There are many opportunities for our youth to learn more about God’s love and how we can do what we can to take that love into our communities.
Tween and Teen Class – 4th grade and up
We meet after the 10:00 a.m. service until 12:00 p.m. in the Youth Room. Our tweens and teens will be learning about the Bible and how it relates back to our lives by:
- Using a variety of curriculums to navigate reading the Bible
- Doing skits and playing Bible games
- Participating in projects that reinforce what we have learned (ie. Art projects, Lego builds, making food to share, etc.)
- Participating in service and outreach opportunities
- Exploring how God is present all around us
High School Formation – 9th – 12th graders
We meet once a month – TBD
We will meet to talk and learn about the things that our high schoolers are curious about or interested in relating to the Bible, being Episcopalian, faith and spirituality, discerning their gifts and what it is that God is calling us to do in the world. We will be reaching out to our high school families separately to work out that schedule based on their availability, so if you have any questions, contact our Christian Formation Minister, Dana at Dana@manakin.org.
EYC (Episcopal Youth Community) Youth Group: 6th – 12th grade
We meet one Sunday a month from 12:00 – 1:30 pm.
Our youth get together once a month to play games, plan and participate in outreach activities and service projects in our church and the greater community and to learn about God in our lives and the world around us.
There are also opportunities throughout the year for special gatherings: Youth retreats twice a year, attending convocation youth meet-ups with other churches in our area, attending Diocesan EYC Fall and Spring weekends, participating in Youth Sunday Services, helping with Shrove Tuesday Pancake Supper and more!
Getting Involved
Besides our Sunday formation classes, youth at Manakin are encouraged to actively participate in all aspects of our faith community:
- Participate in monthly EYC meet-ups
- Serve as acolytes during the 10:00 a.m. worship service
- Volunteer as helpers in our nursery
- Volunteer for our many outreach ministries
- Help with hosting the Shrove Tuesday pancake supper
- Participate in worship on special youth Sundays and throughout the year as readers, ushers or greeters.
Confirmation Classes
Traditionally at Manakin Church, Confirmation takes place for our teens during their 7th – 8th grade years. This sacramental rite in the Episcopal church is when the candidates “express a mature commitment to Christ and receive strength from the Holy Spirit through prayer and the laying on of hands by a bishop” (BCP, p. 860). It is a time separate from regular formation classes where they can dive into exploring their faith, ask questions, and discover what they truly believe. The youth will be able to decide for themselves at the end of the classes if they feel ready to take the step of being confirmed in the Episcopal church.
We will begin confirmation classes Fall of 2026 with the Bishop’s visit occurring in 2027 – Please reach out to Gini+ if you would like to know more.