Christian Education at Heritage Presbyterian Church

Forty years in the life of Heritage certainly means forty years of Christian Education. There is a wealth of learning and sharing within our church fellowship. Being a Presbyterian means being a vigilant learner. There is always something to examine and approach from a new angle. A list of all the members who have been involved with Christian Education in our church would probably be a list of almost all of us. As a student we gain so much by listening to those who have spent time and care to actively involve us in learning more about our religion. And as a teacher the benefits are plentiful, as many of you know.

In this season of resolutions, I would like to suggest that for Heritage's 40^th year we all strive to care a little more for the folks who are currently involved with Christian Education—the students, the teachers and the planners.

January is our celebration of Youth and Young Adult Ministries. We have an exciting month planned including special music, guest speakers and a Youth Reunion Sunday, January 20^th. We know that all of our members will enjoy these events; however, you may know and want to invite some past youth group members.

January 6, 2002

A 40 Year Review
of Heritage Presbyterian Church
Junior High/Senior High Youth Groups
By Sally Macklin

Almost as soon as Heritage Church was established, Carol Wood, the first minister, was interested in establishing a Youth Group. In January 1962, the house adjacent to the Waynewood School parking lot, called the Parish House, was used for Christian Education activities and meetings for Adult and Youth groups. About 1969, a trailer, to replace the Parish House, was brought in behind the original church building to house the various adjuncts of the Church.

There have been several Junior and Senior High Youth Groups over the years with varying success. However, during the 1970s the Senior High Youth Group meeting in that trailer grew rapidly and flourished until the early 1990s. In 1972, a talented artist within the group, Jim Gray, painted a wall-sized cartoon consisting of angels on fluffy clouds and devils climbing up ladders in battle. Old Senior High Youth Group alumni still talk about this mural.

The group met every Sunday night with lively discussions on topics from the Bible to teen concerns and with lots of singing accompanied by guitars. A unique aspect of that group was that topics and activities were all youth directed with the adult leaders only as advisors. Also, for many years every Thursday morning before classes started at Fort Hunt High (now, Carl Sandburg Intermediate), the Senior Highs would meet at the church for Teen Breakfast Club (TBC) with food prepared by parents, and with singing and a devotion led by a guest or a member of the group.

Over 50% of the Senior High Youth Group during the 70's and 80's did not belong to Heritage Church, though only a Heritage member could fill the office of Moderator.

Under the ministry of the Glasscos, the Youth Group flourished. Marjorie Glassco brought drama to the group, with plays performed once or twice a year, such as the musical "100% Chance of Rain," directed by another advisor Rene May, "Tell It Like It Is" and many more. Once a year a Youth Sunday would be held with ushers, greeters, Scripture reading, all aspects of the service - even the sermons being provided by the Senior Highs.

Upon the completion of the new addition to our church in 1978, the Senior and Junior High groups moved into their own rooms. Also in 1978, some graduates of the vibrant Senior High Youth Group started the College/Career Fellowship, meeting at Christmas time and in the summer for Bible study and fellowship activities. One evening a week they would meet for topical discussions and singing while small groups met in homes for Bible study. This group gradually faded as the demographics of Heritage changed, but some of the members are now married and producing future Junior/Senior High members!

The early 90's saw a decline of the Senior High Youth Group, but under the leadership of Chris and Jay Geren, the group is coming back. Every Sunday after church the group meets for lunch, singing, and Bible study, with the help of Jim Galambos and Bill Sams. Twice a month, they meet for recreational and social activities such as bowling and an upcoming ski trip, while their big event is the annual mission trip every summer in conjunction with Calvary and Mt. Vernon Churches.

As you can see, the Youth Group was for 40 years, and is today, an integral part of Heritage Presbyterian Church. This ministry of Heritage has touched the lives of many teens, preparing them for Christian leadership and service at college and beyond. At least six ordained ministers have come out of the youth and young adult programs at Heritage.

January 13, 2002

Celebrating 40 Years of
Youth & Young Adult Ministries
By Bill Sams

Heritage Presbyterian Church has had a number young adult ministries over the decades responding in a natural way to the changing demographics of the community and the congregation.

One of the largest and longest-running began about the time the rather large high school class of 1977 within the Heritage Youth Group (HYG) returned from their first year of college in 1978. At that time there was no young adult ministry other than as a part of the general adult Sunday School. Quite naturally most of them visited their beloved youth group and ended up staying through the summer.

