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Youth Fellowship
First Parish Youth Fellowship, (FPYF) has various activities occur throughout the year. All youth, sixth grade through twelfth are invited to participate. Friends are welcome. Some of our activities/events include: Thanksgiving Baskets, Worship leaders for the 5 pm Family Christmas Eve Service, Souper Bowl of Caring offering and Sub Sandwich sale, College Care Packages, Mother’s Day Breakfast /Blanket Sunday offering. We have 3 overnights per program year and other fun activities. Every four years is the National Youth Event, (NYE). The next event will be in 2024. Over 2500 UCC youth and chaperones spend time enjoying days of wonderful worship and workshops, fabulous fellowship, marvelous music and spectacular speakers. Financial aid is available for this event.
Experiential Education Programs
Acolyte
An
acolyte lights and extinguishes the altar candles. The word acolyte
is taken from an ancient Greek word that meant companion, attendant
or helper. An acolyte helps prepare the congregation for worship and
after takes the light of Christ out into the world. All children and
youth, third grade and older are invited to become acolytes. An
acolyte training is provided several times per year.
Bible Sunday
All third graders receive a Bible on “Bible Sunday” which is held in October. Bibles are presented during the 10:00 am Worship service and all recipients and their family members are invited to a Bible Breakfast on that morning.
Christmas
Pageant
Our Church school shares the Christmas story with the congregation during the 10.00 am Worship service on the third Sunday of Advent. There is a free catered supper and pageant rehearsal on the Friday evening before. All children are invited to participate.
Confirmation
Confirmation classes meet September through May. All ninth through twelfth graders are invited to participate. Each confirm and is teamed up with a mentor, usually of the same gender.
Pilgrim Lodge
Pilgrim Lodge, or PL is our UCC summer church camp located on beautiful Lake Cobbosseecontee in West Gardiner, Maine. PL has programs for children, youth, and adults of all ages and family camping too. First Parish provides financial assistance through a campership program. Campership applications are available online and are posted in April of each year. For more information about the camp, visit: www.pilgrimlodge.org.