Over 150 youth have registered for the Youth @ General Synod event to be held June 24-30 in conjunction with the UCC's General Synod in Grand Rapids, Mich.

The program for high school students (grades 9 – 12) combines General Synod events with three days of service projects, evening programs, social opportunities and after hours activities.

"It's a great chance for youth to learn about and participate in the wider church and to grow in faith, service and friendship with their peers in the UCC," says the Rev. Kelly Burd, the UCC's interim minister for youth and young adults. "Since financial and transportation considerations force many youth groups to choose between a mission/service trip and wider church gathering each summer, we are offering a General Synod program that includes mission/service experience."

Service projects scheduled for Thursday, Friday and Monday will include direct service work such as tutoring and serving food along with ministry support activities like stocking food pantries, painting and cleaning.

Youth will be housed, fed, and the majority of Youth @ General Assembly activities will take place, at Aquinas College, just minutes from DeVos Center and downtown Grand Rapids. In addition to service projects, and Saturday and Sunday spent with the main General Synod, an afterhours activity Friday, June 26, will feature a youth "mock Synod" with 2005 General Synod moderator Eric C. Smith.

Although registration has closed for the weeklong Youth @ General Synod event, all youth are invited to join in the afterhours activities scheduled from 9:30-11:00pm Friday through Tuesday evenings. Please contact the Rev. Kelly Burd (burdk@ucc.org or 216/736-3871) for additional information.

The UCC's Youth and Young Adult Ministries issued the following tentative schedule:

Wednesday, June 24
1:00-9:00pm – Registrant check-in at Aquinas College
7:30-9:30pm – Welcome activities
9:30-10:45pm – Afterhours activities / Games and Arts
11:45pm – Lights Out

Thursday, June 25
7:30am-Noon – Breakfast and service projects
1:00-7:00pm – Recreation – t-shirt design and dinner
7:30-9:30pm – Concert and "Just Neighbors" with Thom Chu
9:30-10:45pm – Afterhours activities / games and arts
11:45pm – Lights Out

Friday, June 26
7:30am-Noon – Breakfast and service projects
1:00-7:00pm – Free time and dinner
7:30-9:30pm – Opening worship at General Synod
9:30-10:45pm – Afterhours "mock Synod"
11:45pm – Lights Out

Saturday, June 27
6:30am - Breakfast
7:30am – Depart for River City Saturday
9:00pm – Jason & Demarco concert
10:45pm – Depart for Aquinas College
11:45pm – Lights Out

Sunday, June 28
6:30am - Breakfast
7:30am – Depart for General Synod – Sacred Conversations
Afternoon – Community worship
7:30-10:30pm – Committees – youth attend
10:45pm – Depart for Aquinas College
11:45pm – Lights Out

Monday, June 29
7:30am-12:30pm – Breakfast and service projects
1:30-3:15pm – Youth program @ GS: Service and Justice
3:30pm – Depart for Aquinas College
7:30-10:30pm – Plenary 3 @ GS and evening prayers – youth attend
10:45pm – Depart for Aquinas College
11:45pm – Lights Out

Tuesday, June 30
6:30am - Breakfast
7:45am – Depart for General Synod: Plenary 4
Noon – Lunch
2:30-5:00pm – Plenary 5 @ GS
7:30-9:30pm – Closing Worship @ GS
10:45pm – Depart for Aquinas College
11:45pm – Lights Out