Youth and Adult Leadership
The youth ministry is organized by the youth subcommittee advised by Youth Director, Mary Pratt Perry. The youth subcommittee includes high school youth leadership, parent leadership, and leadership by caring members of our congregation.
Adult youth advisors also make up a vital part of the youth ministry. Youth advisors participate in Sunday Evening fellowship and in trips. They help facilitate discussion and help serve as an extra set of adult eyes and ears.
Mission and Service
Each month, the ministry includes 1-2 service projects. The youth run the church drive to send stuffed stockings to our military personnel deployed abroad and run the Souper Bowl of Caring drive to raise money and cans for a local group that the Meeting House supports. The youth also spend afternoons volunteering at various organizations the youth select around the Metropolitan DC region.
Just for Fun Fellowship
Sometimes, we enjoy just hanging out and spending time to get to know each other better. About once a month, we have a special fellowship activity at youth group: movie night, lock-ins, holiday parties, bowling and laser tag. Many of these events are visioned by youth, parents, and the youth subcommittee. During the winter months, middle school and high school youth retreat at Massanetta over a long weekend for skiing and snowboarding.
Small Groups
We offer smaller group fellowship for middle school boys, middle school girls, and high schoolers. These small groups give youth further opportunity to get to know each other and get to know youth from other schools. About every 2 months, groups go out to lunch after church and then participate in a fun activity around Old Town.
Youth, Music and Worship
The youth lead the worship for Youth Sunday, a service entirely led by the youth—from the preaching to the praying to the music. High School youth are also encouraged to join the choir, help with summer worship, and to audition for the Meeting House singers. Youth are also encouraged to volunteer as ushers and as lay readers.
Summer Opportunities
From late June to early August, the youth have lots of opportunities to engage in service and in fellowship. Middle schoolers go to the Massanetta Springs Middle School Conference in Harrisonburg, VA. High schoolers attend the Senior High Youth Conference in Montreat, NC.
Youth Fellowship
Youth Fellowship – Sunday Evenings during school year
6:00 – 8:00 P.M.
Unless otherwise noted, Fellowship Hall, dinner provided
Interested in helping out or want to learn more? Please Contact:
Youth Education & Fellowship
Mary Pratt Perry: mpratt@opmh.org
Youth Education
The Meeting House youth ministry includes not only Sunday morning Sunday School and evening youth fellowship but also includes opportunities for local and global service, for retreats, and for interschool friendships. The ministry focuses on being a welcoming safe space for individuals to ask and wrestle with questions on the intersection of faith and other responsibilities. Believing strongly that we are community, the ministry makes great efforts to stress how each individual brings unique gifts to the body of Christ. As part of the body, we are to care for one another.
During the school year, youth meet Sunday mornings form 9:40-10:40 for a time of Christian education and spiritual formation. The classes are taught by teams of committed adults.
Middle schoolers (grades 6-8) focus on relating Bible stories, church history, and Reformed theology to each person’s experience at school and at home. Middle Schoolers meet in Flounder, room 1B.
Confirmation (grades 8 and above) is a period of study and discernment, during which the youth have the opportunity to take a deeper look at their faith and discover how they can become more involved in the life of the church. At the conclusion (usually on Pentecost), members of the confirmation class have the opportunity to publicly profess their faith.
Senior Highs (grades 9-12) use the “Feasting On The Word” curriculum, which focuses on the church lectionary calendar. This helps them better understand the sermon and scripture each Sunday. The youth are challenged to take a look at the world in which they live and the issues they encounter, and discern how they, as Christian disciples, should respond. High Schoolers meet in Flounder, room 2B.
National Capital Presbytery PYC (Presbyterian Youth Connection) is an opportunity for youth and adults to work with each other connecting young people together, the whole church, and the world through faith in Jesus Christ.
About twice a year we have Presbytery wide youth events. These events include a time for worship, service and fellowship with youth from churches all over the metropolitan area.
We care deeply about our college students and younger adults, many who go away after high school. In the fall, the middle and high school youth send each student a care package to let them know we are thinking about them and keep them in our prayers. Several get-togethers are scheduled when our college students are home from college during the holidays and summer months.
If you are between the ages of 18 and 23 and are in town for an extended period of time, please contact Mary Pratt Perry.