Welcome to the Summer Term 2012! This page contains some useful information for parents regarding this term at HTB Youth. Please do make a note of all the dates now so you can avoid diary clashes and disappointed teenagers.

YOUNGER YOUTH (sch yrs 7-9) - SUNDAYS & FRIDAY NIGHTS
Younger Youth meets at THREE services on a Sunday:

• 9:30am at HTB Brompton Rd – starts approx 9:45am, after family worship & HTB News, in the Hut
• 11:30am at HTB Brompton Rd – starts 11:30am in the Hut
• 16:30* at HTB Onslow Square – starts approx 5pm, after the worship & HTB News, in Zebedee Hall

This term we will be looking at the themes of ‘Leadership’ in the first part of term and ‘Jesus Uncut’ in the second half.

Sunday 20 May – we are privileged to have the Bethel worship team with us at the 16:30, and so there will be no Younger Youth programme during that service.

* please note that there may be some weeks when we decide to keep the YY in the main service at the 16:30 depending on the topic and speaker – this will be quite flexible.

For those of you wanting to attend the 16:30 and who have children younger than youth age, please do check out the HTB Queen’s Gate 4:30pm service. It has a full CHTB programme for 0-11s – some families attend that service after dropping their youth at the 16:30 at Onslow Square. It may be better for your younger children than sitting through the 16:30.

YY also have regular Friday night socials – some are in small groups, others run centrally for the whole group - designed to provide a safe and fun environment for our youth and their leaders to get to know each other – do see the term card for details. Friends are always welcome too!

OLDER YOUTH (sch yrs 10-13) – SUNDAY EVENINGS & FRIDAY NIGHTS
The 16:30 service is every Sunday at HTB Onslow Square and is the main meeting point for the Older Youth. The service is aimed at youth and students in London and we love it that so many are bringing friends along each week. The youth also help on the hosting team every few weeks so please support them as they serve in this way and encourage them to get involved.

OY also meet regularly on Friday nights for 'Breathe'. These Friday nights are the equivalent for the Older Youth of what a Tuesday night pastorate provides the adults of our church. The evenings will include worship, short talks, ministry, and then small group discussion.

One of the key elements of Friday nights is small groups – these are the primary way that we can build community, accountability, and discipleship. They are led by our amazing team of leaders – these are the men and women who are the pastors of the youth and we would encourage you to get to know them. We strongly encourage everyone in Older Youth to join a small group.

PENTECOST 2012 – FRIDAY 18 MAY (all youth)
Pentecost 2012 promises to be one of the highlights of the year. It is a big gathering of London churches celebrating Pentecost in worship, prayer and unity. Last year thousands gathered at the O2; this year we descend upon Earl’s Court – a little closer to HTB! Worship will be led by Hillsong, HTB and Jesus House and Nicky Gumbel, Gary Clarke, and Pastor Agu will be hosting the night. We would love all of the HTB Youth to attend, and all of you and your families as well!

DETAILS: We want all the youth to obtain their tickets through us - PLEASE ONLY BUY TICKETS FOR YOUR YOUTH THROUGH US! We will all be together with the Hillsong Youth and others on the floor level standing room area. We have pre-purchased a large number of tickets for all the youth – tickets are £6 each – email Andy Watkins on andy@htb.org.uk to reserve them please. Cheques payable to ‘HTB’. Friends very welcome!

YEAR 9s – TRANSITION TO OLDER YOUTH
This is the final term in Younger Youth for those in year 9! From Focus onwards they will be part of the Older Youth and all the fun that entails... The biggest change is that the Older Youth attend the 16:30 service on Sundays and stay in for the service rather than going out to a different programme. Many of the year 9 group already attend the 16:30 service YY programme and so are familiar with how it works, but others may not be.
In order to make that transition easier, we would love to take the whole year 9 group to the service together with their leaders and have a gathering before the service as well. The date we are doing this will be Sunday 17 June. More to follow.

FOCUS 2012 – 21-27 July
Focus is our church’s annual week away together. Focus 2011 was undoubtedly the biggest and best Focus ever, and we had a great week. We very much hope that every HTB Youth member will come with their families (i.e. you!), so please do come. Guest speakers this year include Brian & Bobbie Houston of Hillsong Australia and Fr Raniero Cantalamessa, Preacher to the Papal Household at the Vatican.
We are well underway with planning a great youth programme for the week and hope you’ll be there!
Booking is open already – www.htb.org.uk/focus

SOUL SURVIVOR – 12-17 August
Every year we take a large group of our Older Youth to Soul Survivor, a huge Christian youth festival in Somerset. Last year we had a great time camping with thousands of others and the whole group grew in their faith. We will be taking a group again next year (those currently in years 9-13 only) to week C – Sunday 12–Friday 17 August - and would love it if your teenagers are able to come. Email us on youth@htb.org.uk for more info.

FINANCES
Lastly, just a reminder that we want everyone to be able to attend all of our events regardless of finances. If the cost of any of our events is ever a difficulty for you or for friends we would far prefer they come than not and are happy to help with this so please just ask. We would love you all to treat the ‘cost’ of these events as ‘recommended donation’. Please know that we do our best to keep all costs to an absolute minimum, and that we never make any money on them.

Thanks for your support – we hope you and your teenagers have a great term!
 

Matt Costley, Andy Watkins & India Sunderland
HTB Youth Pastors