Journey to Adulthood Program - - - How I Can Get Involved - - -
Youth Activities/Missions - - - Pilgrimage - - -
Youth Formation Committee - - - Related Links
Youth
The youth classes meet each Sunday on the third floor of the parish building at 9:30 a.m.
Journey to Adulthood Program
So, you want to know about Journey to Adulthood? What is it? Why is it so different from traditional youth curriculum? Well, first of all – the program structure is different. There are three sections of the Journey to Adulthood program: Rite 13, J2A and YAC. Each section of the program lasts for two-three years each grouping of teens will stay together until they graduate from high school, with no other class being added in. This stability of group dynamics helps create safe, sacred space where the group members can learn to trust themselves and each other as they grow in faith.
The first section of the program is called RITE 13, a name that comes from a liturgical rite of passage we celebrate with young people around their 13th birthday. 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. The two years of Rite 13 focus on recognizing the gifts God has given us, celebrating our creative potential, and learning to interact as a community of faith.
The second segment is J2A, an acronym for JOURNEY TO ADULTHOOD. It is a little confusing since the name of this segment has the same name as the entire program, but the reason for this is that the bulk of the work gets done in these years, building on the foundation of the Rite 13 experience. During these years, teens learn and practice six basic skills of adulthood: active listening, negotiation, assertion, research & information management, partnership and leadership. The end of the second year of J2A is marked by the group designing and going on a Holy Pilgrimage.
The last two years of the Journey to Adulthood program are referred to as Y.A.C., which stands for Young Adults in Church. Y.A.C. students are encouraged to accept more adult responsibilities and to contribute their time, talent and treasure in ways that support the ongoing work of the church. Teens write a personal credo of beliefs and rely on their trusted group of peers as they explore their faith more deeply and struggle with the details of transitioning from teenager to young adult in today’s world.
The Journey to Adulthood experience incorporates much learning and laughter, but it takes our young people seriously and gives them real work to do. The program is based on the key concept that “Manhood and Womanhood are gifts from God, but Adulthood must be earned.” It encourages teens to explore the four areas of Self, Spirituality, Sexuality and Society, and learn to connect their faith to all areas of life. It is our hope that this program fosters an environment of wholeness and authenticity and helps teens develop a life-changing relationship with the God who created them.
This journey calls the entire congregation into a deeper relationship with their young people and it calls each one of us – whatever our age – to think about the gifts we have been given. When we find ways to use our gifts to be God’s presence in the world, we can ALL be changed in very powerful ways.
Youth classes meet on the third floor. Due to the cycle of each section, we have added the pre-rite 13 class to meet the needs of this age group transitioning into the Journey to Adulthood program. Youth interested in joining the program will be placed in a class with their age group (they will not be required to start the program from the beginning).
BACK TO TOP
How I Can Get Involved
The Youth program is divided into three classes: Rite 13, J2A and Young Adults in Church (Y.A.C.). All classes meet on Sunday mornings at 9:30 a.m., during the regular Sunday school time. The classes are not necessarily divided just by age or grade. To determine the class you would best fit into, please contact the group leaders for each class for more information.
Rite 13
Teens who will turn 13 within the two-year time frame for this class...Contact: Jessica Atkinson or Michael Jefferson mjefferson2@elon.edu.
J2A
Teens who have already turned 13 and have not yet been confirmed in the church...Contact: LuAnn Mullis or Jim Robbins.
Y.A.C.
Older teens who have been confirmed in the church...Contact: Sarah Fargis or Steve Swanner.
We’d love to have you join us on Sunday mornings. You’ll be so glad you came!
BACK TO TOP
Youth Activities/Missions
The Journey to Adulthood Program is an intense curriculum that requires a lot of hard work, consistent participation, but also unity within each class.
The Youth of Holy Comforter are actively involved in many mission and service projects in their own parish family and the community which they participate in together as a class and as a youth group as a whole. In addition, there are plenty of opportunities for Christian fellowship! This is seen in everything they do together from pancake fundraisers to weekend trips to the lake, Christmas caroling, volunteering at the Homeless Shelter, adopting a foster child at Christmas to help provide gifts and goodies, a weekend trip to Washington D.C., volunteering at Vacation Bible School and other activities within the parish.
Pilgrimage
What is a Pilgrimage? The dictionary would define it as “a journey to a sacred shrine or place”. Although this may be a very accurate definition, the youth who have participated in a Holy Pilgrimage would probably say that it is not so much as the destination, as it is the journey itself. Four J2A youth classes from Holy Comforter have had the opportunity to embark on such journeys, including two trips to Ireland and two to Scotland.
BACK TO TOP
Youth Formation Committee
The Youth Formation Committee consists of all the adult leaders from each class of the Journey to Adulthood Program. The committee works together as a team in planning activities and providing support for one another. For information regarding the youth program at Holy Comforter, please contact Elizabeth Costello, Christian Formation Director at 336- 227-4251 (ecostello@holycomforterburlington.org) or Jim Robbins, the Youth Ministry Leader.
Related Links
Holy Comforter is a parish of the Episcopal Diocese of North Carolina. For more information about Diocesan-sponsored youth events go to http://www.episdioncyouth.org/.
