You can find the Friends Youth Group, 6th-12th grade, around the church, or out in the community. Our Youth join for fellowship and food, help with the worship services, get involved with local social justice projects, or just gather to support one another on life’s journey. We explore topics such as social and racial justice, access for all, and environmental stewardship. We develop relationships, have fun, and learn how to respond to the call to care for our neighbor and be stewards of creation.
Welcome to Friends Youth!
"YOUTH ARE NOT THE FUTURE OF THE CHURCH. WE ARE THE CHURCH TODAY."
- Youth Group Shirt,United Christian Church in Austin
Weekly Youth Group Gatherings
The Youth Group meets weekly, either on a Sunday evening for dinner and discussion, or movie nights. The youth also get together for community advocacy projects, such as food distribution programs and earth justice initiatives. We also gather for monthly birthday celebrations, or educational outings to museums, events, or other faith communities. Contact Pastor Brooke for our current schedule.
Youth Mission Trips
The summer mission trip is a week-long experience of working with local organizations in various communities throughout the United States. The mission trip energizes the Youth and the adults alike to do justice, love mercy, and walk humbly with our God.
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Recent mission trips:
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2018 - Reach Beyond Mission trip to Austin, TX working with local organizations such as Mobile Loaves and Fishes, Sustainability Food Center, and the Capitol Area Food Bank, Community First!
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2019 - Trip to Birmingham, AL working with Urban Ministry, a local mission of the United Methodist Church to assist residents in breaking out of cyclical poverty through home repair and painting, a community garden, and a community cafe.
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2021 - Local mission week in B/CS hosted by Reach Beyond Mission. We learned about food insecurity, immigration, housing discrimination, and medical debt. Throughout the week, we volunteered with local organizations such as Meals on Wheels, the BV Food Bank, and Habitat for Humanity.
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2022 - Reach Beyond Mission trip to Albuquerque, NM where we learned about the Pueblo people, western expansion, and land acknowledgments. We visited the Jemez Pueblo, and worked with local organizations that provide food, housing, and serve folks with developmental disabilities.
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2023 – Be the Neighbor (formally Reach Beyond Mission) trip to Tulsa, OK with a focus on race and reconciliation. The Youth Group helped with local organizations around Tulsa and learned about the Tulsa Race Massacre, the Trail of Tears, and the Osage Nation.
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2024 – Our upcoming mission trip will be in Washington, DC, hosted by Be the Neighbor. The Youth Group will learn about justice work in the capital, how to contact representatives, and be active in community advocacy.
Confirmation for Youth
Grades 6 - 12
The next confirmation program is scheduled for Spring of 2024.
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This biannual five-month program offers a structured pathway towards Confirmation at Friends Congregational Church. Beginning in mid-January and ending on Pentecost Sunday, Pastors Brooke and Dan, along with congregational co-leaders, participate in weekly meetings, field trips to local communities of faith, youth group activities, and retreats.
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Each confirmand is asked to invite an adult member of the congregation to act as their mentor during this time. Each week the confirmand meets with their mentor and reviews their weekly assignments on a variety of topics such as God, Jesus Christ, the Holy Spirit, the Trinity, prayer, the sacraments, the Church, etc. The leadership team puts together the assignments, field trips, activities and retreats, and the classes. The confirmands are also asked to serve in leadership roles in Sunday services (lay leader, bread runner for communion, greeter, children's message) during this process. This five-month commitment is rigorous, rich, and rewarding for all.
Youth Representatives in Church Governance
Our youth are invited to serve on the Programs Ministry Team and on the Board of Trustees. These are one-year positions with a commitment to provide the youth perspective and a voice for the youth of the Congregation in all aspects of our church life.
To learn more about our Youth Group, contact Pastor Brooke at pastorbrooke@friends-ucc.org