• 6th and 7th grade meet for Pre-Confirmation in the MS Room. This class studies the big picture of the Bible, taking 1 year to study the Old Testament and 1 year to study the New Testament. 
• 8th grade meets for Confirmation in the Confirmation Room. We ask big questions together and spend the year discerning what it is we believe. 
• 9-12th grade meets for Sunday School in the HS Room. We will spend the year exploring practices that Jesus did, taught, or told us to do. 

• Menus are planned and groceries have been purchased. 
• We typically plan on having between 40 and 50 people eat dinner. Numbers tend to fluctuate and are difficult to predict, so please check with Beth and Betsy ahead of time for a more detailed estimate.
• Please plan on setting up so everyone can eat starting at 5:35, and plan on staying to help serve & clean up.  Allow approximately 30 minutes for eating.
• Please do not leave any leftovers in Church fridges.

• Confirmation Orientation: September 7, 9:45am-10:45am. Parents + Youth.
• Middle School Service Retreat: November 7-9. 6-8th graders.
• Meet with Session: Wednesday, January 28. 7pm.
• Joining Sunday: February 1. 11am worship.

Mental Wellness Check-in

Use this Youth Mental Wellness Check-in to check in with yourself or as a family. Use this as an opportunity to foster conversation about stressors, coping skills, and support systems. 

Crisis Resources

The National Suicide and Crisis Hotline offers 24/7 free and confidential support. Call 988 or text TALK to 741-741

Therapeutic Alternative Mobile Crisis Service provides 24/7 immediate crisis response. Call 1-877-626-1772 and be prepared to provide as much information as possible.

The Monarch Behavioral Health Urgent Care is located at 319 Chapanoke Road, Suite 120, Raleigh and is an appropriate alternative to the emergency room for someone who needs mental health support. No appointment is necessary. Their hours are 8am-10pm Monday-Thursday, 8am-8pm Friday, 8am-5pm Saturday-Sunday. 

If you or a loved one is in imminent danger of harming self or others, please call 911 or seek immediate care at an emergency department. 

Therapy

Talkspace | Betterhelp - Online counseling that accepts most insurance plans

Teencounseling.com - Discuss your teen's situation with a therapist, then connect your teen and therapist through the app. Counseling is confidential but the therapist will alert you if an intervention is required. 

Psychology Today: Therapist Finder - An extensive database of counselors in Raleigh with photos, profiles, and specialties. Use the filters to see who is in-network with your insurance. 

Discussing mental health concerns with your or your child's primary care physician is an excellent place to start if you are unsure if or what services may benefit you. 

Other Resources

What to say when you're not "fine" (Mental Health America)

Wake County AA meetings 

Parents to Parents: After Your Child's Suicide Attempt or Thoughts of Suicide (Short Film)

What to do when someone is at risk? (American Foundation for Suicide Prevention)

You Are Not Alone (For Parents and Caregivers): The Nami Guide to Navigating Your Child's Mental Health by Dr. Christine M. Crawford

• Part 1: How to Think About Your Kid's Mental Health

  • Does My Child Need Help?

  • Look, Listen, and Lock In

  • Starting the Journey

  • Getting and Understanding a Mental Health Diagnosis

  • Assembling the Team

  • Neurodevelopment Disorders

• Part 2: Exploring Mental Health Conditions in Children and Adolescents

  • The Impact of Trauma

  • Navigating Anxiety and OCD

  • Supporting the Child Experiencing Depression

  • Understanding Suicidal Behavior and Self-Harm

  • Caring for Youth Experiencing Psychosis

  • Living with the Child Who Is Angry, Defiant, or Disruptive

  • Substance Use and Mental Health

• Part 3: Lessons from Lived Experience

  • Speaking for Ourselves: Youth, Identity, and Mental Health

  • The Power of Community

Sunday School

The Journey Sunday School class is mostly made up of folks who are in their 30s and 40s, some have children and some do not. This class loves to discuss with no prep required. Journey meets on the 3rd floor of the Edge Building Sunday mornings at 9:45am

Presbyterian Women

Circle 9 meets on the second Sunday of the month from 5:30pm-7:00pm (during children and youth programming) in the Lisa Ham Gathering Space. Circle 9 is a group of women that range in age from young 30s to young 80s. They enjoy learning and laughing together, as well as providing prayer support during hard times. Meetings include a light dinner, an inspirational Bible Study and discussion, and updates on our mission and service projects. Visitors and new Circle members are warmly welcomed! 

