2021-2022

SEPTEMBER 2021

It was so great to see many of you at the Parent meeting on 8/22 and youth group kick-off on 8/29. The energy of those two nights filled my soul back up!

If you have not filled out this year's Youth Information Form, please do so today. You can also download the PIT Packet with information on Sunday, big events and summer. We will be ordering dinner for High School youth group only. Each week a link will be sent via Remind where youth can order what they want. We are asking for a $5 contribution to help cover some of the cost of dinner.

Please remember that all youth events will take place outside this Fall and youth will be required to mask up when going inside. Middle School Youth Group will be meeting in the lower parking garage so the gate will be down. Parents/youth, park on the upper parking deck. Youth should use the Weekday School doors (under overhang) to walk down to the lower parking lot. You do not need to walk your child down (but are welcome to). When youth group is over, we'll bring everyone back upstairs to meet you in the upper parking deck. We also have a security guard on duty who will be at the desk to welcome everyone.

As Natalie shared with children's ministry, we are planning and tweaking one month at a time!

September 5

No youth group tonight.

Happy Labor Day weekend. Go Dawgs! Welcome back Dr. Carol Strickland from sabbatical.

September 12

God's Good Creation

In the beginning, God made order out of chaos. And as God looked back on each day's creation, God declared it was good.

Middle School will meet from 5-6pm. High School will meet from 6-7:30pm.

We can all agree that the world feels a little chaotic right now. Tonight we will look past the chaos as we continue to form connections and build our great good community. Get to know you games, relay races, small group discussions. Let's celebrate all that is good.

September 19

please note - the Olypmics has moved online. Join us on Zoom at 7pm

Family Game Night: Olympics Version

IN-PERSON POSTPONED - COMBINED YOUTH GROUP: FPC Olympics

Once a month we are going to combine middle school and high school youth group for a big event. In honor of the 2021 Summer Olympics in Japan, we are hosting the first ever FPC Olympics in Athens (GA)! We'll create mixed grade teams to compete in a variety of events, concluding with a massive water balloon fight. Come prepared to play games, make new friends...and get wet! We'll begin with an opening ceremony followed by dinner. All events will take place outside - check back for more details. Adult volunteers needed!

Opening ceremony at 5:30pm - Closing ceremony at 7:30pm

September 26

Hidden Blessings

Today's scripture tells the story of Jacob and Esau. We learn about Jacob's dream where God made a promise to him. It is a story about stolen blessings, grace, and new beginnings. God can (and does) use anything as a chance for blessing one person or a group of people.

Middle School: 5-6pm

Have you ever received a blessing that you didn't feel you deserved? How can we be a blessing to others? Tonight, we'll put our faith into action. We'll be creating Blessing Bags to give to our homeless brothers and sisters. Of course there'll also be games and chair chats!

High School: 6-7:30pm

God said, know that I am with you and will keep you wherever you go (Genesis 28:15). Has there ever been a time when you did not feel God's presence? How do you feel about new beginnings? Tonight, we'll talk about what it means to start over. We'll also create New Beginning Care Packages to send to our college freshmen. While they are no longer here with us, we want to remind them that God is always with them and we are holding them in our prayers.

Please sign up to receive REMIND updates via text.

To sign up for REMIND - text 81010 to join @PITparent or @PITyouth.

AUGUST 2021

Welcome back friends! I hope you all had wonderful summers and last minute preparation for school is going smoothly. I've been excited to start planning for in-person youth group to resume this Fall and think about summer 2022 trips. Of course our number one priority will always be the safety of our youth so we will continue to take Covid precautions and follow CDC and ACC guidelines.

Communication is going to be key as things seemingly change overnight and all of us have schedules that are filling up quickly after a year of quiet. I'll send out a monthly email with plans for the month, then follow up with Remind updates each week. The youth website (www.fpcathenspit.com) is where you'll find the most current information, so please bookmark this page. As you are putting together your family calendars for the start of the year, please take note of these important August dates:

August 8

Pool, Prayer and Popsicles

Come enjoy a cold dip in the pool to mark the end of summer. Middle school will meet from 3-4pm with high school to follow from 4-5pm. RSVP to kness@firstpresathens.org. 200 Glenwood Drive.

August 15

8th grade Pizza and Planning

Since both our new 6th graders and 7th graders have never experienced in-person youth group in the PIT, we are asking our 8th graders to help us create a space that is welcoming for all. We'd like to invite all 8th graders to come join new Middle School Coordinator, Erin Osborne, to talk about hopes for the year, including new leadership roles and setting group norms. Pizza will be provided! 6-7pm in PIT

August 22

Parent Only Meeting

***NEW TIME - 4:30pm-5:30pm***

Join me in Fellowship Hall from 4:30-5:30pm to hear about our plans for this school year including summer trips, meet new college interns, discuss Covid precautions and of course fill out paperwork. Love to see everyone, but please send at least one parent to this important meeting! Bring your questions, concerns and friends! As one of the seniors shared this year at Youth Sunday, she was invited as a middle schooler to youth group and found a home for her whole family at FPC as a result.

August 29

Youth Group Kick-Off

Hooray!! Youth Group is back! Tonight we'll begin to reform our youth group community, setting group norms, playing icebreakers and get-to-know-you games and just having fun together.

Middle School will meet from 5-6pm in the lower parking deck. We'll have the gate down so parents please park up top and walk down to check your child in. Our goal this semester is to host youth group outside as much as possible. Masks will be required when inside. We will not be providing dinner for MS this semester, but hope we can restart this fellowship time in the Spring.

High School will meet from 6-7:30pm. Please park on the upper parking deck and come on down to the PIT. We'll have dinner on the steps outside the PIT by the courtyard, then move into the lower parking garage for games and discussion. Masks will be required when inside.

Please sign up to receive REMIND updates via text.

To sign up for REMIND - text 81010 to join @PITparent or @PITyouth.