Youth Ministry is a critical piece of the First Presbyterian Church landscape. We have a healthy youth program that strives to minister to church members as well as youth whose families are not church members. Youth participate in Sunday School, bible study, Youth Choir, Youth Group on Sunday evenings, retreats and summer trips. Our Youth Council is made up of junior and senior high youth, youth advisors, the youth committee chair, and the Associate Pastor of Youth Ministries who work to plan the youth group year. Three major annual youth events are the Slide Show & Covered Dish Supper each August, the Youth Fundraiser each February, and the Live Nativity at Christmas. We also have Youth Sunday in the spring, which is completely planned and led by our youth. We have many other activities throughout our program year that have become traditions - Rake & Run, Caroling, Ski Retreat, fall Retreats, serving dinner at the homeless shelter, and Lock-in/Lock-outs.

At First Presbyterian, we strive to be an open and welcoming community of youth and adults who worship, pray, serve, study, and play together. We dive into tough topics, laughing at ourselves, working hard on service projects, praying we are discerning what God has called us to do and be in this world.

A TYPICAL SUNDAY EVENING:

5:15-6:00 p.m. - Youth Choir rehearsal
6:00-6:45 p.m. - Gathering for blessing, eating a meal together and group singing
6:45-7:45 p.m. - Junior highs and senior highs usually separate for programs/activities

CONFIRMATION

Confirmation usually takes place during 8th grade. Youth participate in the Confirmation Class during the Sunday School time on Sunday mornings during the school year. They work with Elder confirmation partners outside of class, visit several different churches, and have several service projects together. Confirmation is a time when youth explore what they believe, culminating in writing a statement of faith and making their public profession of faith and becoming members of the church.

PUPPET MINISTRY

Our puppet ministry is open to all middle and high school youth interested in a creative and exciting way to learn an art and grow in faith! CrossWalk Puppeteers is an ongoing ministry of the First Presbyterian Church that strives to share and teach God’s Word through the art of puppetry. Our puppeteers enjoy participating in programs of the church and in the community. If you are interested in learning more, please contact Sarah Christie, Director of Christian Education and puppet director.