Youth Essay

This was written in February, 2006, by an FPC high schooler for a Pinkerton Academy English class assignment (with slight editing to shield young identities).

Church is as Fun as You Make It: The Youth at First Parish Church

Have you ever laughed so hard that your side hurt? Have you ever seen someone auction off a spaghetti dinner? Have you ever climbed a magical mountain that can melt away all your worries? Have you ever done them all in a place of worship? Well I have; through my church I have been able to experience them all.

I have been attending First Parish Church for 14 years, and I cannot think of any other church I would rather attend.

First Parish Church, or FPC, is a relatively small church located in East Derry, New Hampshire. The youth have so many options at their disposal to make their church experience an enjoyable one. The official religion of FPC is Protestant Congregationalist. This means that all the members of the church, or the congregation, have a say in how the church is run. This, above all else, is what makes First Parish an outstanding community for children--big or small--to grow up in. As one young member says: “I’ve never felt so right, so loved. Our church is so understanding, and the people there are the most incredible people I’ve ever met." First Parish Church is one of the best churches in the area for youth because of the people and programs in the church community.

One aspect of a successful church youth program is the activities that are available to participate in. All those involved in such programs enjoy the experience thoroughly. When asked why this is, another youth member explained that it is mostly the people — adults and youth — who give her a feeling that she is with family. She says she feels safe and that she can be herself.

One type of activity the youth have access to are events that happen at the church. These consist of many different things. The largest is the music ministry program. Music ministry is designed for those who have musical talents. First Parish is rich with musical talent. Music ministry allows those youth to commune with God through the gifts he has given them: through their music. FPC has choruses for every age group, a bell choir, a brass choir, and much more. These choirs practice and participate in the services.

Another example of a program that is available would be the youth group. The youth group is for the senior high class and meets every other Friday night. At meetings there is a set topic for discussion. There is some time to play games and just have fun, but the rest is set aside for the discussion. The members always enjoy their time at meetings. “I would rather go to youth group than go to the movies with my friends” said the member mentioned above. The youth also get involved in the annual auction to support the youth ministry program. However, these are examples of only one type of activity.

First Parish Church also plans many youth trips. Most of the trips are for the middle school class. They go on many short day excursions, such as rock climbing and various overnights at the church. They also have their longer outings such as their weekend trip to New York City.

The senior high class and youth group have events of their own: the yearly youth overnight in Arlington, the infamous New Years Eve party at one leader ’s house and the confirmation class has their week long mission trip over April vacation. However, there is one trip that makes even the long events seem like mere outings. This is the whole church, Labor Day weekend retreat at Horton Center.

Horton Center is a camp for all the United Church of Christ (UCC) churches in the area, including FPC; but all are welcome. It is located up north near the peak of Pine Mountain. They also hold week long church camps in the summer which any FPC student is able to sign up for. Horton Center one of the most amazing places I have ever been in my entire life. Almost all who have gone on the retreat agree with me. Many of the youth who have attended, have been deeply affected by Horton Center. One such student said that when she is there she gets this feeling: a feeling as if everything is right in the world and that she just wants to stay on top of that mountain forever. She says that the experience makes her feel close to God, literally. When asked to describe Horton Center she simply replied, “Home."

These trips are important, but they are not the only part of a successful youth program.

An important part of any church is the leadership. The leadership at First Parish consists of the senior pastor, Alice Ling, the associate pastor, Lucy Alexander, and the deaconates board. “Lucy and Alice are the most ‘good’ people I know. They care about every single person in the congregation," said one youth member. I speak from experience that they will help you any time you need it. I am able to simply call Pastor Lucy to see if she’s in her office, and I am welcome to come down and talk to her about any problem I might have.

Pastor Lucy is very closely associated with the youth. Sometimes it seems as if we have our own pastor. The function of the deaconates board is to plan the services and make sure every thing fits together and runs smoothly. All the members of the deaconates at FPC are dedicated to the church and their responsibility. They do an outstanding job and help make the church as special as it is. Having great leadership is part of what makes a great church. Having an excellent church is an important step to having a great youth program.

The youth ministry is a vital part of creating a successful youth program. The adults at First Parish Church take this matter very seriously. The church prides itself on the exceptional program for its newest generation. The purpose of youth ministry is to plan the religious education of the students, and to make the experience enjoyable for them and the teachers. “It’s not just one person leading our youth, its different people.  So there is support for the youth from this variety of leaders and also there is a lot of support for youth within the church," explains Pastor Lucy.

There are many key adults in the church who have taken a large role in the youth ministry program. For instance, the middle school teacher Mark Pingree, the senior high advisors Dave Holigan and Moira Merrill, and the mind-boggling, the legendary “Dollar Bill” Burke among others. However, what makes the FPC youth ministry unique is that students are allowed seats on the youth ministry committee. Two such youth members in particular have taken a leadership position to represent their friends and classmates on the council. Youth ministry helps to organize the youth program and make it as successful as it is.

The most essential factor in a successful program is the youth themselves. Without a good group of youth there can be no thriving organization. What makes this particular group so special? “Participation, leadership, friendship, love, and an interest in learning about our religion make our youth so special," according to one member.

The youth are very involved in the church through the different choirs, committees, and other various activities. The youth take on leadership roles; whether it be on the youth ministry committee or volunteering to lead youth group meetings. All members of the youth group are friendly and accepting of others. In addition, we all love each other; we feel like a family. “I’ve never felt so loved” is the feeling of one member. The youth do have a deep interest in their faith. When youth group meetings are planned the leaders do not do all the planning. They sit down with some of the youth and plan a meeting. A youth group that exhibits all of these qualities will be successful.

The people in the congregation and programs offered by the church make First Parish Church an exceptional environment for youth. FPC in unlike any other church I have ever heard of. Sometimes in unconventional ways.

“I think FPC is also special because we love to laugh and eat.  That may sound strange but Jesus loved to laugh and eat and celebrate too and sometimes churches forget that and become way too serious.  Our faith is cause for celebration," says Pastor Lucy.

A variety of different activities are offered by the church; these range from choirs to weekends away. The leadership in the church works well as a team to create a safe, fun, and educational environment for the youth in the church. The adult population and their children are both active in youth ministry to plan the youth program. The youth at First Parish make the group as special as it is. When all these exceptional qualities are combined into one community the result is a church that is perfect for youth to grow up in. First Parish Church shows all the qualities needed for such an environment.