Youth
Another wonderful Youth Service!
In an effort to assist you in the personal, spiritual, and emotional development of your young person, we offer many opportunities for our youth to grow together and play together. Here are a few of those opportunities.
6th - 12th Grade Sunday School
6th-12th grade Sunday School meets during the 10am worship service (except the 1st Sunday of the month, when we are all in worship.) Our 6th-12th graders gather together in the youth room with our youth ministry interns to discuss some of the questions they have in regard to religion, their faith, the Bible, God, Jesus, the Holy Spirit, Heaven & Hell, why we go to church, and more! Our teachers address these questions using a variety of methods, such as worship stations, discussion, music, movies, games, and the arts.
Living LOGOS
Living LOGOS meets Wednesday evenings from 4pm-7pm from mid - September to mid - March and is a great opportunity for our youth to help out with the younger children in our congregation in our mid-week program. We also have a Bible study for our 7th-12th graders from 5:20pm-6:00pm, complete with a trip to Starbucks. Dinner is served family style at 6:15pm and costs $2. Stay for part of the evening or all of it!
Confirmation
In the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.), those who are baptized and have made a profession of their faith in Jesus Christ are able to become members of the church. We have an opportunity for those in 8th grade to become members of the church by going through our Confirmation experience. In addition to attendance at 8th grade Sunday School, our confirmands meet monthly with a faith mentor and our associate pastor to talk about topics such as Church, Sacraments, Prayer, Jesus Christ, God, the Holy Spirit, and Sin & Forgiveness. They also get to know the life of the church, participate in mission activities, and develop a faith statement. Our Confirmation program runs from mid-September until Pentecost Sunday, when our confirmands are celebrated and welcomed as members of the congregation.
Got any ideas for something new or different? We'd love to hear them!
The Good News and Church Calendar
If you are not yet receiving The Good News (our church newsletter) you can sign up here:
https://www.pittsfordpres.org/newsletters or just click the link at the bottom of the homepage.
The calendar on the church website can also be a great resource for double checking the times of events and meetings!
https://www.pittsfordpres.org/calendar or just click the link on the homepage.
2023 - 2024 PLANS AND SCHEDULE
This schedule is designed carefully with the purpose of creating a program that your youth will want to engage. It is our desire for youth to have a strong understanding of God and Church Community before they leave for college. We appreciate your input, so please look over these against your calendars and let us know if you have any feedback!
FPCP Youth 2023-2024
"Inside, Outside, Upside Down"
Our theme for the year is "Inside, Outside, Upside Down" - meaning that roughly each month we have tried to include events related to these themes:
INSIDE - faith formation via Youth Group Fellowship events / Bible Study / 6th-12th grade FORUM
OUTSIDE - fellowship and fun events outside our walls to build relationships among our youth
UPSIDE DOWN - mission events that remind our young people that God has called us to serve the world as the hands and feet of Christ, because Christ created an "upside down kingdom" where the first will be last and the last will be first
These activities are intended to build community where there is none. Every event has "group building" components to help youth from different schools and different social groups to interact with each other and identify as friends. We know in the beginning kids may be reluctant if they can't find "friends" who are going. We hope if they attend these events they will soon find their friendships grow with the people who do attend.
Some of these events seem like "just fun activities" - in order to include kids on the margins who may be reluctant to come, many activities will be advertised and seem like they will be all fun and games. As a parent, please don't let this fool you. These activities are advertised this way to grow the group, and introduce new kids into who we are and what we do. Every event will include prayer, disciple building, and group building activities.
Although many of these activities will include a time to reflect on our faith, these activities will not necessarily contain a "Bible Study" as adults would recognize it. Most of our youth have learned from the Bible for many years. The studies in these courses will focus on "what difference does it make" or "what's the point?”. Kids in Youth Group have matured to start asking the hard questions. The Bible can help us answer these questions, but at this age youth, like Abraham in the Bible, need to struggle with their faith and how being a person of faith can change their lives.
