Youth Group

May 21

End of Year Party (3-4:30pm) ***NOTE new time/place***

Every year I forget how busy May becomes for our families and plan an extravagant end of year celebration. And every year, I get emails/texts with regrets from folks who are too overwhelmed to attend. Such was this case this year with the Family Fiesta. 

Instead, we'd like to invite ALL YOUTH to come jump away the stress and busyness at RUSH. Meet at Rush at 2:45pm. Bring your RUSH socks if you have them (we'll have extras if you don't' have them). We'll jump from 3-4pm, then enjoy some special treats as we move into summer. Pick up at 4:30pm. No cost for youth.

Please complete the online waiver before dropping off: https://bit.ly/jumpintosummer23. 

May 14

SENIOR RECOGNITION SUNDAY

We are excited to celebrate our high school seniors in 11am worship this week, with a reception to follow. 

Join us as we recognize David, Wallace, Simms, Aiden, Kate, Carolina, and Charlotte!!

*There is no youth group tonight. Please remember to RSVP for the end of year Fiesta by 5/15 next week. RSVP here.

May 7

SCOTTISH REFORMATION SUNDAY

How does our history shape our future? What gifts can we find in our Scottish heritage? What legacy do you want to leave behind for the next generation? What role should the church play in shaping a new vision for humanity? Join us for conversation, games and visioning. 

MS Youth Group (5-6pm)

Dinner (6pm)

Thanks to the Sewards for providing dinner tonight. If you have not yet helped with dinner, we could use 1 more family to help out. Please let me know!

HS Youth Group (6:30-7:45pm)

April 30

SUMMER MONTREAT MEETINGS

All youth signed up and at least one parent/guardian must attend the info meeting tonight. Please bring your final balance to the meeting.

Middle School Montreat (5pm)

The Middle School Conference (MSC) will be held July 19-23 at Maryville College, TN. 

More information can be found here.

High School Montreat (6:30pm)

Montreat Youth Conference (MYC) is open to rising 9th graders through high school seniors. It will be held June 4-10 at Montreat, NC. 

More information can be found here. 

*Will not have dinner tonight. Meetings will take the place of youth group activities.

April 23

HONORING GOD'S CREATION - EARTH DAY

Earth Day was Saturday, April 22. Tonight we'll honor God's majestic creation. 

MS Youth Group (5pm)

We know our middle schoolers, tonight we'll get our hands dirty with some spring planting, followed by an outside worship service. 

HS Youth Group (6:30pm)

For those in the midst of exam stress, come take a break from your studies for an hour of stress-relieving nature-inspired activities and mini outdoor worship service.

*8th grade can move on up to HS tonight or stay in MS until next year. Your choice!!

April 16

EGG OLYMPICS

Easter was last week, but we are still celebrating! Tonight, we'll participate in the first ever Egg Olympics - high school vs middle school! Youth will compete in egg-themed games to win prizes, ending with a churchwide egg hunt. 

See you for a night of fun and laughter. 

Meet in Fellowship Hall.

April 9

EASTER!!

no youth group tonight

April 2

PALM SUNDAY

Youth and their parents are invited to special Sunday School offering in the PIT this morning. 

You'll be introduced to the spiritual practices of audio divina, lectio divina and visio divina.

At 10:40am everyone is invited to participate in the Palm Processional, following a live donkey around the block to the Sanctuary for 11am worship. Meet on the upper parking deck.

March 26

5th Sunday in Lent: BE COURAGEOUS

Showing love and standing up for justice may sound good in the abstract. But how far are we willing to go to spread godly love? While it might be easy to think of love in warm and fuzzy terms, sometimes love is not pretty. This is especially true when love must confront the ugliness of injustice. Tonight we'll share examples of courageous love and talk about how being a Matthew 25 church pushes us to do more, to be brave, to be a light in the darkness. What role do you think the church should play in fighting injustice?

March 19

4th Sunday in Lent: Show Mercy

Jesus called his followers to a different way. Jesus spoke about mercy. He said, “Blessed are the merciful, for they will receive mercy” (Matthew 5:7). He prayed for God’s mercy for those who crucified him. Jesus’ way of love reflected a commonality among all those created in God’s image. When we act out of this conviction, love looks like mercy. 

Tonight, we'll look at the idea of both/and - grace and mercy, trouble and mercy, justice and mercy. How can we see God's image in each of these?

March 12

3rd Sunday in Lent: Serve a Stranger

The command to love in active, extravagant ways, and to treat others as we wish to be treated ourselves, means we give ourselves away in service to everyone, including those whom we might consider strangers. It takes an intentional act of love to reach across stubborn cultural, racial, class, geopolitical, and religious boundaries to connect with those whom we don’t know. 

