Youth Ministry

Photo: John W Philbrick

The Youth Ministry of East Brentwood Presbyterian Church seeks to help youth explore and find their voice in terms of:

✓Their sense of self and well-being;

✓Their sense of self in relation to the Divine;

✓Their sense of agency in matters of justice and reconciliation. 

Our aim is for youth to be fully integrated into the life of the church, both in the programs of the youth ministry and in the overall worshipping community. Relationships are an important part of teen life at EBPC.

We are an inclusive, open, honest group who desire to learn more about our fellow peers, our connection to God and to people near and far.

Our Core Values

Building the ladder of our faith formation at EBPC, we recognize that the core values inherent in children’s ministry continue to serve the needs of youth, acknowledging that faith formation is not a single trajectory but a life cycle.

  • We nurture a youth’s innate desire to love as God loves by providing opportunities to show empathy by serving the world around them.

  • We reflect God’s love by embracing and welcoming all youth, teaching them to do the same.

  • We create an environment that ignites a youth’s desire to seek answers, challenge truths and find meaning in God’s words with an open mind and heart and sense of justice.

  • We provide opportunities for youth to develop a sense of wonder as they learn about the love of Christ through engaging curriculum, service projects, leadership roles and creative activities.

  • We provide opportunities for older youth to mentor younger youth, which provides growth in leadership development and fosters a spirit of community among our teens and tweens.

  • We create a sense of belonging for our youth within their peer group and the entire EBPC church family.

Fellowship

Our Fellowship events are designed to help us embrace honest socialization while having fun. We are able to grow in love and support of each other as a church family during our times together. Our past adventures have included: lake trips, laser chase, canoeing, Sounds games, Escape Games, Kraken, and more!

Photo: John W Philbrick

Mission & Service

Service to others is a key part of being a Christian youth at EBPC. Youth members share compassion and love by serving those in need by participating in monthly service opportunities with EBPC mission partners including the Nueva Vida Food Project, Glenview Elementary School, and Room in the Inn. Additionally, youth participate in summer mission trips. Past trips include Oklahoma, Asheville, NC, Chicago, IL, and Arkansas.

These trips are fun team building experience and deeply spiritual service opportunities for all who attend.

Photo: John W Philbrick

Faith Formation

Our EBPC Youth desire to expand their understanding of their faith through regular participation in youth meetings.

During the school year, middle and high school youth gather from 11:00 am to 12:30pm after worship to share a meal, participate in games, and join in conversation about scripture and the ways their own life stories intersect with Jesus’ calling to love one another as they go about their lives as teenagers. Youth participate in selecting special topics of study including anxiety, relationships with parents, school, world religions, prayer styles, and peer relationships.

Confirmation

Every two years, EBPC offers a Confirmation class for youth in 7th through 12th grade who have not yet joined the church.

We use the “Big God, Big Questions” curriculum provided by the PCUSA that allows youth the opportunity to ask the hard questions and consider how their faith journey has evolved and will continue to evolve throughout their lives. Big God Big Questions encourages confirmands to ask big questions and to pay attention to how different people draw upon their faith and experiences to answer them in diverse ways, even within the Presbyterian Church USA.

Confirmands are introduced to what it means to be a member of a congregation and the ways our congregation uses the language of faith, worships, does mission, and organizes its leadership.

Photo by John Philbrick

Worship

EBPC youth regularly serve as liturgists, ushers, and greeters for church service. Being involved in many aspects of the church is a rewarding and necessary relationship for the youth.

Once a year (usually in the spring) the youth plan, organize, and implement all aspects of Youth-led worship service.

Retreats

Regular participation in NaCoMe conferences and Montreat is also a fabulous way to grow in faith with other Presbyterian youth. NaCoMe Youth retreats happen twice a year, once in the Fall and once in the Spring, and EBPC youth have the opportunity to experience God in nature and meet other youth from Middle Tennessee. Montreat is a week-long Presbyterian Youth conference held in the stunning mountains of Montreat. N.C.

This is the perfect week to expand on your faith and meet youth from all over the United States