Grades 7 - 12
Our youth program reflects the basic values and objectives of our church. Nurturing relationships among young people is of highest priority to us. Our program reflects this relational approach, emphasizing what we learn from the experience of being part of a Christian community. Research shows that a powerful approach to raising healthy young people is to invest effort in building assets for and with them.  The teen years are a time when young men and women must make critical decisions about identity, belief, vocation, commitment, and must seek meaning and personal affirmation. Our ministries take seriously these particular years and provide a supportive community within which young people can struggle with their own faith and life issues.

Sunday Evening Meetings
Our Junior and Senior High Youth Group welcomes youth in grades 7 through 12 from a variety of East Bay schools. The group, averaging 25 per meeting, meets regularly on Sunday evenings during the school year. Youth Group meetings focus on topics that are of interest to Youth and reflect our values as a community of faith, also including time for games and socializing. Youth participate in programs dealing with exploring personal identity, building relationships within the family and with peers, confronting faith issues, developing a social conscience in the world, coping with stress, and making crucial decisions about sexuality and about the use of alcohol and other drugs.

Special Events
The program also offers youth opportunities for deepening friendships and in-depth discussions throughout the year at weekend retreats, a ski trip, excursions, parties, a youth program at Family Camp, and a summer Senior High Mission Trip. Youth engage in several fund-raising projects during the year to support the mission trip.

Leadership
A team of adults from the church family works with Susan Hunn, our Staff Associate for Children and Youth, to lead our Youth program.  Susan is employed full-time by our church and has led our Children and Youth programs for 27 years. She came to us from a career in counseling and is a Certified Associate Christian Educator in the Presbyterian Church (USA).