BACK TO TOP
The youth classes meet each Sunday on the third floor of the parish building at 9:30 a.m.
Journey to Adulthood ProgramSo, you want to know about Journey to Adulthood? What is it? Why is it so different from traditional youth curriculum? Well, first of all – the program structure is different. There are three sections of the Journey to Adulthood program: Rite 13, J2A and YAC. Each section of the program lasts for two-three years each grouping of teens will stay together until they graduate from high school, with no other class being added in. This stability of group dynamics helps create safe, sacred space where the group members can learn to trust themselves and each other as they grow in faith.
The first section of the program is called RITE 13, a name that comes from a liturgical rite of passage we celebrate with young people around their 13th birthday. 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. The two years of Rite 13 focus on recognizing the gifts God has given us, celebrating our creative potential, and learning to interact as a community of faith.
The second segment is J2A, an acronym for JOURNEY TO ADULTHOOD. It is a little confusing since the name of this segment has the same name as the entire program, but the reason for this is that the bulk of the work gets done in these years, building on the foundation of the Rite 13 experience. During these years, teens learn and practice six basic skills of adulthood: active listening, negotiation, assertion, research & information management, partnership and leadership. The end of the second year of J2A is marked by the group designing and going on a Holy Pilgrimage.The last two years of the Journey to Adulthood program are referred to as Y.A.C., which stands for Young Adults in Church. Y.A.C. students are encouraged to accept more adult responsibilities and to contribute their time, talent and treasure in ways that support the ongoing work of the church. Teens write a personal credo of beliefs and rely on their trusted group of peers as they explore their faith more deeply and struggle with the details of transitioning from teenager to young adult in today’s world.
The Journey to Adulthood experience incorporates much learning and laughter, but it takes our young people seriously and gives them real work to do. The program is based on the key concept that “Manhood and Womanhood are gifts from God, but Adulthood must be earned.” It encourages teens to explore the four areas of Self, Spirituality, Sexuality and Society, and learn to connect their faith to all areas of life. It is our hope that this program fosters an environment of wholeness and authenticity and helps teens develop a life-changing relationship with the God who created them.
This journey calls the entire congregation into a deeper relationship with their young people and it calls each one of us – whatever our age – to think about the gifts we have been given. When we find ways to use our gifts to be God’s presence in the world, we can ALL be changed in very powerful ways.Youth classes meet on the third floor. Due to the cycle of each section, we have added the pre-rite 13 class to meet the needs of this age group transitioning into the Journey to Adulthood program. Youth interested in joining the program will be placed in a class with their age group (they will not be required to start the program from the beginning).
BACK TO TOP
How I Can Get InvolvedThe Youth program is divided into three classes: Rite 13, J2A and Young Adults in Church (Y.A.C.). All classes meet on Sunday mornings at 9:30 a.m., during the regular Sunday school time. The classes are not necessarily divided just by age or grade. To determine the class you would best fit into, please contact the group leaders for each class for more information.
Rite 13
Teens who will turn 13 within the two-year time frame for this class...Contact: Jessica Atkinson or Michael Jefferson mjefferson2@elon.edu.
J2A
Teens who have already turned 13 and have not yet been confirmed in the church...Contact: LuAnn Mullis or Jim Robbins.
Y.A.C.
Older teens who have been confirmed in the church...Contact: Sarah Fargis or Steve Swanner.
We’d love to have you join us on Sunday mornings. You’ll be so glad you came!
BACK TO TOP
Youth Activities/Missions
The Journey to Adulthood Program is an intense curriculum that requires a lot of hard work, consistent participation, but also unity within each class.
The Youth of Holy Comforter are actively involved in many mission and service projects in their own parish family and the community which they participate in together as a class and as a youth group as a whole. In addition, there are plenty of opportunities for Christian fellowship! This is seen in everything they do together from pancake fundraisers to weekend trips to the lake, Christmas caroling, volunteering at the Homeless Shelter, adopting a foster child at Christmas to help provide gifts and goodies, a weekend trip to Washington D.C., volunteering at Vacation Bible School and other activities within the parish.PilgrimageWhat is a Pilgrimage? The dictionary would define it as “a journey to a sacred shrine or place”. Although this may be a very accurate definition, the youth who have participated in a Holy Pilgrimage would probably say that it is not so much as the destination, as it is the journey itself. Four J2A youth classes from Holy Comforter have had the opportunity to embark on such journeys, including two trips to Ireland and two to Scotland.
BACK TO TOP
Youth Formation CommitteeThe Youth Formation Committee consists of all the adult leaders from each class of the Journey to Adulthood Program. The committee works together as a team in planning activities and providing support for one another. For information regarding the youth program at Holy Comforter, please contact Elizabeth Costello, Christian Formation Director at 336- 227-4251 (ecostello@holycomforterburlington.org) or Jim Robbins, the Youth Ministry Leader.
Related LinksHoly Comforter is a parish of the Episcopal Diocese of North Carolina. For more information about Diocesan-sponsored youth events go to http://www.episdioncyouth.org/.
BACK TO TOP
The Episcopal Church of the Holy Comforter, a parish of The Episcopal Diocese of North Carolina
Copyright ©2007 The Episcopal Church of the Holy Comforter. All rights reserved.