The St. Paul’s Youth Group is a community of friends who seek to grow in faith, hope and love – and we do this in all kinds of ways. We eat together, play together, serve others together, talk about our lives and our faith and issues we face. We pray for one another and for our world. We are quiet and we are loud – and we experience God’s presence in both. We sit in circles and climb high mountains and travel to far away places…and stay close to home. We seek to live from the heart and live out God’s love for all people.
We invite youth in grades 6-12 to join us for a wide variety of exciting activities and events on Wednesday evenings, as part of the parish Community Night. You are also invited to Christian Education hour on Sundays after the 10am Holy Eucharist.
The purpose of St. Paul’s Youth Ministry is to create and foster a community where youth can explore and live out their faith in a safe, fun, supportive, and challenging environment. Through Sunday morning classes, Wednesday evening Youth Group, retreats, and service projects, we explore the many unfolding facets of teenagers lives, physically, emotionally, and spiritually. Friends and newcomers are always welcome! Please join us!
Christian Education
Classes for youth meet Sunday Mornings from 10:50 to 11:50. We meet immediately after Communion - doing the Judas Walk from the 10:00 HE - in the Youth Rooms upstairs. All of the Youth meet together at this time to say the Post-Communion Prayer followed by Lunch. After Lunch and announcements, we split up into three groups - Rite-13, Confirmation Class, & High School Youth - for class.
Middle School Youth - Rite 13
- bible study, exploring identity, christian life, and community.
Confirmation:
- The Confirmation class is open to any Youth between the ages of 14 & 18 who feel called to a more intense Formation in Discipleship as preparation for an Adult Affirmation of the Faith, the Confirmation of their Baptismal Covenant, & the Sealing of the Holy Spirit.
High School Youth - My Life, My Faith
- Youth in High School will be exploring the central teachings of Christian faith and tradition. We will also look carefully at our own life and faith.
Evening Youth Group
Rite 13 meets twice a month, usually on Sunday afternoons, 4 - 6pm.
St. Paul’s High School Youth, or SPY meets twice a month on Saturdays in the late afternoon for food, fun, service projects, adventure, and discussions about life and faith in Christian community.
Youth Leadership
There are many ways that youth provide service and leadership within the St. Paul’s community.
- Acolytes & Crucifers. Each Sunday youth help lead worship as acolytes and crucifers. There is a training session in the beginning of each year and then students are assigned to occasional Sundays to serve. Contact: Buck Smith and Barrie Carveth.
- Youth Choir meets Wednesday evenings from 6:45- 7:30 (beginning 9/30) for rehearsal and sings special offerings in worship. Director: Albrecht von Gaudacker
- Church School Teaching: Youth are invited to help teach church school for younger children. Church school meets from 9:45 – 10:45AM. Contact: Iris Potter
- Youth Led Worship: once or twice a year, the youth lead all aspects of the 10AM service.
- Interfaith Youth Core: A youth service organization newly formed in C’ville. Meets Monthly
- Youth Council: leaders who help plan and conduct meetings.
Christian Service
St. Paul’s Youth work together and individually to live lives of service throughout the year. Here are a few of the things we have done in the past:
- Gleaning apples for Food Bank
- 30Hr Famine for Hunger
- Habitat for Humanity
- Christmas Caroling to nursing homes and shut-ins.
- Food collection for Food Bank
- Food for local refugee families.
- Christmas stockings for teens
- College Care packages
- Work weekends at Shrine Mont
- Clean up for Rivanna River
In addition, each year high school youth are offered a chance to travel on pilgrimage or service trips in the summer.
- Pilgrimage to Puerto Rico
- Katrina Relief work
- Pilgrimage to South Dakota
- Nightwatch - St. John the Divine
Shrine Mont Retreats!
Each year, the Diocese of Virginia hosts retreats for youth at the Cathedral of the Shrine in Orkney Springs, VA, known as Shrine Mont. St. Paul’s encourages the youth of our parish to attend these wonderful weekends. The St. Paul’s Senior High also has a tradition of a Fall weekend to help rake leaves & play.
These retreats are lead by youth volunteers from around the Diocese. The teen leaders are known as The Parish Youth Ministry or PYM. The PYM structures the weekend with games, small group activities, worship and large gatherings. St. Paul’s Youth are invited to apply to serve on the PYM team.
There is no better way for kids to get to know other kids in their own church and from around the Diocese than a trip to Shrine Mont. They form friendships for a lifetime, and they will learn the importance of a place set apart for peaceful retreat and spiritual renewal.
For more information contact:
The Rev Nicholas Forti
Associate Rector for Young Adult Ministry
Phone: 434-295-2156
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Last Updated on Saturday, 08 October 2011 08:36
