Youth Ministry
Purpose Statement
The Youth Ministry of Abington Presbyterian Church exists to
make disciples of Jesus Christ by offering young people the
opportunity to experience the entire spectrum of living God's Word
by:
- Valuing and nurturing each other's God-given gifts
- Acting as God's hands in service and God's mouth in reaching
others
- Welcoming and holding each other and God's world in our
arms
- Bringing our minds and spirits closer to God through study and
prayer
- Having Fun!
Youth Ministry at Abington Presbyterian Church is
a vibrant ministry offering various ministry opportunities for
young people in grades 7-12. This ministry is administered and
supported by the Youth Committee of the Christian Education
Council.
Sunday Worship
On Sundays you will find young people participating in the 10am
Celebration Worship Service either as members of the Chapel Choir
or serving as ushers.
Sunday Church School Classes (8:45am - 9:40am)
The Junior High Class (grades 7-8) meets in the
Youth Lounge (Rooms 72/74) on the lower level of the Parish
House.
The Senior High Class (grades 10-12), entitled
Dialogue, meets in the Richard Treat Room (Room 71) on the
lower level of the Parish House.
Both classes discuss a wide range of topics and issues including
units on the Old Testament, New Testament, social justice issues,
and living the life of faith.
The Confirmation Class (9th grade and up) meets
in the Malachi Jones Room (Room 70) on the lower level of the
Parish House. Students read through and study the main components
of the Bible asking questions of the text. They include the study
of: the Apostles Creed, the Lord's Prayer, the Sacraments,
Presbyterian History, the Trinity, prayer, the meaning of grace,
and worship in the Reformed Tradition. They are also involved in
mission in the community through various projects such as the
Souper Bowl of Caring and sorting food donations at
Philabundance in Philadelphia. During the process,
each student writes their own statement of faith, based on what
they learned in class and from past teachers of the faith. Adult
mentors are matched up with each student to forge new relationships
between youth and adults and to assist in their crafting their
statement of faith. Confirmation Sunday takes place in the spring
each year.
Sunday Youth Fellowship
Youth Fellowship meets on Sunday afternoons at
4pm in the Youth Lounge (Rooms 72/74) on the lower
level of the Parish House. Activities include games of all
kinds, mission work, lock-ins, discussions, Bible study and more.
There are several weekend retreats scheduled throughout the
year. There is a group of adult leaders who undergo a
background check and receive child sexual abuse prevention training
before they can serve in this role.
Youth Mission Trips
One of the most important parts of our youth ministry is our
summer mission trip. The locations vary from year to year. Recent
trips include home repair projects in Lubec, Maine and Pittsburgh,
Pennsylvania, projects for the homeless and hungry in Chicago and
Minnesota and an international trip to Guatemala to bring medical
care and lead Vacation Bible School with local children. Once
every four summers, the youth head to the Blue Ridge Mountains of
Western North Carolina to take part in the annual Montreat Summer
Youth Conference with 1,000+ Presbyterians from across the
country.
Please contact the Youth Ministry Committee chair, Julie Arndt
or Ruth Sall, Interim Director of Christian Education (215-887-4530
ext. 108 or rsall@apcusa.org) for additional information.