the high school youth group goes on a weeklong Mission Project to an impoverished area of the country or to help a family in need. We may paint houses, hang and mud drywall, do repair work, and participate in many other activities, as we act as the hands of Christ to our neighbors.