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Mindful of the mission statement of the larger faith community, To Know and Share God’s Light, the objective of Youth Ministry at Church of the Epiphany is to guide youth on their faith journey; to grow their relationships with God, peers, and other generations; and to sow the seeds of spiritual interconnection that will become the foundation of adulthood. To that end, Epiphany provides a comprehensive set of programs geared toward youth that allow them to serve and be served. Programs under the Youth Ministry umbrella include the junior and senior high youth groups (the Seekers), the acolytes, and confirmation. 

Making Young People Comfortable with Church:

Please see the note that our Youth and Children's Minister, Amber Stancliffe Evans, wrote on how parents can help make children feel welcome at church

Seekers

Beginning Fall 2007, Junior Seekers will move to Sunday evenings.  The Sunday evening format will be:

For these meetings, the Youth Minister and other group leaders are guided by the popular Journey to Adulthood curriculum, which is designed to provide meaningful rites of passage for youth. Junior Seekers also incorporates community service activities, field trips to other faith communities, movie nights, and fun outings to support the spiritual journey. Junior Seekers is a vibrant and energetic group whose members are visibly active in the church. Many serve as acolytes and readers for special occasions during the worship service, and they often volunteer to aid the nursery and church school. On several occasions, the group has served as host for the Interfaith Hospitality Network, and on multiple occasions has sung Christmas carols for seniors at the San Carlos Elms. The Junior Seekers program thrives in large part thanks to a co-op of adult volunteers who work with the Youth Minister in program and event planning, mentoring and youth advocacy. Contact our Associate for Youth and Children Ministries, Amber Stancliffe at ext. 107 or Amber@churchoftheepiphany.org for more information. 

Senior Seekers

Youth in grades 9-12 are encouraged to join the Senior Seekers; this group meets in the Parish Hall on Sunday evenings throughout the school year. The Senior Seekers group has no formal curriculum; instead, the meetings consist of activities and discussions guided by the Youth Minister and other group leaders. Recent discussions have centered on such topics as "inclusion," "leaving a legacy," and "fostering a heart of compassion." Within the life of the parish, many Senior Seekers serve as acolytes, volunteer as teachers for the church school program, and baby-sit in the nursery. Some Senior Seekers have also volunteered to be in the choir, serve as Lay Eucharistic Ministers, and occasionally play music during the worship service. On a diocesan level, many are involved in youth leadership in the Diocese of California, as members of the Youth Council, as counselors at BREAD camp, or as staff members for the youth-led Happening retreat. For the past several years, a number of Senior Seekers, along with adult volunteers, have participated in an annual mission trip to build or repair homes for needy families. This social outreach ministry reflects the group's desire to connect with the world. Contact our Associate for Youth and Children Ministries, Amber Stancliffe at ext. 107 or Amber@churchoftheepiphany.org for more information.
 

Acolytes	Acolyte Manual
	Epiphany has an active Acolyte team that consists of Crucifers, Servers, and Torchbearers. The Acolytes serve each Sunday at the 10 a.m. service and on special days as the Rector requests. Students are invited to become acolytes beginning in the fourth grade and can continue throughout high school.

Confirmation

Preparing for confirmation is a spiritual journey. In the Episcopal Church, confirmation is not a requirement for becoming actively involved as a member of the parish.  Eighth graders are encouraged to participate in the church school confirmation program.  Older youth who would like to be confirmed should consult with Amber about how they can best prepare for confirmation in a way that meets their spiritual needs: Amber@churchoftheepiphany.org

Youth Ministry Commission

Church of the Epiphany's Youth Ministry Commission advocates for parish youth and supports the four main youth ministry programs. The commission meets on a monthly basis and comprises adult advocates, volunteers, and mentors for youth;  the vestry liaison(s); the Rector; the Youth Minister; and other youth leaders. The Youth Ministry Commission assists the program groups with administrative details and helps coordinate activities within and between the groups.  Contact Mary Jordan at msj823@aol.com for more information.

Getting Involved

While there have historically been a number of adults interested in supporting our various youth programs, more volunteers are always welcomed. There are various ways in which an adult can become involved with our youth. Some examples include the following:

· Serving as a lay leader for either the Junior or the Senior Seekers
Serving on the Youth Ministry Commission
Providing snacks for Seekers meetings or events
Driving the youth to occasional functions in or out of town

Those who join this ministry truly enjoy working--as well as playing--with preteens and teens. Most commonly, adult volunteers say that it is the mentoring of the youth--and the young people's openness and their acceptance of one another and of their leaders--that brings the volunteers their greatest fulfillment.

Associate for Youth and Children's Ministries—Amber Stancliffe Evans, amber@churchoftheepiphany.org 650-591-0328 ext. 107

General Conduct for the Protection of Children and Youth

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