What is Old South Union Youth Group? A recognized strength of the Old South Union Church is its ministry to and with young people. At Old South we are very proud of our Youth Groups and of our Youth Ministry. Two things make our program successful – the full participation and cooperation of the young people who choose to be Youth Group members and the awesome dedication of the three dozen young adults who volunteer their time, talent and energy to be Youth Group advisors. The Old South Union Church offers three Youth Groups for teens. The JUNIOR HIGH YOUTH GROUP for grades 7 and 8 meets on Sundays at 4:00 P.M. under the direction of the Rev. Terry Martinson. The NINTH GRADE YOUTH GROUP meets at 5:30 P.M. on Sundays under the leadership of the Rev. Terry Martinson. The SENIOR HIGH YOUTH GROUP meets on Sundays at 7:15 P.M. under the leadership of the Rev. Terry Martinson. The goal of all three Youth Groups is to provide a Christian environment where our young people can be together, work together, learn together, and grow together. We stress self-esteem, positive relationships, clear communication, responsible behavior, good decision making based on strong values, mutual respect, and Christian character. The growth and well-being of each individual involved in our Youth Group is a priority. A group of guidelines has been carefully created to insure that all Youth Group members will be treated properly. All three Youth Groups are open to the community. About 20% of our members are affiliated with the Old South Union Church. The overwhelming majority of our Youth Group members come to us from other churches. Youth Group is not a substitute for church attendance, Sunday School, or CCD. We encourage our members to worship regularly and participate fully in their family churches. Sunday night Youth Group meetings may include: discussions on topics focused on youth issues (cheating, dating, music, competition, integrity, values, etc.), games, group building experiences, and worship. Our program also includes: dances, ski trips, retreats, lock-ins, and a variety of opportunities to serve others. For example, members of the Senior High Youth Group purchase, prepare and serve a meal regularly at Father Bill’s, a homeless shelter in Quincy. Members of the Junior High Youth Group participate each fall in a “Rake And Run” which assists a number of elderly people within the community. Youth Group members are kept informed about our activities through The WIND, a published 3 times each year and by calling the YOUTH LINE (781-337-2678) which always has the latest update on Youth Group activities. You may also find our current schedule of activities on this Website. The Youth Group is supported by a $15 donation from each Youth Group member and by the annual Christmas Gifts Auction held on the first Saturday evening in December. A Genesis Youth Group, for youngsters in grades 4, 5 and 6 meets on Wednesday afternoons from 3:30 to 4:45 P.M. twice each month from mid-October through Easter. The Genesis Youth Group is limited to the children of church families. |