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SUNDAYS FROM 9:30 TO 10: 15 AM
September through May
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Youth Programs (6th through 12th grade)
THE JOURNEY TO ADULTHOOD: A transformational way to do youth ministry!
What is the Journey to Adulthood? This program consists of three classes that run over the course of two years each starting with Rite-13, then J2A and finally YAC.
Rite-13: The first two years of the program are named for the liturgical rite of passage that is celebrated when a young person reaches the age of 13. This rite is loosely based on the Jewish bar/bat mitzvah tradition and is a way for the entire congregation to celebrate the unique gifts and abilities of its young teens. These two years are spent recognizing the gifts God has given them, celebrating their creative potential and learning to interact as a community of faith.
J2A: After two years in Rite-13, the teens enter the J2A segment for an additional two years. Building on the foundation of what they learned in Rite-13, the teens learn and practice six basic skills of adulthood: active listening, negotiation, assertion, research and information management, partnership and leadership. In addition, teens learn different methods of Scripture reading, prayer and community building. After four years in this program, they are acknowledged as being equipped to handle new responsibilities and are given the opportunity to be confirmed in the Episcopal Church. The group also embarks on a Holy Pilgrimage at the end of the two years of J2A.
YAC: YAC stands for Young Adults in the Church, and it is the last two-year segment of the Journey to Adulthood. The young adults are encouraged to accept more adult responsibilities in the congregation and to contribute their time, talent and treasure in ways that support the ongoing work of the church. They work on identifying their spiritual gifts and are asked to commit to a specific ministry that they feel called to by God to use those gifts. They study the ancient creeds of the church and develop their own statement of beliefs. YAC explores and deals with the struggles of transitioning from teenager to adult in today’s world.
St. Aidan’s is using The Journey to Adulthood program this year with Rite-13 (current 6th & 7th graders) and J2A (current 8th & 9th graders). Through laughter and learning the youth of St. Aidan’s will learn that “Manhood and Womanhood are gifts from God, but adulthood must be earned.” They will focus on Self, Spirituality, Sexuality and Society and learn to connect their faith to all areas of life. It is our hope that this program will foster an environment of wholeness where teens develop a life-changing relationship with the God who created them.
This journey is not just transformational for the youth but for the entire church. This program calls for the collective wisdom of the adults of the church to bring young people into responsible, faithful adulthood. The entire congregation is charged to develop a relationship with their youth and it calls on everyone – regardless of age – to use the gifts that God has given us. When we use our gifts to be God’s presence in the world, we can ALL be changed in powerful ways.
Come join us on this journey –
You’ll be glad you did!
For youth in grades 10– 12, we use the series “Attitude”, which centers on real-life issues chosen by teens, for teens. Each scripture-based session features articles, commentary and activities keyed to the session. Some session topics include emotions, questions of faith, growing up, transitions and growing closer to God.
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