FPCP 6th-12th Grade FORUM on Sundays from 10-11
There is also a calendar attached for Sunday School 2023-2024. FORUM will be taught by either Pastor Jacobson, Pastor Neff, or Craig Kunkle the Sundays noted on the schedule. As has been our practice for several years, on Communion Sundays and holidays 6th-12th graders will worship with their family.
Thank you and please reach with any questions!
Erin and Craig
Youth Ministry Calendar
2023-2024
September
Sunday the 10th – Kick-Off Picnic after the 10 am service (helping with cotton candy & games)
Sunday the 17th – 6pm-8pm Youth Group Fellowship (drop off & pick up Locust St. door)
Saturday the 23rd – 6pm-8pm Youth Group Fellowship (drop off & pick up Locust St. door)
Saturday the 30th – Fall Youth Retreat at Camp Whitman on Seneca Lake
October
Sunday the 8th – Help set up for Penny Pincher Sale following the 10am worship service
Monday the 9th – Laser Tag at 3pm (no school)
Sunday the 22nd – 6pm-8pm Youth Group Fellowship (drop off & pick up Locust St. door)
Saturday the 28th – Presbytery-wide mission event hosted by FPCP “Ramp it Up”
November
Saturday the 4th – Grocery Run/Walk in downtown Rochester
Sunday the 12th – 6pm-8pm Youth Group Fellowship (drop off & pick up Locust St. door)
Sunday the 19th – Help with the Advent Preparation Brunch after 10am worship
December
Saturday the 2nd – 6pm-8pm Youth Group Fellowship (drop off & pick up Locust St. door)
Tuesday the 5th – Help hand out Cotton Candy at Candlelight Night downtown Pittsford
Sunday the 17th – 11:30am Caroling at Mary Cariola homes followed by Christmas Party
Sunday the 31st – Youth Group New Year’s Eve Party from 8pm-12:10am at church
January
Saturday the 13th – Volunteer at Kids Academy at Cameron Community Ministries 8:30 am-2:00 pm
Sunday the 21st – 6pm-8pm Youth Group Fellowship (drop off & pick up Locust St. door)
Sunday the 28th – 6pm-8pm Youth Group Fellowship (drop off & pick up Locust St. door)
February
Sunday the 4th – YOUTH SUNDAY; youth leading 8:30am & 10:00am worship services
Saturday the 10th – 6pm-8pm Youth Group Fellowship (drop off & pick up Locust St. door)
Monday the 19th – Mission Trip to North Carolina through Saturday the 24th
March
Sunday the 3rd – 6pm-8pm Youth Group Fellowship (drop off & pick up Locust St. door)
Sunday the 10th – 6pm-8pm Youth Group Fellowship (drop off & pick up Locust St. door)
Saturday the 16th – “Teach and Tea” Event at Cloverwood 3:00pm
Sunday the 24th – “Teach and Tea” Event at church at 11:30am in Fellowship Hall
April
Saturday the 13th – 6pm-8pm Youth Group Fellowship (drop off & pick up Locust St. door)
Sunday the 21st – 6pm-8pm Youth Group Fellowship (drop off & pick up Locust St. door)
Friday the 26th (early am) – Washington D.C. Seminary Youth Trip to feed the homeless through Sun.
May
Sunday the 5th – ROC Ventures trip in the afternoon
Saturday the 11th – Camping at Camp Whitman drop off at 1pm, returning to church by 11am Sunday
June
Sunday the 2nd – 6pm-8pm Youth Group Fellowship (drop off & pick up Locust St. door)
Friday the 7th – Cameron Community Ministries Peace Walk (pm)
Saturday the 8th – INTERGENERATIONAL Church Picnic at Mendon Ponds Park hosted by Deacons
Sunday the 16th – DADS and GRADS celebration during 10am worship; celebrating our graduates!
Confirmation Calendar
2023-2024
October 15th - Confirmation Kick-Off and Mentor Afternoon
A team building event at location TBD! Save the afternoon!