Tonight, we'll revisit the idea of ubuntu, I am because we are, and how that connects to God's mandate to practice radical hospitality. When have you felt welcomed as a stranger? When have you show radical hospitality to another? 

March 5

2nd Sunday in Lent: Live Peaceably

Jesus taught his followers to create new communities bound together by self-giving love rather than self-protecting walls. We are to create communities dedicated to peace, starting with ourselves. Peace is

not something that simply happens. It is something that we actively work toward every day of our lives in little and big ways. Tonight, we'll unpack Paul's letter to the church in Romans 12:9-21 to better understand how we can (and should) live peaceably. How are you creating space for peace in your life?

February 26

1st Sunday in Lent: Love Extravagantly

To love extravagantly, it is important to know what love is. We love because God first loved us. Our understanding of the depth and breadth of God’s love becomes the foundation on which we are able to love God, self, neighbor, and enemy. 

Tonight begins our Lenten Study: Love God, neighbor, enemy. We'll break into small groups so we can delve even deeper into the characters of our Lenten scriptures. Together, we will seek clarity, connection, wonder, justice, and balance. 

February 17-20

Ski Trip!!

Please read through all information and be here on time on Friday!

There is no youth group on Sunday due to the ski trip.

February 5

MS Youth Group (5pm)

While middle school youth do not have speaking parts in Youth Sunday this year, they have an important role in creating the visual message for the day. Tonight, we'll be getting artsy, creating banners to hang from the balcony, painting pots and creating gifts for the congregation to give as they leave worship. We need your help to make this day special - no creative skills required, just a good attitude! 

HS Youth Group with 8th graders (6:30-8pm)

This is our one and only rehearsal for Youth Sunday, so we need all 8th-12th graders to attend. We'll walk through the whole service, deciding where people should sit, when to come up to the pulpit, practice on the mic and make sure we have a good flow for the service. Ushers will go over their instructions and serve as tester to see if we can hear/understand everyone even way in the back. 

January 29 

MS Youth Group (5pm)

We'll be back in the PIT tonight after a few weeks off. In small groups, we'll take a look at the scripture for this year's Youth Sunday and then share stories and games together. 

**For the next few weeks, we are inviting our 8th graders to join HS youth group as we plan for Youth Sunday. 8th graders are welcome to come early and participate in MS youth group too or just arrive at 6pm for dinner. 

HS Youth Group with 8th graders (6:30-7:45pm)

Youth Sunday planning continues as we look at the scripture lesson. ALL high schooler and 8th graders are asked to join us!! Youth Sunday is 2/12 and we have a lot of work to do between now and then. Tonight we'll decide on a theme, assign roles and begin writing liturgy.

January 22 

MANDATORY SKI TRIP MEETING

All youth signed up for the ski trip and at least one parent must attend this ski trip meeting. We'll be getting fit for ski boots, going over the schedule and making a group covenant. Please bring a check with your remaining balance. If you do not attend this meeting, you may not be able to go on the trip.

There is no Middle School youth group tonight.

HIGH SCHOOL: THE PARABLE OF THE MUSTARD SEED

After the ski trip meeting ALL 8TH-12TH GRADERS are asked to join us for dinner where we will begin planning for Youth Sunday. If you are not going on the ski trip, please plan to arrive at 6:30pm.

January 15 

MLK WEEKEND

There is NO YOUTH GROUP this weekend. Instead, I hope you'll take time to honor Dr. King by attending worship, volunteering in the community, attending the MLK Day parade, or spending time learning about issues of structural racism.

This year, as in years past, the Mission & Outreach Commission has identified two volunteer projects that we as a church might work on together. The first is at Project Safe Thrift Store to help straighten, sort, etc. It is located at 995 Hawthorne Avenue, Athens and we will be there from 11:00 a.m. – 2:00 p.m. The other option to serve is at the Athens Area Diaper Bank to help count, sort, and wrap diapers that have been donated. To volunteer, please go to tinyurl.com/FPCMLKDay and select the “Fill the Diaper Gap with Athens Area Diaper Bank” project.

January 8  

EPIPHANY CELEBRATION

Epiphany is the celebration of God’s presence breaking through to shine as a light in the darkness. The magi who traveled great distances to offer their gifts to the newborn Christ-child were responding to the gift first given to them.  

Just as the magi followed the star to find baby Jesus, bringing their gifts, we are also seeking Jesus, trusting God can and does use many signs to guide us closer to the Divine presence. Tonight, we'll each select a gift, a Star Word, to guide us in the new year.

We'll also be forming new small groups that we'll meet in each week to explore the scripture and bring our community even closer together. 2023 is going to be a great year!

