The youth of St. Paul's give life and energy to our congregation. We look to affirm these energies and passions by providing a safe, nurturing environment where a youth's talents and skills can be celebrated and honed. When youth visit St. Paul's, they will find Sunday school volunteer teachers and advisors who truly care about each student's progress towards becoming adult disciples in the Church.

Confirmation
Much of what we discuss in our Sunday school program and youth group meetings serves to educate our youth for Confirmation therefore it is vital that youth attend as many of these meetings as possible. While Confirmation is largely about education and catechism, it is also incredibly important that youth feel a connection to St. Paul's and to the people and community found here. St. Paul's has mandatory Confirmation classes and a Confirmation mentor program in the spring, but constant involvement in the community through Sunday school and youth group provides the best chance for lasting involvement in the Church. For more information about being confirmed, please contact Bill Campbell at 703-549-3312 x20 or bill@stpaulsalexandria.com.

Middle School Youth

For our 6th to 8th grade children we find that young men and women have individual needs and require individualized attention to meet those needs. In order to best serve our youth, Sunday school is divided, with the boys meeting in the youth room on the second floor of Wilmer and the girls meeting in the room just down the ramp. Our lessons draw from many curricula and programs, and often are created by the adult mentors themselves. This approach allows us to easily customize our approach to the current needs of our youth. No topic is taboo, and no subject is shied away from. If the youth want to discuss it, we explore it with them.

Middle School Youth Group
Youth group for 6th - 8th grade meets every other Sunday. Youth group is a time for fellowship, fun, and relaxation: time away from the stresses of school, homework, and an over-scheduled life. We eat together, pray together, play together, and work together in the pursuit of a community where everyone feels welcome and cared for. Youth group always meets at the church, but often walk to Lee Street Park for outdoor games and cookouts. Detailed information about the activities for the evening is provided well in advance and through the eMERGE weekly newsletter. Sign up for the newsletter by using the box at the top of the page.

6th and 7th Grade Weekend
Sixth and seventh grade weekend is a great time to meet new friends from all over the Diocese of Virginia. The weekend includes games, fellowship, worship, and Bible study, and is typically held at Shrine Mont in Orkney Springs.

8th Grade Weekend
Eighth grade weekend is a wonderful opportunity for our 8th grade youth to spend a weekend focused entirely on them. Similar in theme to the 6th and 7th grade weekend but with more age-appropriate activities and study geared to eighth graders, the eighth grade weekend is fun and relaxing and also held at Shrine Mont.

High School Youth

Who is God? Who are You? Who am I?
These are often the questions that continue to plague many of us in our adult lives. They are even more difficult to grasp as a teenager learning to navigate in a world where Christianity and God are not always easy to find. St. Paul's provides its high school youth an opportunity to delve into these questions with a team of dedicated and caring Volunteer Youth Advisors and the Youth Director. The high school program at St. Paul's pulls from several curricula and program choices while also giving the youth the autonomy to decide which direction they want to go in our search for answers to: Who is God? Who are You? Who am I? High school youth meet on the third floor of Wilmer Hall (in the Vestry Room) on Sundays from 10:00 - 11:00 a.m.

High School Youth Group
Youth Group for High School meets every Sunday from 6:00 - 8:00 p.m. Youth group is a time for fellowship, fun, and relaxation: time away from the stresses of school, homework, and an over-scheduled life. We eat together, pray together, play together, and work together in the pursuit of a community where everyone feels welcome and cared for. While we always meet at the church, we often walk to Lee Street Park for outdoor games and cookouts. Detailed information about the activities for the evening are provided well in advance and through the eMERGE weekly newsletter. Sign up for the newsletter by using the box at the top of the page.

Worship Ministries for Youth

Acolytes
All youth and children ages 10 and up who feel called to serve at the Lord's Table are encouraged to become one of St. Paul's acolytes. Acolytes serve on teams with an acolyte mentor who organizes and prepares them for service. If you are interested in serving as an acolyte, please contact the Rev. Judith Harris Proctor at 703-549-3312 x24 or Judith@stpaulsalexandria.com.

Lectors and Intercessors
Any youth or child over age 10 may serve as a lector or intercessor in the 9:00 a.m. Sunday worship service. If you are under this age and are a strong reader, we welcome you to the lectern as well. Contact Bill Campbell or the Rev. Judith Harris Proctor at 703-549-3312 for more information about the lectors and intercessors.

PYM
Parish Youth Ministries (PYM) is a diocesan team of senior high youth who feel called to organize, plan, and implement the Diocesan weekends at Shrine Mont. While implementing the weekend retreats is the core of its purpose, PYM's are expected to attend numerous retreats for their own spiritual development and to hone the skills needed to be good peer ministers. PYM is a fun and intense program that requires great commitment on the part of the youth involved. To apply, youth must contact Paris Ball at 1- 800-THE DIOCESE. Interested youth must also obtain a recommendation from St. Paul's Clergy and the Youth Director.

Music Ministries