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The Youth Department at PHPC strives to provide a place where youth feel welcomed and accepted -- free to be the persons God wants them to be. In this safe environment, we can build stronger relationships with Christ and with each other through education, fellowship, mission and worship. Although our wonderful Youth House is a separate building from the main church, we don't see the Youth program as separated, but rather as an integral part of the work and community of the whole church!
Sunday School
Classes held year-round for 7th-12th graders provide opportunities to explore the way we as Christians live in today's society. We use the Celebrate Curriculum developed by the PC(USA), a curriculum that examines the issues of today and ties them into the Bible and our faith. During the summer a variety of special programs are used, and youth participate in intergenerational activities. For more information about our current Youth Sunday School Schedule, please click here.
Youth Connection
Our Sunday Evening Fellowship time has been best described by one of our Youth as "a bunch of Christians in a room having fun." The regular schedule has JR HI meeting from 4-5:00 p.m, and SR HI meeting from 6-7:15 p.m. each Sunday evening. Activities range from games to discussions to topical speakers to mission projects to social events, always with an eye towards building fellowship and community in our group.
Youth Choir
Under the Director of Terry Price, The Westminster Singers is for students in grades 7-12. This fabulous choir sings in Sunday worship about twice a month, as well as in special services on Christmas Eve, Maundy Thursday, and Easter. For more information, please visit the Music Section of this web site.
Wednesday Night at the Youth House
Each Wednesday during the school year, from 6-8:00 p.m., the Youth House is open! Come do your homework, hang out with your friends, eat pizza ($1/slice), and watch a PG movie that's under 100 minutes. It's a break in your busy week and a chance to see your friends from other schools! During the summer we have special fun events every Wednesday night.
Other Programs and Events
- Disciple Bible Study for Youth - A year-long class that meets each Tuesday, 7-9:00 p.m.
- First Sundays - Breakfast at McDonald's at 7:30 a.m. followed by 8:15 a.m. worship with Communion on the First Sunday of each month. Nourishment for body and soul!
- Retreats - Each year we do a weekend-long retreat for both JR HI (Sept) and SR HI (Feb). These happen at Springhill Retreat Center and are incredibly relaxing, fun, bonding times.
- FUNRaisers - Each year we have four FUNRaisers to earn money for Summer Programs. They are: A Car Wash (a Sat. in Sept.); a Pansy Sale (Oct.), A Super Bowl Sub Sale (guess what day), and a Cake Auction and Luncheon (spring). They are lots of fun, and always involve an element of fellowship and service, as well as raising money!
- Lock-ins - Also annual stay-up-too-late gatherings in the Youth House! SR HI in November and JR HI in April. Also a Post-Broomball lock-in is held each summer for all! Watch movies, play sardines, cook brownies, eat too much, sleep too little, just generally have a great time!
- Youth Musical - Happens every other year in February. The last three have been Fiddler on the Roof, Godspell, and You're a Good Man, Charlie Brown. They are lots of work, lots of fun, and amazingly rewarding experiences for everyone involved!
- Treasure Hunt - The biggest single event of the year! On a Saturday in October, about 100 youth split into teams with an adult driver, heading out across the Metroplex, solving clues, performing various acts to receive the next clue, taking pictures, laughing and having a grand time! Everyone returns to the Youth House for a dinner and victory celebration!
- Thanksgiving Breakfast and Worship - On Thanksgiving morning, the Youth serve a breakfast and lead the worship service for the church. It is a very fun, casual, thankful celebration of the day. Fellowship Hall is always filled with warmth, love, and bacon!
Summer Programs
PHPC offers many great opportunities for Youth during the Summer:
- In-Town Mission Week - This is a four-day event held each summer right here! We stay at the Youth House and do mission work on a Tues., Wed., and Thurs. On Thursday, we go somewhere for a day of relaxation and fun! Great community building and service!
- Mo-Ranch - A Presbyterian Conference center located in Hunt, TX. A beautiful and magical place where we take youth to the following three conferences each summer:
- Mo-TLC - A SR HI Leadership Conference. Each church is limited to 5 youth, with leadership ability and potential. It's small; it's wonderful!
- JR HI Jubilee - Conference consists of energizers and music, a keynote speaker, small groups, recreation events, and lots of free-time fun! Open to those done with 7th and 8th grades.
- SR HI Youth Celebration - Jubilee on a grander scale! Open to those done with 9-12th grades.
- Montreat - A Conference in the mountains of Western North Carolina, with 1200 Presbyterians from all over, where each year we take 36 rising 9th through graduated seniors for an indescribable, amazing experience. Travel is by bus, with an overnight each way in Memphis. Getting there (and back) is half the fun!
- Mission Trip - Each year, usually in June, the SR HIs do a mission trip somewhere. We've been to Mexico, Mississippi, and other places. Each year is different!
- Wednesday Special Events - Each Wednesday night of the summer is something fun, including swim parties, Ranger games, Broomball, whirlyball, and other fun!
College Program
Also under the heading of the Youth Department is our College Group. During the Summer we have dinner each week, other fun outings, a mission day, and other activities, planned on a year-to-year basis by our Summer Youth Intern. We also have a Holiday party over Christmas, and try to keep in touch through the school year with a College Directory and with E-mail!
Who to Contact
For More information on any or all of these programs, please contact:
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Steve Cairns
Director of Youth Ministries (214) 368-6348, Ext. 143. | or |
Britton Varn
Director, Jr. High Ministry (214) 368-6348, Ext. 185. |
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