The New Canaan Congregational Church offers a variety of youth programming within our three youth groups. With a combination of service, fellowship and fun each group strives to create a Christian community where youth can come to know that they are loved and learn to love themselves and others. Each group meets regularly on a weekly basis through the school year and is divided by age group.

           

 Junior Youth Group (JYG) is for fifth and sixth graders and meets on Thursday afternoons from 5:00-6:00.  There are over 40 registered JYG participants with approximately 30 regularly attending on a weekly basis.  They can participate in events such as local service projects, game nights and discussions about spirituality and issues they face as fifth and sixth graders.

           

Middle School Youth Group (MSYG) is for seventh and eighth graders and meets on Sunday afternoons from 4:30-6:00.  There are over 100 youth registered with approximately 55 regularly attending.  These youth can participate in events such as local service projects, lock-ins, ski trips, meditation experiences, religious discussions and a three day mission trip to a drug and alcohol treatment center.

           

Youth Group (YG) is for ninth through twelfth graders and meets on Sunday nights from 7:00-8:30.  There are over 140 youth registered with around 85 participating on a weekly basis.  Participants can take part in events such as working with local shelters and other service projects, ski trips, game nights, discussions on issues faced by teenagers and a 10 day mission trip in the spring.

 

Mission Trips

 

Going on a mission trip is a life-changing experience.  When the youth have the opportunity to work on meaningful projects that greatly improve the living conditions in communities, it shows them how much they can accomplish and impact other people’s lives.  Youth need to know that although they are not yet full adults they are fully capable of doing significant work for people who really do need their help.  Mission trips are also a way for youth to learn about and live out the Christian call to service and loving their neighbors.  We do not go on mission trips simply because we can; we go because we recognize and embrace God’s love for us and God’s desire for us to share God’s love with others and be in community together.  Living out our call to love and putting faith into action is transformative.  The experiences that youth have on these trips impact them for the rest of their lives.

 

The YG mission trip is 10 days long and the destinations are to sites that are typically unfamiliar to the youth of New Canaan.  When finding a destination there is an emphasis on connecting with a community and building a relationship between the youth and that community.  The program on the mission trip includes group work projects, meaningful interactions with community members, prayers, vespers and worship.  With a balance of hard work and fun the trip is designed to bring a ministry of love and hope to those in need.  Participants leave our trip with a changed perspective on their world and a better understanding of the difficulties faced by those who suffer the burden of poverty, disability and neglect.

 

For more information, please visit the youth groups’ website at  www.ygonline.org.