The summer of '78 was great fun, but some of the wiser amongst the group (Rob Trimble) and the newer (Peggy Dubbelde) recognized that this habit couldn't continue forever. HYG was meant for senior highs and these grads didn't fit that description anymore. So by the end of that summer of fun and fellowship, Rob called one of his classic pool parties and plans were made to see about starting a college fellowship group at Heritage. Rev. Glassco reminded us that not everyone goes to college, thus the College Age Group was born.

That next Christmas as many alumni of the HYG as possible were contacted and a progressive dinner was planned. Somehow nearly 70 people were located. It was a wonderful evening of fellowship and reunion. Dick AtLee was the guest speaker.

The next summer of 1979, the group reassembled and began meeting one weeknight a week for singing, fellowship and bible discussions. It was clear the Lord's hand was in this group as it continued to grow both spiritually and in numbers. Within a couple years there were enough members to meet weekly for singing, fellowship and a biblically-based discussion, and in small groups for Bible study in individual homes. An annual summer weekend retreat was held in the mountains or at Rehobeth Beach. The group did various service projects such as Oak Meadow worship service, church clean-up days, an annual CCF-Sunday where the group would lead worship at Heritage, and helping the homeless in DC and Route One Corridor. Under the leadership of the Glasscos, especially Marjorie, the group performed an annual play or dramatic reading for the church and community as a witness and outreach.

As with HYG, members didn't just come from Heritage families. In a few years folks were attracted to the loving fellowship, worshipful singing and solid Bible study and came from all over northern Virginia and even across the river from Maryland and DC. The group flourished and continued to grow as they met during summers and Christmas holidays at which time the group would also hold an annual Progressive Dinner and a New Year's Party.

As people began to graduate from college and settle in the area, the name had to change to the College Career Fellowship (CCF) so the older members could keep coming. :-) Soon there were enough to attempt to meet throughout the calendar year. This group continued into the late 1980's and eventually faded as many college age members of the congregation took summer work or school out of the area and older members of the group retired to other service in this church and others.

Heritage, along with Calvary and Mt. Vernon Presbyterian Churches hired a Princeton Seminary intern, Chris Romig, in 1993 under the leadership of Rev. Bill Kosanovich to help develop an outreach to young adults in our three congregations. This group continued under various names: TNT, Thursday Night Fellowship, WNF, and most recently YAK (Young Adult Kith) and was served by other interns, Carolyn Winters-Hazelton and Jerri Fields during their tenures.

Many good friendships and church leaders were developed and nurtured in these young adult ministries and we give thanks to God for all He has done and continues to do through the alumni of these groups throughout the world.

January 20, 2002

Christian Education in the Home

Over the years, Heritage Presbyterian Church has done much to encourage and strengthen families in their efforts to provide Christian Education in the home. One significant contribution over the years is the Lenten Meditation Guide, written by members and friends of Heritage for use by the congregation. It is intended to be used on a daily basis during the Lenten Season and can be read as a family, perhaps before or after dinner, along with the selected scripture passages. It has been shown to be a valuable tool to help us deepen our faith and learn more about what it means to be a Christian. Other similar resources, such as Our Daily Bread and other devotional booklets, have been provided by Heritage, and can be a significant help in keeping our faith grounded and connected to our day to day living. I feel fortunate that in my upbringing, my family made an effort to read that devotional everyday after dinner, and can recall my grandmother having her "favorite" contributing authors whose style she could recognize when someone else was reading the devotional. Although as children we frequently wanted to run outside to play or go watch a favorite TV show rather than sit through "devotions", the experience proved very beneficial in the long run. Hearing the scripture tied directly into real life situations always helps us bring our faith "to life".

Another idea for Christian Education in the home that Heritage has frequently used very successfully at Christmas is the Advent Wreath. Typically, on a Sunday night soon after Thanksgiving, we gather as families in the fellowship hall to assemble and decorate our own Advent Wreaths to take home. At home every evening before dinner, the candle lighting ceremony would be repeated to demonstrate and remind us of the light that Christ brought into the world.

Many other activities in the life of our church are ones that are easily "brought home" or done as a family. Examples are: gathering food for those less fortunate (food pantry/Mondloch House contributions); helping to repair a disabled or disadvantaged person's home (Christmas in April); walking several miles to raise funds and awareness for the poor in third world countries (Crop Walk), praying for the special needs of missionaries around the world and the people they minister to. The list could go on, but you get the idea. We need to be living our faith seven days a week and teaching our children or grandchildren these simple but profound lessons as they grow on a daily basis in and around the home, not just at church on Sundays.

January 30, 2002

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