Welcome to UCCH Youth Ministries!!

United Church Youth Ministries is a sacred community inclusive of youth and families from all walks of life where family means extending our arms as far as we can reach and then trusting that the spirit reaches those even beyond our touch.

As persons of faith committed to walking alongside young people as they journey towards a deeper “knowing”, we seek to offer a sacred space where ALL students are encouraged to question, to dream, to take themselves and their spiritual identities seriously, and then to challenge the rest of us to do the same. At United Church we value our students, not because they are the future, but because they are the present.

United Church Youth Ministries offers many opportunities for youth and families to participate, including worship, education, the arts, volunteering, fellowship, and more. We hope you will give us the opportunity to get to know you by participating in the life of our community. Please read below for additional information about UCCH Youth Ministries.

The primary intentions of the youth ministry program are:

• To call young people to be disciples of Christ, nurturing them in their faith journey’s.
• To respond to the needs and the interests of teens, pre-teens and young adults.
• To work in partnership together, as youth, children, adults and community leaders.
• To develop servant leaders who will continue to share God’s love with the world.
• To nurture a spirit of inclusivity among all youth, families and friends of UCCH.

Medical Release Form for Middle School and Sr. High Youth Activities

• Sunday School and Confirmation

  During the church year (September through May), our youth meet on Sunday mornings at 10 am.

  The Middle School class is using a combination of curricula in the classroom, including lectionary-based: Seasons of the Spirit and TeenText, as well as dvd-based Sparkhouse publishing Re:form curriculum. Seasons vision is for an authentic Christianity lived in our culturally diverse and religiously pluralistic world; to be signs of God’s liberating, compassionate, and inclusive love, and to grow in our relationship with God. TeenText takes this vision and utilizes very practical and relevant examples from students lives to illustrate important lessons drawing heavily on social media. The Re:form series offers students an engaging platform from which to discern their faith identities, and highlights important “big questions” that often accompany adolescence.

  The Senior High class will base its lessons on the lectionary, discussing the sermon each week as well as current world events and culturally relevant topics. The leaders will provide space for open as well as challenging discussions appropriate to students’ needs and interests.

  Confirmation is the second step in the covenanting process, following baptism, for young people at United Church. Eighth graders and older are invited to discover what it means to commit to Christian faith. We use the Affirming Faith curriculum of the United Church of Christ.

• Youth Choir

  Directed by Jenny Anderson.

  The Youth Choir welcomes 4th through 12th graders to participate in the music program at United Church! Youth Choir rehearsals take place on Sunday afternoons (September through May) on the following schedule: 1st and 3rd Sundays at 4 -4:55 pm; 2nd and 4th Sundays at 1:45 – 3 pm. Middle and Sr. High students are encouraged to be a part of the Youth Group. The Youth Group schedule works in coordination with the Youth Choir rehearsals.

  The Youth Choir provides music in worship approximately one Sunday per month during the school year, usually at the 8:45 service. They also join with the Chancel and Children’s Choirs for the annual service of Lessons and Carols during Advent.

  Each year the Middle and Sr. High Youth Choir members attend a fall retreatat Don Lee Camp and Conference Center in Arapahoe, NC, for fun, singing and friendship building. In June 2013 the choir participated in the Nation’s Capital Festival of Youth Choirs, and had the privilege of performing a concert in the National Cathedral. In July 2014 members of the Youth Choir will attend Royal School of Church Music Summer Training Courses. On June 22-27, 2015 the choir will return to Washington D.C. for another youth choir festival.

  Other music groups open to youth are: Chancel Choir, Chancel Bells, Iglesia Band, UCCH Brass and Strings Ensembles, and the Ambassadors Jazz Band. All Youth Choir members are encouraged to attend Voice for Life training sessions, which are at 3 pm each Sunday.

For more information on our youth program, contact the Minister for Youth and Young Adult Initiatives Ian McPherson, imcpherson@unitedchurch.org.