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Sunday Evening Youth Fellowship (during school year)

Middle School: 4:00 - 5:30 pm
Band/Choir: 5:30-6:30 pm
High School: 6:30-8:00 pm  

A light dinner is provided by volunteers during each age group’s meeting time. Middle schoolers will eat together at around 5:00 and high schoolers at 6:30.

The Youth Band (instrumentalists and vocalists) practices throughout the fall from 5:30-6:30 pm in Fellowship Hall. All levels are welcome!

Youth and Adult Leadership

The youth ministry is organized by the youth subcommittee advised by Youth Director, Mary Pratt. The subcommittee meets (almost) the first Sunday of every month from 12:15-1:15 pm in Flounder 2B. The youth subcommittee is chaired by Debra McKeown (a parent of a middle and high schooler) and includes high school youth leadership, parent leadership, and leadership by caring members of our congregation.

Adult youth advisors also make up a vital part of the youth ministry. Youth advisors participate in Sunday Evening fellowship and in trips. They help facilitate discussion and help serve as an extra set of adult eyes and ears.

Mission and Service

Each month, the ministry includes 1-2 service projects. The youth run the church drive to send stuffed stockings to our military personnel deployed abroad and run the Souper Bowl of Caring drive to raise money and cans for a local group that the Meeting House supports. The youth also bring gifts for a family during Christmas, march in the ALIVE parade, babysit for the congregation, and spend afternoons volunteering at various organizations the youth select around the Metropolitan DC region.

During the summer, the youth are encouraged to volunteer for a week as part of OPMH Youth Service Week. In addition to volunteering time, the youth also reflect on why they serve and how service is part of our Christian calling. Also during the summer, youth are encouraged to participate in the West Virginia and Mexico workcamps. Those who have attended these workcamps report that their perspectives are forever changed.

Just for Fun Fellowship

Sometimes, we enjoy just hanging out and spending time to get to know each other better. About once a month, we have a special fellowship activity at youth group: movie night, lock-ins, holiday parties, bowling and laser tag. Many of these events are visioned by youth, parents, and the youth subcommittee. In January, middle school and high school youth go to Massanetta over a long weekend for skiing and snowboarding.

Small Groups

We offer smaller group fellowship for middle school boys, middle school girls, and high schoolers. These small groups give youth further opportunity to get to know each other and get to know youth from other schools. About every 2 months, groups go out to lunch after church and then participate in a fun activity around Old Town.

Youth, Music and Worship

Many of our middle and high school youth play and sing in our youth band, led by Julie Jernigan. The band practices from September – November and January – March from 5-6 pm during middle school fellowship time. In the fall, the youth lead the worship for Youth Sunday, a service entirely lead by the youth – from the preaching to the praying to the music. In the spring, the youth lead music for a special event that changes every year. In the summer, the band occasionally helps lead evening worship.  High School youth are also encouraged to join the choir, help with summer worship, and to audition for the Meeting House singers.
Youth are also encouraged to volunteer as ushers and as lay readers.

Summer opportunities

From late June to early August, the youth have lots of opportunities to engage in service and in fellowship. In late June, all youth are invited to participate in Service Week in late June. In July, middle schoolers go to the Massanetta Springs Middle School Conference in Harrisonburg, VA. High schoolers attend Triennium Conference in Purdue, IN (every three years) and Montreat High School Conference in Montreat, NC. Middle and High Schoolers are encouraged to participate in the West Virginia work camp, and youth 14+ are encouraged to participate in Mexico workcamp.

Click here to learn about our youth educational opportunities!