UPC Youth Ministry

UPC Youth Ministry serves our 6th-12th grade students. The focus of Youth Ministry at UPC is to create an affirming and accepting environment where youth can be their authentic selves and grow in relationship with God and each other. We are inclusive to all youth and empower them to be who God created them to be. We encourage students to ask questions and take ownership of their faith journey while walking alongside their peers.

Rather than live as individual disciples following Jesus alone, we believe in living as a community:

  • In order to live as a community, we have to know each other and;
  • In order to know each other, we have to lean into vulnerability, listening to each other’s experiences, learning from each other, serving our community together, worshipping together, and creating environments where students recognize they are loved and known exactly the way God created them.

JOIN US: (see below for more details)

  • Sundays 5-6 pm: Weekly Youth Group
  • Wednesdays 5:30-7:30 pm: Hang with Hannah
  • August 2 9 am-3 pm: River Float on the Comal
  • August 8 10am: Blessing of the Backpacks (during 10:00am service)
  • August 13-15: UPC All-Church Retreat @ Mo Ranch
  • August 29 6pm-7:30pm: Children, Youth, & Families Semester Kick-Off
  • Fall 2021: Confirmation Classes Begin
  • September 24-26: Main Event @ John Knox Ranch
  • January 14-16 2022: Midwinters @ Mo Ranch

Weekly Youth Group

UPC Youth Ministry will begin meeting weekly in the fall on Sundays at 5:00pm and talk about life, play some games, and discuss scripture that is relevant to what is going on in our world and lives today.

Mission Presbytery Youth Events

Save the date for exciting events planned by Mission Presbytery over the next year! More information will be shared as it becomes available. Note that UPC will attend Midwinters 1!

Confirmation

We will begin a Confirmation class this year with a goal to have Confirmation Sunday in Spring 2022. Confirmation will be for students who will be in 8th grade or above in Fall 2021. The program will include opportunities to learn about who we are as a PCUSA church, who are are as UPC, how the church functions, and the importance of community in our congregation across generations. If you are interested in your child participating, please fill out this form and Hannah will be in contact with you about details.

Throughout the year

UPC Youth Ministry is committed to serving our city, engaging with other congregations as well as interfaith communities, and attending events organized by Mission Presbytery. This includes working with our Mission Outreach & Justice Committee and organizations like the Interfaith Welcome Coalition and House of Neighborly Service. We also attend Midwinters, whether they be virtual or in-person, and encourage our students to attend youth group weekly. As UPC begins to think about how we will worship together again, UPC Youth Ministry will adjust and stay committed to serving our students the best way we can.

Hang with Hannah

Youth are invited to spend some time with Hannah at the Starbucks in the Quarry. Hang out, do homework, talk, whatever. Weekly during the school year on Wednesdays 5:30-7:30pm.

Contact Hannah Cooley (hcooley@upcsa.org) for more information.