Youth Ministries at Holy Cross

Middle-school and high-school youth are active members of Holy Cross. There are a variety of ways for them to be involved, including youth Christian formation on Sunday mornings, Wednesday night youth group, and confirmation classes. Youth participate in outreach opportunities, including our Pumpkin Patch, which raises money for charities in the Upstate, and Project Host, a soup kitchen in Greenville where we serve lunch on the fifth Sunday of the month (four times a year). We also plan mission trips and youth events and outings throughout the year. For more information about our youth ministry, please email youth@holycrossep.org or call the church office.

Youth Christian Formation meets on Sundays from September through May at 10 a.m. in the Meeting Hall, which is located at the back corner of our property. Youth explore their faith, ask questions, study the Bible together, and make connections to their own lives and events around the world.

Wednesday Night Youth Group meets from 6:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. in the Parish Hall during the school year. Each Wednesday, we enjoy dinner, fellowship, Bible study, games, and other activities as we build Christian community together. We also work on outreach projects during the year, including Operation Christmas Child shoeboxes, the Holy Cross Pumpkin Patch, and the Project Host soup kitchen in Greenville. We hold fundraisers including an annual chili cook-off to raise money for youth events and mission experiences. In July 2014, we will send a short-term mission team to Quito, Ecuador, for one week. In August 2014, we will get away to Camp Gravatt in Aiken, South Carolina, for a team-building ropes course weekend.

Diocesan youth events are held at Camp Gravatt in Aiken several times a year. These events bring Episcopal middle-school and high-school youth together for an opportunity to learn and grow in their faith. The events are designed and led by the Diocesan Youth Leadership Committee, which is made up of high-school youth from around the diocese.

Confirmation class is open to youth in grades 10 through 12. The group meets monthly and explores the baptismal covenant in preparation of a mature affirmation of faith through the sacrament of confirmation. The youth work with mentors and leaders using the Confirm, Not Conform curriculum (http://www.confirmnotconform.com/).

During our worship services, youth are encouraged to serve as acolytes and participate in our music ministry.

Children and Youth Sunday is celebrated in the spring. Children and youth take on leadership roles in the worship service including reading, ushering, music, and preaching. Signup sheets will be posted and practices are required to participate.

Our Youth program could not run without the many dedicated adults who volunteer with the youth in all the areas of youth ministry, including Jill Swinden (Wednesday youth group), Michelle Brewer (Wednesday youth group and confirmation class), Bonnie Schmidt (Sunday Christian formation), Kristen Beal (Sunday Christian formation), Sara Farley (communications), and Anne Smith (confirmation class). Thank you to all of the parents and other adults who support our fundraisers and special events.