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Dear Covenant Youth Families,
Many of you know my affinity for water. For me, it is a source of recreation, renewal, and rest. I have such fond memories that include playing in water, watching the colors of a sunset paint the top of the ocean, and using the sound of crashing waves or a winding stream for meditative practice.
As beautiful and life giving as those moments can be, there is still one principle of water in particular that is mesmerizing-the ripple effect. The distance reached by the ripples of one single stone can be incredible. That is where my mind has been since we finished the last of our four summer youth ministry trips. I truly believe the ripple effect of our summer experiences will continue to stretch both far and wide into this coming school year. I know my bucket is overflowing with gratitude and joy from the sense of community that has been cultivated from sixth graders all the way to graduated seniors.
This community of faith is poised to be the stone whose ripples reach far beyond the church campus. It is my hope that we will enter this new program year with gratitude for our shared experiences and a nudge to extend the invitation to friends and neighbors. May we approach this next season knowing we are called to study the Gospel, cultivate community, serve and love our neighbors, and to worship with open hearts.
Peace,
Perrin Tribble
Director of Christian and Education
and Middle School Ministry
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Meet Martin Pruitt
Covenant's New High School Youth Director
Martin earned a Bachelor of the Arts degree from Presbyterian College in 2013 with majors in religion and Christian education and minors in youth work and leadership. He also has a Master of Divinity and a Master of Arts and Christian Education from Union Presbyterian Seminary. Since 2013, he has served as the Director of Youth and Christian Education at Sharon Presbyterian where he has reinvigorated and increased participation in the youth programs.
In addition to leading regular youth activities, mission trips, Montreat conferences, he made time to help lead Bulldog Prayers - the multi-faith devotional group at A.G. Middle School. He is also led the Sharon youth to volunteer with Samaritan House, Urban Ministries and Habitat for Humanity. In his spare time Martin enjoys playing rugby with the Charlotte Royals and completing home renovation projects with wife Anna.
We are excited to have Martin's depth of experience and creativity working with our wonderful Youth program, Martin brings a welcoming Spirit and a depth of knowledge that we trust our High School Youth program will be happy to have, we look forward to Martin being with us beginning August 25!
Please join us in welcoming Martin to Covenant and supporting his ministry among our youth and their families.
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A personal word from Martin:
Hey Covenant Youth! I am so excited to meet you all! I'm Martin, I'm originally from South Carolina but I've made Charlotte my home over the last six years! My wife, Anna & I live in South End along with our very cute cats. In my free time I play rugby for the Charlotte Royals, build things in my workshop, play Xbox, or do anything outdoors! I can't wait to meet you soon and start having fun!
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Weekly Youth Schedule
Sunday School 9:30 - 10:30
Choir - 10:30 am - 10:50 am
Sunday Evening Fellowship
Sunday Youth Fellowship will resume September 8th
The Youth are meeting in The Landing while the renovations continue in the Ed Wing. The Landing is located in the bottom floor of the Fellowship Hall. We look forward to seeing you there!
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Heifer International
In June, a group of 27 youth and 6 adults loaded up on a charter bus and began a two-day drive to Heifer International Ranch in Perryville, Arkansas. Once the group arrived at the ranch, they were introduced to ideas around sustainable community development, tried their hand at organic farming and animal husbandry, and of course, spent the night in the Global Village. The immersion into the poverty simulation complemented the educational pieces for a truly holistic week. One of the most important parts of the whole trip was our stop in Memphis, Tennessee, home of the National Civil Rights Museum. The mission of the museum is to share the culture and lessons from the American Civil Rights Movement and explore how this significant era continues to shape equality and freedom globally. It was a great week that pushed the boundaries of our comfort zones and widened our world view.
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HSY travels to DC!
T
he High School Youth of Covenant had the opportunity to serve in Washington, DC through The Pilgrimage. During a stay, a Pilgrimage group will participate in service learning through organizations serving the working poor, homeless, and hungry in Washington, D.C. Also essential to a Pilgrimage trip is integrating those experiences through workshops, Bible studies, and debriefings that use experiential methods as the means of getting justice "under our skin." The "action-reflection-model" of learning is deeply rooted in the "ways" of The Pilgrimage and at the core of any Pilgrimage group's experience.
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Yucatan 2019
The final Mission trip that Covenant's Youth program participate in is in the Yucatan when they are High School Seniors. This trip is an opportunity to serve our neighbors around the world, to grow in faith, and to cement lifelong friendships. The trip also serves as a transition from Youth Ministry to Young Adults. In June, we had the joy of having 9 High School Seniors share a portion of their summer with the people of Citilcum, Mexico.
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Montreat Youth Conference 2019
Our high school youth retreated to the mountains of Montreat for the annual youth conference. The theme,
Let Love Lead, was brought to life through music, recreation, small group, keynote, and worship. This is a special week for our youth as they reconnect with youth from other churches who have become friends and are granted the freedom to step away from the stresses of everyday life. A central take away from this conference is to remember that we are all children of God and we are to live into the calling.
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Ministry Architects Update
The Youth Impact Team has been busy this summer! We are meeting monthly with Ministry Architects developing and planning strategies for our Middle School Youth and High School Youth programs. The Youth Ministry Calendar for 2019-2020 has been created. Save the date September 8
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for the Fall Kick Off to learn more about upcoming events, trips, service opportunities and fellowship with your friends. Everyone is invited to be part of the youth group. If you haven't been in a while- we need you! If you come regularly-we need you! If you are a parent of a youth-we need you! There are many ways to get connected and be part of this dynamic group. We are looking forward to a great year ahead.
Come, and bring a friend!
Allyson Easterling
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Youth Kick Off Party
Sunday, September 8th
5:30 in the Fellowship Hall
Parents and Youth are Invited!
Come out for the Fall Youth Kick off for fun and to learn more about the youth program. We'll have sign ups for the youth mission trips, favorites foods, and time to hear about the exciting things happening with youth at Covenant. Parents and youth invited, if your youth can't come, parents are still encouraged to come and learn and have fun!
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Fall 2019 Dates to Remember:
August 18th: Education Teacher Training, 5:30 pm
August 25th: Back To School Parties for all Youth
September 8th: Regular Sunday School Resumes
2019-2020 Youth Program Kick Off
September 27th - 29th: Quest Fall Retreat
October 11th - 13th: Fall Retreat, MSY to Camp Grier, HSY to Montreat
November 10th - Covenant Impacts Charlotte
December 8th - MSY Christmas Party
December 15th - HSY Christmas Party
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Sunday School 2019 - 2020
It takes a lot of people to make Sunday School happen for our Youth. Please consider signing up to be a teacher or shephard for Middle School (6 and 7th Grade), Quest (8th grade) or High School. All curriculum is provided! Contact Perrin directly with questions or use the links below to sign up! Thank you so much for helping with this important part of our ministry! You make a difference.
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Stay Connected
Sign up for Weekly Text Reminders
Parents, youth, advisors, and friends can sign up to receive weekly text reminds about Sunday programming, events and retreats, and any last-minute changes to schedules due to weather or unforeseeable circumstances. Text the message @perrint to the number 810-10.
Need a reminder of our regular schedule or want to save the dates for future events? Check out our complete fall newsletter here:
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