November 5th - Confirmation Mentor Afternoon 11:30 am-1:30 pm
December 3rd – Confirmation Mentor Afternoon 11:30 am-1:30 pm
January 14th - Confirmation Mentor Afternoon 11:30 am-1:30 pm
February 4th - Confirmation Mentor Afternoon 11:30 am-1:30 pm
March 3rd - Confirmation Mentor Afternoon 11:30 am-1:30 pm
April 21st - Confirmation Mentor Afternoon 11:30 am-1:30 pm
May 5th – Final Confirmation Mentor Afternoon 11:30 am-1:30 pm
May 19th – CONFIRMATION SUNDAY - PENTECOST
All confirmands will be received into membership during the 10am Worship Service. Please arrive at church at 9:15am to meet with Session members in room 200!
Grades 6-12 FORUM 2023-2024
Sundays from 10:00 – 11:00 am @ Youth Room
September
Sunday the 3rd – Final 9:30am worship of the summer; please worship with your family
Sundays the 10th, 17th, and 24th – FORUM for Grades 6-12 with Pastor Jacobson or Craig Kunkle
October
Sunday the 1st – WORLD COMMUNION SUNDAY, please worship with your family
Sunday the 8th – FORUM for Grades 6-12 with Pastor Neff
Sunday the 15th, 22nd and 29th – FORUM for Grades 6-12 with Pastor Jacobson or Craig Kunkle
November
Sunday the 5th – COMMUNION SUNDAY, please worship with your family
Sunday the 12th – FORUM for Grades 6-12 with Pastor Jacobson
Sunday the 19th – INTERGENERATIONAL SUNDAY, please worship with your family
Sunday the 26th – NO SUNDAY SCHOOL because of Thanksgiving, please worship with your family
December
Sunday the 3rd – COMMUNION SUNDAY, please worship with your family
Sunday the 10th and 17th – FORUM for Grades 6-12 with Pastor Jacobson or Craig Kunkle
Sundays the 24th and 31st – NO SUNDAY SCHOOL these Sundays; please worship with your family
January
Sunday the 7th – COMMUNION SUNDAY, please worship with your family
Sunday the 14th, 21st, and 28th – FORUM for Grades 6-12 with Pastor Neff, Pastor Jacobson or Craig Kunkle
February
Sunday the 4th – YOUTH, COMMUNION, and INTERGENERATIONAL SUNDAY; remain in worship
Sundays the 11th and 18th – FORUM for Grades 6-12 with Pastor Jacobson
Sunday the 25th – NO FORUM today because of the Youth trip to North Carolina
March
Sunday the 3rd – COMMUNION SUNDAY, please worship with your family
Sunday the 10th, 17th, 24th – FORUM for Grades 6-12 in the Youth Room with Pastor Jacobson or Pastor Neff
Sunday the 31st – EASTER SUNDAY; please worship with your family
April
Sunday the 7th – COMMUNION SUNDAY, please worship with your family
Sunday the 14th – FORUM for Grades 6-12 in the Youth Room with Craig Kunkle
Sunday the 21st – FORUM for Grades 6-12 in the Youth Room with Pastor Jacobson
Sunday the 28th – No Youth Sunday School today because of the trip to Washington D.C.
May
Sunday the 5th – COMMUNION SUNDAY and Children’s Sunday, please worship with your family
Sunday the 12th – No Youth Sunday School today because of the trip to Camp Whitman
Sunday the 19th – No Youth Sunday School today because of CONFIRMATION during 10 am worship
Sunday the 26th – FORUM for Grades 6-12 in the Youth Room with Pastor Jacobson
June
Sunday the 2nd – COMMUNION SUNDAY, please worship with your family
Sunday the 9th – Final FORUM for the 2023-2024 year for Grades 6-12 with Pastor Jacobson
Or, just click HERE to download a copy in .pdf form suitable for printing (and hanging on the refrigerator) or saving.