Youth

Youth Ministry at First Presbyterian

We exist to help foster the spiritual formation of the 7th-12th grade students at First Presbyterian Nashville and support families in the discipleship of their children. We seek to be Christ-centered in all we say and do, helping students grow in their relationship with the Triune God, connect through life-giving community and intergenerational friendships, and cultivate a heart for service and mission to see God’s kingdom come here on earth as it is in heaven.

Sundays

8:30 a.m. & 11:00 a.m. | Worship | Sanctuary

Each Sunday we gather for corporate worship at either our early or late services. Join us!

9:45 a.m. | Sunday School | The Gathering Place

Each week we welcome our 7th-12th graders for Sunday School. This time includes a time of fellowship, announcements, and games before each grade breaks off into grade-based classes led by adult volunteers. During the summer months and select weeks we gather as one large group for study and discussion. It’s a great on-ramp to life at First Presbyterian’s youth ministry.

Breakout Rooms
12th Grade: The Gathering Lounge
11th Grade: A-105
10th Grade: A-104
9th Grade: A-103
8th Grade: A-101
7th Grade: The Gathering Place

D-Groups

Wednesdays (Sept. 4-Nov. 20; Jan. 8-April 23)

Wednesdays, 7-8:30 p.m. | Jr High (7th-8th) & Sr High (9th-12th) D-Groups | The Gathering Place

Being a disciple is simply being a follower of Jesus, and in these Wednesday evening gatherings, we aim to help students learn to love and enjoy following Jesus more deeply. Each evening D-Group (short for “Discipleship Group”) involves a time of fellowship, announcements, group games, a short lesson, and time in grade- and gender-based groups to discuss the lesson further and pray for one another. These gatherings are informal and great places for students develop rooted friendship among peers and go deeper in understanding the gospel of God’s grace. 
 

Prayer Partners

A longstanding tradition at FPC Nashville, each year we pair our students with an adult prayer partner who commits to praying for them throughout their time in the ministry. We gather each fall for Prayer Partners to connect with one another, eat yummy food, and share requests with one another.

Cloud of Witnesses (COWs)

Referencing Hebrews 12:1, COWs (Cloud of Witnesses) are adults at First Pres who commit to caring and cheering on our youth weekly in their faith throughout their time in the ministry. At our kickoff event, 7th graders meet their COWs while 8th graders reconnect with theirs as we cast a vision for the program, give students (Calfs) and adults (COWs) time to get to know one another, and play and pray together.

Acolytes

We believe that youth are integral to our congregation, and we seek to involve them in leadership roles during worship as a continual reminder of the essential impact they offer the body of Christ. We invite your youth to participate in worship leadership roles through the following ways: 

• Choristers (4th grade and up): This new music group builds a foundation for higher-level music-making and rehearses weekly to sing twice a month during worship services. 
• Acolytes (4th grade and up): Acolyte comes from the Greek meaning “companion,” “attendant,” or “helper.” At FPC, acolytes help assist the pastor during worship services by lighting candles and carrying the cross or the Bible into worship. For more information, visit fpcnashville.org/youth-in-worship.

Trips

Middle School Fall Retreat (NaCoMe)
October 26-27, 2024 (Current 7th–8th grades)

High School Winter Retreat (Barefoot Republic)
February 14-16, 2025 (Current 9th–12th grades)

High School Spring Break Mission Trip (Reynosa, Mexico)
March 8–14, 2025 (Current 9th–12th grades)

High School Mission Trip (St. Louis, MO.)
May 31–June 7, 2025 (Rising 9th–12th grades)

Middle School Summer Camp (Panama City Beach, FL.)
June 23–27, 2025 (Rising 7th–8th grades)

COSTS AND PAYMENT 

All mission trips have a nonrefundable registration fee of $150. That means that you are not signed up until you pay this deposit. If you sign up less than 60 days before a trip leaves, we cannot guarantee current trip prices, and your cost will reflect any difference in travel expenses. These trips are discounted by $200 each if you sign up and pay in full before December 31.

MISSION GRANTS

Out of FPC’s generous and passionate commitment to our youth ministry, our church has supported the Youth Activities Fund (YAF). The YAF awards grants to students who are actively pursuing a deeper understanding of who God is and who God is calling them to be in Christ. Grants are awarded to applicants who have exhibited a hunger for spiritual growth as well as a desire to serve in the mission of Christ’s church. Contact youth@fpcnashville.org to have a mission grant application sent to you.

Special Events

ALL STUDENTS
Crud Day | August 24, 2024 | Tyne Blvd. Fields

This is one of the most famous youth ministry traditions. Adults and youth get muddy together, and we are all reminded that God lifts us out of the muddy pit. Mud volleyball, color wars, the infamous obstacle course, and a new added gauntlet challenge will be highlights of the afternoon.