December 18  (5-8pm)

Elf Movie Night

Tonight we'll be up in Fellowship Hall to watch Buddy on the big screen. Wear your favorite Christmas pjs or cozy onesie and bring a sleeping bag or blanket (no, this is not a lock-in) to wrap up in for the movie. We'll have dinner (yes, the classic Elf dinner....) then watch the movie. 

This is for both MS and HS. It's also a great night to bring a friend if you have someone who has been looking for a church home.

Parents are invited to join us for the movie or if you'd like a more reflective time, attend the Service of Longest Night in the Sanctuary at 7pm. 

Please pick up at 8pm FROM THE FRONT OF CHURCH - HANCOCK AVE.  The back parking lot will be full with worshippers.

December 11

HS CHRISTMAS PARTY!!

Our High School Christmas Party will be at the Ness home (200 Glenwood Drive).

It's a Glitz and Glam Party, so please wear something sparkly or fancy. 

Bring a wrapped gift for the White Elephant gift exchange. Gifts should be no more than $10 (no candy or gift cards - get creative).

We'll start with dinner, then gather around the Christmas tree for gifts, singing and stories.

Parents pick up at 8pm. (There is no MS youth group tonight)

December 4

MS CHRISTMAS PARTY!!

It's only fitting that this year's Middle School Party will be our 2nd Annual Christmas Chaos Party?!

Youth are asked to dress in red and green festive wear and to bring a wrapped gift for the White Elephant gift exchange. Gifts should be no more than $10 (no candy or gift cards - get creative). 

We'll meet in the PIT at 5pm for games, karaoke and cookie decorating. Dinner will be provided. 

Parents pick up at 7pm.  

(There is no HS youth group tonight)

November 27

1ST SUNDAY IN ADVENT

At Christmas, God came into our ordinary world in the form of a child, and still today, God is at work through the ordinary moments of life. 

Join us as we decorate the tree, share stories from scripture and  look for God in the everyday, normal stuff

November 20

NO YOUTH GROUP

I hope you have a joyful thanksgiving break. See you next week!

30 HOUR FAMINE

Saturday, November 12

12:00pm     30 HOUR Famine begins

10:00pm     20 HOUR Famine begins

Sunday, November 13

8:00am      10 HOUR Famine begins

10:00am    All participants in the FAST meet in the PIT

Wear comfortable clothes for a day of activities. Bring a water bottle!

6:00pm      Breaking the Fast with a family-style potluck dinner

SIGN UP: https://bit.ly/30hours2022      

Learn more: News from the PIT 

ALL SAINTS SUNDAY

All Saints’ Day is a time to rejoice in all who through the ages have faithfully served the Lord. The day reminds us that we are part of one continuing, living communion of saints.

Tonight in youth group, we'll look at the saints who have impacted our lives. We'll hear stories from ordinary people who have made the world a better place. Then we'll talk about how each one of us is called to share our gifts with others. How might you be a saint to others?

Each person is invited to bring a picture or something that represents someone who has had a big impact on your life. This special person can be still living or in life eternal.

HS ONLY Youth Group

HS youth group will meet from 6-8pm at the Ness house for a fire pit, Halloween trivia and Fall Potluck. 

Youth are asked to dress in orange and black.

Bring a favorite appetizer to share for dinner.

NO MS Youth Group this week

Because we had such a great time on the Fall Retreat that was all MS (minus 1), we are taking a week off from MS youth group to focus on HS. I hope you all have a safe and fun Halloween weekend! MS will be back next week.

Fall Retreat is this weekend! Please keep our youth and adults in your prayers as they head down to St. Simons for a weekend of rest, relaxation and reminders of what it means to be the body of Christ. We are grateful to Courtney Pittman who will be delivering a keynote address and leading worship around the theme of Ubuntu: I am because we are. We depart from the church parking lot at 4:30pm on Friday.

MICAH 6:8  Do justice. Love kindness. Walk humbly with your God.

Tonight we’ll dig a little deeper into the three components of Micah 6:8. What do they mean? How can you explain them to others? We’ll look at different interpretations and talk about why we chose this version as our scripture for the year.

 HS will also be reviewing different options for our summer mission trip. We want your input as we begin to make plans!

Dinner (6-6:30pm)

Thank you to the Bryans and Williams for providing dinner tonight. TACO BAR

We were supposed to be up in TN this weekend, but will still try to bring some JOY to our Sunday. 

MS Youth Group (5-6pm) 

Game night - ping pong tournament, corn hole, karaoke, jenga, palace and possibly twister. See you there!

Dinner (6-6:30pm)

Keeping it simple tonight. We'll order pizza!

HS Youth Group  (6:30-7:30pm) 

It's been a busy weekend for yall. Let's just have some fun! We'll play some games and catch up on our weeks.