1st Youth | FPC Arlington

Top Goals for the Youth Ministry

The Youth Ministry is one of the vital ministries of a local congregation. One of the most urgent, most helpful tasks for the church is to help answer any questions teens have, help them understand what Christianity is, and be helpful as they make the transition from childhood to adulthood.

The church's Youth Council established four top goals for the overall youth ministry of this congregation:
- Build committed relationships among people--of all ages--in the church.
- Develop the spiritual lives of young people.
- Develop an appreciation for the history of the church and a love for the Bible.
- Develop a youth program that is meaningful and significant for everyone who is involved.

Sunday School

Youth Sunday School meets every Sunday at 9:45 to 10:45 am upstairs. We have combined middle school and high school Sunday School. Each week youth dive into the re:form curriculum; learning stories from the old testament, new testament; as well as jumping into topics around how the bible was made, what do we believe as a PC(USA).

Youth Fellowship and Service

Our Director of Children and Youth

Ministries is Hannah Day Donoghue. We have

fellowship, service, and fun events once a month.

Email Hannah at hannah@fpcarlington.org to get

on the email chain and text alerts for Youth

events.

Confirmation

At First Presbyterian Church we believe Confirmation is a crucial part of a youths faith journey. For those in church from a young age, your parents most likely baptized you as an infant where they took vows on your behalf about the ways they would foster you in God's community and love. This is the season for confirmands to ask questions about their faith, Presbyterianism and their church and to own their faith as their own. Confirmation happens every other year and will happen in 2025-26 Program year.

Summer Trips/Events

Each year we aim to provide trips for each of our youth age groups. Registration is open! Reach out to hannah@fpcarlington.org to register.

Massanetta Middle School Conference:

First Presbyterian will be going June 24-27, 2025. Massanetta is a transformational program that welcomes hundreds of middlers (those who have completed 5th grade through 8th grade) and their leaders from all over the country each summer. Participants attend keynotes, recreation, workshops, and worship designed by the Advocates (high school leaders) with them in mind. Encounter Groups provide an opportunity to reflect and learn alongside youth from other places, led by Advocates.

Montreat Youth Conference: First Presbyterian will be going July 20–26, 2025. Montreat Youth Conference is for high schoolers and affirms youth in their calling to be and to shape the church of Jesus Christ. Our desire is to help youth come to know and believe that they are the beloved of God and to be a place where authenticity, community, connection, and God’s truth thrive. We seek to be an inclusive space where each voice can be heard and where each heart can be molded; where change is invited, challenge is expected, and where all are embraced.

Staymission- First Presbyterian Youth do a stay at home mission experience, which will be August 11-15, 2025. Throughout the week we will focus on different justice and mission topics that are affecting our community in Arlington. Each day we will serve at local agencies and justice organizations as well as talk about how our faith calls us to be the hands and feet of Jesus through our mission work. Exact times each day will vary, but will stick closely to a 9-5 pick up and drop off.

Camping (not Camping):

Each year we go camping at Burke Lake for fun, bonding,

games, mini golf and of course, smores! This year we will go

camping August 2-3, 2025 for incoming 6th graders to

outgoing 12th graders. If you want to hang out with the group,

but don't want to camp overnight email Hannah and we

have an option for not camping, but enjoying all the fun!