For the Youth - the Next Generation

Since Trinity's inception in the 1880s youth have been an important part of our ministry. For the first 50 years of our existence we operated an elementary school. Today we offer Sunday School (free and open to all from September to June) as well as a number of other activities from Youth Planned and Led Worship Experiences, Family Fun Nights, as well as opportunities to enjoy summer camps and our annual Church Retreat at Tower Hill, the UCC camp in Sawyer, Michigan along the shores of Lake Michigan. As a smaller church (fewer than 100 families) we offer an environment where children and their families can experience first hand a Body of Christ committed to furthering Christ's love in the world - often through intergenerational activities. In addition, many of our older youth (those who were confirmed in 8th grade) continue to be active by embracing their right to full membership in Trinity which includes full voting priviledges and the opportunity to participate as full members at any level of church leadership (many service on Trinity's Boards forging the future of our church). We look forward to growing together and instilling an understanding of Christ's love that encourages social action.

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Trinity Community's Annual Retreat to Sawyer, Michigan

Each year an intergenerational group of folks from Trinity head up to Tower Hill UCC Camp in Sawyer, Michigan on the shores of Lake Michigan. Together we enjoy a weekend of fun for all ages (games, crafts, camp fires, helping to clean up the camp, climbing Mount Baldy at the Warren Dunes State Park, and maybe even swimming in Lake Michigan if not too cold!) as well as prayer and worship. Away from the concerns of life all are able to be refreshed and experience God in new ways. In addition to this annual all church pilgrimage, Trinity works with families to insure all children who desire can attend camp - week long camping experiences at Tower Hill and other church related camps.

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Trinity’s Board of Christian Education and Fellowship

Trinity's Board of Christian Ed offers a number of programs for youth including:

Free Nursery: Provided during worship so that parents have an opportunity to worship together or alone in worship knowing that their precious one is being cared for. This free nursery is offered year round for new born to age 3. As always, children are invited in worship and baby changing tables are provided in the handicapped stall in each restroom.

Free Sunday School: Offered September through May. Children age 3 through 7^th grade are invited forward during Sunday worship for a time with the Pastors after which they are invited to Sunday School.

Youth Planned and Led Worship: Two to four times per year, the Board of Deacons and Pastors work with the youth of the church to plan and then lead worship. Complete freedom is given to reinvent worship and the space as understood through the lens of the youth. Youth also lead all aspects of the entire worship from reading scripture, giving the sermon, taking offertory, and/or whatever. These fun worship experiences offer the youth a chance to bring their voice alive in worship.

Confirmation Class: Traditionally offered for 8^th grade students, this experience which is a rite of passage making a youth of the church into a full adult voting member runs September until Palm Sunday. During the journey the student is invited to share their faith and belief structure, to name for themselves what they believe, and if indeed they wish to become a member of Trinity Community Church, United Church of Christ. Whether or not a student decides to become a member does not matter – what matters is that through the journey they are provided critical thinking skills to decide for themselves how God works, or does not work, in their life.

Teen Years: After Confirmation, teens, like all the young adults and adults of Trinity Community, are invited to share in the leadership of the church. Currently several teens, or as we call them – “young adults” – are active on a number of Church Boards, actively deciding and creating the future of our church as full voting members with full voice.

All Ages: All ages are invited to participate in a number of intergenerational activities such as Bible Study, Annual Church Retreat, Christmas Pageant, Family Fun Nights, Halloween Party, Talent Show, and more.

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