Christian Education and Programs for Youth
The Journey to Adulthood
A Transformational Way to do Youth Ministry
During the Middle School and High School years our youth posses the maturity to begin to claim their faith. Therefore it is important that we provide the support and guidance that they need. We provide strong adult leadership to help them explore Christian self-identity and personal relationships with God; be able to express the doubts and concerns about matters of faith; and begin the process of undertaking of growing into their baptism.
Rite-13 begins by helping the youth focus on themselves and others in the group. It moves on from there to cover the Bible, the Prayer Book, Prayer Forms and types, Images of God, Compassion and Acts of Mercy, Faith and Trust. It is called “Rite-13” because the young people turn 13 years of age sometime during their walk through this program. They participate in the Rite-13 Liturgy which honors and memorializes, within the context of corporate worship, the teen’s faith journey toward Confirmation.
Journey to Adulthood (J2A) helps the teens really walk the walk of faith. They meet as a group but also serve as acolytes, ushers, teaching assistants and perhaps choir members. They perform service and mission work in the community. They choose a spiritual mentor to walk with them as they prepare for their Confirmation. They prepare with their Leaders and the Clergy for being confirmed. They experience a pilgrimage and seek a deeper understanding and relationship with God.
YAC is “Young Adults in the Church” and is an opportunity for all youth following Confirmation to continue their faith journey within the context of a parish community. The young adults, with the help of an advisor, discern their area of focus and create a course of action and study to be carried out for the remainder of their time in high school.
Sunday school classes are each week from 9:30-10:15 AM in the youth rooms downstairs.
Episcopal Young Churchpersons (EYC)
St. Augustine’s Youth Group, called EYC, is for youth in grades 6-12 and meets most Sunday nights from 4:00-6:00 PM in the downstairs youth room. The regular schedule runs September through May`. The youth play games, look at scripture, pray for one another, and have a great time getting to know one another and God. Everyone shares a meal together between 5:30 and 6:00 PM. Visitors are welcome and we encourage the students to bring their friends!
At the center of youth ministry is learning to follow Jesus and obey the things He commanded of us. The way Jesus' disciples learned to live this was by following Jesus around and by trying to do what He did. The best way for our youth to learn to do this is very similar… having relationships with adults who are following Jesus and can show them what this journey looks like and who can encourage them to try it out themselves. We have leaders who are committed to sharing their lives with the youth and helping them learn about their world. Throughout the year we also try to love our neighbor through service and to go into the world in mission.
For more information about youth programs in our Diocese, please follow this link.
http://episcopaldioceseofgeorgiayouth.org/home.html