PYT will soon make a formal announcement on dates and locations for its upcoming gatherings
by Mike Ferguson | Presbyterian News Service
Every three years the Presbyterian Mission Agency hosts Presbyterian Youth Triennium, a gathering of up to 5,000 youth and young adults. A production team is currently being formed for the 2025 event. (File photo by Rich Copley)
LOUISVILLE — Together with Triennium registrar Analise Brown, Gina Yeager-Buckley, who’s the mission coordinator for Presbyterian Youth and Triennium, said Triennium staff is gearing up to launch “an exciting and busy season” which will include a formal announcement this fall about the location and other details of the 2025 and 2028 events, among the most transformational gatherings the PC(USA) offers.
Brown and Yeager-Buckley were the guests last week on the Office of Christian Formation’s Faith Formation Leader Connection webinar, which is held twice each month via Zoom. The next is set for 8-9 p.m. Eastern Time on Aug. 22. Register here.
“It’s fun to see the faces and dogs I know, our furry Christian education friends,” Yeager-Buckley said with a smile. “We love to talk about youth ministry and think about what’s happening and what you’re seeing and the resources you are finding helpful, relevant and fiery.”
Brown and Yeager-Buckley discussed the formation of the 2025 PYT Production Team, youth and adults who share a passion for youth ministry. “There’s nothing like being behind the scenes to see an event that size [up to 5,000 youth and young adults] come together,” Brown said. The deadline to apply is Sept. 15. Learn more about applying to join the production team here.
When Covid forced cancellation of the 2022 Presbyterian Youth Triennium, Yeager-Buckley and a team of educators and curriculum developers worked to create four free downloadable resources around the Matthew 25 theme of “When did we see you?” The four guides, which have seen wide use in both large and small settings around the country and are available in English and Spanish, are the 3-Lesson Bible Study, Recreation Guide, Worship & Prayer Guide and Event Planning Guide.
Gina Yeager-Buckley
“We wanted to throw open the doors of the [Presbyterian Youth Triennium] event and connect with more people,” Yeager-Buckley said. “There’s no reason these can’t be done in churches.”
She said the Recreation Resource “is a critical piece. We don’t see recreation as something you do to entertain on the side. Playing and laughing are critical” and are important in helping youth “dig into a theme.” The Recreation Resource includes a how-to on throwing a fully planned party for the youth.
The Worship & Prayer Guide has videos from the preachers who were scheduled to preach during the 2022 event. “They are pieces you would have seen but can use even if you don’t step into Triennium,” Yeager-Buckley said.
During 2022, 41 groups each applied for $1,000 grants to host Triennium-related events carrying the “When did we see you?” theme. Some of their events are chronicled here. “Sometimes it helps to see how other churches and youth groups are doing things,” Yeager-Buckley said, adding PYT hopes to implement a smaller grant program for 2023.
“I hope you’ll try it out. I think it might always be timely,” Yeager-Buckley said of the downloadable resources. Additional resources are being considered, including a prayer guide complete with interactive prayer stations and possibly a music guide.
“It’s youth and adults who make Triennium happen from the beginning, by helping to plan and carry out the event,” Brown said.
“It’s a volunteer position, but they’re workhorses,” Yeager-Buckley said of the production team. “You won’t likely be on stage. You might be at another venue, and so we talk about service through leadership” and “extending hospitality to others and the joy that can bring.”
“We hope to have the team formed by October so we can get going,” Yeager-Buckley said.
For additional resources offered by the Presbyterian Mission Agency’s Office of Christian Formation, go here or here.
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