WE ARE DEDICATED TO YOUTH MINISTRIES AT HPC!!
We hope to involve all youth (6th - 12th grades) in the total life of the church,
AND
We strive to provide a strong community of faith (youth-to-youth and intergenerational) for every youth to experience nurture, support, friendship, learning, joy and growth in their spiritual journeys during these crucial years.
Youth are invited and encouraged to engage and grow in a life of discipleship and relationship with Christ through worship, prayer, study, stewardship, service, mission, and fellowship. As Christ taught us, we accept one another where we are and how we are, and through relationship with God, one another and the world, we discover individual and corporate transformation in our lives and communities. We pray that the Spirit will lead the youth and adults involved in our youth ministries in a transformative faith that makes a difference for peace, justice and love in their relationships and world.
HPC YOUTH MINISTRIES include three church school classes, two youth group fellowships, two choirs, worship involvement, service projects, mission trips, retreats, session and committee involvement, stewardship, fundraisers, and church-wide events.
Church School Classes meet all year on Sunday mornings, September through May at 9:30 to 10:30 am and June though August at 9:30 to 10:15 a.m. For the 2009-2010 School year, the 6th and 7th grade class is doing an Old Testament Survey, the 8th graders have confirmation class, and the High Schoolers are doing a hodge-podge of fun theological discussions.
Sunday School Teachers for this year are: David Gambrell, Sara Gambrell, Jocelyn Kirk, Lisa Thompson, John Brunner, Kevin Burns, Ann Lacy, Deborah Alston, Laura Devlin, Peggy Owens, and Doodle Harris. Please contact Doodle Harris with questions:
- 5:00-6:00 - Middle School Youth Group Fellowship meets in the Pleune-Mobley Center Middle School Youth Room, while High School Choir (Calvin) meets in the Choir Room
- 6:00-6:30 - Dinner for all youth is in the Church Dining Room. Dinners are prepared by the loving hands of our parents. They are "free of charge", and we hope that all parents will volunteer for one (or two) Sunday(s) per year.
- 6:30-7:30 - High School Youth Group Fellowship meets in the Pleune-Mobley Center High School Youth Room, while Middle School Choir (Covenant) meets in the Choir Room
Usually we follow this schedule, but occasionally we need change things.
See the youth calendar for details. Also see the Music Ministries for more youth choir information or contact Frank Heller.
Worship
9:30 and 11:00 a.m. each Sunday, September through May
10:30 a.m. Memorial Day through Labor Day
Youth are encouraged to participate in worship through choir, instrumentals, scripture reading, ushering, and attending regularly.
This year, youth Sunday is Sunday, February 28th at 10:30 a.m.
Our next youth-led worship service is Sunday, March 28th at 9:00 a.m. in the chapel.
Mission and Service
Youth participate in monthly service projects from including Operation Brightside, Souper Bowl of Caring, Wayside Christian Mission, Presbyterian Disaster Assistance, Rebuilding Together, Gilda's Club and a host of other organizations. For more information on upcoming projects, please contact Doodle Harris.
Upcoming Mission Trips:
High School Service Blitz - June 29th - July 1st
Middle School Conference and Mission Trip - July 8th - 15th. Middle Schoolers will work with "Youth in Action" - a youth service organization in Asheville, North Carolina from July 11th - 14th.
Collegiate Mission Trip July 31st - August 7th to Galveston, Texas
Upcoming Retreats
Calvin Choir retreat - January 29th - 31st
Ski Trip - February 6th
Covenant Choir retreat - February 26-28th
6th and 7th grade lock-in March 27th - March 28th
Session/Committee Involvement
There is one youth position on the session. Will Owens, a senior at Manual, is our current youth elder. This person serves a one-year term. Confirmed youth are eligible to serve. Youth nominations are welcomed by the congregational nominating committee! All church committees/teams welcome youth involvement. The CE Youth Committee meets once a month and wishes to have at least two youth from every grade serving on it.
Fundraisers
As youth are involved in trips, costs add up. The youth hold many fundraisers throughout the year to help defray the high cost of these trips to the parents or the church. The church gives a portion, the parents/youth themselves pay a portion, and the sweat equity of the youth through fundraisers pays a portion. This system was put into place in order to provide affordable trips for all youth.
Upcoming fundraisers include:
ongoing postcard sales (see PDF at right)
Valentine's Bake Sale - Feb. 14th between services
Trivia Night, March 7th