Our youth program mission is to provide fellowship, support, and the means to spiritual growth for all young people, who choose to participate in our program.

We seek to empower youth through developing their leadership, and to facilitate relationships between and among youth and adult members of the congregation.

Rev. Jonas Hayes is the Associate Pastor for children, youth and family ministries and organizes specials program for Middle School, High School and College students.

Children & Youth Church School

Godly Play Church School w/ Heather Titterton (Ages 3-5) - Sundays (9:30am - 10:20am) in Classroom 1

Workshop Rotation Model Church School (K-5 grade) - Sundays (9:30am - 10:20am) in the Chapel

The K-5 church school classes meet promptly at 9:30am for Opening Act before splitting into K-2 and 3-5 grade classes. "Opening Act" is the first 10-15min of the church school program, which will be a combination of singing, drama, and an introduction to the scripture or theme of the day. "Opening Act" will be led, at times, by either the middle school or high school youth and will be facilitated by Rev. Jonas M. Hayes, Family Minister.

9:30am-9:40am (Opening Act)
9:40am-10:20am (Drama, Art, Computer Lab, Audio/Video, Bible Skills, and Storytelling Workshops)

Middle School Church School (Grades 6-8) - Sundays (9:30am - 10:20am) in the Youth House

High School Church School (Grades 9-12) - Sundays (9:30am - 10:30am) in the Chapel

Spring / Summer Youth Programs

IV Annual Youth Extravaganza Summer Ball
Saturday, July 21 | 7:00 p.m. - 11:00 p.m.
— Meet at The Biltmore Hotel,
2151 Laurelwood Road, Santa Clara, CA 95954

Walls of Faith Ministries in East Palo Alto has invited us to their IV Annual Youth
Extravaganza Summer Ball. This years' theme is Harlem Nights. Ladies may dress in 1920's
fashions, while the men are encouraged to wear Zoot Suits! There will be a live band for
swing dance music, and a delicious buffet style dinner.

There are two ever-so-famous contests during the evening of the Ball, in which you can compete for monetary awards and other exciting prizes!
1) Poetry Contest: The title and body of the poem should revolve around the theme:
"This is Who I am" - Taking a Stand for Christ in a Sin crazed World.
The Poem must be at least 350 words long.
2) Our Famous Star Search Competition: Talents of every kind are accepted!

The cost is $45.00 per ticket. Included in the cost is the dance, dinner, the conference, swing dance lessons, a picture from the Ball for you to take home — and more: YES! Ball memorabilia!

Please RSVP with Rev. Jonas Hayes at jhayes@fprespa.org — or 650-325-5659, ext. 104 — by Thursday, July 19, 3:00 p.m.

UMPA MEAL
Wednesday August 1st 5:00 to 6:30pm pm *Meet in Fellowship Hall of the church! Our church provides a hot meal every Wednesday for homeless people. The youth group takes responsibility for this ministry every fifth Wednesday.

Swim Party
Wednesday August 8th - 5:30 p.m. - 7:30 p.m.
— at the Titterton’s home —

Cool off in a Summer Splash: Lots of fun for middle schoolers. To register — and for more details and directions — please call Rev. Jonas Hayes: 650-325-5659, ext. 104.

Faithful Fools Street Retreat
Saturday, August 18 | All Day

"Myths get shattered. Our own stories get revealed to us. We begin to see the light, courage, strength and creativity in the people we encounter . . ."

"The day begins as the group is gathered with song and reflective readings. After a time of introducing ourselves, sharing what has brought each one to the retreat and the hopes and expectations that each one brings, an orientation to the layout of the day is given and then we set out into the streets for a number of hours . . . youth are shadowed by an adult who previously has made a retreat. In the late afternoon we return to share our experiences and close with a soup and bread supper, and, if we're lucky, a little wine and chocolate."
— from the website

We need additional adult chaperones for this event: Join us for a meaningful spiritual journey while accompanying the youth! Please contact Rev. Jonas Hayes for more details: jhayes@fprespa.org, or 650-325-5659, ext. 104.

Service Learning Day *All Ages
Saturday, October 20 | 9:30 a.m. - 4:00 p.m.
— at Costano School in East Palo Alto

First Presbyterian Church of Palo Alto will be working alongside of Walls of Faith and Bread of Life Evangelistic Ministries in East Palo Alto — as well as Youth Community Service (YCS), First United Methodist Church of Palo Alto, and others to support Costano School. We will end the day with games, dialogue, and a barbecue supper. Registration forms will soon be available in Fellowship Hall and the church office. You may also contact Rev. Jonas Hayes at jhayes@fprespa.org — if you would like one mailed or emailed to you.

Please join us for this exciting opportunity to deepen our relationship to the local community and to meet community need!

This 2003 trip focused on working with homeless people in the Los Angeles area through the Center for Student Missions.

One late night, the youth helped with a "Midnight Mission" food program.

Great hat!

Cleaning up

The youth spent time on the streets, visiting with homeless people, sharing coffee, and hearing stories. Part of their work involved spending time with homeless children in day care including some infants who had AIDS.

As a form of reflection, they put on skits representing how they had spent their day.

Though hard to see, the background of this picture is the Hollywood Hills. How strange to spend days where from one vantage point, all one can see is comfort and wealth, and from another vantage point, poverty. Even stranger that one only needs turn left or right and that contradition awaits.

Like most cities, the beauty of nature can be found if one only looks. Here the youth got to spend time in the USC Rose Garden.

And..... beyond the great bonding they all got by working together, they also got to spend a day at Disneyland. Who ever said Presbyterians didn't know how to have fun?

Mission trips alternate between local borders and national borders. This 2002 trip focused on helping families across the border in Mexico. Click here to visit the organization that helped arrange the trip, BorderLinks.

Members of the youth group stayed in the homes of Mexican families. They learned from each other and shared the abundance of love.

This 2001 mission trip focused on homelessness, hunger and youth programs in the Bay Area.

Jeff gave a quick food lesson. In less than an hour, everyone could correctly identify which one was the cucumber and which one was the melon!

It may look like a lot of food, but there is hardly enough to feed all the people out there who really need it!

Believe it or not, this picture is all about the youth working hard scrubbing the steps leading into this building. It is not a gratuitous cheap shot. Really, it isn't.

"This is definitely something I don't want my Mom to know I'm willing to do!"

Everyone had a blast this year focusing on local issues! Each year we alternate between local mission trips and ones far away. Where will we go next year? Join our youth program and find out! We need adult volunteers too!