About a year ago, the youth ministers at three progressive triangle area churches (including ours) decided that we wanted to collaborate with each other and share experiences and resources more often and more deliberately. So we started gathering to talk about what’s working in our various youth groups, the obstacles we’re facing, and how we might work together to strengthen our efforts. Two ideas emerged:
- We decided to combine the youth groups from UPUCC, Pilgrim UCC, and CUCC twice a month for food, fun, and fellowship. We named the gatherings Progressive Pals or P2. Youth have enjoyed racing sweet potatoes, playing giant Jenga, creating art together, and much more silliness and fun.
- We invited more youth ministers to our support and planning meetings and the group grew. As of now youth ministers from eleven progressive triangle churches have participated in our ministry group we are calling Progressive Youth Ministry of the Triangle (PYMT).
We’ve had eight Progressive Pal (P2) gatherings so far (three have been held at CUCC) and they’ve included youth from CUCC, Binkley Baptist Church, Umstead Park UCC, Pilgrim UCC, and Pullen Baptist Church. The events are growing (usually averaging 12-15 youth) and are a good way for our youth to make new friends and to hang out with a larger circle of youth than happens at their own churches. The renewed connections also allowed CUCC youth to share a beach retreat with Progressive Pal youth last Spring, we’ll share a lock-in together this winter, and we hope to combine our groups for service projects and perhaps for a mission trip as well.
If you have questions about the youth program at CUCC, please contact Rev. Santi Matthews (education.cucc@gmail.com)