Youth Ministry

Youth Ministry is ministry with, by and for youth. By definition, this includes everything from community service involvement to playing the trumpet Christmas Eve, participating in a drama for Sunday School to serving dinner in a shelter, serving as an assisting minister, or coming to a youth group meeting. The youth of this congregation “do ministry” in many and various ways, and for this we thank God.

This year, Melissa Tanquary is fulfilling her high school community service requirement by volunteering with the Sunday School. Thanks for the good work you’re doing, Melissa!

In January, Grace youth (and adults) participated in Ecclesia Ministry’s CityReach “urban immersion” program. To understand the issues of homelessness in Boston on a deeper level, we gathered at St. Paul’s cathedral in Boston and heard first-hand what it’s like to live on the streets. We were given a guided tour of the Boston Common unlike the tours most of us had known before. These tours were late at night, in the cold with the wind blowing. The tour guides asked us questions like “if you were living out here tonight, where would you sleep so you wouldn’t freeze to death before morning?” They knew first-hand the answers the their own questions. The next day we sorted clothing brought by the various youth groups and staffed the “luncheon/clothing give-away.” (Warm socks and sleeping bags were “best sellers.”)

We have launched a successful high school youth ministry program: the Inter-Denominational Youth Group (in search of a better name!). On Sunday afternoons we gather with high school youth from the Needham Presbyterian Church, St. Paul’s Episcopal church in Newton and the Taiwanese Presbyterian Church of Boston. The idea is to gather a diverse group of youth to nurture fun, fellowship, and faith. The group is currently led by three adults: Pastor Jennifer Hitt (Grace), Pastor Elliott Hipp of the Needham Presbyterian Church, and Keith Hatfield of St. Paul’s Episcopal Church. We rotate locations monthly.

Tentative plans for 06-07 include a Duck Tour kick-off celebration, an “alternative” Halloween party, a winter retreat, a Lenten drama, and a mission trip! (Industrious plans!) Talk to Pastor if you have ideas, questions or if you’re interested in more details.