Youth Programs

FCCB is home to an active and exciting youth ministry program. Activities are available for youths in grades 6-12. In an atmosphere of trust, acceptance, and fun, FCCB’s youth ministry provides opportunities for friendship, service, self-expression, and growth in a progressive Christian community. In addition to regular programs, there are special retreats and service opportunities during the year that help to develop a strong community and healthy friendships. All youth programs are facilitated by a team of caring, dedicated adult youth leaders, led by Judy Huston, Acting Minister of Christian Education.

Children’s Protection Policy

In order to create safe environments for children and youth at FCCB, the Church Council has passed a comprehensive Children’s Protection Policy which you can download. If you have questions about the policy please contact the Acting Minister of Christian Education Judy Huston.

Confirmation

The FCCB Confirmation process, open to high school age youth, includes significant theological discussions, attending other churches, and meeting with mentors. Each youth gets to make the final decision, after going through this process, of whether to pursue confirmation, which occurs during a Sunday morning service which the youth also help lead.

Please call Rev. Judy Huston if you have any questions about this program 510/848-3696 ext. 27.

YES: Middle School Youth Group

YES is a middle school youth program open to any youth entering grades 6th through 8th seeking a caring community where they can play, explore themselves and the world, and grow in Spirit. Led by a group of trained volunteer adults and supervised by the Acting Minister of Christian Education, we meet on Sundays at 6 pm in the YES room at First Congregational Church of Berkeley, United Church of Christ, 2345 Channing Way, Berkeley, CA.

Winthrop: High School Youth Group

For high school kids, 9th through 12th grade, Winthrop is a weekly program designed to encourage self-discovery, healthy relationships and spirituality. Winthrop meets Sunday nights at 4:30 p.m. in the church’s youth room for music, games and discussion. Activities also include service projects and involvement in the life of the church. The Winthrop year culminates in a week-long work camp see below.

Work Camps

A week-long experience of travel and service for high schoolers. Youth travel together to another part of the state to learn about different social and economic issues through service projects and experience. Past work camps included rebuilding a school for a migrant farming community and teaching young children in an inner city preschool.

Last summer, a group of 11 youth and 3 adults from Winthrop, the Senior High youth group, headed to Pescadero to work with Puente, an agency providing services to a rural area south of the Santa Cruz mountains. They were led by former Minister of Community Life Adam Blons. Puente provides safety net services, health and wellness services, youth employment, leadership development, and community engagement and action.

The group was involved in many activities: participating in a meal program for migrant farmworker men, distributing food bank supplies, working with the summer youth leadership team and helping with a gardening project at a local school. They stayed at Pescadero Community Church, a sister church of ours in the Northern California Nevada Conference of the United Church of Christ.

Youth Choirs

FCCB has two youth choirs— Songs of the Soul for high school ages and a middle school choir called Joyful Sound. Both choirs are open to any interested you. Linda Crebbin-Coates directs both groups. Contact her for more information.