Youth | Trinity Episcopal

Youth Formation 2025-2026

explore faith + embrace community + expect & make a difference

Youth ministry at Trinity is active, thriving, and comes in many forms, all working together to build adult faith in our students iin 6th–12th grade. Formation comes through acolyting, service learning trips, retreats, community service hours, Sunday formation hour, and Trinity EYC.

Middle School, Wilderness Trail, 2025

Sunday Formation

Middle School Class (grades 6 and 7)

9:30–10:30 am

The class meets in Trinity’s youth area and can be accessed from the stairs to the right of the Tuton Hall kitchen or from the outside door into the same stairway. The classroom is on the left past the game room.

We will wonder together about how God seeks to be with us in this life and guide us along the way. We will recognize the gifts God has given us, celebrate our creative potential, and learn to interact as a community of faith. Some of the questions we will wrestle with are

“Who is God?"
“Why am I Here?"

High School Class (grades 8-12)

9:30–10:30 am

The high school class meets in Trinity’s youth area. It’s located under Tuton Hall and can be accessed from the stairs to the right of the Tuton Hall kitchen from the outside door into the same stairway. The classroom is located on the right side of the youth kitchen.

The overall objective for Trinity’s high school class is to inspire theological thinking and facilitate the growth of our young people’s faith. We see the high school years as the time when our youth need to transition from simple stories of the Bible to a more mature understanding of their Christian faith.

Confirmation 2026

This year, we’re offering a weekend retreat for those who wish to be confirmed. The tentative dates are February 6–8, 2026—look for more details to come in September. The bishop will visit Trinity for confirmations on Sunday, April 19.

Other Faith, Fun, and Formation Opportunities for Youth

Trinity Youth Group (EYC)

Trinity’s EYC meets once a month, unless otherwise notified. This is a time for fellowship, fun, service projects, and social activities.

Dates for 2025–2026

September 7

October 19

November 16

December 7

January 25

February 8

March 1

April 12

May 3

Service Learning Trips

Each year, we take at least one week-long trip in 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 in 2021. In 2022, we went to San Jose, Costa Rica to help at Ascension Episcopal church. This past summer we served local nonprofits, and we went to Greece and walked in Paul's footsteps.

On these life-changing trips, typically alternating between international and national locations, youth develop and practice skills in intercultural competency, leadership, and service learning while also building deeper relationships with adults of faith and expanding their view of the world.

Retreats and Camp

Part of the beauty of the Episcopal tradition is that individual parishes belong to 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

The Diocesan-sponsored Middle School Retreat is from Saturday, September 13 to Sunday, September 14, at 1:00 pm, at Lake Logan Conference Center, in Canton, NC. For these Diocesan-sponsored retreats, you inform Debbie Cox that you want to attend and then register directly at diocesewnc.org. The cost for this retreat is $150.

HIGH SCHOOL RETREAT

This Diocesan-sponsored Fall Conference is held on Friday, November 21, starting at 7:00 pm–Sunday, November 23, 1:00 pm, at Lake Logan Conference Center. Again, for these Diocesean-sponsored retreats, you inform Debbie Cox that you want to attend and then register directly at diocesewnc.org.

There is also a Spring Conference: Friday, March 13 at 7:00 pm—Sunday, March 15, at 1:00 pm. For each retreat, the cost is $225.

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; the church is not an adult-only space. All ages are welcome.

Acolyting (grades 3-12)

The acolyte’s role consists of lighting and carrying candles, flags, banners, and the Gospel book in the procession and assisting the priest at the altar with Holy Eucharist during our weekly worship. The term acolyte is Greek, meaning “to follow.”

Worship Ministers (grades 11-12)

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