Looking Ahead to 2026-27

KATIE RICARD
Like the start of any school year, launching a new season of Youth Ministry brings all the feels. Will the vibes* in youth fellowship be good? Have the right events been locked in and planned? Will this year be a total win?

This year, we're letting the youth cook. At the start of the summer, our middle and high schoolers applied to join our very first Youth Leadership Team. We started meeting two weeks ago, and using their direct feedback and guidance—socials, Sunday morning formation, and community service events have all been planned. We’re even exploring a new Bible study and finding fresh ways to plug our youth into the daily rhythms at St. James's. I can’t wait to watch this leadership team grow!

Here is a quick look at what else is NEW this year:

• Monthly Service Projects: Starting this fall, we’re launching a monthly community service opportunity—typically on the third Saturday of each month. We’ll head out into Richmond to support local partners focused on food insecurity, housing, community building, and youth support.

• Richmond Mission Week: In addition to our two summer mission trips, I’m planning a local, Richmond-based mission week for June. We’ll spend three days serving local community partners, wrap up with a celebration day at the pool, and head home to sleep in our own beds every night!

Whether you want to acolyte, sing in the youth choir, serve as a lector or usher, jump into Sunday morning formation, or hang out at our socials, retreats, and service events, there’s a place for you here. I hope you’ll join us this year—and if you’re not sure where you fit best, just reach out (youth@stjamessrva.org)!

*Please excuse my attempt at using Youth Lingo!