Books

You Are Not Alone (For Parents and Caregivers): The NAMI Guide to Navigating Your Child's Mental Health by Dr. Christine M. Crawford

Raising Critical Thinkers: A Parent's Guide to Growing Wise Kids in the Digital Age by Julie Bogart

Woven: Nurturing a Faith Your Kid Doesn't Have to Heal From by Meredith Miller

Sticky Faith: Everyday Ideas to Build Lasting Faith in Your Kids by Kara Powell

The Emotional Lives of Teenagers: Raising Connected, Capable, and Compassionate Adolescents by Lisa Damour

Voice Lessons for Parents: What to Say, How to Say it, and When to Listen by Wendy Mogel

Thrivers: The Surprising Reasons Why Some Kids Struggle and Others Shine by Michele Borba

Generation Sleepless: Why Tweens and Teens Aren't Sleeping Enough and How We Can Help Them by Heather Turgeon

The Wired Child: Reclaiming Childhood in a Digital Age by Richard Freed

What Can I Say? A Kid's Guide to Super-Useful Social Skills to Help You Get Along and Express Yourself by Catherine Newman

Blessed Youth: Breaking the Silence About Mental Illness with Children and Teens by Sarah Griffith Lund

Raising Worry-Free Girls: Helping Your Daughter Feel Braver, Stronger, and Smarter in an Anxious World by Sissy Goff

To Light Their Way: A Collection of Prayers & Liturgies for Parents by Kayla Craig

Ordinary Blessings for Parents: Prayers, Poems, and Meditations for Family Life by Meta Herrick Carlson

*Interested in borrowing one of these books? Reach out to Betsy Williams (bwilliams@fpcraleigh.org) 

Podcasts

Everything Happens with Kate Bowler (S14, E12 - Lisa Damour: How to Talk to Teenagers)

Good Inside with Dr. Becky Kennedy

Raising Good Humans with Dr. Aliza Pressman

Ask Lisa: Psychology of Parenting with Lisa Damour

Faith in an Anxious World with Fuller Youth Institure

Your Parenting Mojo with Jen Lumanlan

Safe Sanctuaries Policy - All adults who volunteer with children and youth must be trained on the First Presbyterian Church Safe Sanctuaries Policy annually, submit to a background check every 5 years, and make an Affirmation of the Policy annually. 

Volunteer Opportunities:

6-7th Grade Sunday School Teacher - We can all remember what it's like to be in middle school. Bodies are changing, brains are changing, friendships are changing. Having consistent, positive adult relationships can be key in keeping our middle school youth engaged in the church. The teaching team spends one year covering the Old Testament and one year covering the New Testament in preparation for Confirmation.

Confirmation Mentor - Walk alongside an 8th grade youth as they navigate this milestone in their faith journey. Meet with, pray for, and encourage a confirmand. You don't have to know the answer to every faith-related question in the world to be a Confirmation mentor, just be willing to be yourself, be a good listener, and be open to how God is working through you and your confirmand. 

9-12th Grade Sunday School Teacher - Faith Formation for our high school youth is critical in laying the foundation for what their relationship with the church looks like during their college and young adult years. The teaching team uses the Follow Me curriculum to engage youth in conversations about their faith and real-world circumstances. 

Youth Advisor - Youth Advisors build loving and caring relationships with our youth and help to facilitate Sunday night Youth Group. The time commitment is 5:00-7:15pm on Sunday nights from September through April. We ask that Youth Advisors commit to at least one full program year of being an Advisor at a time. 

Van/Bus Driver - Transport our youth to participate in ministry beyond the walls of the church. From weekend retreats and summer trips, to Sunday evenings outings, volunteers who drive the church van are critical in making ministry outside the church walls possible. You DO NOT need a special driver's license to drive the van, but you must complete a driving training through the church and pass a DMV background check. If you are interest in becoming certified to drive the church bus, please reach out to the church office to set up an appointment. 

Provide a Sunday Night Dinner - It's a big job to feed 50+ children and youth every Sunday night. Families, Circles, Sunday School classes, or other groups can sign up to help provide dinner for our children and youth. 

Weekend Retreat Leader - Spend the weekend (usually Friday evening through Sunday afternoon) with our youth as we travel to places like Asheville, Charleston, or Winterplace Ski Resort. 

Summer Trip Leader - Spend a transformative week with our youth during the High School Service Trip, Worship and Music Conference, Massanetta Middle School Conference, or Montreat Youth Conference. 

• 2025-26 FPC Youth Medical Release and Permission Form
• 2025-26 Youth Leadership Team Application
• FPC Youth Trip, Retreat, or Conference Scholarship Application