Youth Formation 2021-22

Sunday Formation

Youth ministry at Trinity is active, thriving, and comes in many forms, all working together to build adult faith with our students from 6th to 12th grade. Formation comes through acolyting, mission trips, retreats, community service hours, Sunday formation hour, and Sixes on Sundays. 

Confirmation Retreat

Confirmation Sunday is traditionally in mid-to-late April and depends on the Bishop’s visitation schedule. If you’d like to be confirmed (6th grade and higher), you must attend Trinity’s Confirmation Retreat, usually in March and held at Lake Logan. The cost of this retreat is $175.00.

Space is limited to 15, so register by Dec.1st at trinityasheville.org/education/youth. Payment is due January 17, 2022. We will travel to and from this retreat in our church van.

Other Faith, Fun, and Formation Opportunities for Youth

Sixes on Sundays

Sixes on Sundays is back in person and back to its traditional FOOD, FUN, FAITH (All-in-one) format. We know that the year can be busy, and attendance every Sunday morning can be almost impossible for many of our families. So we are offering six-core gatherings, and we were hoping you could make these six Sundays a priority as we build our community and our faith together. These six Sundays, each starting at 6 pm, will combine food (dinner together), fun (games), and faith (each Sunday will focus on one core aspect of our faith as Episcopalians and how it relates to students).

dates for 21-22
 
SEPT 12
OCT 17
DEC 5
JAN 30
FEB 13
MAR 27

Mission Trips

Each year we take at least one week-long mission trip the last week of July. We’ve been all over the map, from Houston to Cuba, Haiti, and the Dominican Republic. We went on a Freedom Ride to Atlanta, Birmingham, Selma, and Montgomery this past year.

On these life-changing trips, typically alternating between international and national locations, youth develop and practice skills in intercultural competency, deeper relationships with adults of faith, practical/experiential theology, leadership, and service-learning.

Summer Mission Trip 2022 

Stay tuned for more details for our Summer Mission trip 2022. Details will be announced no later than October 31.

Retreats and Camp

Part of the beauty of the Episcopal tradition is that individual parishes are part of the larger Church body. Retreats — whether weekend retreats or a week at Camp Henry — are essential, monumental times for students to meet other Episcopalians their age, go deeper in faith, and have some fun!

MIDDLE SCHOOL RETREAT

Beginning in the Middle — Friday, September 24 at 5:30 pm to Sunday, September 26, at 1 pm at Lake Logan Conference Center, in Canton, NC. For these Diocesean-sponsored retreats, you inform Debbie Cox that you want to intend and then register directly at diocesewnc.org. Debbie will generally take all Trinity youth to and from in our church van. Be sure to let her know you want to ride the van. The cost for this retreat is $145.

HIGH SCHOOL RETREAT

This Diocesan-sponsored Fall Conference is held on Friday, November 19, from 7 pm — Nov. 21, 1 pm at Lake Logan Conference Center. The cost is $165. Again, for these Diocesean-sponsored retreats, you inform Debbie Cox that you want to intend and then register directly at diocesewnc.org. Debbie will generally take all Trinity youth to and from in our church van.

There is also a Spring Conference: Friday, March 4 at 7 pm — Sunday, March 6 at 1 pm. The cost is $165.

TRINITY YOUTH LOCAL MISSION

One of the new developments during the pandemic is acquiring a profound and impactful local mission ministry for our youth. We host various opportunities for Trinity youth to partner with their fellow Trinitarians and local nonprofits to serve those most vulnerable and in our community throughout the year. This year, we might even have the chance to work on the Episcopal Habitat House, the recipient of which is our fantastic sexton Glenn Childes. Trinity youth has several opportunities to earn service hours and help nonprofit organizations.

The first Wednesday of every month, from 4:30 –6:30 pm, we serve at Veterans Restoration Quarters.

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SUMMER SERVICE WEDNESDAYS

For grades 6-12, Summer Service Wednesdays began in the Summer of 2021 in the height of the pandemic. It became a critical space for our youth to get out of the house, find community and earn some service hours. Now, continuing primarily on Wednesdays, the kids may make service hours working with nonprofit organizations on Summer Service Wednesdays. We have served at the following nonprofits: Lake Logan, Veterans Restoration Quarters, Manna, and Transformation Village.

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HABITAT BUILD

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At Trinity, we help build a house every other year through Habitat for Humanity. This year we have an opportunity to help make one for our sexton, Glenn Childes. You do have to be 16 years old to volunteer with Habitat.

Youth in Worship

As our youth grow we encourage them to begin taking their place in all the spaces of our church life. This includes regular Sunday worship. Regular worship is not just for adults and church is not an adults only space. All ages are welcome.

Acolyting

This ministry, which begins in third grade and extends throughout middle and high school, gives our youth an active role in worship. It offers a unique opportunity to develop skills in leadership and peer mentoring, service, learning, the Episcopal liturgy, Bible, and intergenerational relationships. Acolyte training for the 2021-22 year will be on August 22 and January 9.

Worship Ministers (Grades 11-12)

As students move into adult faith, we welcome them as Lector or chalice bearers, serving in worship by reading the day’s lesson or distributing the consecrated wine. 

Youth Ministry Calendar