What We Do
SERVICE
Front Street youth are not only active within the church, but within the community of Burlington and Alamance County as well. In June of 2012, our Senior High missions team served at the Appalachia Service Project center in Jonesville (Lee County, VA) for a week, and our Junior High team served at the Middle School Missions workcamp in Albemarle, NC in mid-July.
For the summer of 2013, we will be serving at ASP again, at a county to be determined in east Tennessee. The Junior High mission team will also be serving at MSM, which is being held in the mountains of western NC this summer.
Below are some pictures of some of the other service opportunities Front Street youth participate in. From supporting Loaves and Fishes to shopping for Christmas presents for area needy families to hosting lunches for our own faith community, the UMYF is very intentional about ways to serve others.
The pictures above provide just a small sampling of how the youth of Front Street reach out to others. Whether it's hosting a Trunk or Treat event for the community, serving hot meals at the homeless shelter, shopping for Christmas presents for needy families, raking yards for elderly church members, packing shoeboxes of Christmas goodies for impoverished children, or raising money for local charities, service continues to be one of the strongest aspects of the youth ministry at Front Street.
The Front Street class of 2012 getting recognized at worship
SUNDAY SCHOOL
Sunday school is organized for both the Junior High and Senior High youth at Front Street UMC. These classes meet each Sunday morning. Youth coordinators work with church staff to provide structured teaching by well-prepared instructors. For the fall of 2012, the Sr. High curriculum will be the "10 Tough Things" study, and the Jr. Highs will be using "Claim the Life series" from Cokesbury.
CONFIRMATION CLASS
Confirmation class at Front Street for youth in the 6th grade has begun on Sunday mornings. During the evenings, the Confirmands are given the opportunity to integrate with the UMYF program, and we are thrilled to welcome our newest youth members into the UMYF program!
United Methodist Youth Fellowship (UMYF)
An important part of the youth ministry at Front Street is the United Methodist Youth Fellowship, known as UMYF. The UMYF provides youth opportunities for:
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developing personal faith and a commitment to Christ.
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experiencing Christian fellowship in a peer-group situation.
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developing leadership skills through planning and leading United Methodist Youth programs.
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giving support to and sharing concerns with one another and with adults in a caring Christian community.
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developing personal relationships with adults who show characteristics of Christian maturity.
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participating in service, outreach and study activities, such as serving at holiday soup kitchens, Loaves & Fishes, mission trips, and other volunteer opportunities.
The Front Street UMYF is divided into two age groups on Sunday evenings: The Junior High UMYF for those in grades 6-8 and the Senior High UMYF for those in grades 9-12. Both groups meet at 5:30 p.m. for a snack supper and then meet separately for the program, which is based on either Bible Study/discussion, service, worship, or recreation from 6:00 to 7:00 p.m.
Our youth are also actively involved in the connectional opportunities that being part of the North Carolina Conference of the United Methodist Church offers. Every year, we have had youth represent our church as delegates to the Youth Annual Conference Session at Methodist University in Fayetteville, and we also currently have youth who are members of the Conference and District Youth Councils.
Small Groups (SGs) and Breakfast Club
Youth are assigned a group depending on their grade. Together with their leaders, they meet twice a month and plan a variety of fellowship and service projects. This is our 5th year of continuing with the Small Group ministry. These groups meet on a flexible schedule set by their leaders and members, and meet outside of church, be it at a leader's home or for a fellowship meeting at a local restaurant/coffee shop.
Currently, FSUMYF also has two active Breakfast Club groups that meet on a weekly basis (when school is in session) on Wednesdays before school Food and fellowship before heading off to begin a new school day. What could be a better combination?
Music and Worship
Music and worship opportunities for youth include the Youth Handbells, who play regularly in worship. No prior musical training is necessary, although some experience is helpful. Under the leadership of Front Street's music director David Ratchford, the group practices on Sunday afternoons. Informal short-term music groups form from time to time for special occasions, and a youth choir also sings for special occasions. The Youth Praise Band One Foundation also practices on a regular basis and have played at worship services as well as special church events.
Youth are also involved in worship-leading opportunities at Front Street, from serving as Crucifers and Acolytes to leading prayer to reading Scripture. This is an important and simple way for the youth of our church to be involved with the worship life of the larger faith community, and we remain committed to providing avenues for the young people of our church to serve.
If you have any questions or would like more information about the Youth Ministry at Front Street UMC, please contact the Youth Director Derek Tang.
