Youth Ministry
The first letter of Peter reminds us to, “like good stewards of the manifold grace of God, serve one another with whatever gift each of you has received.” At Holy Family, we recognize that “each of you” includes our youth (6th-12th grade). One of our priorities, then, is to fully incorporate our youth into the life of the Church and to recognize and encourage the particular gifts that God has given them.
To this end, our youth partner with staff and adult mentors to:
learn about Holy Scripture and what it means to love God and live the life that Jesus Christ has invited us into;
serve our church and our community in practical, hands-on ways as ministers of the Gospel, called to love one another in word and deed;
enjoy fellowship, food, art, and games as we cultivate Christian community;
and, most importantly, deepen our relationship with the Living and Triune God.
Find out more below about our programs and offerings for youth.
Episcopal Youth Community
EYC (our youth group) gathers from Sept-May for regular fellowship throughout the year. Join our group on Church Center to find a calendar of upcoming events.
Acolyte Ministry
Our Acolytes (4th grade and older) are lay ministers of worship and an important part of our common work in worship on Sunday mornings.
Acolyte Festival
In October, youth and older children 5th grade and older travel to Washington, DC to explore the capitol and attend the National Cathedral’s annual acolyte festival. Attendees have the opportunity to explore the relationships between faith, society, and politics as they pick up new acolyte skills and explore a historic cathedral.
Summer Camp
Youth and older children in the 5th-9th grades are invited to attend our annual summer church camp (five days, morning to early afternoon) with optional aftercare. Register for the 2026 camp (July 6-10) here.
Sign up here to receive our monthly youth ministry newsletter. This is the best place to learn about upcoming events for youth and is separate from our churchwide email list.
If you have questions or thoughts about youth ministry or want to get involved, please reach out to Eli Wanner, our Minister for Youth Formation.
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Pastoral Care
Eli joined Holy Family’s staff in Summer 2024 after a year as Holy Family’s seminarian. He holds an M.Div from Duke Divinity School and is passionate about church life. Eli loves parish ministry, preaching, pastoral care, and theology, and these loves inform his ministry with the youth of Holy Family. When he’s not at church, Eli enjoys reading, writing, hiking, climbing, and porch-sitting. In addition to his ministry at Holy Family, Eli serves as Associate Breakfast Minister and Sexton at St. Joseph’s Episcopal Church in Durham.