Churchwide Fall Kickoff | September 8, 2024 | Outside Sanctuary

Join the entire church family at our all–church kickoff as we reconnect after a busy summer! This year’s football-themed community celebration will be held outside the Sanctuary between morning worship services. The event kicks off following the 8:30 a.m. service with inflatables (obstacle course included!), balloon artist, pony rides, face painting, photo backdrop, and much more fun for all ages. A tasty pick–up breakfast will also be served. We will also have this year’s FPC Youth T-Shirts available for pick up first come, first serve, gift card raffles, and other fun surprises, so be sure to join us, pick up your shirts and handbooks, and get excited for what’s happening this year!

Church League Basketball | Saturdays, December–February 

Join us for this year’s youth basketball league for grades 7th through 12th. Youth who play for their school team may not play on the church league team.

Youth Stuff & Mail Lunch | January 26, 2025 | Courtenay Hall 

FPC generously prays for and financially supports our Youth Activities Fund (YAF), which helps to subsidize the cost of trips, provides scholarships for students, and covers the cost to send volunteer leaders to serve alongside our youth. Students, leaders, and staff gather each year to prepare and address letters to the congregation that invite them to prayerfully support the work of the YAF. We ask that all students who are attending or have attended an event with the youth ministry in the past year to help at the event.

SEVENTH GRADERS 
Students & Parents Sunday School Class (Follow Me) | Sundays, September 15, 22, 29, October 6, 2024 | The Gathering Place 

At the age of 15, young people typically get their learner’s permit. If 16-year-olds pass the driver’s test, they get a restricted license. They get more driving privileges until they officially become an adult driver at 18. But when it comes to technology, we do none of this. The Follow Me Class seeks to help families (youth and adults) rethink and be more intentional in their use of technology. It is our hope that participants in this class will learn spiritual practices to use technology to testify to their faith and foster communion, rather than getting sucked into comparison. 

NINTH GRADERS 
Students & Parents Sunday School Class (Not My Own) | Sundays, November 10, 17, 24, 2024 | The Gathering Place 

It’s a message we hear all the time: “Follow your heart!” At its core, it preaches a message of autonomy, that we must derive meaning and purpose by looking within. This, however, is what author Alan Noble calls “the fundamental lie of modernity.” It’s not by looking in but by looking out to the God who made us where we find our truest identity and purpose. We’ll tackle this question and more in our 9th Grade Parents & Youth Sunday School Class titled Not My Own, deriving its name from Q1 of the Heidelberg Catechism. Throughout the three weeks, we’ll use the guidance of scripture and the wisdom of the church to consider the cultural messages we’ve internalized and see how we might find that belonging to God, and not ourselves, is actually the key to finding the life we’re looking for.

ELEVENTH GRADERS 
Students & Parents Sunday School Class (Passages) | Sundays, January 5, 12, 26, 2025 | The Gathering Place 

At this season of life, time is flying by. In less than two years your junior will have graduated from high school. These next few months will be full of testing, applications, resume writing, external and internal pressure, and more. We can’t take away all the stress brought on by this season, but we can create a space for you to authentically connect with your child. We can provide an environment where you will spend time resting in the gospel and growing deeper in your relationship with one another. We can offer experiences that will communicate to your child directly and indirectly that their worth is not in their GPA or test score. Passages is a three-week Sunday School experience for FPC juniors and their parents as fathers, sons, moms, and daughters will gather with Gage Arnold and discern how to use these coming months together as a family for the glory of God.

TWELFTH GRADERS 
Senior Youth Sunday Planning Luncheons with Gage | Sundays, November 10, 2024 January 5, 2025, March 2, 2025 | 12:00 p.m. | The Gathering Place 

Gage will meet with this class to begin plans for Youth Sunday (May 4, 2025). This first organizational meeting will take place for lunch after the 11:00 a.m. service. Your youth won’t want to miss this time to talk through the theme and to get a great understanding of the different parts of the worship service that these seniors will lead. 

Senior Blessing Service | Sunday, April 27, 2025 | 2:00 p.m. | Sullivan Garden 

The Senior Blessing Service is a celebration for our graduating seniors and their parents. We do not gather to highlight what the seniors have accomplished—but rather to celebrate who God has called and is calling them to be. It is an FPC tradition that you won’t want to miss!

Youth Sunday | Sunday, May 4, 2025

On Youth Sunday, seniors will lead the congregation in worship through liturgy, song, prayer, and reflection. It also marks the Sunday we pass the baton, welcoming our new rising 7th graders into the youth ministry just as we send out our graduating seniors during the Sunday School hour. It’s one of our favorite services of the year!